Post Spring Defense:

[vol2013]

Originally Posted by SCvol333

Our Defense wasn't statistically bad

It was in reality bad - we would scheme people for a half or so and try to hide our weaknesses and then the good teams would come out and absolutely cut us apart

I think we will be a lot better defensively this year but a lot better than bad still means it is an area of concern so I think OCI and the OP are right to be concerned more about this side of the ball

This. Our secondary was horrendous. At linebacker Maggitt and AJ played well played good for freshman but made plenty of freshman mistakes as well, and Austin Johnson should not be a starting linebacker on an SEC team. The defensive line improved as the season went on especially with Couch's play towards the end of the season, but overall left a lot to be desired. It was far from a good defense.

[ACvol3]

Originally Posted by Dudleys87

No more 10 yard cushions, hopefully.

Yeah because Teague, Gordon, Coleman and Lanier r speedy enough to stick right with sec receivers without cushion.. Did u see the uga game?

[TennTradition]

Am I mistaken when I recall Dooley saying that when Brewer was moved back to S due to his no-contact jersey that he anticipated that is where he would stay?

[ACvol3]

Originally Posted by vol2013

This. Our secondary was horrendous. At linebacker Maggitt and AJ played well played good for freshman but made plenty of freshman mistakes as well, and Aj Johnson should not be a starting linebacker on an SEC team. The defensive line improved as the season went on especially with Couch's play towards the end of the season, but overall left a lot to be desired. It was far from a good defense.

U don't think AJ is good enough to be a starter? I don't know what you were watching last year.. I think he was great for a freshman.

[TennTradition]

Originally Posted by ACvol3

U don't think AJ is good enough to be a starter? I don't know what you were watching last year.. I think he was great for a freshman.

Agreed. He's a baller.

[ACvol3]

Originally Posted by TennTradition

Am I mistaken when I recall Dooley saying that when Brewer was moved back to S due to his no-contact jersey that he anticipated that is where he would stay?

That's what I got out of it.. I'd be shocked if he wasn't starting safety against ncsu.

[TennTradition]

Originally Posted by ACvol3

That's what I got out of it.. I'd be shocked if he wasn't starting safety against ncsu.

I will be surprised if he isn't on the depth chart at S, either as starter or backup. With that said, a lot could happen at S between now and then. Brewer was very exposed last year - if Moore comes on he might slide over ... McNeil is going to push, etc. We'll see what happens in the fall.

[ACvol3]

Originally Posted by vol2013

This. Our secondary was horrendous. At linebacker Maggitt and AJ played well played good for freshman but made plenty of freshman mistakes as well, and Aj Johnson should not be a starting linebacker on an SEC team. The defensive line improved as the season went on especially with Couch's play towards the end of the season, but overall left a lot to be desired. It was far from a good defense.

Did u mean Austin Johnson?

[ACvol3]

Originally Posted by TennTradition

I will be surprised if he isn't on the depth chart at S, either as starter or backup. With that said, a lot could happen at S between now and then. Brewer was very exposed last year - if Moore comes on he might slide over ... McNeil is going to push, etc. We'll see what happens in the fall.

Coaches love his experience though. There's no way McNeil starts at the beginning of the season IMO. Brewer is physically developed a lot more and his actual SEC experience is priceless. LM will be good, but he will be too behind physically and especially mentally to beat out the others from the get go. Being an EE would've given him a chance, but he wasn't..We played a ton of frosh the last cpl years because we HAD to.. That's not the case anymore..

[vol2013]

Originally Posted by ACvol3

Did u mean Austin Johnson?

Crap yeah, head was saying one thing but I typed another thing for some reason

[vol2013]

Originally Posted by ACvol3

Yeah because Teague, Gordon, Coleman and Lanier r speedy enough to stick right with sec receivers without cushion.. Did u see the uga game?

Agree with three of the four, but Coleman definitely has the speed to stick with receivers. He wasn't getting burnt because of lack of speed last year, it was more of things like biting on double moves

[Spartacavolus]

Hey Fred, remember partying at tin roof after the ky basketball game a couple years ago? I got a pic of you, Clarence, big al, t fair, s hinton, Levine, etc.
Can't believe how big clarence is. Looked like an OL.

[volssam]

Originally Posted by OCIVol

The defense is a definite concern. There could be a lot of shootouts this year for our team, which is fun to watch, but difficult to win at a high clip in the SEC. The defense will need to create turnovers to be successful because we are not going to shut many teams down.

Wow. Downer. Haha.

My opinion is we prob won't be as good as some think we will be with the new coaches and energy and won't be as bad as some expect with a new D to learn. I think it will be somewhere in the middle.

And I think we will get better as the season goes on. Barring major injuries of course

[volssam]

Someone above posted a comparison to auburn's D in their NC run. I think that could be a fair comparison. They weren't that great of a D and gave up points. But got better as the yr progressed it seemed. And handled Oregon pretty well in the title game. We need someone to be a fairley though and wreak absolute havoc on the QB

[volssam]

We have got talent. Just not a ton of depth yet