Thoughts on Our Secondary

[1974Vol]

A lot has been said in the media about our pass defense being bad and statistically it has been ugly. However, we seem to have played progressively better over the last 4 games, despite a number of injuries. With both day one starters and a backup out at corner, Burrell gone for the season and Haddon and Charles out for Kentucky, it would be an understatement to say I was concerned going into Saturday night's game. But man did Slaughter, Turnage and Walker step up. That was by far the best CB play we have had all year.

Levis is by all accounts a top 10 NFL draft choice but he couldn't complete jack against us Saturday night. He dropped one really nice throw on a corner fade over Flowers and if memory serves that was it. (He did throw a back shoulder 50/50 ball that the Cat receiver dropped.) Every time he tried to fit one in a tight window we broke it up or it was intercepted.

We continue to get a pass rush and expect to against the Dawgs on Saturday and if our DB's play as well as they did against Kentucky, Bennett is in for a long afternoon.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Don't read too much into the Kentucky performances. Levis was banged up. Our defensive front literally had him leery of even receiving the hiked ball. Indeed, his OL just hasn't been able to protect him all season, even against low level opponents. This made our secondary look better than they have all year, except maybe for the Ball State game. If our backyard boys have really improved, the Georgia game reveal just how much.

 

[1974Vol]

Don't read too much into the Kentucky performances. Levis was banged up. Our defensive front literally had him leery of even receiving the hiked ball. Indeed, his OL just hasn't been able to protect him all season, even against low level opponents. This made our secondary look better than they have all year, except maybe for the Ball State game. If our backyard boys have really improved, the Georgia game reveal just how much.

Part of good pass defense is getting pressure on the QB which we have done all year, heck we knocked a few of them out of the game. But check out the attached stats for Levis for this year. Something going on here other than that.

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

It all starts up front every week. Everything flows from there. If Stetson Bennett has time, then he will hit his tight-ends. Linebackers and safeties will have to work in tandem Saturday. It's not all on the corners..

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Part of good pass defense is getting pressure on the QB which we have done all year, heck we knocked a few of them out of the game. But check out the attached stats for Levis for this year. Something going on here other than that.

Yes, there's been talk the KY new OC is cause for Will's regression. I'm inclined to believe this, while also thinking it is due to Stoop's Fulmeritis. That is his out of date offense and playing to not lose as opposed to playing to wn.

 

[sjt18]

UT's secondary has gotten better. The UTM game was valuable in that they built depth and found some guys who could play- specifically Slaughter and Turnage.

Neither Levis nor UK's WRs were as good as advertised. Still, holding any SEC team to under 100 yds passing is a good day's work.

UT's secondary really hasn't been as bad as advertised except for the UF game. A team that really isn't very good throwing the ball... couldn't do anything wrong. Part of that was UT playing very poor prevent at the end.

Outside of that... here is how UT's opponent passer rating compares to the opponents' season passer rating:

Ball St- 114 v 122
Pitt- 115 v 124
Akron- 114 v 130
UF- 148 v 129
LSU- 148 v 150
Bama- 153 v 157
UK- 68 v 154

Average yds/att tells a similar story. UT has contained everyone except for UF and Bama.


I am not trying to convince anyone they've been great... only that they haven't been as bad as some have said and that they're improving.

 

[Mustng959]

Much improved as the season has progressed.

 

[Madscientistvol]

What did that UK game do for our defensive standings?