State of Vols Defense.

[livefaith]

We are young and will give up big plays but it will be because of youth, not lack of speed. We are undersized, teams that have a big physical RB will hurt us badly.

True. But, I think we're only undersized at all DTs and Swafford, who I expect to be a placeholder until TKjr starts later.

OTOH, our DTs should be much faster. Not that we use em' to cover WRs, but pursuits will be infinitely better. Remember Hood and McCullers getting sideline to sideline last year? Me neither.

 

[VonoreVol]

This defense will be much faster than last years. If our interior d-lineman can just be competent, and Curt, AJ, and Cam Sutton can stay healthy, I think we will see a lot of improvement defensively. Especially when some of these youngsters like TK, Dillon Bates, Gaulden, and the Berry's get acclimated to playing SEC football. One of the guys on the SEC Network actually made the comment that this freshman class could be even better than advertised, and expected us to be competing for the SEC title possibly as early as next year with the talent we are accumulating. Kind of caught me off guard because all they talk about on there is Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina and UGA. It was nice to actually hear someone aware of what Butch is assembling here in such little time. These young guys are gonna make some mistakes, especially early on in the year, but I think this defense is gonna surprise some folks in the second half of the season. Just a matter of getting some game experience.

 

[IndyVOL26]

My Position Breakdown for the 2014 Vols

QB= C-
The fact that it took so long for Worley to step up and win the starting job doesn't exactly make me feel comfortable. I question if he even won the job or it was simply given to him by default. Had high expectations for Josh Dobbs but he seems to have taken a step back. As for Petermen see florida game last year.. If Worely can step up into the roll of a game manager and not make too many mistakes this grade could rise.

RB= B
Ive loved the running style of Marlin Lane since he stepped foot on campus. the problem with Lane seems to be durability and a lack of top end speed. Although i do believe after a great spring Marlin has a solid year and we will all be happy with his production.. I think Jalen Hurd has a chance to be one of the greats to carry the rock on rocky top ... look for Hurds play to push Marlin to the next level ...

WR= A
North....Pearson....Pig....Smith....Malone....Croo m... by far the deepest unit on this team. I look for the first 3 to have monster years and the next 3 to fill in and make plays when called upon to do so... This could be one of the Best/deepest WR cores i have seen in some time for the Vols... North will be a household name by the end of the year and no im not talking about Kanyes baby...

Oline= D
not much to say about this group considering they are literally the unknown.. the success or the failure of this football rests on the shoulders of this group of guys... Being inexperienced doesn't always mean bad just most of the time so heres to hoping these guys can buck the trend and step up...

TE= B
ya the top two TE on the field this year are likely to be Freshmen but these arent your average frosh... from all account Ethan Wolf is a straight baller ready to step in a be a big part of this offense right away... Helm doesn't have the same size and straighten as Wolf but he more than makes up for that with his pass catching ability.. look for him to be in the mold of a Jordan reed type of TE...It amazes me how much better off we are at this position from last year.

Offense= C+

CB= B
everyone is aware of the lock down Frosh All American Cam Sutton and the smart leader of the second airy Brain Randolph... but stepping at the other corner spot looks to be one of 2 new faces.. if Mosley or Williams can step up and play while opposite of Cam i think this unit has a chance to be very good... I think the coleman move from corner to nickel will help him and the team tremendously.. At the SS position look for freshmen Stud to creep up the depth chart and ultimately steal the starting spot from Mcneil or swafford...

LBs= C+
should be a solid group led by AA candidate AJ the beast Johnson... look for JRM to bring the fire from ST to the D this year. Bates and Weathered will compete for playing time and i foresee both being more than capable.. not much depth to speak.

Dline= C-
It was hard for me to grade this group considering i happen to think we have 3 of the best D ends we have had in some time... Maggit if healthy is capable of having an AA type of year but the question with maggit is always health... Vareen is a beast in the making! saw some flashes of greatness in this kid and i think he has a break out season...and look for frosh Derek Barnett to push both these guys for playing time. But when it comes to the Tackles its inexperience and zero depth ... and injury to this unit could be devastating to this defense... The overall success of this defense depends on the play of these guys..

Defense= C

 

[WilliamDuVOL]

Agree to disagree then.

Same faces atop the depth chart as last season in the secondary except Mosely and Johnson has never wowed anyone with his speed.

Think about the extra year they now have in a real S&C program. I expect improved speed now that there is a real S&C program at UT again.

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

Actually you are wrong. Swafford at safety is alot faster than mcneil. Reeves maybin is faster than sapp. All the young guys rotating in will add speed as well. I've also heard the coaches say multiple times how much faster we are on d.

McNeil's 40 time......4.52.

LaDarrell McNeil - Yahoo! Sports

Swafford's 40 time....4.61

https://rivals.yahoo.com/tennessee/football/recruiting/player-Devaun-Swafford-134891;_ylt=AvNgckkO963ljJagt_GA6XOqt5B4


I'll save you the trouble of explaining game speed means more or some other argument to tell me how wrong I am, but the overall speed of the defense has not been significantly upgraded in the starting 11 IMO.

The upgrades in speed are mostly on the bench due to lack of experience from what I have seen.

Which, if a player loses a split second in his decision making process, it makes them slower as well.

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

Think about the extra year they now have in a real S&C program. I expect improved speed now that there is a real S&C program at UT again.

Valid point but I think lousy recruiting from Dooley has as much to do with it as the lack of a S an C program.

S and C can only do so much for a player and team.

 

[Biopsyman]

Basically playing with Dooley players ... Have to believe that coaching as been significantly better and results will be proved on the field.

 

[SobeVol]

We are young and will give up big plays but it will be because of youth, not lack of speed. We are undersized, teams that have a big physical RB will hurt us badly.

This is my biggest concern.
My second is our offensive line. They are going to have to play extremely well to give our qb time or I fear our offense will be stymied

 

[butchna]

McNeil's 40 time......4.52.

LaDarrell McNeil - Yahoo! Sports

Swafford's 40 time....4.61

https://rivals.yahoo.com/tennessee/football/recruiting/player-Devaun-Swafford-134891;_ylt=AvNgckkO963ljJagt_GA6XOqt5B4


I'll save you the trouble of explaining game speed means more or some other argument to tell me how wrong I am, but the overall speed of the defense has not been significantly upgraded in the starting 11 IMO.

The upgrades in speed are mostly on the bench due to lack of experience from what I have seen.

Which, if a player loses a split second in his decision making process, it makes them slower as well.

Swaffoed as a true freshman walkon had quicker recognition skills than McNeil...so if legitimately faster candidates from this class have similar natural instincts?...speeds up the timetable. :thumbsup:

 

[Bluetic]

D will be better. I must be alone in thinking that being in the same system as last year ( first time in years) will result in big improvements. Guys running without being sure about what they are doing are slower! Still young, blow coverages and tackles, but improved.

 

[MWAVolfan]

My Position Breakdown for the 2014 Vols

QB= C-
The fact that it took so long for Worley to step up and win the starting job doesn't exactly make me feel comfortable.

I dont think Worley stepped up so much as Butch Jones ran out of time and had to name someone the starting QB.

 

[MWAVolfan]

My Position Breakdown for the 2014 Vols

QB= C-
The fact that it took so long for Worley to step up and win the starting job doesn't exactly make me feel comfortable. I question if he even won the job or it was simply given to him by default. Had high expectations for Josh Dobbs but he seems to have taken a step back. As for Petermen see florida game last year.. If Worely can step up into the roll of a game manager and not make too many mistakes this grade could rise.

RB= B
Ive loved the running style of Marlin Lane since he stepped foot on campus. the problem with Lane seems to be durability and a lack of top end speed. Although i do believe after a great spring Marlin has a solid year and we will all be happy with his production.. I think Jalen Hurd has a chance to be one of the greats to carry the rock on rocky top ... look for Hurds play to push Marlin to the next level ...

WR= A
North....Pearson....Pig....Smith....Malone....Croo m... by far the deepest unit on this team. I look for the first 3 to have monster years and the next 3 to fill in and make plays when called upon to do so... This could be one of the Best/deepest WR cores i have seen in some time for the Vols... North will be a household name by the end of the year and no im not talking about Kanyes baby...

Oline= D
not much to say about this group considering they are literally the unknown.. the success or the failure of this football rests on the shoulders of this group of guys... Being inexperienced doesn't always mean bad just most of the time so heres to hoping these guys can buck the trend and step up...

TE= B
ya the top two TE on the field this year are likely to be Freshmen but these arent your average frosh... from all account Ethan Wolf is a straight baller ready to step in a be a big part of this offense right away... Helm doesn't have the same size and straighten as Wolf but he more than makes up for that with his pass catching ability.. look for him to be in the mold of a Jordan reed type of TE...It amazes me how much better off we are at this position from last year.

Offense= C+

CB= B
everyone is aware of the lock down Frosh All American Cam Sutton and the smart leader of the second airy Brain Randolph... but stepping at the other corner spot looks to be one of 2 new faces.. if Mosley or Williams can step up and play while opposite of Cam i think this unit has a chance to be very good... I think the coleman move from corner to nickel will help him and the team tremendously.. At the SS position look for freshmen Stud to creep up the depth chart and ultimately steal the starting spot from Mcneil or swafford...

LBs= C+
should be a solid group led by AA candidate AJ the beast Johnson... look for JRM to bring the fire from ST to the D this year. Bates and Weathered will compete for playing time and i foresee both being more than capable.. not much depth to speak.

Dline= C-
It was hard for me to grade this group considering i happen to think we have 3 of the best D ends we have had in some time... Maggit if healthy is capable of having an AA type of year but the question with maggit is always health... Vareen is a beast in the making! saw some flashes of greatness in this kid and i think he has a break out season...and look for frosh Derek Barnett to push both these guys for playing time. But when it comes to the Tackles its inexperience and zero depth ... and injury to this unit could be devastating to this defense... The overall success of this defense depends on the play of these guys..

Defense= C

If you rate the OL and QB so low then you have to downgrade the RB and WR grade because without a solid OL and QB those other positions wont be able to perform at such high levels.

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

Swaffoed as a true freshman walkon had quicker recognition skills than McNeil...so if legitimately faster candidates from this class have similar natural instincts?...speeds up the timetable. :thumbsup:

All well and good and acknowledged but it's the same starting secondary as started the KY game last season.

Remains to be seen on how quickly the freshmen acclimate to the college game. That's the big IF in the whole thing for me.

Hard to say for sure that team speed on defense is greatly improved IMO when they have the same cast returning in the secondary from last year and truly no idea what to expect from freshmen.

 

[gunner]

Inexperienced, undersized up front, and slow.

Tennessee depth chart reflects Volunteers' youth

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.: Vols defense deals with lack of experience, size - College Football - MiamiHerald.com

I get the inexperienced argument but not the undersized argument. The Vols have good not great size on the defensive front compared to other SEC teams.

Last season, UT was one of the biggest and most experienced teams in the SEC on the defensive front, but they could not stop the run. Talent, speed and quickness are just as important as size and experience, and this will be the most talented defense to take the field at UT in many seasons.

 

[butchna]

All well and good and acknowledged but it's the same starting secondary as started the KY game last season.

Remains to be seen on how quickly the freshmen acclimate to the college game. That's the big IF in the whole thing for me.

Hard to say for sure that team speed on defense is greatly improved IMO when they have the same cast returning in the secondary from last year and truly no idea what to expect from freshmen.

Maybe if we can withstand the wait until the conclusion of THE FIRST GAME...we'll have an idea?...maybe two or three games even? :focus:

 

[MADISONGAVOL]

Can't be much worse than south Carolinas. all time qb passing record atm just put up on them