Ignore the Spiderweb -- Our Defense isn't Bad

[CAVPUT]

Yes...yes it is that bad and against a very light schedule. Suspect the second half of the season will be very different. Better buckle up.

 

[Orangeblood75]

Arkansas running backs only had 31 yards rushing in the second half. Coaches made adjustments to stop it

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

They got behind by 3scores so they had to throw it

 

[Other_Guy]

How did we feel about the 22 defense?

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

How does what I say bother you... Sad life

I'm not bothered by you. Just an accurate observation of your posts

 

[luvmuscle77]

I am far from an expert, but I have been watching since the 80's. Defense does not pass the eye test. Said the same thing about the offense last year.

 

[chuckiepoo]

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.

The Legion are emotional basket cases? I can go with that.

 

[chuckiepoo]

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.

2019 Final Sp+ Rankings:

 

[chuckiepoo]

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.

Why even bother if you feel like we suck so bad? Do you bang your head on tables?

 

[Heupel's Offseason Beard]

They got behind by 3scores so they had to throw it

Because our defense forced them to go 5 straight drives without a point. The running backs had at least 3 negative runs and a run for no gain. The defense looked really good for a lot of the second half until they got gassed/ blew coverages

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

I know what I see, our defense is not good

But this ranking that has Penn State as a top 20 team says we have a top 30 defense.

 

[BreatheUT]

How does what I say bother you... Sad life

This is a sports board filled with stats and opinions. I don't know why some start reading a thread and think they have a popular angle to try to be board monitor on what someone says.

 

[Rocky Top T]

This is a sports board filled with stats and opinions. I don't know why some start reading a thread and think they have a popular angle to try to be board monitor on what someone says.

Agree

 

[Baseball25]

Alabama will roll up 500-600 yards tomorrow.

 

[VolBallGuy]

I’ve never seen the fanbase so pessimistic about a winnable game. Kinda sucks.

 

[NeverWe'llSever]

It’s mediocre. But what really makes a defense bad imo is the inability to put pressure on/sack the opposing QB or generate turnovers. We don’t have that problem.

 

[Orangethumb]

Our defense isn't dominant but it's good enough to win this game. Let's go!

 

[TNVOLFN]

Why even bother if you feel like we suck so bad? Do you bang your head on tables?

I'm just frustrated that we're basically wasting the best offense in the country and I really, really want to win a Natty

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Alabama will roll up 500-600 yards tomorrow.

If they do, both teams will total 1,300 yards with Tennessee winning.

 

[37620VOL]

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.

If I'm cherry picking a stat, at least it's literally the only one that matters.

 

[YankeeVol]

Dude, we all know, you've posted a dozen or so times that our defense stinks. Damn, let it go.

He's not wrong. We let MSU and Arky hang with us.....

 

[YankeeVol]

If I'm cherry picking a stat, at least it's literally the only one that matters.

Duh. Hence "cherry picking" lol

 

[patrick]

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.

TN defense is one of the quest in the country.

 

[YankeeVol]

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.

2019 LSU and 2001 Miami are the 2 best teams in my lifetime

 

[chuckiepoo]

I'm just frustrated that we're basically wasting the best offense in the country and I really, really want to win a Natty

Wow! Refreshing response! Thank you! Frank honesty with zero snark! I’ve but one upvote to give.

 

[KTrain]

This is a sports board filled with stats and opinions. I don't know why some start reading a thread and think they have a popular angle to try to be board monitor on what someone says.

Yep, the mind can be a crazy thing, this is a good anonymous place for them to emote, even if it becomes ad nauseam. Its better than them grouching at a loved one.