Run Defense Must Improve

[GLDunlap]

Quote:
Originally Posted by dcm3w View Post
I think we did fairly decent against the run last year. We stopped Gurley for most of the game until the latter of the second half.



Chubb/Gurley put up 290 tot rushing vs Aub last year, but put up only 257 against Tenn -- so many variables, but by this comparison alone, we did well (considering).

In addition, our O scored 32, to Aub's 7.

Auburns rush defense was statistically worse than our's last year so comparing to them doesn't really make us look good.

 

[ChattaTNVol]

He ran for 208 yards...73 in the first half which is hardly "stopping" him....it's just that by comparison, "only" running for 73 yards in a half seemed poor, since he exploded for 135 in the second half alone. Either way, he pretty much destroyed us.

Also, we were 9th last year in the SEC in run defense....we can certainly do much better.

It's true we finished 9th in the SEC in Rushing Defense, BUT we were ranked 2nd in the SEC for 1Q rushing defense (115 attempts), 2Q fell to 7th (124 attempts), 3Q fell to 9th (136 attempts), and 4Q fell to 13th (138 attempts). Opponents sitting on a lead could explain the increased rushing attempts over the progression of the game or it could be figured that with the lack of depth on our part we just got tuckered out and that weakness got taken advantage of.

cfbstats.com - 2014 Southeastern Conference Team Leaders

 

[photovol]

we just didn't have enough DTs in the rotation, and as well as Jordan Williams played as a converted DE, he was very undersized to have 300-330 lb. OLs leaning on him for 4 quaters. We will have more depth at DT this season but despite their obvious strength and talent, neither KMac nor Shy have experienced 60 minut getting leaned on by OLs as big or bigger than they are. Many of whom are 22-23 years old. Still though, it is great to have 2 guys of their caliber in the rotation.

Not so crazy Ivan!

 

[butchna]

I think we did fairly decent against the run last year. We stopped Gurley for most of the game until the latter of the second half.

Got worn down...DTs will be fresh this year.

 

[Remy]

I think we did fairly decent against the run last year. We stopped Gurley for most of the game until the latter of the second half.

That actually was the story of our defense last year. Our DL was not deep enough to hang either at the end of long drives OR late in the game. It affe Ted our red zone stats. I believe we will be much improved this year.

 

[Roustabout]

Somethin' tells me run defense will be improved...

58 be like....

 

[Remy]

Got worn down...DTs will be fresh this year.

Not only will our Dts be fresh this year, but we'll have a couple of 300 lbers leaning and pushing on OLs the entire game. Guess how that tuckered out thing works this year? How fresh is Theus gonna be in the 4th quarter after Barnett, KMac, and Shy have been hanging on his neck all day?

 

[bg1968]

6 solid DT's? O'Brien and Williams are average at best. KMac and Tuttle have very good to great talent but are inexperienced and unproven. Vickers has played in 5 games with a grand total of 0 tackles and Saulsberry who even when healthy was below average. Kid has heart though thats for sure.

I think you are being a little hard on O'Brien and Williams. Both were 4 stars and with a little more rest during the game, I believe we will see better than average results from them.

 

[MT LeConte]

Quality depth is going to make a big difference. We should be one of the best defenses in the SEC by midseason. Middle of October would be a good time gel.

 

[GLDunlap]

I think you are being a little hard on O'Brien and Williams. Both were 4 stars and with a little more rest during the game, I believe we will see better than average results from them.

Owen Williams was a 3 star not that stars matter once they're in college. O'Brien started against Oklahoma (0 tackles), Florida (0 tackles), Alabama (0 tackles), Florida (1 tackle). He couldn't have been tired at the start of games. No way anyone could see these guys any better then average. Owen does have potential imo.

 

[KBVol]

we just didn't have enough DTs in the rotation, and as well as Jordan Williams played as a converted DE, he was very undersized to have 300-330 lb. OLs leaning on him for 4 quaters. We will have more depth at DT this season but despite their obvious strength and talent, neither KMac nor Shy have experienced 60 minut getting leaned on by OLs as big or bigger than they are. Many of whom are 22-23 years old. Still though, it is great to have 2 guys of their caliber in the rotation.

I understand the DT situation from last year. Just refuting another poster's claim that we had a pretty good run defense last year and that Gurley didn't really hurt us until late in the game last year.

 

[volinbama256]

Did that create a total eclipse of the sun at your house also. Running backs in the SEC are going to be wanting to run sweeps instead of through the tackles.

True and then Maggitt, Barnett, and now apparently Phillips will run them down before they hit the corner! GBO

 

[volinbama256]

Owen Williams was a 3 star not that stars matter once they're in college. O'Brien started against Oklahoma (0 tackles), Florida (0 tackles), Alabama (0 tackles), Florida (1 tackle). He couldn't have been tired at the start of games. No way anyone could see these guys any better then average. Owen does have potential imo.

Agree but another year for improvement-- I think they will contribute a little more this season.

 

[photovol]

Owen Williams was a 3 star not that stars matter once they're in college. O'Brien started against Oklahoma (0 tackles), Florida (0 tackles), Alabama (0 tackles), Florida (1 tackle). He couldn't have been tired at the start of games. No way anyone could see these guys any better then average. Owen does have potential imo.

What it all comes down to is the Jimmie's and Joe's and the Vol's need just a little more time and expierience for the J&J's

 

[Volunteer_Kirby]

It's true we finished 9th in the SEC in Rushing Defense, BUT we were ranked 2nd in the SEC for 1Q rushing defense (115 attempts), 2Q fell to 7th (124 attempts), 3Q fell to 9th (136 attempts), and 4Q fell to 13th (138 attempts). Opponents sitting on a lead could explain the increased rushing attempts over the progression of the game or it could be figured that with the lack of depth on our part we just got tuckered out and that weakness got taken advantage of.

cfbstats.com - 2014 Southeastern Conference Team Leaders

Well that's a very telling stat isn't it? Thanks for sharing.

 

[Volunteer_Kirby]

Our red zone defense is absolutely horrid. 95% conversation rate for opponents.

Can't really get much worse as it was 127th in the nation last year, behind only Indiana.

 

[Purplehaze26]

IMO, the run defense will be dictated on how well the LB group progress. Our LB group has to improve over last year and take better angles, become quicker, smarter. I have hope that we have improved in these areas.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Our DT's should be deeper, our pass coverage might be improved, and our own running game might be improved to keep our D off the field as much. And I am being conservative with these "might be's" because what I really think is almost surely will be.

Also, we will have a lot more guys groomed to step in at any of the LB positions, and it should not be as much of a shock to lose a starter like it was last year with A.J.

 

[butchna]

Owen Williams was a 3 star not that stars matter once they're in college. O'Brien started against Oklahoma (0 tackles), Florida (0 tackles), Alabama (0 tackles), Florida (1 tackle). He couldn't have been tired at the start of games. No way anyone could see these guys any better then average. Owen does have potential imo.

You think they were going all out? I don't. I think they were pacing themselves to have something at the end of the game. No need for that this season. Bring it and the guys coming in will match or surpass. We're going to find out what we have when we have a proper rotation for the first time in years. :aggressive:

 

[butchna]

Our red zone defense is absolutely horrid. 95% conversation rate for opponents.

Can't really get much worse as it was 127th in the nation last year, behind only Indiana.

What were they talking about down there?...politics?

 

[Remy]

Our red zone defense is absolutely horrid. 95% conversation rate for opponents.

Can't really get much worse as it was 127th in the nation last year, behind only Indiana.

I believe that stat aligns well with interior defense being tired after long drives, just no push to keep 'em out.

 

[CincinnatiVols]

Owen Williams was a 3 star not that stars matter once they're in college. O'Brien started against Oklahoma (0 tackles), Florida (0 tackles), Alabama (0 tackles), Florida (1 tackle). He couldn't have been tired at the start of games. No way anyone could see these guys any better than average. Owen does have potential imo.

DT's job is often to not actually make the tackle but to tie up the Oline so that the linebackers can make the tackle. Also you just picked the games in which he had the least amount of tackles, he also had Georgia (4 tackles), South Carolina (3 tackles), Missouri (3 tackles), and Vandy (5 tackles). For reference Albert Haynesworth had 66 total tackles in his 3 years at UT, thats 22 tackles a year. O'Brien had 23 tackles last year, are you suggesting that no way anyone could have see Haynesworth as any better than average?

 

[GLDunlap]

DT's job is often to not actually make the tackle but to tie up the Oline so that the linebackers can make the tackle. Also you just picked the games in which he had the least amount of tackles, he also had Georgia (4 tackles), South Carolina (3 tackles), Missouri (3 tackles), and Vandy (5 tackles). For reference Albert Haynesworth had 66 total tackles in his 3 years at UT, thats 22 tackles a year. O'Brien had 23 tackles last year, are you suggesting that no way anyone could have see Haynesworth as any better than average?

I did pick the games that O'Brien had the least amount of tackles because we lost all 4 games proving he is not productive against good SEC teams and it wasn't due to being gassed. Yes Haynesworth was very lazy and very average or below his first two years. Once he started smelling the money he was very good his last season here with 36 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 7 pass break ups. O'Brien had only 4 TFL last year and 3 of those came against non SEC opponents along with 0 pass break ups.

My intention is not to bash O'Brien he gives effort but to think the lack of DT production last year was due solely on them being gassed is just wrong. O'Brien, Owen and Jordan Williams are/were very marginal DT's. That's why Tuttle and McKenzie will make such a difference this year.

 

[norrislakevol]

If we can get at least 20 quality snaps a game from KMac and Tuttle then our run defense and defense as a whole will vastly improve. I think we get that, even early on from them. Workload will likely increase for them as the season goes along.

 

[ZippyMorocco]

Quote:
Originally Posted by dcm3w View Post
I think we did fairly decent against the run last year. We stopped Gurley for most of the game until the latter of the second half.



Chubb/Gurley put up 290 tot rushing vs Aub last year, but put up only 257 against Tenn -- so many variables, but by this comparison alone, we did well (considering).

In addition, our O scored 32, to Aub's 7.

UGA rushed for 289.