Graphic illustration of just how far our D has fallen

#53
#53
BigOrangeSZN_05 said:
So what I'm seeing is that this is the worst defense by far of the Heupel era?
Click to expand...

How Dare You Greta GIF
 
#54
#54
We can all debate how bad the defense actually is and why. However, fact is we are near the bottom of the conference in most statistical categories. We struggle in pass defense, especially on third downs, and are seeing the ball ran down our throat. Fortunately we have made enough big play stops to squeak out wins against two teams we should have beaten handily. If this doesn't improve soon, we most likely have no shot making the playoffs. Heck, we could easily lose to bama, Oklahoma, Florida or Vanderbilt. And honestly, we shouldn't make it at this rate. No sense getting there and getting embarrassed in the first round like last year. It's a little frustrating because we get the offense rolling this year and the defense stinks. Elite teams play complimentary football - sound offense and defense.

If defense doesn't show some improvement before the end of the season Coach is going to have to make some difficult decisions. I'm not the coach so I don't have all the answers, but this cannot continue.
 
#57
#57
Yeah, I had to go around and clean all the spiderwebs off my house also, I forget the name of the spider, but they’re big and green
 
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#58
#58
camp_steveo said:
What good is a statistically perfect team that loses in the playoffs, when the Championship is the goal?

I don't care if the Vols win 49 - 42 every week, as long as they win in the playoffs.... when it matters.
Click to expand...
Your logic is correct.

But this is also what I've always hated about a national college football championship game or playoff system--they destroy the value of intermediate goals like winning your division, winning your conference, getting invited to a better bowl game, winning your bowl game. They remove the game from our social fabric, and confine it to the "circuses" calendar.

Pursuing intermediate goals are how real life is played. Improving over last year is how real life is played. Over-achieving in the face of obstacles or tragedy is how real life is played. Players are finally getting paid thousands by their fans--so that corporations can wring millions out of their bodies by televising extra games to a nationwide audience. Football isn't like other sports.

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but it's based on the values of real life and the role of college to prepare young people:

College football championships should be mythical, left "undetermined" to be debated throughout the off season, debated for years, and debated for generations. Because those ongoing debates actually bring people--from their various tribes--together. It increases love of the game and respect for all who compete in it.

Instead, what are we debating under the current system? The price of coaches, the competence of certain referee squads, and whether preseason polls should be a factor in assessing the results of Week One.

Rah!
 
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#59
#59
As for spider webs in and around my house...

as long as they're catching bugs to eat--bugs that either want to or have already invaded my house--they are welcome to stay. Just don't build webs across doors and walkways, and we be fine! ;)

I'd love to have had huge, ugly spiders building industrial strength webs outside my windows this month if they were intercepting the stinkbugs I'm having to splatter all over my walls and ceilings at the rate of 2-3 dozen a day!

I'd even welcome them inside if they'd kill all the brown recluse spiders I can't exterminate. Non-poisonous spiders and non-poisonous snakes are always welcome to enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet wherever I live.

(Obviously I live alone and have no female prospects in my life!)
 
#62
#62
Does the OP's graphic measure the most important thing (points per drive)?
Turnovers?
TDs scored by our defense?

Several categories seem quite subjective
 
#67
#67
BigOrangeTrain said:
Who left on our schedule is gonna prevent us from getting into the playoffs besides maybe Bama?
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I mean it’s routine really for TN. SC in 22, Arkansas last year. And there was a few in 23. There’s clearly more, but the point is that the games TN expects to win doesn’t mean they will.
 
#68
#68
Vols lost 2 340+ Lb 6th year DTs & 1 320lb draft pick. Replaced them with redshirt freshman & true freshmen. Hasn’t played but 1 game with their top 3 DTs together.

Last years Ohio State team was loaded with 4 straight top 5 recruiting classes PLUS several key portal additions. Their roster was on a different plateau than Tennessee last year.
 
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#69
#69
BruisedOrange said:
Your logic is correct.

But this is also what I've always hated about a national college football championship game or playoff system--they destroy the value of intermediate goals like winning your division, winning your conference, getting invited to a better bowl game, winning your bowl game. They remove the game from our social fabric, and confine it to the "circuses" calendar.

Pursuing intermediate goals are how real life is played. Improving over last year is how real life is played. Over-achieving in the face of obstacles or tragedy is how real life is played. Players are finally getting paid thousands by their fans--so that corporations can wring millions out of their bodies by televising extra games to a nationwide audience. Football isn't like other sports.

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but it's based on the values of real life and the role of college to prepare young people:

College football championships should be mythical, left "undetermined" to be debated throughout the off season, debated for years, and debated for generations. Because those ongoing debates actually bring people--from their various tribes--together. It increases love of the game and respect for all who compete in it.

Instead, what are we debating under the current system? The price of coaches, the competence of certain referee squads, and whether preseason polls should be a factor in assessing the results of Week One.

Rah!
Click to expand...
Yeah. About that change thingie…
😉🤙🏼🧡🤣
 
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#71
#71
wmcovol said:
Vols lost 2 340+ Lb 6th year DTs & 1 320lb draft pick. Replaced them with redshirt freshman & true freshmen. Hasn’t played but 1 game with their top 3 DTs together.

Last years Ohio State team was loaded with 4 straight top 5 recruiting classes PLUS several key portal additions. Their roster was on a different plateau than Tennessee last year.
Click to expand...
This leads to the question of why are we replacing sixth year defensive tackles with redshirt freshman?
 
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#72
#72
Please consider depth depletion, the result of injuries. Say what you will, injuries among "the experienced elite" has a way of snitching on you. The best thing about being thrown into the fire usually is having depth when you are fully loaded. The SEC Elite can go 3-4 deep with ready to play talent. Raise your hand if you think the Vols are fully there yet!! They are headed in that direction, but they are still on the road.
 
#73
#73
Gandalf said:
Comparison of our Defensive profile in 2025, 2024, 2022, 2021 - we actually look worse than 21?!

Provided by https://x.com/jordanmoore_21
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Click to expand...
First year anyone has had any real reason to gripe based on overall stats. Years of progress and injuries with an incomplete season call for a hall pass to this juncture IMO. We sre starting two Freshmen at corner for crying out loud. That run defense though… that’s my biggest yikes. We haven’t been fully healthy there either, but…
 
#74
#74
SubVet676 said:
This leads to the question of why are we replacing sixth year defensive tackles with redshirt freshman?
Click to expand...
It’s easy. Tennessee recruited under a severe “NCAA cloud” until the summer of 2023. Every opponent in recruiting told kids “Tennessee won’t be eligible for playoffs while you’re there”. A lot of great players decided not to take a chance it would happen & went elsewhere.

The ‘21 class (Pruitts last) was a complete bust (less Jaylen Wright). The ‘22 class had some great players (Pearce, Sampson, Josephs, West) but not many numbers.
 
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#75
#75
advancedrescue27 said:
I mean it’s routine really for TN. SC in 22, Arkansas last year. And there was a few in 23. There’s clearly more, but the point is that the games TN expects to win doesn’t mean they will.
Click to expand...
Doesn’t mean they will lose a game they shouldn’t just because they have either.
 
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