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3rd down defense –

Throughout the offseason both Josh Heupel and Tim Banks indicated that 3rd down defense (3rd and long specifically) was something that we were working to improve.

Last year we allowed Pittsburgh to convert on 40% of their 3rd down attempts against us in Neyland.

This year Pittsburgh converted 41.67% of its 3rd downs against West Virginia at home. Also at home, they converted 22.22% against us, putting us at #1 in the conference for 3rd down defense against a power 5 opponent through week 2.

It's early and just the first of nine power 5 opponents but maybe it's a good sign. 👀

View attachment 489217
Now THIS is a stat I can get behind!!
 
Small sample size but Vols Defense is currently:
- tied 32nd in 3rd Down Conversion PCT (0.281)
- tied 64th in 1st Down Def (opponents are passing for twice as many first downs (24) as they're rushing (12) against us. Opp. have 2 first downs on penalties. Our opponents have had 38 first downs in two games. #1 has allowed 14)
- tied 106th in passing yards allowed (271.5 ypg - 10.86 ypc).
- tied 36th in red zone defense. 0 rushing TDs allowed, 2 passing, forced 3 fgs, 5/7 scores (bend don't break)
- we have 2 fumble recoveries and 3 INTs in 2 games.
- 44th in rushing defense (107.5 ypg - 3.26 ypc - 1 rushing TD)
- 4 sacks for 34yds (all against Pitt)
- averaging 5.5 TFL a game.

78th in Total Defense
- 379 ypg
- 4.95 ypp
- 4 TDs allowed (T-36th)
- 18.5 ppg
2021 ended the season 90th allowing 29.1 ppg, 98th in allowing 421.7 ypg, 5.4 ypp.

Conclusion: We are seeing improvement thus far with small sample size. I think we've said if we can get into the 40-60 rank range it would have huge results for our season. Should climb higher after Akron game but we will see where we are at the bye.
I'm still a bit on wait and see with our defense. It was feast or famine vs Slovis and we gave up 300 yards in that half.

If I'm being brutally honest with myself, those stats do look like improvement, but so far 3/4 of it played against Balls Tate and 1 half vs a gimpy backup.

We'll see after a few SEC games. We also have time to keep improving. Like the increased pressure.
 
Anyone got any suggestions on somewhere between Nashville and Knoxville I could stay Friday before the Florida game? Decent town with stuff to do. Wife wants to stay in Nashville to shop and drink. I wanna get closer but don’t know much about the in between area.
Search Applebee's and those are your spots.
 
I'm still a bit on wait and see with our defense. It was feast or famine vs Slovis and we gave up 300 yards in that half.

If I'm being brutally honest with myself, those stats do look like improvement, but so far 3/4 of it played against Balls Tate and 1 half vs a gimpy backup.

We'll see after a few SEC games. We also have time to keep improving. Like the increased pressure.
Its hard to tell if the D grew up in the 2nd half. Pitt had a one legged QB but I liked the pressure they put on both QBs. In 2 weeks we will find out if they have improved any. I hope they have because we need them to be a good D. I hope they do not put AR back on the Heisman talk. The offense needs to improve also. They need to come out sharp.
 
Its hard to tell if the D grew up in the 2nd half. Pitt had a one legged QB but I liked the pressure they put on both QBs. In 2 weeks we will find out if they have improved any. I hope they have because we need them to be a good D. I hope they do not put AR back on the Heisman talk. The offense needs to improve also. They need to come out sharp.
QB was on one leg because of the defense though. Starter was out because of the defense and it wasn't a fluke moment like an OL falling on him or tearing an acl after celebrating. I hope we are able to find out positive things during the Florida game
 
I'm not one bit on the fence about the Vols defense as long as they stay reasonably healthy with key players.

What I saw was a strong level of coaching adjustments starting in the second quarter, a deviation from the game plan to account for what Pitt was doing. I also saw the D smoking the QB on nearly every pass even when he got it off on time accurately. It worked, Slovis was a casualty in the battle. I was very happy to see Baron destroying an O-line that loved to tackle instead of block with Big O pushing the pocket back in the QB's face with Young and Harrison zooming in from the outside. In reality the D won the game at the ACC's champion's house while overcoming a bunch of mistakes on O and in the punt game. We will give up more points than other good D's because of the number of possessions our O creates in every game. So 27 points in Pitt's house with a good performance in the last 35-40 minutes of the game works great in my book.

The weak link is still Burrell. Will always be Burrell. Especially if they start calling d-holding and PI penalties on him, which they will.

Pitt is a quality program. They stay that way because of the ACC competition and due to them playing a physical style of football. They also stay that way because Narduzzi is actually a good HC even if he is a whiner. He knew when he appealed the ruling that it was called right. It gets the crowd more fired up with the "we was robbed" angle. That also helps him keep his job with the games they lose, act like they were robbed.
 
Jimbo will end up telling the same story as Ed O LOL

A couple of us on here have a VFL friend who was a high school and small college coach in his younger days. He worked some coaching clinics with Jimbo back in his day. He loves the guy, tried to talk him into coming to UT a couple of times before he went to aTm.

Not one time have I ever agreed with him when he starts defending him. 😂
 
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There are people in the FF going on about how great the officiating was in the Pitt game and in the bama game… do people that post in that forum even watch the games??

I thought that the officiating in both games was better than what we saw last year.

We actually had some calls go our way. They missed plenty, but at least there were not the god-awful calls and missed calls against us that literally changed at least 3 games last year. Missed lots of holding by Pitt OL, but still the best officiating crew we have had in forever.

bama had multiple calls go against them. How many times have you seen that at all in any bama game? I would likely say not at all since saban has been there. Obviously, not any game officiated by SEC refs, but I see cracks in the armor. saban looked beat and depressed after the game. 🤞🙏 this will rollover into SEC games, but I am not holding my breath. When the calls went against bama, did you notice no outrage or even questioning the calls? It was like a career criminal gets caught and accepts that he has been getting away with criminal activities for decades…

It’s all relative. Was the officiating awesome? No.
Was it the best officiating that the Vols have had in a decade when the game is close? Most likely. There were several plays that could have changed the outcome with bad calls, but they got them right this time.

And by the way, I never go to the FF. Even sane Memphians know enough not to go there…

On our way! 2-0 en route to

15-0 🤠
 
Checker Neyland is, and always will be, one of the coolest sights in college sports. But I'd kinda like to retire it for a year or two.

Or shake it up... black and orange Halloween checkerboard with Dark Mode unis? Cmon y'all know that would be fire.

I want an Orange out game.
Against bama maybe? Fill the damn stadium with orange. Tell the bammers that they have to wear Orange too. Give them all 4XL shirts and some false teeth so that they sorta look like they are part of humanity…😈
 
QB was on one leg because of the defense though. Starter was out because of the defense and it wasn't a fluke moment like an OL falling on him or tearing an acl after celebrating. I hope we are able to find out positive things during the Florida game
I agree with that also. We "earned" the backup.

It just feels like we haven't gone through a 4q test yet though. And won't get one this week.

Luckily Richardson has a noodle arm. But ofc we've seen that story vs UF better.
 
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Cookeville has some good places to eat, especially Crawdaddies . Everything from steaks to seafood to cajun and it's all been great when I've been there. Not much to see or do in Crossville except stopping in to the new Buc-ees travel center right at the interstate. Two things you definitely have to do there, sample and buy some beef jerkey and check out what a clean bathroom at a travel center should look like! lol
I also recommend IrrationALE. A new place that has opened up here this year. The Teriyaki steak medallions with sauteed brussel sprouts are top notch!
 
QB was on one leg because of the defense though. Starter was out because of the defense and it wasn't a fluke moment like an OL falling on him or tearing an acl after celebrating. I hope we are able to find out positive things during the Florida game
I just hope we are getting to celebrate after the Florida game!
 
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