Good question
There isn't a correlation between turnovers and Monte's salary -- and that's the problem
I'm still not completely convinced it was a good idea to move Eric Berry into the box...as you saw the last game, Eric produced a turnover when he wasn't locked into run defense
I think Monte has figured that out and you will probably see more of Berry outside of the box after the Alabama game
Hindsight is always 20-20....
We knew the Vols offense would struggle this year, much like it did last year
We knew the defense would be called upon to win games
So while the defense hasn't "lost" any games this season, I don't think it has won any either. Auburn was an opportunity, but no turnovers.
I don't know that last year's staff would have done any better....they didn't last year when it came to results.
Maybe last year's staff would have produced more turnovers, but then, maybe teams would have run better against the Vols in that scenario with Berry deep, too -- who knows?
All I know is that if you have the highest paid defensive staff in the country, one would expect the results would follow, and so far, UT hasn't beat anyone it wasn't supposed to beat.
I do think the Vols' defense will close very strong -- I have gone on record saying I don't think another team will score 26 points on UT this season
I think the defensive coaches are getting a feel for their personnel, and I think Monte is getting a better idea how to fit everything in a 20-hour practice week.
It takes time to adjust.
The coaches have all been very good to me in all of my interviews and I've had all the access I have requested and/or needed.
In fact, there's been more access this year than there has been in four or five years....Lane's a pro.
I don't like being misrepresented as someone who doesn't like or respect the current staff -- that's simply not true.
But in evaluating any staff, respect or like or whatever, I try to stay objective and call it like I see it.
I've been wrong a couple of times -- I thought Monte would shut down Malzahn, and I thought the Vols would beat the Bruins.
I wrote before the season I saw nine wins, and after the W. Ky. game I changed it to eight wins.
I still see eight wins.
That's my take on stuff, right from the horse's mouth.
It's clear some people don't want me to post blogs, but that's what I do because I like MOST of the feedback on VolNation.
It would be stupid for me to write posts/analysts here but not on my newspaper's website, so of course I post it there first because those are the folks who get me the credentials for access, and they like us to blog in addition to our stories/reports.
It's not about anything other than that. I post my articles on other sites, too, but I have a great deal more give-and-take here than anywhere else.
So a few bullies who make personal attacks and stalk me (Hat, please don't follow me to the point you know what kind of dip I tried at Rays 3 months ago! That's scary man) aren't gonna keep me from chatting with the folks in here who have given me some good insights and angles