Tennessee HC Josh Heupel shoots down one concern about Vols QB Nico Iamaleava

With the Tennessee Vols averaging just 20 points per game in conference play so far this season, UT head coach Josh Heupel was asked on Monday if he thinks redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava is "pressing".

Heupel acknowledged that Iamaleava hasn't played his best football the last couple of weeks, but he doesn't think the young quarterback is necessarily "pressing".

“I don’t have concerns about him pressing," said Heupel. "He’s prideful. It matters to him. He wants to perform well not for himself, but for the guys around him. Let’s go have a great week and be ready to go play really good football. When you play quarterback, it’s not gonna be perfect. Everybody wants it to be. It wasn’t for Hendon Hooker [or] any of the guys that we’ve had. Being resilient, coming back and playing with great confidence, which he will, and poise will lead you to the plays they’re going to present themselves.”

Just from watching the games, I would agree with Heupel's assessment. I don't get the sense that any player on the offensive side of the ball for the Vols is pressing. Instead, it feels like they're not playing with a large amount of confidence. Iamaleava, along with the rest of the offense, seems to be questioning what he's seeing on the field instead of just letting it rip and trusting that his guys will make a play.

If Tennessee can string a couple of scoring drives together early against Alabama next Saturday, I think you'll see this Volunteer offense start to take off. The talent is there, the scheme is working, and the players care deeply. They aren't far from turning this thing around and scoring a lot of points.

Related: Comment from Florida player should ease concern that Vols fans have about Tennessee HC Josh Heupel