Let's talk defense

[HooahVol]

A lot of energy is going into our qb and offense but if anyone is interested I would like to talk defense a little. I realized the transition away from Bob Shoop’s 4-3 defense using heavy nickel packages to Pruitt's 3-4 defense was going to take time but I trusted Pruitt as this is his specialty. After the Georgia State game I was, like most everyone, pretty discouraged. The defense looked very poor. Most concerning was the defense couldn’t even get lined up correctly for much of the second half. Tennessee couldn’t get off the field, allowing third down conversion after third down conversion. Pruitt told reporters that he plans to continue to keep the defense “simple” so his players can execute. Since then at least we are seeing better execution and are currently ranked 29th in total defense per ESPN (for comparison we finished last year 48th). We have seen some bright spots at linebacker but it still seems the d-line is lost at times. What do you guys think? Are you seeing enough improvement to feel confident on the 3-4 path? My gut is to trust Pruitt on this part, he has proven he can make it work at Florida State, Georgia and Bama so I think once he gets the guys he needs it should be good. It is interesting that Shoop now coaches for Mississippi State so we will get to see the Shoop versus Pruitt defensive philosophies play out in real time in a few weeks.

 

[McDad]

Cool. Let's talk about defense. Let me get in position.

Hold it...that wasn't right...here we go.

Nope. LOL. Wrong again....I think now I have it.

Wait! Wait! Just a slight adjustment...There! I got it.

Now Im in position to discuss defense. Defense is important in games.

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

BYU, FL, and UTC aren't exactly offensive juggernauts so I would take any rankings and stats with a grain of salt at this point.

I've never felt very good about the Vols attempting to run a 3-4 dating back to the Sunseri experiment.

 

[rstew3]

The problem with the implementation of a 3-4 defense comes down to LBs. you need a lot of bodies in that position group, and they have to be versatile. We just don’t have the numbers there. Pruitt and co know this, but they are in a tough spot. Play to what you have this year and put your long term plan amd the players learning a year behind, or go ahead and take the lumps this year knowing the players coming back will have better experience next year.

With the LBs not getting to the QB, our DBs are getting exposed in their youth or in someone’s case lack of ball presence.

 

[OakdaleVol]

we are have been a 4-2-5 defense for close to 85% of snaps this season. except some red zone and down/distance and against 12 personnel have you watched the games.

 

[ALLVOL 4LIFE]

For the 3-4 to work, you have to have the horses to win the race.

 

[Sam I Am]

"Defense?.......We don't need no stinkin defense."

 

[HooahVol]

Oakdale Vol. That is interesting and makes sense. It does also show the coaches are trying their best with the talent they have.

 

[1974Vol]

The biggest issue we have right now on defense as far as personnel goes is we don't have any or at least enough true Nose Tackles. Think Mount Cody from Bama back in the day. 340 lb guys that are athletic enough to occupy 2 gaps are rare and to be really good at this defense you need at least 2 and would like to have 3 so you can rotate them. Really the only guy on the roster that might fit that bill at some point is Simmons. Maybe Garland gets bigger comes on. So CJP can call it a 3-4 all he wants but we’re still using a lot of 4-3 concepts just because he just doesn't have that big boy you got to have in those A gaps to run the 3-4.

 

[supersmo18]

It’s always easier to move guys from a 3-4 to a 4-3 or 4-2-5 than from either of those last two back to a 3-4.

 

[UTwick]

Cool. Let's talk about defense. Let me get in position.

Hold it...that wasn't right...here we go.

Nope. LOL. Wrong again....I think now I have it.

Wait! Wait! Just a slight adjustment...There! I got it.

Now Im in position to discuss defense. Defense is important in games.

practice makes perfect

 

[Pacer92]

Lacking big, dominant linemen to run this scheme...

Only way it can be effective.