Can we give Tim Banks credit now?

[ConantheVolbarian]

I've been watching Tim Banks field pretty good defenses since this staff arrived at Tennessee and all I've heard is gripping about how the Vols are #X in whatever meaningless defensive statistical category. Meanwhile, we just finished as a top 5 team and had our best season since I was a kid. Do you think our defense holding a top 10 program to 14 points had anything to do with that?

 

[EastTNVol6240]

I’ve got a meaningless stat for you. 63 pts. Defense looked good today. The same can’t be said for most of the regular season.

 

[WillisWG]

The Legion marches on without rest.

 

[norrislakevol]

We just have to fix the secondary, and we are doing that through recruiting. 2024 will look a lot different on the defensive side of the ball, and we will likely be in the playoffs.

 

[LadyVolette]

I’ve got a meaningless stat for you. 63 pts. Defense looked good today. The same can’t be said for most of the regular season.

Disagree.. a few games the Defense bailed us out

 

[EastTNVol6240]

Disagree.. a few games the Defense bailed us out

I think you must’ve missed the word “most” in my reply.

 

[LadyVolette]

I think you must’ve missed the word “most” in my reply.

Okay we are in the same side… I think… they have been one of the most scrappy and exciting defenses I have watched at UT and I have been been watching for quite awhile

 

[VolRage]

Tim Banks should get credit for fielding a game plan to defeat Clemson but for most of the regular season his defensive secondary was……..lacking. I didn’t name his 3rd down defense “3rd and guaranteed” for nothing.

 

[theFallGuy]

I've been watching Tim Banks field pretty good defenses since this staff arrived at Tennessee and all I've heard is gripping about how the Vols are #X in whatever meaningless defensive statistical category. Meanwhile, we just finished as a top 5 team and had our best season since I was a kid. Do you think our defense holding a top 10 program to 14 points had anything to do with that?

He did a pretty good job considering the players we had. Every single person on this board was worried about our defense going into the season. Yes we gave up points and need to improve but we definitely won a few games because of our defense.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

You hold the #7 team in the country to 14 points on a neutral field, your defense played pretty damn well.

Banks deserves a lot of credit for being aggressive and rattling their young QB.

 

[ConantheVolbarian]

I’ve got a meaningless stat for you. 63 pts. Defense looked good today. The same can’t be said for most of the regular season.

It's funny that that's the only example you can give. Yes, that was a bad performance on both sides of the ball. Hooker was even bad that game. But the defense has given this team chances to win games and that's a big part of the reason that we're 11-2 right now.

 

[Voltopia]

No one should be running their mouths too much at Tennessee's defense - they won that game for us last night. Tennessee was 3-13 on third down conversions. Whole lot of sputtering. And the defense held the line more or less the entire time. Granted, it was a freshman, but it would have been easy to give up a TD or two along the way, and say "the offense just wasn't helping us." But they didn't. They held the line.

Tennessee's defense is put in a position few defenses are. Have to play 35-40 minutes a game, oh, and this year, they had to do that undermanned.

 

[EastTNVol6240]

Okay we are in the same side… I think… they have been one of the most scrappy and exciting defenses I have watched at UT and I have been been watching for quite awhile

I think our front has been much better than people realize. We all know our secondary struggles. Hopefully that is talent and not coaching. We can’t depend on scoring 50 every game to win. Gotta sure the D up. I don’t think Milton will average the 50 that hooker did.

 

[Cartervol]

Yep he deserves some credit. The difference was pressure last night. The Lamecock game was a example of getting no pressure at all. He still needs some pieces but he put a nice gameplan together last night. The team was ready to play and focused. It was a great night for Tennessee in a lot of ways.

 

[calban]

Defense saved their best for last. Good sign for the future.

 

[WillisWG]

No one should be running their mouths too much at Tennessee's defense - they won that game for us last night. Tennessee was 3-13 on third down conversions. Whole lot of sputtering. And the defense held the line more or less the entire time. Granted, it was a freshman, but it would have been easy to give up a TD or two along the way, and say "the offense just wasn't helping us." But they didn't. They held the line.

Tennessee's defense is put in a position few defenses are. Have to play 35-40 minutes a game, oh, and this year, they had to do that undermanned.

Solid TEAM effort.

 

[LadyVolette]

I think our front has been much better than people realize. We all know our secondary struggles. Hopefully that is talent and not coaching. We can’t depend on scoring 50 every game to win. Gotta sure the D up. I don’t think Milton will average the 50 that hooker did.

Agreed.. that is why this game was so important.. they can suss things out for next season

 

[EastTNVol6240]

It's funny that that's the only example you can give. Yes, that was a bad performance on both sides of the ball. Hooker was even bad that game. But the defense has given this team chances to win games and that's a big part of the reason that we're 11-2 right now.

You’ve watched a different defense than me all year apparently. The only example? Our secondary was torched all year. We put up 50 a game. And we needed to in order to win some of those games. Did we show flashes? Yea. Are we the world beating D you are making silly posts about? No.

 

[TheVolunteer002]

For last night's game yes. For giving up 63 points to a bad South Carolina team and ruining our shot to play for a national title? Different story. There better be significant improvements made, and some consistency with said improvements next year.

 

[Good2bavol]

I have thought that this was the worst defense I have ever seen TN put on the field. And yet in the end, our season ending ranking should be in the Top 5. There are a lot of things to complain about, but I have been a Vol since 1968, and I am so excited about what is to come.

As for the defense, we really did not have the secondary players this year and it seems that they are bringing in some good defensive recruits.

GO VOLS!!!

 

[Godfatha]

Now if we could just teach our DBs to look back for the ball.

 

[Other_Guy]

No.

 

[chas]

LAST NIGHT both sides had a great game plan. tanks to all the COACHES. and PLAYERS. thank you for a great SEASON. GBO

 

[Grand Vol]

Now if we could just teach our DBs to look back for the ball.

This. Speed will help, but there were at least 3 or 4 interception opportunities missed last night by not tracking the ball.

It's still a young team, but they've got some solid recruits coming in that will help add a lot of depth we've been missing.

 

[WillisWG]

Scoring defense ranking #35 --22.8 p/g.

We may have the best conditioned D in the country. I doubt there is another D that could play as many minutes as ours did against our schedule and do better.

Kudos, TB

 

[NighthawkVol]

I’ve got a meaningless stat for you. 63 pts. Defense looked good today. The same can’t be said for most of the regular season.

John Chavis once gave up 62 with a lot more talent.