Monte downgraded?

[TENNaciousUTfan]

If you're like me, you've started hearing rumblings of assorted fans and writers downgrading Monte Kiffin's defensive prowess as we start fall practice. They're saying his defensive schemes may not compete well against our big rivals. They're saying his schemes are outdated even by SEC standards. They're saying he can't learn what our rivals do quick enough to counter it.

How do you reconcile this with all of the preseason hype around Monte? Is this just a way to ground us a little more and lower our expectations? Do our expectations need to be lowered? I was hanging our ability to compete with top-flight programs in the SEC on the strength of our 'D'.

Regardless of why people are starting to distance themselves from their once praise for Monte, I'm sticking with him. I think he's going to keep us in games that the pundits predict we'll be handily beaten in.

Got two words for you....like to hear it?...hear it goes:

1) Woody

2) Widenhofer

Woody Widenhofer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ask Peyton what he thinks about Coach Woody. Those Superbowl rings as a DC for the Steelers served him well as a DC for Vandy. I can only imagine how well our defenses would've been with him as our DC. Well, now we have one on his level if not better.

Monte's defenses will fry the brains of SEC QB's for some time to come.

 

[twinkiemonsta]

Monte's system is simple. What makes him a special coach is that he gets players to run his system to perfection.

I heard Derrick Brooks on Jim Rome's show last year talking about how little the system had changed in more than a decade. He also pointed out that Tampa remained one of the best defenses in the league.

Monte's system focuses on speed and hustle. He gets players to fly to the football. They keep things in front of them and then attack the ball. If you have guys with speed, a good motor, and good tackling skills this defense can work at any level.

The defense thrives when it has good players at UT (under tackle), WLB, and S...think of Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, and John Lynch. The UT has to be able to rush the passer up the middle and be disruptive. The WLB needs to be a playmaker. The S needs to be able to cover and come up quickly in run support. The Bears defense was terrific with Tommie Kelly at UT, Lance Briggs at WLB, and Mike Brown at S. Remember the Colts getting hot on defense and winning the SB? They had Booger McFarland at DT. WLB Cato June had his best year. The dominant player was SS Bob Sanders.

With Eric Berry in place at S, the Vols have one special player at a crucial position. We'll see who gets the WLB job and who is at UT. If those guys thrive, the defense could have a really good year.

 

[ShanMan]

If his defenses could not defend the 'spread' ...then someone in the NFL should start running the spread !!

All sarcasm aside ...the Tampa 2 is just a shell at its base . Anything can happen out of this shell , players will move before the snap and post snap into whole new zones to confuse the offense .

The 'spread ' does not change defensive assignments . You still have to contain the outside , the interior gaps , the underneath , and deep . Who is running it does not matter ( FB or QB ? ) IF the gap control is there it does not matter .

What you will see out of Monte is a funnell system run out of the 4-3 shell . He will funnel the run to certain gaps and have personell asigned to punish the runner or receiver when they get to where he already knows they are going ( usually the underneath ) This punishment / funnell system tends to cause alot of turnovers . It makes offenses work alot harder BECAUSE you are giving them 5 yard gains but you are hitting and trying to strip everyone that touches the ball . So an O has to run alot more plays to score and they get hit more . You get the rare situation where a defense actually wears down an offense .

You will see hidden defenses . UT has the talent to not change personnel out of the 4-3 base but run a 'nickel' The QB sees base , but gets nickel when he calls the pass. He sees Berry bracketing a receiver , changes to option right , but when he says hut ...berry becomes a 4th linebacker or drops into the low zone and the backer that usually does that is blitzing through the gap he intended to run through .

The rules won't change for Monte ...but they will for everybody else !

Monte's system is simple. What makes him a special coach is that he gets players to run his system to perfection.

I heard Derrick Brooks on Jim Rome's show last year talking about how little the system had changed in more than a decade. He also pointed out that Tampa remained one of the best defenses in the league.

Monte's system focuses on speed and hustle. He gets players to fly to the football. They keep things in front of them and then attack the ball. If you have guys with speed, a good motor, and good tackling skills this defense can work at any level.

The defense thrives when it has good players at UT (under tackle), WLB, and S...think of Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, and John Lynch. The UT has to be able to rush the passer up the middle and be disruptive. The WLB needs to be a playmaker. The S needs to be able to cover and come up quickly in run support. The Bears defense was terrific with Tommie Kelly at UT, Lance Briggs at WLB, and Mike Brown at S. Remember the Colts getting hot on defense and winning the SB? They had Booger McFarland at DT. WLB Cato June had his best year. The dominant player was SS Bob Sanders.

With Eric Berry in place at S, the Vols have one special player at a crucial position. We'll see who gets the WLB job and who is at UT. If those guys thrive, the defense could have a really good year.

2 excellent posts! Keep the great contributions coming!!

 

[twinkiemonsta]

Here is a good article on Monte.

Monte Kiffin Won't Rest

One interesting note is that he says we won't be running as much Tampa 2.

 

[BigT_Chief]

Well, one thing's for sure. If any of the coaches have their work ethic questioned, it won't be Monte.

 

[VolinDawgland]

I've read numerous articles as well - most saying that it was a lateral move with Chavis to Monte and some expected our defense to drop off a bit next year as well being the first year in the scheme since it's so "complicated" - he's not making it up.

Then hundreds of random posts from other teams fans blabbering the exact some stuff on other message boards.

Monte and this staff is a huge upgrade to last Chavis' staff. The old DB coach was retained well past his expiration date and Chavis' lack of in game adjustments was a problem.

This D might definately take a step or two back from last year only because Chavis' lack of interest in recruiting has left the D very thin at LB and DL.

Once this staff restocks the talent this D will be like something we haven't seen around here in a long time...consistently dominent.

Monte grew up defending the option. I look for him to bring something new to defending the spread option offenses that will be effective. Chavis' teams, with all that talent, couldn't stop the option if it was run by a HS team.

 

[MWR]

Regarding the original post:

Suppose Monte was DC at Florida or Alabama. Anyone think any UT fans would be happy about that? How much would Monte be "downgraded" then? I think facing a Monte Kiffin D would strike fear in most opposing fans, and maybe a few opposing players.

And with Monte as DC here, I look for the Vol's D to become stronger as the season progresses, and as the years pass.

 

[Panthro]

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