How does the defense get fixed moving forward?

[Skullbone]

I don't know what the answer is, but no one will ever win consistently with this. Expecting your offense to score 63+ points every game is a terrible defensive strategy.

 

[Megatron88]

Get new defensive coaches and hit the transfer portal hard for db’s

 

[Jax_Vol]

A darn good first step will be to put Jeremy Banks on the field at CandyLand

 

[JoAllan]

They could also lose to Vandy and lose A bowl game. If the rumors that the defense threw the game are true, then we aren’t going 11-2.

Please re-read post and look for the word “if”

 

[vol94]

It helps to have the Jimmies and Joes on the defensive side, but playing good defense is so much more about overall philosophy and effort. Both have been sub par all year. Our philosophy to shut down the run but play soft coverage has allowed very average QBs to look like Tom Brady and keeps opponents in games late.

As far as effort goes, re watch the SC game and the effort the gamecocks defense gave in covering Hyatt. They played their a$$es off and tackled in space. That’s effort and discipline. Our defense has none and I’m afraid Heupel simply believed he could outscore everyone and just didn’t care what happened in that side of the ball. It’s an issue and he must address it or we will be one of those teams that boat races scrubs and gets our lunch taken by teams that play good D

Its funny that I’m reading your comments now as a Mizz fan told me three weeks ago this would happen. I told him he was an angry Mizz fan so me Heup left them over night but to accept the coaching job at Central FL. Well, maybe he was correct.

He said a couple of things:

1. Oklahoma- Stoops fired him because he didn’t want to adapt certain schemes to improve time of possession. I wasn’t there so who knows.

2. Mizz- same as number one. He was only interested on his side of the ball, meaning not as concerned with complimentary football. Again, I want there

3. Central FL- head coach and offense put up points. He thought he could outscore everyone each week.
He recruited mostly offensive players and less time on defense

My take - Heup is a former QB with an offensive mind. He has two years of head coaching experience in the best league in the country. He now understands the feeling (as head coach) of being number one for a week and losing a possible playoff birth due to inexplicable and inexcusable defensive performance.

My hope is he will help land elite defensive players and find the position coaches (if they are not on staff) to develop them. Also, I hope he hits the portal as the incoming freshmen won’t be ready to play SEC football.

 

[EZE]

It helps to have the Jimmies and Joes on the defensive side, but playing good defense is so much more about overall philosophy and effort. Both have been sub par all year. Our philosophy to shut down the run but play soft coverage has allowed very average QBs to look like Tom Brady and keeps opponents in games late.

As far as effort goes, re watch the SC game and the effort the gamecocks defense gave in covering Hyatt. They played their a$$es off and tackled in space. That’s effort and discipline. Our defense has none and I’m afraid Heupel simply believed he could outscore everyone and just didn’t care what happened in that side of the ball. It’s an issue and he must address it or we will be one of those teams that boat races scrubs and gets our lunch taken by teams that play good D

Well, in all fairness, Haden did put a lot of effort into talking smack after giving up yet another first down.

 

[volfan4evr]

What about coach Gardner?

 

[RatchedVol]

The problem is the players, not the coaches. The players laid the "f" down. They sabotaged the season, that is unforgivable.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Hire Ukraine military commandeers.

 

[sjt18]

The does in fact need more talent and depth. But there are less talented, thinner D's performing significantly better in the SEC and across the country.

Great coaches get more out of a roster than the sum of its talent. Heupel has done that two years running on O. Banks has not done so on D. IMO, he has not even gotten the sum of the talent available.

UT needs more talent. But more than that they need better schemes, gameplanning, and play calling. I didn't say "coaching" because honestly the skill development doesn't look that bad. UT doesn't miss a ton of tackles. They appear to do other things correctly.

 

[sjt18]

The problem is the players, not the coaches. The players laid the "f" down. They sabotaged the season, that is unforgivable.

What's your proof? I've seen that accusation floating around.

This isn't the first time Banks has been out prepared and been made a fool of in play calling.

 

[Grouse Stalker]

Slowing down the offense would help the defense a bunch.

Jimmie and Joe's, not X,'s and O's. I keep hearing coaches say that on the radio but the experts on online forums say it's scheme. Defenders aren't as excited to play alongside an offensive philosophy that leaves them on the field to look bad from fatigue. Riley never was able to recruit a bunch of top defenders to Oklahoma, but the QBs and WRs loved him. USC just gave up 40 to UCLA

 

[JRich]

Well, for this season they ride with what they have. I feel Hadden should sit. Seems like the secondary was better when he was out. He looked bad against Florida, Alabama, and Carolina... and Pitt the more I think about it.

I'm leaning towards moving on from Martinez, but I'm just a fan and don't really know what's going on within the program. Who's to say what the real issue is?

One thing I have observed is that it seems like this team/staff does not prepare well for their opponents. I think that is an area to improve upon.

 

[JRich]

Execution.

We have to execute the secondary.

lol

 

[RatchedVol]

Well, in all fairness, Haden did put a lot of effort into talking smack after giving up yet another first down.

Yup. Heard he had a prescription for Silvadene waiting when he got back as well.

 

[utvolCO]

What's your proof? I've seen that accusation floating around.

This isn't the first time Banks has been out prepared and been made a fool of in play calling.

I would like ironclad proof of throwing a game as well. I find it really hard to believe that the players would purposely lose a game. I could see locker room nonsense causing them to be distracted, but not actively sabotaging a season going this well. The only time I've ever wondered was that one game with Bray and Rodgers (Kentucky maybe?), and I'm still not sold on that team throwing a game either.

 

[Volfan1000]

How does Huepel go about fixing our defense? I know a lot of us would say recruiting. We have three 4 star CB's committed at this point. We have several highly ranked d-line commits which will help put pressure on the QB which we know is important. Will 3 highly ranked CB's help us out enough next year? Does it even matter if our defensive coaching staff stays the same? I mean look what our offense has produced with what we have! Most of our offensive guys were not highly ranked in recruiting. Coaching has just brought out the best in them. Defense has not been the same. It seems that Huepel had a hard time getting a defensive coordinator when he was hired. Could he do any better now if he decided to move on from Banks or is the offense we run make d-coordinators just not want to come here? Huepel has done such a good job overall but if he wants to ever take the next step we have to have a top 20-30 defense. I think that would be enough to have us competing for championships if our offense stays towards the top. What do you think Huepel has to do to get our defense fixed? How long should we realistically expect it to take?

One option may be to play a dime coverage against Vanderbilt and see how that works out.

 

[sjt18]

I would like ironclad proof of throwing a game as well. I find it really hard to believe that the players would purposely lose a game. I could see locker room nonsense causing them to be distracted, but not actively sabotaging a season going this well. The only time I've ever wondered was that one game with Bray and Rodgers (Kentucky maybe?), and I'm still not sold on that team throwing a game either.

I think it is people trying to explain something they don't understand with conjecture about something else they don't understand.

It is a common occurrence in combat that guys who hate each other put aside their differences to fight the enemy. IMO, there is essentially zero chance one player much less a conspiracy of players so completely bought in for over a year threw it all away over one incident... even a bad one.

You are right. Something like that may have distracted their preparation. The only reason players might take that kind of risk is if they're fairly certain they can get someone they hate or distrust fired. I don't believe that either.

USCe found some things. Some things have worked for other teams. But they pieced it together. They played as if they knew the game plan and were in Banks' headset. Shoot. That's more realistic than a player rebellion. Maybe they spied. There's probably more evidence that the officials threw the game than UT's players did.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

I would like ironclad proof of throwing a game as well. I find it really hard to believe that the players would purposely lose a game. I could see locker room nonsense causing them to be distracted, but not actively sabotaging a season going this well. The only time I've ever wondered was that one game with Bray and Rodgers (Kentucky maybe?), and I'm still not sold on that team throwing a game either.

It’s total BS, the players were hurt and mad after the game. Nobody threw the game. Any true Vol fan that really believes that needs to quit following them. I know I would, but I know it isn’t the truth. Did they have things on their mind yes, but they weren’t out there trying to lose. We had them stopped twice in the 3rd quarter and got a few questionable calls that kept drives alive. We played bad, they played great. A few times we had it covered pretty good their quarterback made perfect throws. It was one of them nights that happens now and then. The key is bouncing back, that is the best was to stop the insanity talk. GBO

 

[MSCE09]

Pay them more NiL so they quit betting on the opponent.

 

[TNbuc2]

I think it is people trying to explain something they don't understand with conjecture about something else they don't understand.

It is a common occurrence in combat that guys who hate each other put aside their differences to fight the enemy. IMO, there is essentially zero chance one player much less a conspiracy of players so completely bought in for over a year threw it all away over one incident... even a bad one.

You are right. Something like that may have distracted their preparation. The only reason players might take that kind of risk is if they're fairly certain they can get someone they hate or distrust fired. I don't believe that either.

USCe found some things. Some things have worked for other teams. But they pieced it together. They played as if they knew the game plan and were in Banks' headset. Shoot. That's more realistic than a player rebellion. Maybe they spied. There's probably more evidence that the officials threw the game than UT's players did.

There was a Southern Cal QB yrs ago that was supposed to be ALL-everything that got hooked on drugs (Todd ?). Played for the Raiders, potential guy. One game he played one of the best games in NFL history, and fell back to Earth> Kind of a Tin Cup ( one of my fav movies) type of thing> I believe our poor defensive play lead to Rattler having one of those. Mark Rypien of the Redskins did the same in a Super Bowl, got a great contract, then returned to his earthly form. This is my way of saying I think you are spot on.

 

[ttocswob]

Recruiting

 

[VOLINVONORE]

How about try their best/hardest to win?

 

[Cartervol]

How about get off the bus. Their mouths got off the bus, nothing else did.

 

[KeyVol14]

Hire Phil Parker from Iowa