The best argument for why the pass D will be better

[Other_Guy]

No Bryce Young.
No Stetson Bennett.
No Anthony Richardson.
No Jayden Daniels.
There's a HUGE difference in level of QB play this year compared to last.
Also there is uncertainty with who is starting at A&M. Is Devan Leary really that good?
This leaves Spencer Rattler as the only big concern, and no one is quite sure if he's left his jekyll and Hyde self behind.
So I can see more 3 n outs, more INTs, more sacks just from the simple fact those 4 really good players are gone (or Daniels case, not facing him) and Im not hearing a lot of praise on their replacements.
I am super concerned about the OL and of course Milton having what it takes to seize the big moments but I feel really good about the defense as a whole. This can take some pressure off Joe too.
Can't get here soon enough! GBO!

 

[Proud Army Wife]

There’s still Spencer Rattler unfortunately, but I’ve got a hunch the Vols bend him over.

 

[fossilfiction]

It could hardly be worse at times but depth with talent will swing it.

 

[Big151Orange]

There’s still Spencer Rattler unfortunately, but I’ve got a hunch the Vols bend him over.

I would be shocked if our D doesn’t have a huge target painted on Rattler. I’m predicting multiple sacks with our players doing the counting on their fingers as he did last year counting his TD throws.

 

[Hulavol]

The best argument is the simplest : it couldn’t possibly be any worse.

 

[csheaton]

This crossed my mind as well, and I think it will definitely help. Also South Carolina only has 8 returning starters. Lost a lot on the o-line including their projected starting Left tackle in their spring game. Done for the year. I expect our D-line to eat in this matchup.

 

[vegasvolfan]

No Bryce Young.
No Stetson Bennett.
No Anthony Richardson.
No Jayden Daniels.
There's a HUGE difference in level of QB play this year compared to last.
Also there is uncertainty with who is starting at A&M. Is Devan Leary really that good?
This leaves Spencer Rattler as the only big concern, and no one is quite sure if he's left his jekyll and Hyde self behind.
So I can see more 3 n outs, more INTs, more sacks just from the simple fact those 4 really good players are gone (or Daniels case, not facing him) and Im not hearing a lot of praise on their replacements.
I am super concerned about the OL and of course Milton having what it takes to seize the big moments but I feel really good about the defense as a whole. This can take some pressure off Joe too.
Can't get here soon enough! GBO!

Depth and Rodney Garner’s boys getting after the QB more!

 

[BigBabyWilliams]

I honestly feel like Hadden’s going to have an unreal year. His athleticism, and aggressiveness, with another year in the system I’m excited to see what he looks like this year.

 

[TAF]

...I’ve got a hunch the Vols bend him over.

Literally...

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

I agree!

We are deeper and more talented now

Over the last two seasons we've faced a gauntlet

It's not like we are getting a walk in the park, but it won't be full of Heisman and 1st round level dudes.

 

[1974Vol]

Depth and Rodney Garner!

This! The DB's took a lot of the heat for the lack of QB pressure by the front 4. We always had to blitz to get to the QB. Also, even when we got home we failed to get the QB on the ground. We will be better up front this year and everyone will wonder how the same DB's from last year suddenly can cover!

 

[TennEddie]

I hope the DBs have learned how to tackle.

 

[1974Vol]

I hope the DBs have learned how to tackle.

Number 0 was pretty good but yeah we could improve there a lot...

 

[YankeeVol]

The best argument is the simplest : it couldn’t possibly be any worse.

Coming to say the same thing

 

[sjt18]

There's more depth in the secondary with guys who are worthy of SEC snaps.

The question may become whether UT can get pass rush push from the middle of the DL. If they do, the pass D will be better.

 

[Hank Bukowski]

No Bryce Young.
No Stetson Bennett.
No Anthony Richardson.
No Jayden Daniels.
There's a HUGE difference in level of QB play this year compared to last.
Also there is uncertainty with who is starting at A&M. Is Devan Leary really that good?
This leaves Spencer Rattler as the only big concern, and no one is quite sure if he's left his jekyll and Hyde self behind.
So I can see more 3 n outs, more INTs, more sacks just from the simple fact those 4 really good players are gone (or Daniels case, not facing him) and Im not hearing a lot of praise on their replacements.
I am super concerned about the OL and of course Milton having what it takes to seize the big moments but I feel really good about the defense as a whole. This can take some pressure off Joe too.
Can't get here soon enough! GBO!

The only reason I have any hope of our pass D being better is because of what Rodney Garner is doing with our D line. The LBs and DBs? I have to see it to believe it. If our DBs in particular can’t finally cover people and tackle them, then I am absolutely done with Willie Martinez, who has 24 DBs on our current roster. (Yes, you read that right…24. Look it up yourself.)

Let the season begin.

 

[temptn]

There’s still Spencer Rattler unfortunately, but I’ve got a hunch the Vols bend him over.

.
SC will be 1-3 when they get to Neyland and 1-4 when they leave.

 

[Other_Guy]

The best argument is the simplest : it couldn’t possibly be any worse.

You're correct lol. Maybe I should've said something to the effect that my point is why it's the best argument for why there will be a significant improvement.
If Tenn's offense is on the field a little longer due to the drop off at QB and OL and the opposing team isn't playing so much catchup or slowing it down with the run because they lack great QBs, that means less defensive snaps and passes as well.

 

[87&91ALUM]

Milton will make or break our defense. If, big if, we score big early and play D with a lead, we can play more aggressive on D. I want to see our team speed on D and as mentioned earlier, tackling. Finally, I do not want to see us get shredded for first downs and long completions against our D like the last few seasons.

 

[tennesseeduke]

No Bryce Young.
No Stetson Bennett.
No Anthony Richardson.
No Jayden Daniels.
There's a HUGE difference in level of QB play this year compared to last.
Also there is uncertainty with who is starting at A&M. Is Devan Leary really that good?
This leaves Spencer Rattler as the only big concern, and no one is quite sure if he's left his jekyll and Hyde self behind.
So I can see more 3 n outs, more INTs, more sacks just from the simple fact those 4 really good players are gone (or Daniels case, not facing him) and Im not hearing a lot of praise on their replacements.
I am super concerned about the OL and of course Milton having what it takes to seize the big moments but I feel really good about the defense as a whole. This can take some pressure off Joe too.
Can't get here soon enough! GBO!

Because the D-LIne will be better.

 

[VolBricks]

I am attending the Virginia game in Nashville and I think A&M or USCjr is probably the other game I will look to attend this year. I would love to see us put a real beat-down on USCjr. . I posted a few weeks back I expect the score of the USCjr game to be something like UT=49 USCjr.= 24

 

[Other_Guy]

Because the D-LIne will be better.

In a sense, yes. But they will also benefit from not having to chase down really good QBs.

 

[EastTNVol6240]

Already counting out a bunch of QBs we haven’t even seen on the field yet?

 

[supersmo18]

There’s still Spencer Rattler unfortunately, but I’ve got a hunch the Vols bend him over.

 

[ConantheVolbarian]

The defense was not even bad, aside from the South Carolina game. Our D only gave up 22 points a game last year. That's the only stat that matters. Who cares if you give up a lot of yards in garbage time when you have already taken a huge lead and your depth issues are starting to take a toll over the course of a game? At the end of the day yards and first downs don't matter if you can't score. We were 11-2.