Secondary question

[N2TheVols]

Asking a honest question here for those that understand the secondary. Why are we giving up so many pass plays? I thought our DBs and safeties were suppose to be pretty good. Is it because we play alot of zone? I just see us giving up a ton of pass yards and everyone here seems to think we have pretty good players.

 

[jonnon111]

A lot of our issues (I.e. over the middle) has to do with linebacker coverage . . . or lack thereof. The deeper routes seem to be an combination of slow pass rush and safety play recognition.

 

[Jravol78]

Asking a honest question here for those that understand the secondary. Why are we giving up so many pass plays? I thought our DBs and safeties were suppose to be pretty good. Is it because we play alot of zone? I just see us giving up a ton of pass yards and everyone here seems to think we have pretty good players.

Not trying to be a smart azz but in short it’s because the secondary sucks , which mostly falls on the coaches . Pruitt supposedly some kind of secondary whisperer but this is at least 10 years now of guys who not only lack speed and awareness but also basic knowledge of spacing , positioning & timing that could and should be coached up .

Not saying that there are not guys out there who are at least fast enough to hang in there with average to pretty good SEC receivers but even when lack of speed is a disadvantage the rest of the issues could be addressed properly with some decent coaching .

 

[Sandman Vol]

Virtually no pass rush will make any team give up some passing yards.

 

[Jravol78]

Virtually no pass rush will make any team give up some passing yards.

that too !

 

[m1al]

There are definitely breakdowns happening but when the opposing QB is able to take a coffee break in the pocket, even the best DBs can't cover forever..

 

[malibuvol]

Asking a honest question here for those that understand the secondary. Why are we giving up so many pass plays? I thought our DBs and safeties were suppose to be pretty good. Is it because we play alot of zone? I just see us giving up a ton of pass yards and everyone here seems to think we have pretty good players.

I think Shamburger, Thompson and Taylor have definitely regressed from last year's play. Don't know the reason behind Shamburger's play, but it appears that both Thompson and Taylor have been playing hurt...

 

[PulaskiVolFan]

Taylor and Thompson have both played through tough injuries and Shamburger was a no show this year. Our 3 best DBs, go figure.

 

[volmandu]

If a QB has enough time in pocket, eventually someone will get open. Pure coverage sacks are very hard as WRs have knowledge of the route and timing with QB while CBs are trying to catch up.
However, Tennessee’s issues in secondary are all over the place. It starts with no pressure in the pocket so opposing QBs are able to throe dimes and their WRs get open. Also, our LBs virtually are non existent in pass plays over the middle so there are always easy slants, short passes there. Our safeties seem out of position a lot. Not sure if that is due to them coming up to help LBs or just making bad plays.
Finally, after GA game this year, the defense changed. Their effort and passion has decimated like they gave up. After first 3-4 games, local radios were talking about how good our secondary stats were and how we had not given up long plays etc. that all changed in a hurry.
In short, it is combination of bad coaching, poor effort and lack of other aspects of defense to help them out.

 

[VOLfrombama]

Virtually no pass rush will make any team give up some passing yards.

This is the main issue. Trask could have had a picnic lunch in the pocket almost the whole night.

 

[Eastknox865]

Asking a honest question here for those that understand the secondary. Why are we giving up so many pass plays? I thought our DBs and safeties were suppose to be pretty good. Is it because we play alot of zone? I just see us giving up a ton of pass yards and everyone here seems to think we have pretty good players.

One honest reason is that the staff hasn't signed great dBs

 

[lexkyvol]

Taylor and Thompson have both played through tough injuries and Shamburger was a no show this year. Our 3 best DBs, go figure.

add this with how horrific #22 is.....and disaster.

 

[PulaskiVolFan]

add this with how horrific #22 is.....and disaster.

Safety play has been disappointing for sure, I thought they would have a better year.

 

[photovol]

A lot of our issues (I.e. over the middle) has to do with linebacker coverage . . . or lack thereof. The deeper routes seem to be an combination of slow pass rush and safety play recognition.

UT LB’s have been terrible in over the middle coverage....

 

[Longshank]

Good QBs will wreck defenses right now. The best chance is a great pass rush. The lack of pass rush Tennessee has is making avg QBs like franks look good.
Overall the defense doesn't lack talent, it lacks star talent. The offense is the same. Mix in some elite talent and everyone else's game gets better.
What I dont like is that freshmen with great talent should be getting to play and we should see the talent even if we also see mistakes too.
With the record and team production either pruitt won't play them of last year's recruits, regardless of rank, are not game changers.

 

[igotworms]

add this with how horrific #22 is.....and disaster.

6
Your hero "coach" is supposed to be some genius defensive mind

He couldn't teach a fat kid to eat a doughnut

 

[sbm362]

Virtually no pass rush will make any team give up some passing yards.

This. /thread

 

[ALLVOL 4LIFE]

Most everyone that has posted a comment in this thread is correct. It is a large combination of things creating the undeniable genius of our pass defense. Let me add to it all by saying, I thing a HUGE part of the problem as well, is our lack of being aggressively physical on the line of scrimmage with the WR/TE. Couple that with the lack of linebackers being able to cover the RB out of the backfield, I'm surprised that our D ever gets off the field. I'm glad we hired a defensive minded individual or we would really suck!

 

[ALLVOL 4LIFE]

This. /thread

No! I had something to add.

 

[sbm362]

No! I had something to add.

Haha!

 

[87&91ALUM]

We played Georgia, Alabama, and Florida with probably best pass offense in nation. Our defense was decent at times but, JG threw or gave the ball away. I’ve said it for years, a good offense will defeat a great secondary with no rush everyday.

 

[rikberry31]

Virtually no pass rush will make any team give up some passing yards.

A good pass rush covers a multitude of sins.

 

[37620VOL]

Thompson had heavy tape on one of his ankles this week and couldn't cover anyone. He gave up a bunch of plays and several TDS against uf. He didn't give up any TDS in 2019.

 

[savannahfan]

There are definitely breakdowns happening but when the opposing QB is able to take a coffee break in the pocket, even the best DBs can't cover forever..

I agree. However, over the middle we don't seem to be able to cover at all. I wonder if a little tighter coverage at the los might not help. Receivers seem to be able to come off the los and go where ever they chose with no one within a reasonable distance to have any effect on where or how they are going.

 

[m1al]

I agree. However, over the middle we don't seem to be able to cover at all. I wonder if a little tighter coverage at the los might not help. Receivers seem to be able to come off the los and go where ever they chose with no one within a reasonable distance to have any effect on where or how they are going.

True, LBs have not been good in coverage. Everyone has to do their job or it breaks down. This is where OCs earn their money, identifying weaknesses and exploiting them.