did you guys read slade's comments on govols.com?
was wondering what your thoughts were concerning his comments.
Soft Coverage, Tough Coach: Defensive backs coach Larry Slade handled all the tough questions from the media concerning what many perceived to be soft coverage in the second half against UCLA.
"There were some we'd have liked to play a little closer up," Slade said.
Slade said he believes fans tend to dwell on soft coverage, which can be a worthy weapon in a defense's arsenal.
"They're not there," Slade said of fan criticism. "Obviously, (they) don't quite understand it, don't understand what all goes into it so I let that kind of roll off of me.
Slade said he'd face criticism if UT's defensive backs played press coverage and were then beat deep.
"I guess we'd be standing here talking about something else," Slade said to a group of reporters. "We're going to do our thing. I promise you we will be better."
Slade said UT's game plan didn't change much from the first to the second half, even though it seemed the Vols were playing much farther off of UCLA's receivers beginning in the third quarter.
"I think sometimes they think they're playing a game," Slade said of the players in his secondary. "Sometimes they're going to play up on them sometimes and off of them sometimes."
While Slade wasn't pleased with such inconsistencies in technique, he pointed out that UCLA's longest pass completion was good for just 21 yards.
"We saw some guys play real well for a big part of the game but in some critical situations make some mistakes," Slade said.
Slade said the Vols could get sophomore cornerback Brent Vinson back for UT's next game, against UAB on Sept. 13. Vinson was on academic suspension last week.
That could be a key addition. The Vols were forced to play junior Marsalous Johnson at right cornerback in place of sophomore starter Dennis Rogan, who was sidelined with a pulled abdominal muscle.
Rogan plays corner and safety for the Vols, making him a difficult player to replace.
Johnson, however, fared well. Slade said he graded out at 90 percent against UCLA
was wondering what your thoughts were concerning his comments.
Soft Coverage, Tough Coach: Defensive backs coach Larry Slade handled all the tough questions from the media concerning what many perceived to be soft coverage in the second half against UCLA.
"There were some we'd have liked to play a little closer up," Slade said.
Slade said he believes fans tend to dwell on soft coverage, which can be a worthy weapon in a defense's arsenal.
"They're not there," Slade said of fan criticism. "Obviously, (they) don't quite understand it, don't understand what all goes into it so I let that kind of roll off of me.
Slade said he'd face criticism if UT's defensive backs played press coverage and were then beat deep.
"I guess we'd be standing here talking about something else," Slade said to a group of reporters. "We're going to do our thing. I promise you we will be better."
Slade said UT's game plan didn't change much from the first to the second half, even though it seemed the Vols were playing much farther off of UCLA's receivers beginning in the third quarter.
"I think sometimes they think they're playing a game," Slade said of the players in his secondary. "Sometimes they're going to play up on them sometimes and off of them sometimes."
While Slade wasn't pleased with such inconsistencies in technique, he pointed out that UCLA's longest pass completion was good for just 21 yards.
"We saw some guys play real well for a big part of the game but in some critical situations make some mistakes," Slade said.
Slade said the Vols could get sophomore cornerback Brent Vinson back for UT's next game, against UAB on Sept. 13. Vinson was on academic suspension last week.
That could be a key addition. The Vols were forced to play junior Marsalous Johnson at right cornerback in place of sophomore starter Dennis Rogan, who was sidelined with a pulled abdominal muscle.
Rogan plays corner and safety for the Vols, making him a difficult player to replace.
Johnson, however, fared well. Slade said he graded out at 90 percent against UCLA
