Josh Ward: Nico Iamaleava’s ‘Cool’ Attitude Should Lead Vols vs NC State

3L 1045 to Zone Brent Dy Ron slay with you Don dport will be on the sideline wake for is hosting Virginia coming up on Saturday I think it's at 6 o'clock I know it's an evening kick for her um yeah nice A little night game for babsy yeah so that's where you can get her uh you can watch the show live YouTube Facebook live Twitter and twitch please thank you Z on site here as we broadcast live from Montgomery Bell State Park Trucking for cure weekend they've got a big golf tournament coming up and again they've got an incredible silent auction going tfac that is Trucking for aure cb. cb. and that's where you can get all the uh silent auction items and bid and and donate to an incredible cause Tac at excuse me t.c. um somebody just put uh Richie on YouTube put mayor all over it he said if people would just say no then this crap will stop I don't even know what he's talking about but uh yeah so let me know uh Josh Ward joins us now from Knoxville co-host of Josh and Twain on the Sports Animal in Knoxville Josh what's up how are you no did that did that cover that settled it Josh good job let me know if that settled it let me let me know I I don't know they get so active in the chat that you get you get kind of lost and then you see something you're like wait what was that about I don't know yeah that's the best you get messages which you appreciate but then you're trying to figure out what it means and you get yourself confused happens to me pretty much every segment every day well at least at least I'm all over it according to him so there's that I don't know what I'm all over but there you go uh Tennessee NC State uh so the line has ballooned I got it at 6 and A2 on Sunday it it peaked at 10 I think it's now at 9 and A2 um just your your initial thoughts about this matchup NC State did not look great they were trailing Western Carolina in the third quarter did pull away late as uh as Grayson McCall got hot but what what's your take on this matchup well we talked about this briefly didn't we last week you were warned hey be careful in that week one to week two but you got at a really good spot because at 6 and A2 it's taken off since then and because of the way NC State looked as good as Tennessee looked along with the buildup during the off season and the month of August for what Tennessee could become the sense we've gotten in Knoxville this week is that Tennessee fans Not only assume Victory but many assume beat down City in Charlotte this weekend we took score predictions all week long and maybe we got one that I don't remember but the closest margin I recall over 5 days of doing the show on Josh and Swain was 14 points Tennessee to win the game we took a ton of score predictions people just offering them up and a lot of times it was by four touchdowns or more so Tennessee fans are all in on Nico the defensive line dominating and NC State having no chance now I'm not at that point but I do look at Tennessee's roster and I look at the way Nico played it's not okay it was against Chattanooga that's the obvious disclaimer but but as others have pointed out some have seen some analysts around the country point out the way that he delivered the football to the different receivers for Tennessee last weekend the amount of receiving options Tennessee was able to utilize Nico the play up front Tennessee has I think a pretty clear Advantage but there are some questions that still exist that they're going to try to answer against the first Power conference opponent of the Season Josh Ward with us from the Sports Animal yeah it it's funny like NC State's not going to be able to run the ball in Tennessee right like so it's going to become Grayson McCall and uh and uh conceps on the receiver had nine catches last week um H how do you think that factors in and can and can James Pierce get some some game defining plays going in that NC State passing game yeah one of the first questions we got at the start of the week was what happened to James Pierce where was pierce did Pierce even play that was a question that would pop up because he only played 10 snaps in the game but they didn't need him the a lot of the defensive starters up front played 10 to 15 snaps so they got him a little work got him off the field Pierce is going back to his hometown I am sure that he's eager to have a big game he'll have more of an opportunity and I wouldn't be surprised to see him make a couple of big plays in this game I think a bigger deal though is the interior of Tennessee's defensive line they have some real guys there in the Middle with Norman lot een Thomas Elijah Simmons and I think that's going to be problematic that's why I agree with you it should be really difficult for NC State to run the football even though they have a veteran offensive line and they have a veteran running back in waters a transfer from duke who scored 12 touchdowns I think last year he's a pretty big guy 215 pounds where he's listed they've got Personnel but I think every team this season is going to have a difficult time for the most part in trying to run against Tennessee so if Tennessee is able to be aggressive in getting after McCall and putting pressure on him I think Tennessee's confident that they can get to him at least a couple of times but maybe more important ly take the football away or get NC State off the field quickly so that Nico and Company can get to work if for some reason Tennessee struggles to get to mall and he has time to make plays through the air well then yeah concepion is a real concern because he's a playmaker and they brought in some other guys as transfers like Justin Jolie the transfer from Yukon who Tennessee fans wanted during the offseason and UT did okay too in the tight end that they brought in but there are some playmaking options if Tennessee is not able to get pressure I just think that they will be yeah and and maybe I'm not being fair saying they won't be able to run the football because yeah they do have new running back Jordan Waters and and he went for 124 and two touchdowns last week they just uh I think that was the first 100 yard game for an NC State running back in in 34 games so uh Grayson mcau can sling it five years at Coastal Carolina so uh slay dog that's that's going to be a key is is watching that Tennessee secondary against concepion and those receivers but I think even more importantly getting pressure on the quarterback yeah got to go breathe down their neck man and that's hope hopefully that's what we we get to see you know finally with a matchup this is top 25 matchup so knocking on the door let's go get some work done on the a neutral site but Josh now a thing that I keep on hearing um is about this 335 defense um and what Austin Austin pan is and people looking back at it there were difficulties with um the offense when playing against that system we all watched that Austin P game uh my push back and I you tell me if wrong or not these are two different quarterbacks and what's what's seen by one quarterback may not be seen by the other what's your thoughts on that I agree with you there I I do think it's a fair question to ask okay Tony Gibson the defensive coordinator for NC State what he likes to run and his experience coaching against Baylor when he was in West Virginia that should help NC State in preparation but Tony Gibson had comments stressing his def his defensive players communicating well consistently as quickly as they have to go to keep up with Tennessee's Tempo if there's miscommunication that can Crush you on the defensive side he knows he knows what he's doing and trying to prepare NC State's defense I'm skeptical that it's going to be enough because we've seen other coaches have a pretty good idea what they needed to get across to their players and it just didn't matter in the end Nico is a big factor here that's why his understanding of where to put the football his confidence in himself to make throws that other quarterbacks simply can't make that can that can make a difference now I mentioned some questions that can still exist they might be answered just fine this weekend and if that's the case then the confidence in Tennessee's offense will will grow so Lance Hur at left tackle first start against a power conference opponent and especially as an secc player of Tennessee how does he do he gave up a sack last week how does he do how do running backs do in pass protection so my question is not really with how Nico will handle things he might make a mistake I mean that's perfectly acceptable if if one or two happen he's a Young quarterback you kind of plan for that but if others around him make mistakes that make Nico's life more difficult that's when they could run into problems but if protection is there Nico is going to make throws he has I think a lot of confidence in The Playmakers around him I think Tennessee staff is really confident what Brew is going to be able to do Dante Thorton had a really nice debut if that continues then that's difficult for NC State's defensive backfield to keep up with so uh fans predicting 49 50 plus points I'm not at that point but I think the over under numbers 35 36 points for Tennessee Vs have a really good chance to go over that number and the biggest reason why is is Nico he is I think he's already proven his special ability now he's going to have a chance to do it on a big stage on ABC yeah 314 and a half was a record for a quarterback in a half and uh Tennessee's had some quarterbacks with some really good wide receivers roll through there so um you know not a bad first day in NE stadium for uh Nico as a starter anyway um the one thing that we haven't seen from him is is dealing with adversity right like so if this is a three-point game in the third quarter or you know they've had two three and outs in a row or he's thrown a couple of interceptions or he gets sacked in fumbles like how does he deal with it diversity I think is is one more thing that we need to see from him yeah and at the start of Camp he talked about how much he loves to go play away from home is really kind of phrased on the road but this would count I think away from nean Stadium I don't think there's much concern about how Nico will handle things like pressure the moment uh what if they are facing adversity as you're talking about if it's a tight game in the the second half Tennessee fans will probably tighten up a little bit if it's close in the third quarter going to the fourth if it's not a blowout early like I think a lot of people are hoping but that's where I would think it comes back to everybody around him does that also mean hey the ground game's not as consistent as Tennessee hopes it will be going in they had a really good debut with the different running backs Dylan Samson had a big day against Chattanooga it should be more difficult against Inc stay but if they're not running the football effectively and more pressure is put on Nico to go make plays does everybody kind of rally around him I just I don't have much concern about Nico neck up in terms of uh if it's a big spot if they need a need a big play his decision making doesn't mean he's going to be perfect again that should not be the expectation but you know the California cool attitude I think that's real with him I I don't worry about how Nico will handle a big spot somebody needing a big play to step up at quarterback you want Nico in that spot man you know what dating back to the time that I was in school another guy came across from um with that kind of same demeanor and he was from the West Coast as well and that was the Iceman Casey Clawson like we've had some ican references this week Ron oh really that see okay I'm not alone I love to hear that man but um with him who is someone that you expect to stick out outside of I I I I'm gonna continue to say throughout the season Dylan Samson is going to be that guy that's going to be salivating looking to prove a point especially with all the weapons that um keep um continuing to emerge for Nico especially with receivers but who's the guy that you think could be that X Factor whether that be special teams um which we saw the big time scoop and score um on that block or whatever it may be defense like who's that guy that that could step up in this game for you I do think there are a lot of options so Dylan is one of those guys I before you go into that Josh let me ask you this let me ask you this you just said there's a lot of options that is a wonderful place to be like it's different think what the defense is doing exactly yeah yeah and uh and I think there are several reasons why why too so Dylan Samson is one of those guys as much as we're talking about Nico and as much love as he's getting and I think it's warranted we also also we have to remember the importance of the running game and Samson's playmaking ability which is proven at this point that can be a huge difference maker for what this offense is if Dylan Samson stays healthy this season he's going to be an all running back for Tennessee and he's an option as a runner and a pass catcher for Nico the reason I think there are a number of options because I think if they're in the Red Zone Chris BRZ was a guy to watch because of his length his ability to go up and get the football there were some throws that needed to be uh in a better spot for him when Gaston Moore I think was in the game in the second half but Brazzle has shown his ability to go up and get the football an early touchdown to Ethan Davis this guy is going to be somebody the defenses have to pay attention to this year I think Tennessee is really happy with its group of tight ends two transfers that came in Holden stays from Notre and miles kitselman from Alabama now a lot of the time their impact might be more in the Run game but all three of those guys the two transfers and Davis as a seconde player are guys that will help I mean what if Thorton is the breakout or the most improved guy uh we've been asked is he this year's Jaylen Hyatt doesn't mean he has to catch 15 touchdowns win the bitnik off but athletically he doesn't take a backseat to too many people in any situation so that's why I think there are a number of players plus the old steady guys like like Brew McCoy is the guy that Nico is going to trust squirrel white was not needed much last week but he'll have his moments as well the coaching staff Josh hpel and the offensive staff I think they have a lot of confidence in more players probably several more players than they did with the offense a year ago right Josh Ward with us from the Sports Animal in Knoxville all right Josh all Tennessee fans calling you guys all week uh had the vs winning by like four touchdowns where are you on this deal so I'm to sound super negative the score I gave out was 35 to 27 uh a slight disclaimer there come on J now wait come on man let your orange bleed through man what what are we doing well I saw the video too I didn't want to come on here and upset a a popular Tennessee podcaster like youon SL isn't that amazing he's really he's really grown yeah finally finally you're getting your due I'm glad that it's finally come your way but I I had to give out a score early in the week when the line was lower and it was in some kind of competive situation with others against the spread so it's kind of a copout answer but I think maybe a late score to to make it closer I don't have much doubt that Tennessee is going to win the game unless there's something unexpected I I think Tennessee will take care of the football I think Nico will take care of the ball if they limit turnovers you don't have a catastrophic injury situation I think straight up especially on the line of scrimmage Tennessee should have a clear advantage two touchdowns easy more more than two touchdowns Tennessee is running that scared me to be honest a little bit there is a lot of oh man the 14 plus why not so that's kind of why I'm in the May's been saying this since last week though yeah I I I said before last week's game they're going to blow in state out I I will tell you that Chris low who normally kind of downplays things came on the show and said look man we didn't even ask him for a prediction he's like look man Tennessee is going to win this by two touchdowns or more they're just they're running this offense as fast as they did with Hind and hooker man and and now you got these weapons on the outside those look those like deep post routes with Dante Thornton and you find man-to-man situations out there spreading the field like that get dyl Samson going I just don't think I just don't think NC State's going to be able to score with them they're going to have success offensively because they've got a really good quarterback but I man I think he's saying that to say you got another opportunity to give you give us another score Josh get a do over right here what did I say 3527 yeah that could be your sports animal score but what's your 3hl score I I had something in my there 3520 is what I meant to say 3520 to little a little mishap through the technology 35n go pull yourself a drink baby welcome to the party it's it's good to join you guys I will say if if Tennessee gets out to a lead early I know we can say this a lot of times I think it's the case here good luck to NC State if it's trying to catch up to Tennessee I don't think that's happening I mean Nico saying that line the other day like what's the mindset when you're up big he said foot on neck yeah I was like wow that's your leader y all right Josh thanks better score there at the end way to go I fixed it you got a guys than a lot all right there he is Jos the sports anal you you talk him into it his you did you you did well I just pushed him off the edge you made him get up there