Ignore the Spiderweb -- Our Defense isn't Bad

#1
37620VOL

37620VOL

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#1
Could it be better? absolutley
Is our defense bad? absolutely not

The best measure of a defense is how many points it gives up per drive (adjusted for certain things like opponent strength, drive starting point, and garbage time). SP+ does this and according to SP+ our defense is ranked #28 (our offense is ranked #3 by comparison).

"What is SP+? In a single sentence, it's a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency."

Screenshot 2025-10-17 122720.jpg

What about prior years, you ask?
Defense SP+ 2024 ............. #6
Defense SP+ 2023 ............. #22
Defense SP+ 2022 ............. #30

One other thing that SP+ does not measure is turnovers and defensive scoring, which has been a strong point of the 2025 defense.
 
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#2
#2
37620VOL said:
Could it be better? absolutley
Is our defense bad? absolutely not

The best measure of a defense is how many points it gives up per drive (adjusted for certain things like opponent strength, drive starting point, and garbage time). SP+ does this and according to SP+ our defense is ranked #28 (our offense is ranked #3 by comparison).

"What is SP+? In a single sentence, it's a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency."

View attachment 782164

What about prior years, you ask?
Defense SP+ 2024 ............. #6
Defense SP+ 2023 ............. #22
Defense SP+ 2022 ............. #30

One other thing that SP+ does not measure is turnovers and defensive scoring, which has been a strong point of the 2025 defense.
Click to expand...
I’m with you on this. We are 5-1 heading to Tuscaloosa, let’s Go Big Orange! I garauntee you this team is looking forward to the opportunity tomorrow evening. We are a good ball club and this should be an exciting game.
 
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#6
#6
We are severely exposed at LB and Safety. I thought we turned a corner in the 2nd half against Arkansas, but then the collapse in the 4th quarter happened.

We are what we are, a championship level offense paired with a bottom tier defense. It just sucks we can't have an elite unit on both sides one of these years.

It's a Jimmy's and Joe's issue, as we saw last year that Coach Banks and staff are more than capable when they have talent at all 3 levels.
 
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#9
#9
BornAndRaisedVOL! said:
When Arkansas and Miss St get 9 yards every time they run the ball, your D sucks. I don't know what the actual yards per rush was, but that's what it seemed like.
Click to expand...
Arkansas line and running backs are better than Bama's and you could possibly even say QB when It comes to having mobile QB.also mississippi state has the second best Running back in the league. Alabama has maybe the best passing QB and definitely wideouts in the league. I think Alabama is a better opponent style wise than Arkansas and giving them 2 weeks to prepare. I feel like the game could go anyway. It will be about Turnovers and playing clean.
 
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#12
#12
TNVOLFN said:
We are severely exposed at LB and Safety. I thought we turned a corner in the 2nd half against Arkansas, but then the collapse in the 4th quarter happened.

We are what we are, a championship level offense paired with a bottom tier defense. It just sucks we can't have an elite unit on both sides one of these years.

It's a Jimmy's and Joe's issue, as we saw last year that Coach Banks and staff are more than capable when they have talent at all 3 levels.
Click to expand...

Is the number 28 nationally ranked defense based on points per drive really bottom tier? No one's arguing this defense is elite, but bottom tier? That's an argument based in emotion, not fact.
 
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#13
#13
OrangeBeachVol said:
When the Arky RB and Bama's receivers look forward to going against our D that gets my attention. What do you think they are seeing that your not. Don't think your chart would impress them.
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Arkansas running backs only had 31 yards rushing in the second half. Coaches made adjustments to stop it
www.espn.com

Tennessee 34-31 Arkansas (Oct 11, 2025) Game Recap - ESPN

Expert recap and game analysis of the Tennessee Volunteers vs. Arkansas Razorbacks NCAAF game from October 11, 2025 on ESPN.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
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#16
#16
BornAndRaisedVOL! said:
When Arkansas and Miss St get 9 yards every time they run the ball, your D sucks. I don't know what the actual yards per rush was, but that's what it seemed like.
Click to expand...
It does seem worse than it actually is. There is limited data this early in the season but through three games, in conference play...

Tennessee's defense is ranked #10 in the SEC allowing an average of 4.08 yards per rush.

Final stats for the previous years under Heupel/Banks...

2024 - #6 - 3.28/ypr
2023 - #3 - 3.75/ypr
2022 - #2 - 3.44/ypr
2021 - #10 - 4.52/ypr

Notice those 2022 numbers were great...but it seemed like the defense was the Achilles' heel with Hooker and Hyatt slinging it around all game.
 
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#17
#17
Power_Sweep_Vol said:
What was LSU's defense the year the won w Burrow? Probably better than 2025 Vols and offense for UT not generationally great like LSU but we have a puncher's chance against Bama, solid 3 or 4 out of 10.
Click to expand...
In 2019 with Burrow at the helm, LSU's defense in SEC play...

Scoring Defense - #7 - 23.8/ppg
Rushing Defense - #4 - 143.89/ypg
Passing Defense - #9 - 230.8/ypg
Total Defense - #8 - 374.7/ypg

Compared to Tennessee through three conference games...

Scoring Defense - #15 - 36.3/ppg
Rushing Defense - #15 - 213.67/ypg
Passing Defense - #9 - 245/ypg
Total Defense - #14 - 458/ypg
 
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#19
#19
casual-observer said:
It does seem worse than it actually is. There is limited data this early in the season but through three games, in conference play...

Tennessee's defense is ranked #10 in the SEC allowing an average of 4.08 yards per rush.

Final stats for the previous years under Heupel/Banks...

2024 - #6 - 3.28/ypr
2023 - #3 - 3.75/ypr
2022 - #2 - 3.44/ypr
2021 - #10 - 4.52/ypr

Notice those 2022 numbers were great...but it seemed like the defense was the Achilles' heel with Hooker and Hyatt slinging it around all game.
Click to expand...
Should also note that the SEC teams we've played are the #2, #7, and #8 rushing offenses In the sec. All three have better rushing stats than supposedly good running teams like Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Auburn. I'm so happy to see you guys diving into stats deeper. Warms my heart

www.espn.com

2025 College Football Offense Rushing Team Stat Leaders - ESPN

ESPN is the place for NCAAF stats! Find a list of the Offense Rushing team stat leaders for the 2025 NCAAF Regular Season.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
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#22
#22
Power_Sweep_Vol said:
What was LSU's defense the year the won w Burrow? Probably better than 2025 Vols and offense for UT not generationally great like LSU but we have a puncher's chance against Bama, solid 3 or 4 out of 10.
Click to expand...

2019 SP+ had their (LSU's) defense at #20. Their Offense was #1 by a good margin.

Also in 2019:
Bama had the #3 defense and #2 offense but managed to lose 2 games that year.
UT had the #19 defense and #73 offense.
 
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#24
#24
casual-observer said:
In 2019 with Burrow at the helm, LSU's defense in SEC play...

Scoring Defense - #7 - 23.8/ppg
Rushing Defense - #4 - 143.89/ypg
Passing Defense - #9 - 230.8/ypg
Total Defense - #8 - 374.7/ypg

Compared to Tennessee through three conference games...

Scoring Defense - #15 - 36.3/ppg
Rushing Defense - #15 - 213.67/ypg
Passing Defense - #9 - 245/ypg
Total Defense - #14 - 458/ypg
Click to expand...
Ouch.
Scoring defense at almost 2 more TD per game.
Giving up 70 more rushing yards per game on average and 80 or so total yards per game.
Puts a lot of pressure on the offense to score when you have to get 36 on avg to win a game.
 
#25
#25
37620VOL said:
Is the number 28 nationally ranked defense based on points per drive really bottom tier? No one's arguing this defense is elite, but bottom tier? That's an argument based in emotion, not fact.
Click to expand...
Dude, you can cherry pick any stat you want. We give up the most points per game in the SEC, period. Every time our defense takes the field, my stomach churns.

Bottom line is our DL is elite, we have solid corners and 1 decent LB. The rest are not starting caliber SEC players.

I hope I'm here late tomorrow night eating crow, I really do, but I don't trust our defense to do jack.
 
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