The most obvious deficiency in UT

[JohnWardForever]

RB. Notice how CP loooked when lined up in the backfield for the pitch play? Hit the hole FAST----like Tennessee backs used to do. The OL has been superb this year---but we have had no back to capitalize on the blocking. Travis Stephens would have had 1500 yards running behind that line---especially with the passing game UT had. Recruiting priority is a top RB.

 

[82_VOL_83]

I respectfully disagree. I am tired of our defensive players being left in the dust. TE's out run our DB's. The defense is slow. I would get an RB but spend a lot of time on LB's and DB's.

 

[BoseefusTheVol]

I respectfully disagree. I am tired of our defensive players being left in the dust. TE's out run our DB's. The defense is slow. I would get an RB but spend a lot of time on LB's and DB's.

This... I don't know if it was the players or the scheme, but they look slow.

 

[bluetickhound16]

I respectfully disagree. I am tired of our defensive players being left in the dust. TE's out run our DB's. The defense is slow. I would get an RB but spend a lot of time on LB's and DB's.

This. When our players are consistently out of position and whiffing on tackles it's bad enough.... When they are getting dusted (DUSTED!!!) by TE's that's unacceptable.

 

[govols105]

herman, bless his heart, was so slow it was uncanny, you could always tell everyone knew to throw his way.

 

[volinbama256]

DB's -- not even close

 

[FLVOL_79]

Go watch our RB's from..I don't know..1990's up to 2009..grab some tissues though

 

[Cartervol]

The defense.. There isn't a place it couldn't use some improvement..

 

[VolunteerVandiver]

The defense.. There isn't a place it couldn't use some improvement..

The defense is UT's most obvious deficiency in UT's history.

 

[JohnWardForever]

DB's -- not even close

Granted. But with a top RB, the offense would have been able to score 50 on most anyone---save bama. AND imagine how much better Bray would have been not having to do it all----all the time. 50 ppg.

 

[99gator]

The defense is the worst ever and you are worried about runnibg back

 

[JohnWardForever]

Go watch our RB's from..I don't know..1990's up to 2009..grab some tissues though

What I'm sayin.

 

[NEVolFan]

This... I don't know if it was the players or the scheme, but they look slow.

Funny...I recall CDD, in a presser, answer a question about the poor effort in the secondary, he answered like this.....Well in zone, we ask them to run around back there for a while, and then focus on a body and go cover that guy.

I found that amuzing and likely just his way to deal with frustration at that time...but sadly that actually does seem like the strategy.

 

[X2row34]

RB. Notice how CP loooked when lined up in the backfield for the pitch play? Hit the hole FAST----like Tennessee backs used to do. The OL has been superb this year---but we have had no back to capitalize on the blocking. Travis Stephens would have had 1500 yards running behind that line---especially with the passing game UT had. Recruiting priority is a top RB.

I think defense is biggest problem but I made the exact same statement about CP to my father in law at the game Saturday.

 

[ejvols4]

The RBs were so improved this year. The most obvious deficiency this year was certainly our lead footed defense.

 

[1967vol]

Granted. But with a top RB, the offense would have been able to score 50 on most anyone---save bama. AND imagine how much better Bray would have been not having to do it all----all the time. 50 ppg.

Imagine what our record would be if you took 14 points off the opposing team.

 

[Volunteer forever]

Running game was much improved this year. We need more speed in our secondary!

 

[Cyclopskiller]

Our secondary lol:

 

[wmcovol]

Some of the Dooley Decisions. Don't have a RB coach? Don't need one until you need a RB. Change defenses? No problem. Don't recruit speed? Don't worry, they are all good kids.

 

[photovol]

I could not agree more, the Vols desperately need a true SEC stud running back. Back when we were indeed relevent we had great running backs and with Bray, the pass first mentality has made us so predicatable.

 

[rbrackett807]

Some of the Dooley Decisions. Don't have a RB coach? Don't need one until you need a RB. Change defenses? No problem. Don't recruit speed? Don't worry, they are all good kids.

is the running back Jay Graham the one that came for south carolina and he was the one that worked with their star runner lattimore before he got hurt last year?

 

[dgcarter43]

I agree with the comments about the secondary looking slow but, consider this. Last year under Wilcox, our defense ranked somewhere in the 30's I believe. This year above 100. We had most of the same"slow" players then. What's the difference? I believe the problem lies with Sunseri more than the players. With the additional years experience, our defense should have been better but was much worse. I believe we will all be surprised next year with the coaching changes and how it will improve the team overall.

 

[utkell65]

This... I don't know if it was the players or the scheme, but they look slow.

It's both. With better coaching, they will be put in better positions to make plays and will play faster, but as a whole, they are just plain slow.

 

[orangeluvr]

The defense is the worst ever and you are worried about runnibg back

STFU Gator troll. :the_finger:

 

[KingtUT]

I agree the defense is bad too but one good RB could make a huge difference where as one DB or LB wont make that much difference in overall defense. Give me a RB first, then focus on D.