Bob Shoop reveals 3 keys to Tennessee defense returning to dominant form

[DaddyChad]

Honestly, Shoop wasn't a bad hire and did better than what most think.

His second half adjustments in the first half of the season were great. The last half we were so decimated with injuries that we were exposed. CBs to me, were the only area of concern.

You hit the nail on the head. There is no adjustment when you don't have quality defensive tackles.

 

[SteelerVol]

when he has a healthy team with experience he does great things with a defense. That was his key at Vandy and Penn St continuity. I can not ever remember a year when a defense had this many injuries at all levels. He and coach Warren should be on the same page and yes I like our defensive recruit class. Good things coming. Have faith all who doubt. " Peace be unto you"

Peace on you too!

 

[Remy]

Shoop's defense was a by product of the whole team from last year IMO. They were soft at the opener and were soft throughout the season. 121 MUST be physically tougher than 120 and heckuva lot more like 119 that even Bama respected. Barnett was really the only guy that showed up physically tough last season on D, the rest played like creampuffs.

 

[mitzustu]

Key to the D... We will have 9 DTs on the roster (not including Kongbo who I thought played very well there vs Nebraska.)

Vickers
Picou
A. Johnson
C. Mosley
Mckenzie
Tuttle

(Freshmen)
Crosby
Butler
Bennett

 

[Sarms58]

Key to the D... We will have 9 DTs on the roster (not including Kongbo who I thought played very well there vs Nebraska.)

Vickers
Picou
A. Johnson
C. Mosley
Mckenzie
Tuttle

(Freshmen)
Crosby
Butler
Bennett

I try not to count on Freshmen...I'm thinking the 2 deep will be Vickers, Johnson, Mckenzie and Tuttle (if healthy)

Perhaps our overall strategy should be to get the other team off the field quickly to minimize potential for injuries...

And I mean 3 and out...not quick scores...lol!

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

This isn't a Shoop issue. This, once again, is a BUTCH issue. He has his fingers in all aspects of our team and it shows. If Butch wants to win here, he'll let Shoop run the show on D. Butch doesn't have the X and O power to micromanage both sides of the ball. Butch needs to recruit and talk to the media, and currently he is even screwing those two items up.

Totally agree.

 

[Smokey X]

Shoop's defense was a by product of the whole team from last year IMO. They were soft at the opener and were soft throughout the season. 121 MUST be physically tougher than 120 and heckuva lot more like 119 that even Bama respected. Barnett was really the only guy that showed up physically tough last season on D, the rest played like creampuffs.

Vereen and Vickers held their own IMO. granted, not as good as DB but they did OK. I think you got to give Strip a lot of credit despite the S&C failure.

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

Defense:

1. Confusion, leading to explosive plays
2. S&C that probably led to more injuries
3. Run defense and hesitation...I noticed many times the defender waited for the runner to come to them rather than attack...it was like spotting them 5-6 yards a play.
4. DE Development
5. CB coaching

Offense:

1. Predictability
2. Turnovers and Penalties
3. TE utilization
4. Mid-Range passing efficiency.
5. WR & QB development
5a. OL living up to potential

Special Teams:

1. New PRs
2. Backup KR
3. Penalties and Turnovers
4. Development of Medley
5. Trick plays and Kick Blocking

 

[KBVol]

Define "bad". We won a lot of games because of our defense. VT, UF and UGA, too.

592 yards and 45 points vs TAM
594 yards and 49 points vs Bama
635 yards and 36 points vs Kentucky
740 yards and 37 points vs Missouri
608 yards and 45 points vs Vanderbilt

There's 5 definitions of "bad"

Also, we won vs VaTech because of 5 Hokie turnovers and our offense put up 45 points. Similarly, we beat Florida because our offense was unstoppable in the second half on the way to 38 points....our defense played a good second half, in particular, and outstanding 3rd quarter, yet still gave up 28 points and 400 yards. Versus Georgia, our defense allowed 31 points, about 400 yards and inexplicably gave up what should've been the game-losing touchdown.

No, App State is about the only game I think we can honestly say that the defense even came close to "winning the game".

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Key to the D... We will have 9 DTs on the roster (not including Kongbo who I thought played very well there vs Nebraska.)

Vickers
Picou
A. Johnson
C. Mosley
Mckenzie
Tuttle

(Freshmen)
Crosby
Butler
Bennett

I don't disagree with your overall point -- I gave a like.

... and am not 100% sure Mosley is a DT -- I do hope they keep working him there this spring ...

... but, damn, boy! You forgot Paul Bain !!!!

 

[mitzustu]

I don't disagree with your overall point -- I gave a like.

... and am not 100% sure Mosley is a DT -- I do hope they keep working him there this spring ...

... but, damn, boy! You forgot Paul Bain !!!!

I'm dead.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

We shall see if Shoop is indeed worth his money this year. The jury is still out IMO. Either Shoop is that good, or it was Franklin that made him look good.

 

[BeardedVol]

592 yards and 45 points vs TAM
594 yards and 49 points vs Bama
635 yards and 36 points vs Kentucky
740 yards and 37 points vs Missouri
608 yards and 45 points vs Vanderbilt

There's 5 definitions of "bad"

Also, we won vs VaTech because of 5 Hokie turnovers and our offense put up 45 points. Similarly, we beat Florida because our offense was unstoppable in the second half on the way to 38 points....our defense played a good second half, in particular, and outstanding 3rd quarter, yet still gave up 28 points and 400 yards. Versus Georgia, our defense allowed 31 points, about 400 yards and inexplicably gave up what should've been the game-losing touchdown.

No, App State is about the only game I think we can honestly say that the defense even came close to "winning the game".

Seriously bro? I mean really? Shoop held Tennessee Tech freaking scoreless!

 

[farmin68]

Define "bad". We won a lot of games because of our defense. VT, UF and UGA, too.

I really like Shoop. I'm hoping the next head coach keeps him on staff.

 

[Dudleys87]

Define "bad". We won a lot of games because of our defense. VT, UF and UGA, too.

Defense didn't win the UGA game.

 

[Dudleys87]

We shall see if Shoop is indeed worth his money this year. The jury is still out IMO. Either Shoop is that good, or it was Franklin that made him look good.

There's still a lot of things left to be fixed but at least he's got two things fixed: more talent and Martinez is out

 

[BeardedVol]

There's still a lot of things left to be fixed but at least he's got two things fixed: more talent and Martinez is out

I'd feel more excitement for the Trey Smith commit, and the 2017 season in general if Don Mahoney had been replaced as well. The thought of sticking QD/JG behind another poorly-coached oline just gives me nightmares of Justin Worley.

 

[KBVol]

Define "bad". We won a lot of games because of our defense. VT, UF and UGA, too.

Another definition for you per Doug Mathews this morning..... Tennessee allowed 31 touchdown drives of 70 yards or more last season. As Doug said, "that's a huge number". Additionally, there were 6 more drives of 60+ yards.

 

[VolForLife83]

I was waiting for someone to go "there".

It was out there. .... So

 

[SolidRockGolf]

This part...I like:

Shoop said the focus on defense will be to put the best 11 players on the field and then scheme to the strengths of those players.​

This part...scares me:

Jones has helped him find tweaks that can improve the defense​

Why is it so hard to believe that CBJ cares about this program and has a brain that he tries to use to help improve.

He brought us out of the dumpster and has tons of heart. Shoop likes him. Let them work and hope they keep moving forward. Can't get him fired right now no matter how hard you try.

 

[BeardedVol]

Why is it so hard to believe that CBJ cares about this program and has a brain that he tries to use to help improve.

He brought us out of the dumpster and has tons of heart. Shoop likes him. Let them work and hope they keep moving forward. Can't get him fired right now no matter how hard you try.

Straw man much? Where did I say that CBJ didn't care about the football program? Where did I say that CBJ should be fired? Go ahead, I'll wait.

On a side note, in your opinion, how many years do we have to be removed from Derek Dooley's tenure, before his poor performance can no longer be used as the metric for the current coach at the University of Tennessee?

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Does anyone remember when we had a dominant defense?

 

[jwells]

Another definition for you per Doug Mathews this morning..... Tennessee allowed 31 touchdown drives of 70 yards or more last season. As Doug said, "that's a huge number". Additionally, there were 6 more drives of 60+ yards.

I blame injury last year more than coaching. We lost our interior line which limited Barnett and and inside pass rush. LBs had to stay in to help interior rush D which killed us outside. Then they were all hurt. Our safeties had focus too much on rush defense. Then they fought injuries. We lost our best corner which left the entire field open to a bad secondary that wasn't getting much help from anyone else.

I'm not sure we saw what Shoop is capable of last year. We saw a triage unit trying to get bodies on the field.

 

[Orange_Crush]

Straw man much? Where did I say that CBJ didn't care about the football program? Where did I say that CBJ should be fired? Go ahead, I'll wait.

On a side note, in your opinion, how many years do we have to be removed from Derek Dooley's tenure, before his poor performance can no longer be used as the metric for the current coach at the University of Tennessee?

That's epic right there.

Paragraph One: Denies claiming that Butch should be fired.

Paragraph Two: Basically asks when everyone will agree that Butch deserves to be fired.

 

[BeardedVol]

That's epic right there.

Paragraph One: Denies claiming that Butch should be fired.

Paragraph Two: Basically asks when everyone will agree that Butch deserves to be fired.

Because that's exactly what I said in the post he was responding to, correct?

This part...I like:

Shoop said the focus on defense will be to put the best 11 players on the field and then scheme to the strengths of those players.​

This part...scares me:

Jones has helped him find tweaks that can improve the defense​

Some A+ reading comprehension skills you've got there.