2017 Vols will have the #1 or #2 ranked DEFENSE in the SEC

[volfannbama]

I loved the speed and passion we played with. Guys we flowing to the football extremely well. I also loved how our players physically looked. KMac looked in phenomenal shape. I also loved the conditioning of our guys to play as many snaps as they did.

Overall I saw a lot more positives from the defense MOVING FORWARD than negatives.

You guys problem is you can't get it out of your head that we couldn't stop Georgia Tech's option attack. So you assume that means the defense will struggle moving forward. That couldn't be further from the truth. We didn't struggle against Georgia Tech for reasons that can be exploited by traditional offenses. For example it's not like we dont have speed on defense. We do. Especially when it comes to Bituli, Warrior, and Abernathy. We didn't struggle because our guys could stand up at the point of attack. We rarely lined up at the line of scrimmage. We were a couple of yards out every play so our guys could protect their knees. And so on.

There's nothing a traditional offense can point to from Monday night and say we can attack that (other than Justin Martin). Everything else we struggled with was related solely to the option scheme and has no bearing on the rest of our opponents.

So when expecting the offense to run we couldnt find the speed or ability to shed blocks to tackle the runner, but against better teams we will? Huh, who knew.

 

[secking]

Yes. We suck at defending the option. And we better hope we don't see Georgia Tech again. But we could've given up 1000 yards rushing to Georgia Tech monday and it still would have no bearing on the rest of our season because that offense is unique and it's not something we'll see again.

You're trying to make a connection that just isn't there. You can't say because we couldn't stop Georgia Tech's option attack, we won't be able to stop traditional teams from running the ball. Those 2 things don't coincide no matter how hard you keep trying to make them match. Just because you suck at stopping the option doesn't mean you have to also suck at stopping a traditional running attack. Anyone who knows anything about football knows you can't use this transitive property.

Except, Tech didn't run the triple option after the first two series. They kept running the dive play and belly option.

"The first two series of the game were really the plays that generally speaking I think that they do a good job and how they would attack our configuration. Everybody asked about Jumper lining up deep or this or that, and they didn't run any triple option after their first two series of the game. Not one snap of triple option. And we probably had three tackles for loss on those first two series of the game on triple option.

-247 Shoop

 

[bamawriter]

I loved the speed and passion we played with. Guys we flowing to the football extremely well. I also loved how our players physically looked. KMac looked in phenomenal shape. I also loved the conditioning of our guys to play as many snaps as they did.

Overall I saw a lot more positives from the defense MOVING FORWARD than negatives.

Well heck, if you loved that wet paper bag, here's hoping you're absolutely orgasmic after the TSIO.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

And then they played a real defense.

I will give Alabama credit for being the best run defense in college the last 10 years.

Those steroids are being put to good use in Tuscaloosa.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

nope. didn't forget.

you using that game to place them at # 1 or # 2? you conveniently forget those other games?

since we ranked 124th in the country after game one, what is your projection on how high we move up after Indiana St?? We need to make big move to attain that !/2 ranking

No. I never once cited the game against Nebraska as proof that we would be an elite defense this year. I have consistently cited the talent on this team and my belief in their potential. Daniel Bituli being one of the guys I was highest on in the preseason that has proven me right given his phenomenal play this past game.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Except, Tech didn't run the triple option after the first two series. They kept running the dive play and belly option.

-247 Shoop

They still ran the option. Read my post that you quoted closely this time. I never said triple option. I said option.

 

[LittleCat]

I didn't know teams stayed exactly the same year after year in college.

Somebody should tell 2013 Auburn that they're exactly the same as the 2012 that failed to win a game in the SEC.

Whenever you are questioned on something, you constantly pick random players/teams from years past as comparisons for whatever your point is. But when someone else uses statistics (not opinion like you do) to show some context for the GT game, you can't accept it?

lol:

 

[LittleCat]

Actually we ended last year with a pretty good defensive performance against Nebraska in the bowl game.

Or did you conveniently forget that cause it wouldn't fit your agenda?

Split last year right down the middle...In the last half of the season teams ran for 409, 443, 420 (320 passing yards as well), 192 (416 passing yards), 158, 61, and 60 yards. Teams saw the weakness UT had against the run and took advantage big time. The Nebraska was a great showing for the Vols, but UT definitely struggled down the stretch containing teams like USCjr, Kentucky, Mizzou, and Vandy which should be inexcusable. The only team UT truly shut down was TTU.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Split last year right down the middle...In the last half of the season teams ran for 409, 443, 420 (320 passing yards as well), 192 (416 passing yards), 158, 61, and 60 yards. Teams saw the weakness UT had against the run and took advantage big time. The Nebraska was a great showing for the Vols, but UT definitely struggled down the stretch containing teams like USCjr, Kentucky, Mizzou, and Vandy which should be inexcusable. The only team UT truly shut down was TTU.

17 different starters went down with injuries last year. Mostly on defense.

I'm not one to defend this coaching staff. But I'm not gonna ignore that injuries were devastating last year and contributed to the poor defensive performances.

 

[LittleCat]

17 different starters went down with injuries last year. Mostly on defense.

I'm not one to defend this coaching staff. But I'm not gonna ignore that injuries were devastating last year and contributed to the poor defensive performances.

So you give them credit for playing well against Nebraska but discount the other games? You can't just cherry pick one game but ignore the others.

 

[BearCat204]

The option offense definitely made it difficult to stop the run game, but there were a ton of poor tackle, poor assignments, and bad angles for a majority of the game that turned a 2 yard gain into 15+. Hopefully we get some things fixed between now and UF.

 

[Burger]

The option offense definitely made it difficult to stop the run game, but there were a ton of poor tackle, poor assignments, and bad angles for a majority of the game that turned a 2 yard gain into 15+. Hopefully we get some things fixed between now and UF.

Our biggest problem on defense is the middle. Our DTs got no push up the middle. That's why the dive kept being 4-6 yard gains like clockwork.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

So you give them credit for playing well against Nebraska but discount the other games? You can't just cherry pick one game but ignore the others.

They played better against Nebraska cause they actually got a little more healthy. Its not cherry picking. It's showing a direct correlation that injuries have to performance. And before you start up about Georgia Tech, check my other posts. I've already discussed it extensively.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Our biggest problem on defense is the middle. Our DTs got no push up the middle. That's why the dive kept being 4-6 yard gains like clockwork.

That's cause we lined up 2 yards off the ball and had to watch out for our knees being cut out.

We'll be fine up the middle once we start lining up on the line of scrimmage and don't have to worry about our knees getting taken out.

 

[Burger]

That's cause we lined up 2 yards off the ball and had to watch out for our knees being cut out.

We'll be fine up the middle once we start lining up on the line of scrimmage and don't have to worry about our knees getting taken out.

They got pushed back when it was obvious the Oline wasn't going to cut. Our defensive line and linebackers were slaw last week.

 

[bamawriter]

That's cause we lined up 2 yards off the ball and had to watch out for our knees being cut out.

This raises a couple of questions:

Have other teams utilized this approach when playing Georgia Tech?

AND

If they have, why were they so much more successful than Tennessee?

 

[BearCat204]

They got pushed back when it was obvious the Oline wasn't going to cut. Our defensive line and linebackers were slaw last week.

Lining up, really 1 yard off the ball, doesn't have a thing to do with getting your ass pushed back for 4.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

This raises a couple of questions:

Have other teams utilized this approach when playing Georgia Tech?

AND

If they have, why were they so much more successful than Tennessee?

Lets see how people do against Georgia Tech this year. You talk as if every team in college football stays the same every year.

I think folks are gonna have the same issues we had playing Tech this year. That new QB (if he can stay healthy) will make all the difference. He's special.

Like I said earlier. Don't be surprised if they are playing for the ACC Championship in December.

 

[bamawriter]

Lets see how people do against Georgia Tech this year. You talk as if every team in college football stays the same every year.

To be clear, are you assuming that Georgia Tech is going to average around 500 rushing yards a game for 2017?

 

[Burger]

Lets see how people do against Georgia Tech this year. You talk as if every team in college football stays the same every year.

I think folks are gonna have the same issues we had playing Tech this year. That new QB (if he can stay healthy) will make all the difference. He's special.

Like I said earlier. Don't be surprised if they are playing for the ACC Championship in December.

He's no better than Justin Thomas. Our defense made GT's 2 play offense look special along with the QB.

 

[BeecherVol]

Actually we ended last year with a pretty good defensive performance against Nebraska who's starting QB that had thrown for nearly 9000 yards and 67 TDs in his career, gave way to a career backup that had 800 yards and 8 TDs for his 4 year career due to injury before the bowl game.

Or did you conveniently forget that cause it wouldn't fit your agenda?

Fixed.

Oddly convenient considering.

 

[KBVol]

LOL @ this revisionist history. At the time we played Texas A&M they were #8 in the country. They were leading the SEC in rushing yards. And they had just come off a dominating road win against Auburn just a few weeks earlier. The same Auburn team that would end up being one of the better defensive teams in the SEC and would go on to represent the SEC in the Sugar Bowl later that season.

When we played A&M they were not an "average" team. They were playing at an extremely high level. Remember they were #4 in the first playoff rankings. And they didn't really fall off until their starting QB Trevor Knight got hurt in the loss to Miss State. Who knows how A&M's season goes if Knight never gets hurt?

Saying A&M was an average team when we played them is asinine. They were being hailed as the 2nd best team in the SEC at the time.

Pretty damn sure TAM was an 8-5 team last year that struggled to beat a slightly above average, erratic and undisciplined Tennessee team last year that committed 10-12 penalties and gave them 7 turnovers.

I don't give an ish what they hell their record was when we played them (they had beaten a bad UCLA team, Prairie freaking View, a decent Auburn team, a bad Arky team and a bad SCar team before Bentley was playing at QB), that was an average team, with an average/inconsistent qb and a porous defense (90th in the nation).

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

To be clear, are you assuming that Georgia Tech is going to average around 500 rushing yards a game for 2017?

No. I doubt teams struggle as much as we did offensively early on. That allowed Georgia Tech to control the ball a lot more than they should have. However, I do expect Georgia Tech to average a record number of rushing yards per game this year compared to the rest of Paul Johnson's time at Georgia Tech. And they should be playing in the ACC Championship Game.

They're gonna be a tough out for teams this year.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

He's no better than Justin Thomas. Our defense made GT's 2 play offense look special along with the QB.

Justin Thomas led Georgia Tech to an Orange Bowl win in 2014. If Marshall does that this year, it would be a pretty impressive accomplishment.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Pretty damn sure TAM was an 8-5 team last year that struggled to beat a slightly above average, erratic and undisciplined Tennessee team last year that committed 10-12 penalties and gave them 7 turnovers.

I don't give an ish what they hell their record was when we played them (they had beaten a bad UCLA team, Prairie freaking View, a decent Auburn team, a bad Arky team and a bad SCar team before Bentley was playing at QB), that was an average team, with an average/inconsistent qb and a porous defense (90th in the nation).

What about their performance against Alabama? Played them close for 3 quarters. They played Alabama better than anybody until Clemson in the championship game.

And they were #4 in the first playoff rankings last year even with 1 loss. The highest ranked 1-loss team. So according to the playoff committee, those early season wins were actually good.

Plus you keep ignoring most of those 5 losses came after their starting QB went down. Under Trevor Knight they were a completely different team.