Quarterback Justin Worley of the University Tennessee football team answers questions during media day at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on August 14, 2011.AUDIO: Derek Dooley talks about his program’s improvement.
KNOXVILLE — Justin Worley possesses a unique ability that could be considered deception.
Most quarterbacks use practice repetitions to improve their play in games, but the Tennessee freshman’s abilities during the week actually might have hindered him Saturday night in his first start, when he was pulled following two second-half interceptions in the Volunteers’ loss to South Carolina.
“We’ve got to do a better job of trying to keep it simple for him,” coach Derek Dooley said at his weekly news conference Monday. “We might have put too much on him as coaches, and that’s always the first thing we do is, ‘Where did we screw up?’
“We probably put too much on him when I look back on it, just because he gives you that confidence. He handles it well in practice, but you just forget what it’s like when you step out there for the first time.”
Dooley said the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder will get his second career start when the Vols host Middle Tennessee State this Saturday night. The Blue Raiders are 90th nationally in passing-efficiency defense, so this is an opportunity for Worley to face an easier defense than the one he saw against South Carolina.