Bipolar Defense

#26
#26
sjt18 said:
You also need to factor in the reality of officiating bias.

In boxing, it was a known phenomenon that the champion got favorable scoring. SEC officials tend to favor ranked teams. They get away with more and more is called against their opponents unless they're also ranked.

If you think I'm wrong then re-watch and specifically look for holding... look for the officials looking the other way on a clear targeting foul... watch a fumble occur and then the next guy in clear possession of the ball to be a Vol only to have it called a TD. Watch for touch fouls going one way and pretty flagrant stuff being allowed the other. You might even claim that it isn't intentional but rather the expectations of the officials that one team will be better than the other.
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All you bring up are good points. BUT this is the best. Bama holds on nearly every play. (they are not alone, most do) The difference for them is it is hardly ever called...
 
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#27
#27
docterjaws said:
food for thought
Tennessee defense is listed at 80th in the nation for out of 128 teams BUT... Tennessee has played against number 3 offense in the nation ... ol miss - 5th in the nation pitt - 9th in the nation florida - 10 th in the nation alabama pretty good with 71 players

also of note is Tennessee is currently 23rd in the nation on total offense compared to what - about 100th last year?? does anyone question Tennessee is much better?
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ESPN efficiencies ranking has TN’s defense at 24th for defense.
 
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#28
#28
tabrams said:
I have read a bunch of happy threads about how our defense is #1 in the nation in tackles for loss, which is truly incredible no doubt. But also amazing is that our third down defense is one of the worst in the nation too. Also I noticed our red zone defense and defense inside the 10 yard line is nearly invisible as well.

I’m wondering what we are doing to get so many great stops, then totally fall apart on 3rd downs and in the red zone?

Obviously we aren’t consistently getting pressure on the Quarterbacks, and when we do get pressure, we cannot get a hold of them.

I think we might be running the Tampa 2 (2 safeties back) to prevent long passes, but we just seem not to hv any LBs in the middle of the field, or DBs there either….

Does anyone know why we appear to be so great for 2-3 plays, and then so awful the next?
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Lack of depth creates opportunities for mistakes due to fatigue. That's our defensive issue. Bama got 18 pts in the 4th. Mostly attributed to fatigue. They couldn't get that in the 1st half Because we were fresher on defense.
 
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#29
#29
volinthenorth said:
I've noticed that! Why? Under the old regime we actually used to blitz quite a lot. It often seemed to work. Are our cover guys not as good this year?
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We still blitz but they're mostly zone blitzes. I get they are doing it to try to keep everything in front of them but zones have holes and it puts the defense in serious conflict on QB runs even though they should have eyes on QB. They have tried to solve the QB scrambling by stunting the DL some but the offense still has a numbers advantage in the box and our pass rush isn't fantastic. When we had Ole Miss backed up in 3rd and long I feel like we should've sent 6 and played man and made Corral get rid of the ball quick or scramble to the left so he would have to make harder throws if anything.
 
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#30
#30
tabrams said:
I have read a bunch of happy threads about how our defense is #1 in the nation in tackles for loss, which is truly incredible no doubt. But also amazing is that our third down defense is one of the worst in the nation too. Also I noticed our red zone defense and defense inside the 10 yard line is nearly invisible as well.

I’m wondering what we are doing to get so many great stops, then totally fall apart on 3rd downs and in the red zone?

Obviously we aren’t consistently getting pressure on the Quarterbacks, and when we do get pressure, we cannot get a hold of them.

I think we might be running the Tampa 2 (2 safeties back) to prevent long passes, but we just seem not to hv any LBs in the middle of the field, or DBs there either….

Does anyone know why we appear to be so great for 2-3 plays, and then so awful the next?
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You hit the nail on the head when you touched on the linebackers. Most people know they can get third down consistently on us especially if they have a QB that can run.
 
#31
#31
I would assume that it is just math. Our quick pace offense keeps our D on the field for about 100 plays a game while the average is probably 75-80 plays for most teams. That's 20 to 25 more chances to get negative plays. If we can get a D that can get 3 and outs in the future I would expect that number to go down. Just numbers.
 
#32
#32
Where do these posters come from? First the change Neyland and now this thread? What are these posters FB IQ?
 
#33
#33
tabrams said:
I have read a bunch of happy threads about how our defense is #1 in the nation in tackles for loss, which is truly incredible no doubt. But also amazing is that our third down defense is one of the worst in the nation too. Also I noticed our red zone defense and defense inside the 10 yard line is nearly invisible as well.

I’m wondering what we are doing to get so many great stops, then totally fall apart on 3rd downs and in the red zone?

Obviously we aren’t consistently getting pressure on the Quarterbacks, and when we do get pressure, we cannot get a hold of them.

I think we might be running the Tampa 2 (2 safeties back) to prevent long passes, but we just seem not to hv any LBs in the middle of the field, or DBs there either….

Does anyone know why we appear to be so great for 2-3 plays, and then so awful the next?
Click to expand...
We are dropping into coverage, but then the spy can't tackle the QB.
 
#35
#35
volinthenorth said:
I've noticed that! Why? Under the old regime we actually used to blitz quite a lot. It often seemed to work. Are our cover guys not as good this year?
Click to expand...

No their not, horribly thin at LB position which puts the entire back end of the Defense in a bad way!! It’s about depth
 
#36
#36
MiramarVol said:
Lack of depth creates opportunities for mistakes due to fatigue. That's our defensive issue. Bama got 18 pts in the 4th. Mostly attributed to fatigue. They couldn't get that in the 1st half Because we were fresher on defense.
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This, next man up can only last so long. When you start the season with 2 second team LBs because starters gone, then lose best Middle LB in game 4, you’re seeing the fatigue set in
 
#38
#38
I've commented in some of these defensive threads that absolutely love and praise our defense well before the Alabama game and even before the Ole Miss game about how our 3rd down defense was worrisome and got blasted. People would just post pictures of our best defensive stats in response to me being concerned and negative towards our third down defense.


Welp I hate to say I told you so!

Tackles for losses don't mean a dang thing if you allow the other team to get 95% of their 3rd down conversions.
 
#39
#39
The offense is bipolar as well. Explosive at times and non existent for quarters or even halves.

This team is really fun to watch about 50% of the time
 
#40
#40
tabrams said:
I have read a bunch of happy threads about how our defense is #1 in the nation in tackles for loss, which is truly incredible no doubt. But also amazing is that our third down defense is one of the worst in the nation too. Also I noticed our red zone defense and defense inside the 10 yard line is nearly invisible as well.

I’m wondering what we are doing to get so many great stops, then totally fall apart on 3rd downs and in the red zone?

Obviously we aren’t consistently getting pressure on the Quarterbacks, and when we do get pressure, we cannot get a hold of them.

I think we might be running the Tampa 2 (2 safeties back) to prevent long passes, but we just seem not to hv any LBs in the middle of the field, or DBs there either….

Does anyone know why we appear to be so great for 2-3 plays, and then so awful the next?
Click to expand...
Linebackers can't stop QB draw on 3rd down. Beasley was welcomed to the SEC by Young in the Bama game......felt bad for him.
 
#41
#41
tabrams said:
I have read a bunch of happy threads about how our defense is #1 in the nation in tackles for loss, which is truly incredible no doubt. But also amazing is that our third down defense is one of the worst in the nation too. Also I noticed our red zone defense and defense inside the 10 yard line is nearly invisible as well.

I’m wondering what we are doing to get so many great stops, then totally fall apart on 3rd downs and in the red zone?

Obviously we aren’t consistently getting pressure on the Quarterbacks, and when we do get pressure, we cannot get a hold of them.

I think we might be running the Tampa 2 (2 safeties back) to prevent long passes, but we just seem not to hv any LBs in the middle of the field, or DBs there either….

Does anyone know why we appear to be so great for 2-3 plays, and then so awful the next?
Click to expand...
Sounds like 3rd and Chavis all over again....
 
#42
#42
In my opinion it's coaching/play calling but others will whole heartedly jump on me for not blaming on lack of depth. Plenty of talent on this team. Look at the defensive stats. Plenty of 3rd of long situations caused by our defense. Started at the Florida game and has been a problem since. This defense reminds me so much of 3rd and Chavis. It's disheartening to have a 3rd and 19 and the middle of the field is wide open for a long slant pass or the qb tucks and runs for 25.
 
#43
#43
Volsfannn said:
In my opinion it's coaching/play calling but others will whole heartedly jump on me for not blaming on lack of depth. Plenty of talent on this team. Look at the defensive stats. Plenty of 3rd of long situations caused by our defense. Started at the Florida game and has been a problem since. This defense reminds me so much of 3rd and Chavis. It's disheartening to have a 3rd and 19 and the middle of the field is wide open for a long slant pass or the qb tucks and runs for 25.
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I think I agree… we are playing just like Chavis D…
Aggressive on first and second downs…. But on 3rd we are way too conservative and running soft zones…..everybody is open in tge middle of field…

We are calling bad defenses on 3rd down imo
 
#44
#44
If Tennessee can somehow reverse the revolving door at the assistant spots Banks will good to go once he’s got depth.
 
#45
#45
We do not run a Tampa 2. Tampa 2 is generally run out of a 4-3 and the MLB is the key cog. We run a 4-2-5 where the STAR position (hybrid DB/OLB really) makes everything work. This scheme is built to stop offenses that spread the field with wide splits, screens, and sweeps. It maximizes the amount of sideline-to-sideline speed on the field and if you have scrappy DBs who are good at shedding weak WR blocks you get a lot of TFLs in the flat areas like we are seeing.

The reason why we are seeing the middle of the field as a weakness right now is due to lack of DL depth and LB talent gap. DL gets gassed and loses rush lane discipline.
Banks plays hard but is slow to recognize plays developing, Beasley is undersized and a step slow but he has some dog in him. Both are a liability in coverage.

Overall I think what we’re seeing is a solid scheme, but teams are exploiting the personnel weaknesses that we just can’t hide.
 
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#47
#47
Iam4utalways said:
I’d rather give up the yards after sending pressure than to lay back and give up the yards.

Our guys usually are coming up to make the play, I’ve seen them miss the tackle because of that either due to a cut by the QB or by a juke step. Either way I like seeing them step up to make a play rather than to lay back and reaching and grabbing.
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Well, do you like them scoring TDs from the open receivers instead? Because that's what would happen.
 
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#48
#48
chuck0303 said:
Well, do you like them scoring TDs from the open receivers instead? Because that's what would happen.
Click to expand...

People think they’re pissed about giving up the QB runs vs Miss and Bama, they would be really upset if they’d seen the alternative of both those QB’s dropping dimes to receivers in single coverage on the outside all night.
 
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