2 weak links

[Vfl83]

Im almost convinced that our offense is playing a major role in how our defense plays under heupel. When are offenses is scoring quickly and moving fast our defense is atrocious. When we slow our offense down like we did under Nico and run the ball more our offense is magically much better. I think there is a correlation.

 

[ALLVOL 4LIFE]

Im almost convinced that our offense is playing a major role in how our defense plays under heupel. When are offenses is scoring quickly and moving fast our defense is atrocious. When we slow our offense down like we did under Nico and run the ball more our offense is magically much better. I think there is a correlation.

Respectfully, I’m going to have to disagree with you as far as this year’s Defense goes. Normally, this is my argument as well, but we get gashed for BIG plays worse this year than I’ve seen from a Vol D.
I know the injuries to our best 2 DB’s, but something else is just wrong. Our tackling has been awful! Effort by some has been awful! Our linebacker play needs to be much better! Our D line lacks a mean streak!
As a whole the D is just not on par with the talent we have on paper. But they don’t seemed to be gassed. They look in good shape. We just seem out of position….way too much!

 

[DaddyChad]

Safety play is and has been terrible all year. How we went into this year this thin on talent at that position is concerning. Idk that we have any answers at that position at this point.

 

[farmdogvol]

The d is definitely missing Lott and Thomas. It starts on the line in the middle. Moi and Eason had zero tackles combined. When the other team runs for 146 and the DTs have zero tackles, that is a problem. Plus LEOs aren't getting home. Since UT started SEC play the LEOs have been inconsistent. Josephs has been a disappointment for me. Herring kept jumping offsides and Ross was a no show.

 

[JMSqb11]

Thought Spillman flashed tonight at times. Telander plays hard but I don’t think he has the speed. Perlotte will be a beast, I agree. Maybe the issue is youth rather than speed. Safety is a concern. I think they need to spend more on that position.

Letting Jakobe walk and not paying him was the biggest braindead decision this staff made in the offseason

 

[Dansky]

The d is definitely missing Lott and Thomas. It starts on the line in the middle. Moi and Eason had zero tackles combined. When the other team runs for 146 and the DTs have zero tackles, that is a problem. Plus LEOs aren't getting home. Since UT started SEC play the LEOs have been inconsistent. Josephs has been a disappointment for me. Herring kept jumping offsides and Ross was a no show.

This team is soft, especially on defense. I don’t know why, maybe coaching , maybe personal.

 

[tombowalker]

Do Martinez and Inge get replaced end of year? If not Josh has accepted complacency imo.

Not sure why Inge is even in this conversation. Issues at linebacker are personnel-based. Do you really think Inge's ability to develop is the source of speed issues with guys like Telander?

Of course not. Furthermore, it'd be silly to blame personnel issues on a coach hired in Feb. '24.

TLDR: Your question is illogical and silly.

 

[tombowalker]

Im almost convinced that our offense is playing a major role in how our defense plays under heupel. When are offenses is scoring quickly and moving fast our defense is atrocious. When we slow our offense down like we did under Nico and run the ball more our offense is magically much better. I think there is a correlation.

This is no doubt part of it.

Combine that with injuries and the lack of experienced, talented depth, and none of us should be surprised with what we're seeing.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Do you think the defensive staff suddenly forgot everything they knew?
We were in the dam cfp last year because of our d. It's the same staff.

The problem is much more talent than coaching.

 

[Skooter]

-let’s please stop blaming how we look on losing starting cbs. If you watch Vandy, Mizzou, Louisville and 100 other teams, we have more talent so let’s stop.
-we are on our heels nearly every play (except for the pick 6 of course), confused too often 8 games in, and late with playcalls from the sideline
-stop showing what we are doing with 15 seconds on the play clock. We show zero blitz early, they check to move their matchup v boo to slot and it’s easy with the whole field cleared out and no help. Every game. Every qb. Same thing. Another career day.
-we rarely check out of the shown defense when offense changes the play. If they change the play, we should know where they wanted to go off the first look we gave them. Should know what’s coming. We never do. Because that’s chess and Banks is more of an Uno type.
-you are either a heel player or toe player and our coaches have our defense on their heels instead of attacking and disrupting. I will never understand.
-Boo is a problem. Effort and attitude questionable. He also should be put in the box and told to do nothing besides attack the qb and backfield, aggressive and downhill. What we ask our safeties to do is sorry. “Don’t let anything get behind you. Keep it in front of you. Take their slot man with no help this time. 3rd and 4, make sure you guys are dropping 30 yards deep. Make em earn it.” What a joke philosophy that never wins anything of worth on any level in any sport.

 

[KTrain]

Do you think the defensive staff suddenly forgot everything they knew?
We were in the dam cfp last year because of our d. It's the same staff.

Not really. We are very young SEC defense but nobody wants to admit it but we are. Maybe we should have went more portal on D but I think everyone thought Mccoy would be back by October and without Gibson it is our big weakness. Also with Arion Carter out last night even though he's young, he is one of the leaders who also makes his share of mistakes. Growing pains, game needs to slow down for some youngsters.

 

[TikiVol]

The problem is much more talent than coaching.

But how did we end up w so little talent in Year 5? Recruiting and portal strategy are part of coaching.

 

[CoachClick]

Banks is 🗑
Martinez is

Players aren't prepared.
Players lined up wrong.
Zero adjustments.

We have won before with talent...not coaching on that side of the ball.

We are currently 96th in total defense.

Quit defending this crap

 

[VOLINVONORE]

But how did we end up w so little talent in Year 5? Recruiting and portal strategy are part of coaching.

53 of our 84 Players are Freshmen and redshirt Freshmen.. We lost a lot of experienced players to graduation and the portal. We are getting better and I was impressed with the young guys who got to play last night. The injuries to out two very good corner backs has presented lots of problems. Had to start a true freshman and others who had little or no experience. We played two true Freshmen linebackers last nigh and both looked like real winners. One server knows what is going to happen when open season opens this Winter, but we are likely to keep most of defensive young players and fill in from th portal where we are weakest. Our Offense will be young at QB, but we may also go to the portal there or rely on our 5 star plus true Freshman. that will be the most critical decision that will be made next Spring. GMac may be the answer as a redshirt Freshman.

 

[Jimmyandjoes]

The d is definitely missing Lott and Thomas. It starts on the line in the middle. Moi and Eason had zero tackles combined. When the other team runs for 146 and the DTs have zero tackles, that is a problem. Plus LEOs aren't getting home. Since UT started SEC play the LEOs have been inconsistent. Josephs has been a disappointment for me. Herring kept jumping offsides and Ross was a no show.

This 100%.
Our interior DLine doesn't make a lot of tackles or play the run well. Even our edges are struggling to flow to the ball. They rush,that's where they excel,not run stop,and if they don't get home,it's a struggle.
We cannot cover the middle or recognize route progressions. Our LB coverage and safeties are probably worst in the league. Yes we are young,but they have 2 more teams that are going to expose them a little more.
Let's go offense

 

[ptgrbn]

People expecting coaches to be fired are going to be disappointed I think. I personally don’t care if they get fired or not but it’s likely not happening on a team that is potentially winning 9-10 games. But hey maybe they drop a couple here coming up and then it probably will lead to some changes, either scheme or firings. I just remember how firing coaches didn’t help anything around here for the better part of 15 years.

Firing coaches can be very expensive. You all don’t want Dr. Danny to raise prices again right?

 

[VolsCigarMan]

and get Boo off the field! Again, last night he whiffed again and played with no effort at all or like he even cares and just playing because he has to after the money they already paid him. It's been like this all year with him.

He can freakin transfer for all I care but let me remind him, other teams and coaches will look at this years film and see a guy who plays with no effort or heart and constantly gets beat. They would be crazy to pay him lots of money.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

The d is definitely missing Lott and Thomas. It starts on the line in the middle. Moi and Eason had zero tackles combined. When the other team runs for 146 and the DTs have zero tackles, that is a problem. Plus LEOs aren't getting home. Since UT started SEC play the LEOs have been inconsistent. Josephs has been a disappointment for me. Herring kept jumping offsides and Ross was a no show.

Dont forget Elijah Simmons as well in the middle. Those 3 guys were absolute "bollards" on the D-Line last year. Unfortunately the guys we replaced them with aren't as good and not as well developed physically and our D-Line is simply not as well fortified this year. We are smaller, we are weaker, and just not as nasty. I saw it in the very first game of the year against Syracuse and got called an idiot for pointing it out. But I know a mediocre d-line when I see one.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

We might have some young folks out there but we are 8 games into the season. And Perlotte is young but flies around well. Our Tackles Moi,Hobbs and Eason have to win more battles. We need to get bigger and stronger at the point of attack. Hobbs needs to gain weight and strength. Moi hasn’t did much and Eason didn’t do much at all either. If we can’t get there with 4 we have to give them help. It doesn’t matter if we have 7 playing deep if we can’t get there with 4. We have to mix it up and bring more folks sometimes. Banks and staff have to add wrinkles and show more looks. Tackling is pure want too, no excuse for continual bad open field tackling. No excuse for players being so confused every other down. That’s another sign we are being dictated too instead of being the dictator. GBO

 

[Budalicious]

And Inge is probably the smartest asst coach on the staff and the players love him. Freshman Perlotte looked good in limited snaps again today. Got a sack too.

Inge landed Harmon and Perlotte in 25, his first class at UT. Both Bluechips.

Then in 2026 class he did even better, landing two LBs ranked #74 and #75 overall in the class. Both top100 players, both chose us over Bama, UGA etc just like Harmon and Perlotte before them.

We will be better at LB next year, and should be even better in 2027. Coach Inge isnt going anywhere. Nobody on the defense staff is IMO. Our defense sucks because we have been without BOTH STARTING CORNERS ALL YEAR.

People are so dumb. Griping like crazy after a blowout win on the road in the SEC. Some people don't want to be happy

The portal depleted our depth, then at the first of the year McCoys injury and Gibson‘s injury devastated the whole back end of our defense. We have had to play true freshmen, red shirt, freshmen and sophomores, which have not really had time to develop ,and they’re having to learn on the job. If we play Man, the youngsters either get beat for an explosive play, get a PI, or give up a score. That leaves us playing zone, in any quarterback that has any time can pick a zone apart in march down the field . If you will notice, most of the scoring drives against us have been long drives finding soft spots in the zone and youngsters tackling ability.We just need to hold on till these youngsters get better and when the Adidas money gets here, we’ll be able to buy better defensive players.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Not really. We are very young SEC defense but nobody wants to admit it but we are. Maybe we should have went more portal on D but I think everyone thought Mccoy would be back by October and without Gibson it is our big weakness. Also with Arion Carter out last night even though he's young, he is one of the leaders who also makes his share of mistakes. Growing pains, game needs to slow down for some youngsters.

No doubt with them 2 at corner were a different D. We are for sure young overall. But there are things that can be corrected. Continually taking bad angles and bad open field tackling is all discipline, want to and playing smart. Coaches have to be able to correct a lot of that. On another area there were 2 times if our edge rusher keeps coming he would have destroyed the quarterback. For some reason I cannot figure out he slammed on the brakes, and the quarterback was looking away from him. WTH was that! GBO

 

[PACKERVOL]

It's all about the Jimmy's and Joe's.

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

Do you think the defensive staff suddenly forgot everything they knew?
We were in the dam cfp last year because of our d. It's the same staff.

Logic will fail every time with emotional women and college football fans.

Injuries- obviously the coaches fault
Lack of depth- obviously the coaches fault
Players playing less than perfect- again, obviously the coaches fault.


Idk that these coaches are good or great, but our D last year kicked ass. IMO that had to do with the monsters we had at DT. Also MO, not enough NIL money is thrown at that position. If your interior D controls the gaps and gets a push, the entire D looks so much better.

Now maybe that is the coaching staff's fault.

 

[dduncan4163]

And Inge is probably the smartest asst coach on the staff and the players love him. Freshman Perlotte looked good in limited snaps again today. Got a sack too.

Inge landed Harmon and Perlotte in 25, his first class at UT. Both Bluechips.

Then in 2026 class he did even better, landing two LBs ranked #74 and #75 overall in the class. Both top100 players, both chose us over Bama, UGA etc just like Harmon and Perlotte before them.

We will be better at LB next year, and should be even better in 2027. Coach Inge isnt going anywhere. Nobody on the defense staff is IMO. Our defense sucks because we have been without BOTH STARTING CORNERS ALL YEAR.

People are so dumb. Griping like crazy after a blowout win on the road in the SEC. Some people don't want to be happy

What you said brother

 

[dduncan4163]

Logic will fail every time with emotional women and college football fans.

Injuries- obviously the coaches fault
Lack of depth- obviously the coaches fault
Players playing less than perfect- again, obviously the coaches fault.


Idk that these coaches are good or great, but our D last year kicked ass. IMO that had to do with the monsters we had at DT. Also MO, not enough NIL money is thrown at that position. If your interior D controls the gaps and gets a push, the entire D looks so much better.

Now maybe that is the coaching staff's fault.

It really is as simple as this.