Athlon Spring Preview

#26
#26
ACvol3 said:
U play too much Madden.
Click to expand...

No, I'm a huge fan of the Chicago Bears. They used the 46 defense back in the 1980s when they won the Super Bowl and all those division championships. That was Buddy Ryan's brain child, and it worked in both Chicago and with the Philadelphia Eagles, whom he coach for a few years. The defense was named for safety Doug Plank, whose number happened to be "46".
 
#27
#27
TNGrad2012 said:
No, I'm a huge fan of the Chicago Bears. They used the 46 defense back in the 1980s when they won the Super Bowl and all those division championships. That was Buddy Ryan's brain child, and it worked in both Chicago and with the Philadelphia Eagles, whom he coach for a few years. The defense was named for safety Doug Plank, whose number happened to be "46".
Click to expand...

The problem with the 46 was that it gave to much in the passing game. That's why it got thrown out in the late 90s when "Air" McNair and Kurt Warner were tearing it up. The 3-4 is actually in a way harder to run on today, because most backs are speed guys anymore, with a lot of outside runs. The 3-4 lets you clip the outside runs with the OLB positions and fill the inside with bigger middle linebackers. The 3-4 has seen a lot of recent success over 4-3 because it is mainly used to contain teams with speed backs, well used slot recievers, and good TE players. It suffers against teams with bruiser inside running backs, and great outside receivers. 4-3 is better suited for that because it places focus on the front 4 eating up the inside runs while athletic ends make plays on the QB to eliminate the outside recievers. It suffers against the same things the 3-4 is good against. Most teams teach the checkdown so much to develop the "Peyton Manning" field general skill set that you see a lot more tight ends and slot reciever work today with smarter QBs. The 3-4 defense succeeds because the smarter QBs *generally* also have weaker arms, or lack the confidence to go downfield. Just my opinion, but i always prefered the 4-4 and dime packages myself. In this league, the defensive backs are talented enough to where you should feel secure enough to leave them 1 on 1 with a smart safety playing over the top support. If your getting overwhelmed by the pass attack, shift to a 4-3 dime package. You get two nickelbacks to make plays on the run, or take slot receivers and tight ends.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#28
#28
LurtzVol109 said:
The problem with the 46 was that it gave to much in the passing game. That's why it got thrown out in the late 90s when "Air" McNair and Kurt Warner were tearing it up. The 3-4 is actually in a way harder to run on today, because most backs are speed guys anymore, with a lot of outside runs. The 3-4 lets you clip the outside runs with the OLB positions and fill the inside with bigger middle linebackers. The 3-4 has seen a lot of recent success over 4-3 because it is mainly used to contain teams with speed backs, well used slot recievers, and good TE players. It suffers against teams with bruiser inside running backs, and great outside receivers. 4-3 is better suited for that because it places focus on the front 4 eating up the inside runs while athletic ends make plays on the QB to eliminate the outside recievers. It suffers against the same things the 3-4 is good against. Most teams teach the checkdown so much to develop the "Peyton Manning" field general skill set that you see a lot more tight ends and slot reciever work today with smarter QBs. The 3-4 defense succeeds because the smarter QBs *generally* also have weaker arms, or lack the confidence to go downfield. Just my opinion, but i always prefered the 4-4 and dime packages myself. In this league, the defensive backs are talented enough to where you should feel secure enough to leave them 1 on 1 with a smart safety playing over the top support. If your getting overwhelmed by the pass attack, shift to a 4-3 dime package. You get two nickelbacks to make plays on the run, or take slot receivers and tight ends.
Click to expand...

What a reply! I appreciate your input.

Yeah, I know all about the drawbacks of the 46. The problem with why it gave too much in the passing game was two-fold: 1) In the 46, there are usually seven guys up on the line of scrimmage - the four down linemen, the two outside linebackers on one side of the defensive line or the other depending on what the situation was, the MLB, who lined up facing the OC, and the SS, who was on the opposite side of the OLB's. The fact that there was only one S left to cover that vast amount of space in the secondary along with the CBs made for huge problems because this defense was all about covering man-to-man, and teams who eventually started to spread the ball around could scoot the ball down field at alarming rates because the FS couldn't do all the work alone; and 2) You basically had to have at least one dominant DE like a Dan Hampton or a Reggie White to be able to bust through the line and attack the quarterback. In Chicago during the 1980s, the Bears had two All-Pro DE's playing in their 46 defense - Dan Hampton and Richard Dent. Philadelphia had some success running the 46 with Buddy Ryan as the head coach because they had Reggie White (RIP), but they weren't as dominant with it as the Bears were.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#31
#31
Our running game will be much improved provided the passing game performs to or exceeds expectations. :yes:
 
#33
#33
I really think the run game will be much better. Im not saying we'll set the world on fire or anything but we'll improve.

I think ML will find his stride after the knee injury and Neals speed will be great at his natural position of RB.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#35
#35
WA_Vol said:
Athlon is releasing a team preview day by day starting at #25 they are now at 12 West Virginia. UT is not making their top 25 apparently.
Click to expand...

Athlon has had a habit of dogging Tennessee ever since they looked like fools for buying into the 2005 hype. That said, I would be a little surprised to see the Vols make many top 25s.
 
#36
#36
So we need proven running back and defensive pressure. Those are two things that are kind of important in the SEC. I'm hopeful but not confident we can address these issues in time enough to compete...
 
#37
#37
the running game is the answer. if we have that, I feel good about us, whoever we face... ...I believe bray has already shown that he is ready to step up, he seems much more mature, but time will tell.
 
#41
#41
SLOBBER_KNOCKER_U said:
I wish everyone would give the "maybe" a rest wih Rogers. He will be good to go this season. These people are no more informed than we are
Click to expand...

No joke. He has a million reasons to show up this year. This is akin to a NFL player during a contract year. DR will have an even better year than he did last year.
 
#42
#42
fade route said:
Athlon seems to have just taken some hack in the mailroom to write this junk. R. Neal more physical than Lane? Seriously? The staff at Athlon clearly hasn't watched a down of Tenn football in 3 years.

And no playmakers at LB?? Hello, AJ?
Click to expand...

Agreed fade. We have talent but little depth. However, our starters are very good. Hopefully injuries don't jade what we have.
 
#43
#43
barney said:
I felt as thought the Linebackers were more of a strength this year then the secondary. Sure there is a major scheme change, but I think LB is probably the most talented position, top to bottom, on our defense.
Click to expand...
Don't agree. Not getting any pressure on a QB exposes even a good CB. had we gotten consistent pressure our DB's would have fared much better. I think this year we see a decent- good rush, and our pass coverage improves drastically.
 
#46
#46
Escape Goat said:
Don't agree. Not getting any pressure on a QB exposes even a good CB. had we gotten consistent pressure our DB's would have fared much better. I think this year we see a decent- good rush, and our pass coverage improves drastically.
Click to expand...

Our defense did remarkably well considering that we didn't get any pressure on the QB. We gave up big points to Bama, LSU, and Arkansas because the offense was hardly on the field after all the three-and-outs. But yes, we need a much pass rush if we want to have the full package on defense. This will make life on the DBs much easier.
 
#47
#47
DjCrenshaw said:
kicking game, don't have one
Click to expand...

And that MAJORLY concerns me. Palardy will cost us a game or 5. I am extremely upset with our special teams play for almost a decade. That's a huge aspect of the game, that I think it needs to be addressed until it is on point. I don't care if we have to "waste" a scholarship per year on a kicker until it's stable. Many moons ago it was our strong point.
 
#48
#48
Escape Goat said:
And that MAJORLY concerns me. Palardy will cost us a game or 5. I am extremely upset with our special teams play for almost a decade. That's a huge aspect of the game, that I think it needs to be addressed until it is on point. I don't care if we have to "waste" a scholarship per year on a kicker until it's stable. Many moons ago it was our strong point.
Click to expand...

Believe it or not, Fulmer utilized and had some of the best kicking aspects of the game until the last half decade or so he was in. Seemed like we always had a nationally prestigues kicker in one area or another. Now we can even flipping make extra points with out my butt clinched.
 
#49
#49
TNGrad2012 said:
Our defense did remarkably well considering that we didn't get any pressure on the QB. We gave up big points to Bama, LSU, and Arkansas because the offense was hardly on the field after all the three-and-outs. But yes, we need a much pass rush if we want to have the full package on defense. This will make life on the DBs much easier.
Click to expand...


Good post. I think we dramatically improve this year, and the stats will reflect it. We were horrible in two key components last year that are vital to win in the SEC, and hell the sunbelt for that matter. I honestly think we win a minimum of 8 games in the regular season next year. I hate Dooley, but I pray this team does well, & he, & the whole staff is retained. We need stability in the worst way. Even if we suck, I'll sit on my recliner and watch it all go down.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#50
#50
Escape Goat said:
Good post. I think we dramatically improve this year, and the stats will reflect it. We were horrible in two key components last year that are vital to win in the SEC, and hell the sunbelt for that matter. I honestly think we win a minimum of 8 games in the regular season next year. I hate Dooley, but I pray this team does well, & he, & the whole staff is retained. We need stability in the worst way. Even if we suck, I'll sit on my recliner and watch it all go down.
Click to expand...

Believe it or not, in the entire time I was at UT, which was from the Fall of 2007 through Spring 2012, I went to a grand total of one game, and that was the Montana game last year. I had to be forced to go by an old friend of mine because I've been totally disgusted with this football program now for years, with how it's been mismanaged, the poor coaching hires, etc. Derek Dooley talks down to his players in public, talking about them as if they were dogs, never one time putting the blame on himself or the coaching staff for the lacking performance on the field. I want Dooley to succeed, but only because that means that the football program is on the upswings and getting back to its rightful place as a national power. I think Dooley is a terrible coach; if you can't beat Kentucky even in a bad year and you're the Tennessee head football coach, that speaks volumes. He was lucky to beat Vandy last year, and had he lost that game, I think he would've been fired for sheer incompetence.

But back to strategy. Yes, I think we'll win at least eight or nine games, but I'm more of the mind that we'll win ten because I think we beat Florida, Mississippi State, Missouri, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt for sure, and probably one or both of Georgia or South Carolina. I don't think we'll beat Bama, but that doesn't matter. I think we'll be much improved, and that this team will contend for the division championship. Hopefully, a ten win season either within the confines of a twelve game schedule or with a bowl game will garner us enough respect that it will give us a top ten recruiting class.

And yes, as I said, we need a pass rush bad. I've never been a fan of the 3-4, as I've always liked the 4-3 and having linebackers drop back into coverage and having defensive ends bull rush quarterbacks, etc. But I'm keeping an open mind as to how Coach Sal's defense works out.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top