Unbelievable improvement on Defense

#1
goldvol

goldvol

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#1
From last year's putrid D, has anyone else been impressed with how far the defense has come in just 1 year? In previous years, no matter how terrible the offense was, I could always count on being in a game against any opponent because of the Tennessee D.

I started a thread in November last year that showed we were dead last (120th) in red zone D. http://www.volnation.com/forum/tennessee-vols-football/178007-tennessee-dead-last-120th.html

I was curious if the statistics backed up what I felt was an improved defensive effort. I was pleasantly surprised to find that we jumped to #24 in the country in red zone defense!!!

Now, we are still letting teams into the redzone more than alot of other teams, but it seems to be the "bend, don't break" mentality.

I can't wait to see the defensive system develop over the next 3 years. If you get a chance, check it out and let me know what you think. Red Zone Defense - NCAA.com
 
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#2
#2
We've definitely improved over last year.
Nb4 it's easy to improve when you're dead last.

But considering we have alot of the same defensive personnel, it's really great how far they've come in a short time.
 
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#4
#4
Vol knight said:
I've also been impressed with the defense this year. Last year was a nightmare on defense.
Click to expand...

I honest to God thought we should've done onside kicks after scoring last year. Atleast we would've given the offense a chance to retain the ball and if not, we would've shortened the field for big plays.

Yeah, the D was that bad. On 3rd down the question was not were we going to stop them. It was "are they going to get a first down, or a touchdown."
 
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#5
#5
Yes - definite improvement. Tack this year's defense on to last year's team, and we win 10 games. What a waste of talent last year was...
 
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#6
#6
VolFan4Life87 said:
I honest to God thought we should've done onside kicks after scoring last year. Atleast we would've given the offense a chance to retain the ball and if not, we would've shortened the field for big plays.

Yeah, the D was that bad. On 3rd down the question was not were we going to stop them. It was "are they going to get a first down, or a touchdown."
Click to expand...

Yep. Having one of the worst Head Coaches in our school's history and the worst DC in the history of organized football was the perfect storm. Throw in ridiculously slow team speed and we got what you described so well. LOL at the onside kicks idea... but it actually makes sense given how bad the D was.
 
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#7
#7
vol2002 said:
Yes - definite improvement. Tack this year's defense on to last year's team, and we win 10 games. What a waste of talent last year was...
Click to expand...

Perhaps...I'd not like to find out though. While I am not necessarily an anti-Doolite, I think we're better off the way things worked out.
 
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#8
#8
Exception of maybe Oregon there have been zero backbreaking big plays for touchdowns. The Staff has done a great job with these players
 
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#10
#10
Belichicks coaching style on Defense has ALWAYS been bend but don't break.. helps when you have Tommy Terrific playin Q, but nonetheless I am happy to see our defense playing this well. If some guys stay + getting a healthy curt maggit back, next year our d can be REALLY good.
 
#11
#11
I wouldn't necessarily call 80th total defense (up from 107th last year) "unbelievable improvement", but I guess we all have different standards.
 
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#13
#13
oregonvol said:
I wouldn't necessarily call 80th total defense (up from 107th last year) "unbelievable improvement", but I guess we all have different standards.
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As far as I'm concerned, I have been impressed with the improvement on defense. As far as the stats for RED ZONE DEFENSE, it is an unbelievable improvement. Sorry that you refuse to accept it. :pilot:
 
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#14
#14
VolFan4Life87 said:
I honest to God thought we should've done onside kicks after scoring last year. Atleast we would've given the offense a chance to retain the ball and if not, we would've shortened the field for big plays.

Yeah, the D was that bad. On 3rd down the question was not were we going to stop them. It was "are they going to get a first down, or a touchdown."
Click to expand...

Our 3rd down D % is worse than last season, believe it or not, but improving.
 
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#15
#15
calban said:
Our 3rd down D % is worse than last season, believe it or not, but improving.
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Yeah I've noticed...we did pretty well against UGA, but of course they lost many of their offensive weapons early on. We'll definitely see tomorrow if the D has improved or not since week 1.
 
#17
#17
VFL10 said:
That Aaron Murray run at the end of the 3rd Quarter brought back memories from last years D.
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Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I remember that Akron game on at least two occasions, we had them at 3 and a mile (30 yards I think). We just kept getting roasted on the QB draw.
 
#19
#19
VolFan4Life87 said:
Yeah I've noticed...we did pretty well against UGA, but of course they lost many of their offensive weapons early on. We'll definitely see tomorrow if the D has improved or not since week 1.
Click to expand...
If Big Dan can control Davis and Shaw between the tackles, I'll expect a much closer game.
 
#21
#21
goldvol said:
As far as I'm concerned, I have been impressed with the improvement on defense. As far as the stats for RED ZONE DEFENSE, it is an unbelievable improvement. Sorry that you refuse to accept it. :pilot:
Click to expand...

Sorry that you aren't able to handle opinions other than your own.

Your thread stated "unbelievable improvement on defense". Sorry, I thought you were talking about the defense as a whole.

I guess if you separate out one aspect of our defense and just focus on that you can make a case for significant improvement. On the other hand, one might wonder how the difference in offensive production affects the game plan. After all, it's easier to settle for field goals, if that's all you need to win anyway.

And for those talking about how Oregon throws the overall number off, please remember that we have also played 3 of the 4 weakest opponents on our entire schedule in these 1st 6 games.
 
#23
#23
VolFan4Life87 said:
I honest to God thought we should've done onside kicks after scoring last year. Atleast we would've given the offense a chance to retain the ball and if not, we would've shortened the field for big plays.

Yeah, the D was that bad. On 3rd down the question was not were we going to stop them. It was "are they going to get a first down, or a touchdown."
Click to expand...

i kept saying that

in games like GA where we were close and were really scoring on them but you knew there was no way we were stopping them

why not just onside kick it - you would probably get more of those than you would have stops

thought the same thing when we played oregon this year honestly
 
#24
#24
oregonvol said:
Sorry that you aren't able to handle opinions other than your own.

Your thread stated "unbelievable improvement on defense". Sorry, I thought you were talking about the defense as a whole.

I guess if you separate out one aspect of our defense and just focus on that you can make a case for significant improvement. On the other hand, one might wonder how the difference in offensive production affects the game plan. After all, it's easier to settle for field goals, if that's all you need to win anyway.

And for those talking about how Oregon throws the overall number off, please remember that we have also played 3 of the 4 weakest opponents on our entire schedule in these 1st 6 games.
Click to expand...

What makes you think I can't handle other people's opinions? I've learned in my short time that the world is full of stupid people.

Yes, I did seperate one aspect of our defense, because that is the same thing I looked at when our defense was in shambles last year. This statistic has little to do with settling for meanlingless field goals, as it is a ranking of an opponent scoring any points once in the Red Zone. We were worst in the country last year. Now we are in the top 20% keeping teams from scoring when they are inside the 20. I feel like that is a pretty important statistic.

And yes, it is unbelievable, because you apparently refuse to accept it.
 
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#25
#25
The only way to go was up. Easy to improve on the worst defense in 116 years of football.
 
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