Our defense is better than most outsiders think

#1

Persian Vol

Wrong today, wiser tomorrow. Probably.
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#1
We have a legitimate top 25 defense in my opinion. People will go back to the bowling green game and look up our season stats and consider us a mediocre defense. Let them think that and get shocked when we punch them in the mouth. I haven't felt this good about our defense in a good while.

Our secondary didn't magically become great to awful in year because we lost our nickel back in Coleman. People made too much out of nothing about the bowling green game. We return too much talent and have a lockdown corner. Against a talented offense like Oklahoma, our defense held them to very little before getting gassed. Floridas offense is a train wreck compared to bowling green or Oklahoma.

We can win this game as long as we don't have awful turnovers and score at least 2 touchdowns.

There is no way I envision Florida scoring more than two touchdowns in this game. Unfortunately, I have a hard time picturing us scoring more than two as well.

This is gonna be an ugly defensive slugest. May the football gods be on our side.
 
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#2
#2
Our defense is legit and it was never the problem. It's our offense that's in question.
 
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#3
#3
Our defense was never the problem. It's the lack of production from our offense. (See the Oklahoma game) Butch being too conservative has not helped us either.
 
#4
#4
We have a legitimate top 25 defense in my opinion. People will go back to the bowling green game and look up our season stats and consider us a mediocre defense. Let them think that and get shocked when we punch them in the mouth. I haven't felt this good about our defense in a good while.

Our secondary didn't magically become great to awful in year because we lost our nickel back in Coleman. People made too much out of nothing about the bowling green game. We return too much talent and have a lockdown corner. Against a talented offense like Oklahoma, our defense held them to very little before getting gassed. Floridas offense is a train wreck compared to bowling green or Oklahoma.

We can win this game as long as we don't have awful turnovers and score at least 2 touchdowns.

There is no way I envision Florida scoring more than two touchdowns in this game. Unfortunately, I have a hard time picturing us scoring more than two as well.

This is gonna be an ugly defensive slugest. May the football gods be on our side.

Our secondary wasn't great last year.
 
#5
#5
It's not that anyone that's a part of volnation thought our defense was the problem, but it is interesting how other fan bases and even some people in the media question our secondary due to our performance in the bowling green game specifically.
 
#7
#7
defense is good and since they had a bad game opening week they have been labeled by some of these folks on tv, radio, internet, etc. Theyre a good unit and they have done a good job the last two weeks. I expect that to continue Saturday. Nothing is worse than comparing stats 3 weeks in when the numbers are skewed for a bunch of teams. Check back in about 7 weeks and then compare.
 
#8
#8
I disagree, we had statistically a top 25 pass defense last year. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Officially 27th. Thats not great is it? Great would be top 5 maybe top 10. Define great. Plus we got blown out several games so teams didn't have to pass. We weren't terrible I guess but great would be a stretch.
 
#9
#9
Per Hubbs

Last weekend on the defensive side of the ball, John Jancek didn't have a single lineman with more than 30 reps. He liked keeping it blended into the 20s for all his front-line guys and while that's not feasible every week, he did like the way the rotation allowed Tennessee's defense to be fresher throughout that game.

He's also seeing more out of the 'Big 3' freshmen: Kahlil McKenzie, Shy Tuttle and Kyle Phillips.

"They're learning how to turn and run to the ball; I think that's one thing that's becoming more of a habit for them," Jancek told us of what specifically he's seeing more of from the group. "They've still got to understand offensive football. Why splits are the way they are, reading stances. I see them making progress and I really like their skill-set. Now having the game film is huge; not just for corrections but it tells you what they're retaining.
 
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#10
#10
KMac, King Tut and KPhip are learning and they will become big factors as this season goes along.

Even against Oklahoma we've kept the play book on both sides of the ball closed a bit so our SEC rivals don't have much to learn about us.

While the come back loss to the sooners still hurts it has zero effect on our SEC goals.

In the swamp we can expect to see the play books get opened up a bit more because every SEC game does matter on our quest and goal of a SEC East Championship.

I still think we'll keep some things hidden to spring on our other SEC rivals but you can bet that buTch and his staff want a WIN in the swamp and to make the streak to become DEAD and set the stage for this important SEC run.

Some people hunt lots of different things but Saturday you can bet that buTch and the boys are serious about hunting Gators and want to put a serious CHOMP on them in their house.

Make your plans to celebrate Saturday night my friends because it IS coming.

Tennessee Wins 27 to 17.

Bet it and make some $$$$ too.

#RiseToTheTop...VFL...GBO!!!
 
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#12
#12
I'm so tired of hearing we're not opening up the playback so we don't show to much before league play. I call BS. Your saw what we had against OU. Whe hold back in that game? It's like this, the defense will keep us in the game. However, it's on the shoulders of our anemic offense to when this game. I'm tired of hearing excuses. Just win the damn game!
 
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#13
#13
Persian, I agree with you that our defense is legit Top 25. I also agree that some on the outside will underestimate them because (1) lack of discipline in BGSU game, (2) loss to OK (weak tackling in 4th qtr), and (3) dismiss WCU because FCS.

But this underestimation will not help us in any way. Because it will not include our opponents' coaches or players. They'll watch film closely and see the truth.

So the only folks being fooled are the media and public, those who are only occasionally glancing our way. And it really doesn't matter whether they understand the truth or not. At the end of the day, only our W-L record will affect them in any way. Win, and get recognition for our talents. Lose, and be ignored.

So let's win. Then they'll see. I agree, Florida features two top-tier defenses against two (so far) not as impressive offenses. Special Teams will tilt the balance.

Go Vols!
 
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#14
#14
KMac, King Tut and KPhip are learning and they will become big factors as this season goes along.

Even against Oklahoma we've kept the play book on both sides of the ball closed a bit so our SEC rivals don't have much to learn about us.

While the come back loss to the sooners still hurts it has zero effect on our SEC goals.

In the swamp we can expect to see the play books get opened up a bit more because every SEC game does matter on our quest and goal of a SEC East Championship.

I still think we'll keep some things hidden to spring on our other SEC rivals but you can bet that buTch and his staff want a WIN in the swamp and to make the streak to become DEAD and set the stage for this important SEC run.

Some people hunt lots of different things but Saturday you can bet that buTch and the boys are serious about hunting Gators and want to put a serious CHOMP on them in their house.

Make your plans to celebrate Saturday night my friends because it IS coming.

Tennessee Wins 27 to 17.

Bet it and make some $$$$ too.

#RiseToTheTop...VFL...GBO!!!


You're delusional if you believe what is highlighted. OKs defense dominated our OLine from the middle of the second quarter on. We didn't hold anything back. Butch would have given anything to win the OK game.
 
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#15
#15
You're delusional if you believe what is highlighted. OKs defense dominated our OLine from the middle of the second quarter on. We didn't hold anything back. Butch would have given anything to win the OK game.

Ha yeah we've pretty much run the same thing for over 2 years now. That's a long time to hold s playbook closed.
 
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#17
#17
Our defense was never the problem. It's the lack of production from our offense. (See the Oklahoma game) Butch being too conservative has not helped us either.

I'm far from a coach basher. But, I will say that offensive play calling in the last 2.5 qtrs of OU were bewildering to me as I sat there. That collapse led to the defense being gassed and giving up the game late. OU got TDs on the last four drives (2 in OT) after scoring 3 pts all game.

The OL is still below average it appears, but I have confidence that we'll see a different approach Saturday. Our O will put some points on the board IMO.
 
#18
#18
KMac, King Tut and KPhip are learning and they will become big factors as this season goes along.

Even against Oklahoma we've kept the play book on both sides of the ball closed a bit so our SEC rivals don't have much to learn about us.

While the come back loss to the sooners still hurts it has zero effect on our SEC goals.


In the swamp we can expect to see the play books get opened up a bit more because every SEC game does matter on our quest and goal of a SEC East Championship.

I still think we'll keep some things hidden to spring on our other SEC rivals but you can bet that buTch and his staff want a WIN in the swamp and to make the streak to become DEAD and set the stage for this important SEC run.

Some people hunt lots of different things but Saturday you can bet that buTch and the boys are serious about hunting Gators and want to put a serious CHOMP on them in their house.

Make your plans to celebrate Saturday night my friends because it IS coming.

Tennessee Wins 27 to 17.

Bet it and make some $$$$ too.

#RiseToTheTop...VFL...GBO!!!

Good point and I also thought that. I really think that in the 2nd half of the OK game the staff believed the defense was playing well enough for them to play conservative with the offense and not show much before SEC play starts. Unfortunately, the last 2 OK drives of regulation came back to bite them in the arse as the defense made key mistakes, especially with the 3rd down penalties. But I have to believe Butch and Debord will open up the playbook for UF. Lord help us if what we have seen so far is all we have, but I don't believe that to be the case.
 
#19
#19
Good point and I also thought that. I really think that in the 2nd half of the OK game the staff believed the defense was playing well enough for them to play conservative with the offense and not show much before SEC play starts. Unfortunately, the last 2 OK drives of regulation came back to bite them in the arse as the defense made key mistakes, especially with the 3rd down penalties. But I have to believe Butch and Debord will open up the playbook for UF. Lord help us if what we have seen so far is all we have, but I don't believe that to be the case.

If this is true, the staff needs to throw that mentality out the window and mash the gas peddle this weekend and NEVER let off, until after we win a bowl game.
 
#20
#20
If Jones/Debord "held back" in the OU game to preserve offensive surprises for SEC play, they're inept and screwed the team and the fans. Frankly, the notion is ridiculous. You take your wins any game you can.

If we see a more wide open offense @ FL, it'll be the pressure to win overcoming a conservative mentality, not deferring wins.
 
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#21
#21
If this is true, the staff needs to throw that mentality out the window and mash the gas peddle this weekend and NEVER let off, until after we win a bowl game.

Perhaps, but remember, if Stocstill catches that pass, as he should have, the score is 24-3 and the game is pretty much over and no one is second-guessing the OU game plan.
 
#22
#22
UT still has a very good D. But the loss of Maggitt won't be completely overcome this season.
 
#23
#23
Funny since our head coach is the one with the "offensive mind" - gotta love our hurry up and punt, exhaust our defense offense

What happened? Wasn't it just a few months ago that you were on me for being too negative and critical of Jones?
 
#24
#24
I hope the football gods are with our team this weekend. I will offer up many a alcoholic beverage in their honor and a blood sacrifice. And by blood sacrifice I mean Viking Blod.
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#25
#25
We just need to pound the rock all night long on these fools. Throw the ball just to get them honest but run a full house, zone read with Dirty Dobbs, K, and Hurd and lets go straight Georgia Tech on them.
 
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