Unbelievable improvement on Defense

#52
#52
It's about where I thought it would be. The secondary is much better than anticipated and the LBs a tad worse but without Maggitt. DL is about where I thought considering injuries, that's not bad.

I did expect more from the Offense but maybe GA is a turning point game the passing game.

I did expect special teams to be better and they are.
 
#53
#53
Here's to Arky being that bad last weekend verses USCe being that good.

May USCe be blessed with overconfidence and turnovers tomorrow!
 
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#54
#54
BOP said:
Definitely improvement but unbelievable? Its still a very bad defense.
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Usually when the offense is dreadfully inadequate, as ours has been most of this year, it really impacts the defense statistically as they are on the field more and under more pressure. In some ways you're comparing apples to oranges based on that fact alone.

Here's what I see to be true this year.
1) we are not getting killed on the big play nearly as often.
2) our run defense, especially interior, is light years better.
3) our DBs are positioned better and fight off blockers on the corners much better.
4) This defense is VERY physical. I haven't seen a UT defense this physical in many years.
5) pass defense may not seem statistically better, but it is much better in that we don't get killed vertically as often.
6) they seem to be more opportunistic as a unit and have created some big plays at the right time.

Overall I think the defense is much better than last year. as the offense continues to improve and stay on the field longer, it will show in the statistics.

My two pennies worth. :peace2:
 
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#55
#55
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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Wow great post Johnny Raincloud. So I am wondering if the only reason you are on this board is too provide as much negativity as possible.

If you cannot see unbelievable improvement in this years defense and last years then football is not the sport for you.
 
#56
#56
KBVol said:
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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Yes to all this and we still had USCjr beat! We win by 10 or more tomorrow! Book it!

Go Vols!

:loco:

Tennesseeduke
 
#57
#57
Dragon18 said:
Usually when the offense is dreadfully inadequate, as ours has been most of this year, it really impacts the defense statistically as they are on the field more and under more pressure. In some ways you're comparing apples to oranges based on that fact alone.

Here's what I see to be true this year.
1) we are not getting killed on the big play nearly as often.
2) our run defense, especially interior, is light years better.
3) our DBs are positioned better and fight off blockers on the corners much better.
4) This defense is VERY physical. I haven't seen a UT defense this physical in many years.
5) pass defense may not seem statistically better, but it is much better in that we don't get killed vertically as often.
6) they seem to be more opportunistic as a unit and have created some big plays at the right time.

Overall I think the defense is much better than last year. as the offense continues to improve and stay on the field longer, it will show in the statistics.

My two pennies worth. :peace2:
Click to expand...

On point number 5, teague graduated and Sutton joined on. This equals automatic better pass defense
 
#58
#58
keckjm said:
Biggest improvements on defense have been in stopping the run and in creating some pressure on the QB. Stopping the pass has still been very bad this year.
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I agree that it LOOKS much better, but I was surprised to find this:

2012 (12 games) 4.75 yds/carry, 25 TDs, 101 First Downs, 64 runs of 10 yds or more, 21 of 20 yds or more;
2013 (6 games) 4.73 yds /carry, 12 TDs, 56 First Downs, 37 runs of 10 or more, 8 of 20 or more. (Prorate those to 24 TDs, 112 First Downs, 74 over 10, 16 over 20 for 12 games.)
Numbers-wise no improvement.

Pass defense, however:
2012 61%, 26 TDs, 12 ints, 12.5/completion
2013 53.7% 9 TDs, 11 ints, 13.3/completion
(18 TDs, 22 ints for 12 games)

additionally:
2012 149 first downs throwing, 82 for 15 or more yards, 35 for 25 or more yards
2013 63 first downs, 34 over 15, 16 over 25.
(prorate to 126, 68, 32 for 12 games)

The big improvement is in the pass defense.
 
#59
#59
I expected us to take a small step forward on the D this year and so far we've done that.

Just as with anything else on a college football team it's going to take better talent at every position and the kids learning more and more each year for us to build back up to having a solid 2 deep rotation at every position before we can get back up to being a elite team again like we all know we should be.

We still have a long way to go but if bUTch can keep recruiting good talent every year then we are going to rise back to the top again in a few more years as the talent level rises back up again and we start seeing a rock solid 2 deep rotation get back in place so that when some guys come off for a breather our play doesn't drop off alot like it still does now.

I see the solid improvements that I wanted to see in year 1 so far and I think this coaching staff will keep our kids improving every week like they should.

It's a long, steep mountain to climb to get back to the top but we're working our way back up that mountain step by step finally.

#BrickbyBrick...VFL...GBO!!!
 
#60
#60
We need better play at OLB and DE and this defense would be awesome. The secondary gets better every week and will continue to do so as most of these guys have about 15 games or less experience.
 
#61
#61
Dragon18 said:
Usually when the offense is dreadfully inadequate, as ours has been most of this year, it really impacts the defense statistically as they are on the field more and under more pressure. In some ways you're comparing apples to oranges based on that fact alone.

Here's what I see to be true this year.
1) we are not getting killed on the big play nearly as often.
2) our run defense, especially interior, is light years better.
3) our DBs are positioned better and fight off blockers on the corners much better.
4) This defense is VERY physical. I haven't seen a UT defense this physical in many years.
5) pass defense may not seem statistically better, but it is much better in that we don't get killed vertically as often.
6) they seem to be more opportunistic as a unit and have created some big plays at the right time.

Overall I think the defense is much better than last year. as the offense continues to improve and stay on the field longer, it will show in the statistics.

My two pennies worth. :peace2:
Click to expand...

See my other post. Pass defense IS much better statistically. Run defense is almost identical statistically. (But I agree with your other assessments.)
 
#62
#62
This year so far the defense has indeed looked better than last year, but we have 5 SEC games left to play this year. It will be interesting to compare stats at the end of the year with stats of last year. We definately have some tough games left to be played and let's just hope we can end up playing in a Bowl Game and set the stage for the future. Butch has the team playing with much more determination than I saw under Dooley.
 
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#64
#64
oregonvol said:
Vanderbilt hasn't lost to a team as low caliber as either of those two this season, so I'm not sure why you would assume that. But I hope you're still saying that come November 23rd and you haven't changed your tune that Vanderbilt is a worse team than WKU and S. Alabama (and consequently, there is no excuse for losing to them again). Otherwise, I might think you're just making baseless claims here to support a faulty argument.

I won't dispute that our defense has improved somewhat. But I'm not sure if it has been that significant. I guess it will seem more significant to me when it actually makes a difference in winning a significant game.
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Our D has improved quite a bit ...I know things change in a year ..but the huge trend is that common opponents are scoring quite a few less points compared : GA 51 / UF 37 / US 38 , this year UF 31/ GA 34/ US 21...defense is points allowed. Every other stat is a variable only that arrives at points allowed. 126 last season against common foes vs 86.

That is approx a 31% improvement ( reduction) in points allowed in comparable games.. which is huge.

I know there was the whole Oregon game ...but I really have no basis to compare that to last season. I have to say though ..there are only 3-5 teams in the country that Oregon could not blow up the scoreboard on.
 
#65
#65
A lot more fun to play defense when it comes to you naturally. These young men are doing what they enjoy, playing football without over thinking the game!
 
#67
#67
I think John Jancek deserves a huge amount of credit for the transformation that has been going on with this defense....it has appeared to see improvement every single week. Considering where we were last year he's transformed these guys and proved we have athletes, they just needed good coaching, and fundamentals. Still have a long ways to go, but love seeing the energy on defense increase every week. Last two weeks they have been aided by a lot of home field crowd noise too though, I wanna see them maintain this energy in hostile territory this week.
 
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