Should we switch to a 3-4 on defense

#1

BJWeeks

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#1
O Thomas, T West, Hobbs up front and Pearce, Josephs, A Carter, and K Pili standing and rotating in Ross, Bradley, C Herring, Spillman,, and Telander. We are recruiting so much speed at edge so would be nice to have them all on the field in a 3-4. Prolly never happen but fun to think about it
 
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#2
#2
bill-not-again.gif
 
#6
#6
They did play a similar version of a 3-3-5 by dropping the best pass rusher into coverage on 3rd down. Its a shame too because the second best pass rusher in the SEC could have potentially gotten more sacks had he not been 10 yards from the line of scrimmage. Pearce only needed 1 to tie or 2 to lead the league.
 
#9
#9
Maybe what we're heading toward is a 2-4 or 3-3 in the box.

As our big uglies up front get stronger and faster, as our recruiting and development pay dividends and we get more guys on the DL who are not only big and heavy but also hella strong, able to set their feet and absolutely deny gaps, as they get faster and can shift while doing all that, we're going to get eventually to a tipping point. A point where we can "do it with one less guy." Do the same things we were doing in 2021 using 4 guys, now with 3. Or in 2021 with 3, now with 2.

Once we're there, we start to match up with the UGas and Bamas. Because once we can do with 6 guys in the box, or even 5, what we used to do with 7, that frees us up to cover more of the field as well. And while we've always covered the deeper parts of the field, then we'll be able to start covering and breaking up the short and intermediate zones, too.

It's exciting, where we're going on defense. Folks just gotta put the pitchforks away, stop calling for our coaches' heads, and see what comes.

Go Vols!
 
#11
#11
I would love to see the Vols in man press every 3rd down, unless the offensive alignment just doesn't allow it (short yardage run formations). Bring unrelenting pressure from the middle and weak side. If the offense beats you on that, then oh well, they just beat you. Sitting back in a fluffy soft zone and getting ZERO pressure is just simply not the answer and more times than not gets you beat.

You have to make the offense earn it every time. It is extraordinarily frustrating watching the defense give up 3rd down after 3rd in major part from the strategy by the coaching staff.
 
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#14
#14
O Thomas, T West, Hobbs up front and Pearce, Josephs, A Carter, and K Pili standing and rotating in Ross, Bradley, C Herring, Spillman,, and Telander. We are recruiting so much speed at edge so would be nice to have them all on the field in a 3-4. Prolly never happen but fun to think about it
The Vols should probably install a 2-2-7. It just sounds fun .
 
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#15
#15
I have been a proponent of the 3-4 in the past but it seems the game is slowly turning back to the rushing attack. A lack of really great QBs, especially in the SEC, appears to be the culprit. I think we are in the stop the run and force the other team to beat us with the pass mindset for the foreseeable future.
 
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#18
#18
They did play a similar version of a 3-3-5 by dropping the best pass rusher into coverage on 3rd down. Its a shame too because the second best pass rusher in the SEC could have potentially gotten more sacks had he not been 10 yards from the line of scrimmage. Pearce only needed 1 to tie or 2 to lead the league.
Georgia ran a lot of that against Bama to spy on Milroe.
 
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#20
#20
O Thomas, T West, Hobbs up front and Pearce, Josephs, A Carter, and K Pili standing and rotating in Ross, Bradley, C Herring, Spillman,, and Telander. We are recruiting so much speed at edge so would be nice to have them all on the field in a 3-4. Prolly never happen but fun to think about it
That was a disaster under Dooley. It probably scared the fan base for life..lol
 

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