Defensive changes for 2023

#76
#76
Lurker said:
Looking at the recruits, I think it is already coming. Maybe I'm wrong. Heaven knows a lot of top defenders left the team that would have helped a great deal this year.

Given the speed of Heupel's offense, defense is going to always be an issue at Tennessee. We knew that when he came and nothing has really changed. The defense is going to have to be on the field a lot because offensive ball control is not the goal. Scoring as fast as possible is the plan and out comes the defense again.
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You know you have a point of course but Heupel has been more mindful this year of when to shift down tempo. We’ve had some “cramps” after PATs at times that I think are designed to give the defense a little extra time. Also we’ve had moments where the offense is set but doesn’t snap quite a bit more. I think Heupel is at least aware of the issue and tries to adjust for it. Still need more depth and talent we both agree on that. I would just add I still think there’s a coaching issue but maybe I’m wrong and I’ll hope it works out
 
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#77
#77
farmdogvol said:
The biggest need for next year. Losing the best LB and not much depth left on the roster. Mitchell was terrible the last few games and was a big disappointment all year. Hopefully Herring takes a big step forward next year and becomes a starter. Need at least 1 big time LBer from the portal.
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While Banks was a good leader on defense, he was only average at best against slant passes and QB draws up the middle. An upgrade in talent at both inside position would make a huge difference in our defense. I think that will happen in the next two recruiting classes.
 
#78
#78
Vol737 said:
There has to be a young DB coach out there that's dialed into today's college game that could light a fire under this secondary. Those guys just can't just solely exist on the offensive side of the ball. Has to be a counterpart out there to Golesh, Briles and Lebby's of the world.
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The game hasn't changed much for DBs. Not very often do RPOs have 3rd level reads. Defense has changed schematically. That's on the DC. But the DBs have been pretty poorly coached too.
 
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#79
#79
sjt18 said:
I moved back and forth between sitting on the fence and thinking he's not the guy. USCe has moved me pretty strongly into the belief that he is simply not the guy. That wasn't just players or being out-talented. He was outcoached in every conceivable way by an OC who after wisely got out of Columbia while he was on top. They were ready to fire him before the last two games.

To believe what you say about the roster... you'd have to believe that there are more than 100 FBS rosters with more talent. About 60-70 P-5 rosters with more talent.

You would have to believe that talent was the reason they were trampled for 63 points by USCe a week after a bad UF D held them to 6 points and 3 weeks after a Mizzou roster with equal or less talent held them to 10 points. You would have to believe that UT's talent was more than 200 yds worse than USCe's average opponent.

You would have to ignore the number of QBs who have had career days against Banks over the last two years.

NO ONE that I've seen has tried to claim that UT doesn't need more depth and talent on D. I'm not. I am saying that over two years he's come nowhere close to maximizing the results of the talent he had.
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That’s exactly what I’m saying. I think talent wise, our defensive roster is at the bottom of the league…. Especially in the secondary. An easy test for this will be the nfl draft….. you and I both know Byron young may get his name called, but no one else.

Coaches have to take some of the heat…. But it was the same coaches during the ky game as the uscjr game….. the only difference was the players not in uniform or the ones that didn’t finish the game due to injury.
 
#82
#82
Speed, strength, and the ability to put someone on their butt while knocking the ball out of their hands. Our defense plays like "what just happened?". We need to me more aggressive and have the talent to be aggressive without getting burned for a TD or big gain on third down.
 
#83
#83
They said:
That’s exactly what I’m saying. I think talent wise, our defensive roster is at the bottom of the league…. Especially in the secondary. An easy test for this will be the nfl draft….. you and I both know Byron young may get his name called, but no one else.

Coaches have to take some of the heat…. But it was the same coaches during the ky game as the uscjr game….. the only difference was the players not in uniform or the ones that didn’t finish the game due to injury.
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I don't think you read my post. I believe there is a talent problem. I do not think the talent deficit explains the degree of poor performance AT ALL.
 
#84
#84
RockyTopTexas said:
This is dumb lol.. McDonald needs to start over McCullough. Jaylens time has come to an end he’s a liability..

Also this is the Sec. You gotta be 235 plus to play backer
we don’t have 1 SEC positions group besides the D line. Everything else is weak as hell
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Wth are you talking about?
It said move Slaughter and Charles to safety. Who do you think plays safety lol??

McDonald was recruited as an OLB originally.

235+.??? Tell me more about all these 235 pound LBs starting in the SEC...🙄
 
#85
#85
sjt18 said:
I don't think you read my post. I believe there is a talent problem. I do not think the talent deficit explains the degree of poor performance AT ALL.
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I did read, well skimmed…. Here’s the thing, you can out scheme bad talent in the big 10….. you can’t do that in the sec. At some point in the sec, your Jimmie is going to have to beat their Joe. Name 1 dude in that defensive secondary that is just winning the 1 v 1?

The same coaches were there for Kentucky and South Carolina, the difference was the dudes playing tackle. Sit tight, let the talent show up and develop.
 
#87
#87
LittleVol said:
- McDonald to ILB
- Charles and Slaughter back to safety
- More standup rushing for Pearce and Josephs
- Playing more Seminole defense with Herring also in to rush with Pearce, Josephs, Barron and Harrison all at the same time.
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I came here specifically to mention McDonald to inside LB. He already has a great frame. I don't think his coverage skills are great as a NB, but should be plenty adequate for a LB. I'd like to see Herring get more playing time at LB as well, particularly if Mitchell or Beasley underperform.
 
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#88
#88
They said:
I did read, well skimmed…. Here’s the thing, you can out scheme bad talent in the big 10….. you can’t do that in the sec. At some point in the sec, your Jimmie is going to have to beat their Joe. Name 1 dude in that defensive secondary that is just winning the 1 v 1?
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Name one dude in the secondary who calls plays like a blitz with CB's giving a 12 yd cushion.

UT didn't get blasted by an upper tier O or a talented O. They were smacked around by one of the SEC's WORST offenses. His gameplan was bad. His execution was bad. His play calling was downright awful.

The same coaches were there for Kentucky and South Carolina, the difference was the dudes playing tackle. Sit tight, let the talent show up and develop.
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You might have a point if they'd been consistently good until the end. They had everyone vs UF. Richardson who was awful most of the year shredded Banks' D. Pitt who didn't have a talented passing game or consistency at QB had success. I guess next you're going to excuse UTM having their way with Banks' scheme by citing their overwhelming talent, right? Brady Cook had his "break out day" vs Banks' D.

Butch Jones proved that you can recruit enough talent to cover coaching incompetence most of the time... but not all of the time. It especially costs you when you run up against quality coaches. IOW's, UT may get more talent but you can't win championships unless your coaches can coach.
 
#89
#89
sjt18 said:
Name one dude in the secondary who calls plays like a blitz with CB's giving a 12 yd cushion.

UT didn't get blasted by an upper tier O or a talented O. They were smacked around by one of the SEC's WORST offenses. His gameplan was bad. His execution was bad. His play calling was downright awful.

You might have a point if they'd been consistently good until the end. They had everyone vs UF. Richardson who was awful most of the year shredded Banks' D. Pitt who didn't have a talented passing game or consistency at QB had success. I guess next you're going to excuse UTM having their way with Banks' scheme by citing their overwhelming talent, right? Brady Cook had his "break out day" vs Banks' D.

Butch Jones proved that you can recruit enough talent to cover coaching incompetence most of the time... but not all of the time. It especially costs you when you run up against quality coaches. IOW's, UT may get more talent but you can't win championships unless your coaches can coach.
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Ok
 
#91
#91
DaddyChad said:
You know you have a point of course but Heupel has been more mindful this year of when to shift down tempo. We’ve had some “cramps” after PATs at times that I think are designed to give the defense a little extra time. Also we’ve had moments where the offense is set but doesn’t snap quite a bit more. I think Heupel is at least aware of the issue and tries to adjust for it. Still need more depth and talent we both agree on that. I would just add I still think there’s a coaching issue but maybe I’m wrong and I’ll hope it works out
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If we recruit defensive players who can play SEC football, defense will not be any problem . If the offense scores every 2-3 minutes, the defense can stop the opponent and not allow more than 30-35 % third down conversions, we will roll like a Big Orange train.
 
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#92
#92
Allvols1996 said:
My point was that the next DC should have the ability to bring in his own staff. Period. Without caveat. Recruits mean nothing if they aren’t getting coached. Banks is NOT the answer. One position coach is not worth the bigger problem.
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I believe there will be some discussion between the DC and the HC about who is hire as assistant coaches. In fact, any assistant coaching hire will be discussed with the HC.
 
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#93
#93
VOLINVONORE said:
If we recruit defensive players who can play SEC football, defense will not be any problem . If the offense scores every 2-3 minutes, the defense can stop the opponent and not allow more than 30-35 % third down conversions, we will roll like a Big Orange train.
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The talent argument is we need talent to be better on defense. We have better talent than Vandy, miss State, etc yet we put a worse defense on the field.
 
#94
#94
This one’s a toughy. We need depth most importantly. But you start to think about our style of offense and the best way a defense complements that, you may not have a traditional defense with big bodies. It may be more of a speed and finesse defense
 
#95
#95
gobravesvols16 said:
I believe Wilson was a safety in hs
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It was a hybrid position. His top 2 college choices (us and Notre Dame) both recruited him as a linebacker. People get mixed up because Chavis tried him out at safety beginning Fall camp to see if he could get on the field quicker. Lasted a day or so.
 
#99
#99
What’s everybody’s thoughts on BJM? I am kind of mixed. While I can see some development in that group overall I feel we have a below average LB group. I don’t think it’s his development skills per day as much as it is his ability to recruit at a high level.
 
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