Defense

[Unconditional Surrender]

in 98 we beat Cuse by 1 and needed a weird crazy Fumble to beat Arky and a FG to beat Florida. There were close games all over the place. Don't apologize or discredit wins

All three were very good teams.

 

[Kingzport]

Oh, I don't!

TN got a bunch of lucky breaks that year. But you always thought the D would get it done.

Not this year.

Also, completely different game being played from 98 to today…

Offense rules the roost these days. And as far as I’m concerned. I trust ours to keep us in most games and give us a chance.

 

[vavolfan6]

I think Bama should be decently favored over us and I do think Simpson will pick apart our defense through the air.

With that said Bama is not as balanced on offense as Arkansas is. Arky has a good rushing attack and a good dual threat QB that can beat you through the air or the ground. I don't see Bama's offense as dynamic or evenly dangerous. Their rushing attack isn't great and their RB was injured against Mizzou. Simpson can run it but we have the athletes to contain him better than we did Taylen Green. We just have to find a way to occasionally stop their passing attack. Missing two of our top CBs really hurt us..

 

[vol94fan]

I tend to agree with the OP, but teams can look very different week to week.

 

[GhostVol]

Also, completely different game being played from 98 to today…

Offense rules the roost these days. And as far as I’m concerned. I trust ours to keep us in most games and give us a chance.

So far, so good!

I'm not a huge fan of 1:42 to go in the 4th nail biters, though

My bypass may not be able to take it

But, it's not for me to judge whether YOU like to sweat wins and losses... that's a you decision

I don't like to do it and with this D it's what's going to happen week in and week out with teams that have an offense with a heartbeat

But, you do you

 

[Kingzport]

So far, so good!

I'm not a huge fan of 1:42 to go in the 4th nail biters, though

My bypass may not be able to take it

But, it's not for me to judge whether YOU like to sweat wins and losses... that's a you decision

I don't like to do it and with this D it's what's going to happen week in and week out with teams that have an offense with a heartbeat

But, you do you

And unranked Arky is 3 fumbles away from being 4-1…so acting as if they are terrible is a pretty bad take…

Do you think this defense would look different if our starting #1 and #2 cornerbacks weren’t out? Any defense would be in the same shape we are if that happened to them.

 

[Skooter]

Do people play too much Xbox on rookie mode and have a flawless offense? It’s not going to be flawless. Always will want a few playcalls back.
We avg 7.5 ypp. Complain abou that

 

[GhostVol]

And unranked Arky is 3 fumbles away from being 4-1…so acting as if they are terrible is a pretty bad take…

Do you think this defense would look different if our starting #1 and #2 cornerbacks weren’t out? Any defense would be in the same shape we are if that happened to them.

C'mon, man....

"Ifs and buts and candy and nuts...."

You cannot, with your teeth in your mouth and your face hanging out, believe that this TN team is going to be able to stop better teams than MSSt and AU on their own fields, especially when they see the EXTREMELY suspect D TN's putting on the field

There's not a team in the conference right now that doesn't believe they cant hang 30 on TN (they probably think 45, honestly)

TN shoots themselves in the foot and they've got a chance to win it. And, when's the last time TN played a game w/out shooting themselves in the foot???

 

[CNCVol88]

Do people play too much Xbox on rookie mode and have a flawless offense? It’s not going to be flawless. Always will want a few playcalls back.
We avg 7.5 ypp. Complain abou that

Too many people want huepel to coach like they do in CFB26.

 

[GhostVol]

Do people play too much Xbox on rookie mode and have a flawless offense? It’s not going to be flawless. Always will want a few playcalls back.
We avg 7.5 ypp. Complain abou that

No one, and I mean, no one, is complaining about the offense m'dude

Stop equating so

 

[74charger]

The defense had 5 sacks, 9 TFL's and 3 turnovers. They have the best pass rush in college football.

They have given up 198, 197 and 200+ yards rushing in the last three SEC games. You are going to lose a game or two that you that you shouldn’t because of this.

 

[Kingzport]

C'mon, man....

"Ifs and buts and candy and nuts...."

You cannot, with your teeth in your mouth and your face hanging out, believe that this TN team is going to be able to stop better teams than MSSt and AU on their own fields, especially when they see the EXTREMELY suspect D TN's putting on the field

There's not a team in the conference right now that doesn't believe they cant hang 30 on TN (they probably think 45, honestly)

TN shoots themselves in the foot and they've got a chance to win it. And, when's the last time TN played a game w/out shooting themselves in the foot???

Go check out how many points Arky has scored on every team this year my guy! They’re not as bad as you’re making them out to be. They score points on everyone.

Their offense is good. Turns out ours was better. Their defense sucked they gave up 34 points. Our defense sucked gave up 31. We won.

As long as Tenn scores more points than the other team, then it’s a good week of football… our plan seemed to work, score more points than the opponent.. we keep finding a way to win despite how terrible everyone says our team is.

 

[Skooter]

No one, and I mean, no one, is complaining about the offense m'dude

Stop equating so

someone in this thread posted “Offense let the defense down” and got a couple likes so you’d be incorrect.
They avg 7.5 yard per freaking play

 

[Godfatha]

The defense had 5 sacks, 9 TFL's and 3 turnovers. They have the best pass rush in college football.

Still near dead last in the SEC in scoring defense and yards allowed.

 

[MDsweetT]

someone in this thread posted “Offense let the defense down” and got a couple likes so you’d be incorrect.
They avg 7.5 yard per freaking play

Offense had their worst outing of the year and still put up 34 points. 2/9 3rd down, 1/3 in converting the turnovers to points.

Brazzell had 5 yards. Just a weird game where they took the air out of the and limited possessions.

Heupel needs to trust Joey more on 3rd down. Some of those runs get predictable late in the game.

Can’t play afraid to lose. We need to play to win and step on people’s throats.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Arkansas has one of the best offenses in the country. A big line, big strong running backs and a great athlete with a big arm at quarterback. I guarantee they are going to pull a few upsets before the year is out. Mark it down! GBO

 

[Rocky Top T]

The defense had 5 sacks, 9 TFL's and 3 turnovers. They have the best pass rush in college football.

And a terrible run defense, I was at the game, I know what I saw

 

[Rocky Top T]

Who won?

What’s our record?

If we beat Bama by 3, still going to feel miserable?

You better hope they don't beat us by 3 scores

 

[sjt18]

Sorry to his fans. But Banks leaves a lot to be desired in a DC. The D wasn't prepared. The zone always has massive holes in it. He consistently gets twisted in knots by good playcallers with inferior talent. None of these are new problems.

 

[Vol8188]

I'll try the Socratic method... What was AR ranked? They aren't. Where did TN play them? At Neyland. How many points did AR score? 31. What is AL ranked? 8th in the country. Where will TN play them? At their place. Do teams play better at home? Yes. Did TN struggle with AR? Yes. Did TN struggle with MSSt on the road and need OT to win? Yes. Is AL better than MSSt? Seriously?? Is Al better than AR? See previous answer.

Do you want me to go on?

I'll try the Socratic method... What was AR ranked? They aren't. Where did TN play them? At Neyland. How many points did AR score? 31. What is AL ranked? 8th in the country. Where will TN play them? At their place. Do teams play better at home? Yes. Did TN struggle with AR? Yes. Did TN struggle with MSSt on the road and need OT to win? Yes. Is AL better than MSSt? Seriously?? Is Al better than AR? See previous answer.

Do you want me to go on?

Also, not how this works. Is this your first football season?

 

[Volwonder1]

Why even play the game then?!?

 

[Other_Guy]

Defense is an issue. There slightly better than the Sal Sunseri defense during the Dooley nightmare.

Its hard to truly gage because Tenn is playing the better half of offenses in the conference. The only "bad" offense on the schedule is Florida, who has got way better as of late.

I know that you can say "State got held in check vs A&M and Georgia only scored 20 vs Auburn" but I'm not comparing Tenn to the best defenses. I just wonder if Tenn is more so middle of the pack instead of last. Cuz even the bad SEC teams theyre playing have good offenses.

 

[pasadenavol]

I'm sick of seeing us give up what seems like 90% of 3rd and long. When we don't send the heat and play zone coverage, they pick up the 1st down almost everytime.

 

[TartanTurff]

Arkansas receivers ran wide open all day long, even in the end zones, the two Arkansas touchdown passes in the fourth quarter were to wide open receivers in the middle of the end zone with three or four defenders nearby but too far away to even defend the reception. The Arkansas quarterback was untouched on the first touchdown of the game.

We have close wins over Arkansas and Mississippi State, neither team will finish in the upper half of the SEC this year. Heupel needs some top shelf defensive position coaches and probably a seasoned defensive coordinator to build a championship program, the difference this year between 11-1 and 8-4 will be how well the defense can hold the opposition down when the offense sputters on big possessions against Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida and Vanderbilt.

A Gator Bowl visit with our wide receivers opting out of the game will be hard to watch.

 

[Nationdom]

Next week could actually get ugly. Hate to say that because living in Tide land I want to beat them more than anyone but just don't see it.

You are right that it could get ugly. Our D line should dominate them and Ty should be running for his life all game. They lost Jam and will struggle to run.