Is Heupel incapable of seeing what needs to be done? Or is it something else?

#102
#102
BigOrangeTrain said:
I have been a huge Heupel defender. I really like him as a coach but that like is wearing thin now. I can handle giving up points and yards to UGA and Bama. They have tons of elite play makers. But giving up almost 300 yards and 21 points to a bottom feeder like UK?

Surely Heupel sees what needs to be done right? He HAS TO right? Or is he simply incapable of seeing it? I would have no issue with firing Banks at halftime and letting Inge call the defense the rest of the way. Would it be a disaster? Could it be much worse? If Heupel doesn’t get rid of Banks at seasons end then, and I cannot believe I am saying this, I want him gone.

This defensive performances are unacceptable and embarrassing.
Click to expand...

Many of us share this thinking. For me personally, I’m done with Heupel. He is not the guy to take us to the next level, as I see it. I’ve seen enough. He refuses to adapt and refuses to lead his staff based on performance and results. Comfortable with the status quo. Obviously coaches scared and plays not to lose at times. Terrible clock manager. No killer instinct. It may take another year or two, but he will move on to someplace with lower expectations, where mediocrity is acceptable.

I’ll support my Vols, of course, no matter what.
 
#104
#104
JMSqb11 said:
I don’t think Heupel cares. This is danger of expanded playoff era. You can ho hum a couple of games and not be eliminated from contending for playoff spot.
Click to expand...
For the umpteenth time, UT is NOT making the playoffs.... There IS another Loss lurking and that will seal the deal. Besides, with that defense, it would be just like OSU last year. Blown off the field. Geeze.. Indy or OSU would handle the Vols.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Al Orange, LibertyVolance and Sudden Impact
#105
#105
Our defense was at its best last year when we had Pili. When we lost him, we regressed.

Since the peak of our defense last year, we have lost Pili, Jermod, Gibson, and Pearce. We also lost Omari, Norman-Lott, and Eli Simmons. Last but far from least, I would argue, the loss of Will Brooks was a much bigger deal than most of us realized.

I honestly think poor safety play is affecting our linebackers. Telander and Spillman are routinely sprinting back 20 yards on zone plays and leaving acres of space underneath; I'm no expert, but that seems like trying to compensate for the safeties to me.

Secondary play may be affecting our d-line as well. We are running stunts and twists at a very high clip. Great for rushing the passer, not so great for stopping the run.

I'd like to see some tweaks in the offseason (ie Banks needs to give up coaching safeties. Let Willie coach safeties or hire another assistant to do so, similar to how coach Ek coached outside linebackers). I think they were too good last year for Banks at least to be on the chopping block this year. If next year's defense is anything like this one, though, heads need to roll.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sudden Impact
#109
#109
volfan102455 said:
Our offense was different in 2023 and 2024 - less explosive plays, offense was on the field for longer periods of time. That also limits the number of times the opponents have the opportunity to score.

I know - you probably say - that has nothing to do with defense - but actually it does. Defense may be on the field more and the opponents have more opportunities to adjust and score.

This 2025 team is a lot like the 2022 team in terms of being able to score quickly. That 2022 team allowed a lot of teams score points on us.
Click to expand...
I agree to an extent, but I’ve seen teams march down the field early in the game, often on their first drive, which has nothing to do with the offenses TOP
 
#110
#110
BigOrangeTrain said:
I have been a huge Heupel defender. I really like him as a coach but that like is wearing thin now. I can handle giving up points and yards to UGA and Bama. They have tons of elite play makers. But giving up almost 300 yards and 21 points to a bottom feeder like UK?

Surely Heupel sees what needs to be done right? He HAS TO right? Or is he simply incapable of seeing it? I would have no issue with firing Banks at halftime and letting Inge call the defense the rest of the way. Would it be a disaster? Could it be much worse? If Heupel doesn’t get rid of Banks at seasons end then, and I cannot believe I am saying this, I want him gone.

This defensive performances are unacceptable and embarrassing.
Click to expand...
Have you looked at our roster and seeing how many freshmen and sophomores are on that defense?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sudden Impact
#111
#111
JMSqb11 said:
I don’t think Heupel cares. This is danger of expanded playoff era. You can ho hum a couple of games and not be eliminated from contending for playoff spot.
Click to expand...
Not buying that. I think Heupel is very concerned about his defense. I think there is only so much a coach can teach as far as fundamentals go. At some point we need to also start holding these players accountable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NCFisher
#112
#112
EZE said:
Well…if he does, your opinion is the last one he should be listening to…including all others on here…including mine.

None of you have any idea what it takes to coach and field even a competitive team at the Pop Warner level…let alone the SEC.

The narcissism around here is palpable that people think they know more than our coaches.

Is our defense bad? Yes. But there are a lot of factors, and I’ll be the first to say that I don’t have the answers.

Here’s another truth. The defense was very good last year and carried the team. Is all of that just immediately forgotten because this unit is struggling?

I trust that Heupel will make the right decisions in the offseason. And it would be utterly stupid to start firing coaches at 6-2 and everything still available to play for.
Click to expand...
I don’t think anyone is saying start firing coaches right now. But most have doubts he will make any changes.

I think it’s narcissistic to know everyone’s background on here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sudden Impact
#115
#115
OmahaOmaha said:
For the umpteenth time, UT is NOT making the playoffs.... There IS another Loss lurking and that will seal the deal. Besides, with that defense, it would be just like OSU last year. Blown off the field. Geeze.. Indy or OSU would handle the Vols.
Click to expand...
This would almost be a blessing not to make it. Embarrassing as the loss was last year in the CFB a repeat would dwell in it. 9 Game schedule for next year and to be honest I do not want to slide in unless the Defense does a 180 degree flip. OK and @FL and Vandy games will be challenging. Two are at home that is a blessing but physically not the best spot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Al Orange and OmahaOmaha
#116
#116
Vol737 said:
Banks needs to be shown the door. KY has basically quit as a team and still scored 34 pts and went up and down the field on us. Surely there’s a better coordinator out there that would come to Tennessee. Sure, part of it is due to injuries in the secondary, but these younger four star rated DB’s We’ve brought in have to step up and play better. Pass defense is putrid. They have to be coached better than this because no one looks like they know what they’re doing back there.
Click to expand...
I don't know if I've ever seen a defense as bad as this one just on a fundamental level. These players just can not tackle to save their lives. I don't think it's physicality. These players aren't a bunch of 1 or 2 stars. There are lots of 4 star players on our defense. Also, strength and conditioning appears to be fine as the offense is holding up well.

It's pretty easy to isolate the problems to the defensive coaching staff.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Al Orange and Vol737
#117
#117
marcusluvsvols said:
This 100%.

Banks had the #7 defense in the nation thru 13 games last year. With our offense sucking because Nico sucked. Still #7 in FBS...#5 until the OSU debacle.

Banks isnt the problem. Not having BOTH STARTING CORNERS ALL YEAR is our problem. If we had them, Hood is at Nickel and we are 6-1 at WORST ranked top10 and playoff bound. Hell we were missing both corners AND All SEC Linebacker Arion Carter who is by far our leading tackler. Thats not on Banks. We need 2 Safeties from the portal, and for Hood to stay next year and start opposite Gibson at Corner. We can have a top20 defense again. These tittiebabies in here trying to fire our coaches every week are a damn joke. Banks is a Broyle award candidate last year for best coordinator in the country. He hasnt changed. We need to get healthy and get Safeties and we will be fine. Was good to see Perlotte, Utley, Campbell etc playing today as freshmen on defense. We will need them next year
Click to expand...
I couldn't agree more brother. Banks didn't suddenly become a bad DC. Injuries at critical positions tied his hands.
 
#122
#122
Sudden Impact said:
This would almost be a blessing not to make it. Embarrassing as the loss was last year in the CFB a repeat would dwell in it. 9 Game schedule for next year and to be honest I do not want to slide in unless the Defense does a 180 degree flip. OK and @FL and Vandy games will be challenging. Two are at home that is a blessing but physically not the best spot.
Click to expand...
Wow! Realism. That's why you have more comments than likes.
 
#123
#123
dduncan4163 said:
I couldn't agree more brother. Banks didn't suddenly become a bad DC. Injuries at critical positions tied his hands.
Click to expand...
So McCoy is definitely gone?

Somebody on that staff needs to be gone. When I see LBs 10 yards out of position game after game and 6 players in the defensive players in the endzone and a receiver catches a 20 yd pass at the 1 yd line and scores. Simply put throwing under the coverage. That is a coaching problem. Tackling and pursuit angles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Al Orange, dduncan4163, NEO and 1 other person
#125
#125
VolBallGuy said:
Did you watch Sunseri’s defenses? They were made of an entirely different more abhorrent substance.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I starting watching around 87. Lived the 90s and early 200s as a teenager and 20s and then watched us go into the wasteland for my 20s, 30s, and early 40s.

I have seen great coaching and this defense isn’t it. Two hurt guys in year 5 should not turn you into this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mpfvol and Big Al Orange
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top