Thoughts on our defense

#1
KB5252

KB5252

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#1
I like what I have seen from our defense thus far, coming into the season everyone knew it would be our strength.

After watching the UCLA game I couldn't help but be reminded of the punishing gritty defense we played in the late 90's. We certainly have some talent on defense but not the quality we enjoyed then.

I love the 'punish the ball carrier on every play' mentality that our defense has taken on. This will pay off for us in the long run as our young players learn in this system.

This weekend provides a great test for our defensive unit. If they can carry over the mentality they showed last week against the superior talent they will face in Florida we will know they are on the right track.
 
#4
#4
Florida certainly has speed and has shown such in both recent games. However, they don't seem to be all that physical with some notable exceptions. If Monte has everyone in a hitting mood, and I mean hard hitting, that feature alone could bring great dividends especially in the third and fourth quarters.

Running the ball and going over the middle are hard enough without suspecting you will get your bell rung each time you do so. After a steady diet of same I would think you would unconsciously brace for such and that little bit of indecision might cause broken plays or fumbles or both.
 
#5
#5
Smokey8555, where is the best place to catch UT games in the Triangle? This is my first football season up here!
 
#6
#6
jeblevins said:
Smokey8555, where is the best place to catch UT games in the Triangle? This is my first football season up here!
Click to expand...

Usually either ESPN or the triangle subscriber to SEC network which is channel 6 (WNCN -NBC) on Turner cable. I'm not sure what channel that would be on Direct or Dish satellite systems.

Welcome to the Triangle!
 
#7
#7
I know everyone thinks we will get beat, but does anybody think tebow struggles...it is a pro style defense he will be playing against.
 
#8
#8
1. Does UT have the corners that can jam the UF receivers on the LOS to help the d-line penetrate?
2. Can our defensive tackles penetrate and put pressure on Tebow up the middle...1 sure way to attack the spread.
3. If we can last the 1st half and be within a score of Florida at halftime we have a chance. They are rarely as physical as UT and in the 4th quarter the start wilting. Recall their Vandy games.. Vandy blitzes lights out and doesnt get beat until the 2nd half. Do we blitz lights out 1st half too?
 
#9
#9
Absolutely, positively must generate turnovers. Put Tebow in down and distance scenarios where we can pressure him and he has to throw. Berry's already housed him once. That's exactly the kind of thing we need to do. Does wonders for quieting a hostile crowd too.
 
#10
#10
The largest chance for us to pull out a victory this Saturday is for Florida to beat themselves, which means turnovers and starts with our defense. We gotta put pressure on Tebow and come up with some fumble recoveries and possibly 1-2 INT's.
 
#11
#11
Watch the game last year. Our defense out played them, it's that simple. By every account so far, we are better this year on that side of the ball.

Bottom line, if Crompton takes care of the ball and plays smart (ie...don't try and win the game, just keep us in a position to win), and we establish a running game to eat the clock, we have a game fellas.

If we start turning it over and giving up big plays on ST....break out the Jack Daniels. It's going to be a long afternoon.
 
#12
#12
Ive seen teams beat tennessee that should have never scored more than 14 points. Ive seen better tennessee teams lose to florida. When was the last time tennessee was an under dog a beat a team? Was it miami, when they had kellen winslow?
 
#13
#13
Bottom line, if Crompton takes care of the ball and plays smart (ie...don't try and win the game, just keep us in a position to win), and we establish a running game to eat the clock, we have a game fellas.





Agree 100%. Im giving jc my espn game changer sticker.
 
#14
#14
dan4vols said:
1. Does UT have the corners that can jam the UF receivers on the LOS to help the d-line penetrate?
2. Can our defensive tackles penetrate and put pressure on Tebow up the middle...1 sure way to attack the spread.
3. If we can last the 1st half and be within a score of Florida at halftime we have a chance. They are rarely as physical as UT and in the 4th quarter the start wilting. Recall their Vandy games.. Vandy blitzes lights out and doesnt get beat until the 2nd half. Do we blitz lights out 1st half too?
Click to expand...

I noticed that we played a bit of a vanilla defense against UCLA because I think MK has some defensive looks up his sleeve for Florida.


I hope.
 
#15
#15
knoxville's finest said:
Ive seen teams beat tennessee that should have never scored more than 14 points. Ive seen better tennessee teams lose to florida. When was the last time tennessee was an under dog a beat a team? Was it miami, when they had kellen winslow?
Click to expand...

I think there's been a couple GA wins that qualify since then.
 
#16
#16
I'm just glad we're going into it with Monte and not 3rd and Chavis.
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#17
#17
rjd970 said:
Watch the game last year. Our defense out played them, it's that simple. By every account so far, we are better this year on that side of the ball.

Bottom line, if Crompton takes care of the ball and plays smart (ie...don't try and win the game, just keep us in a position to win), and we establish a running game to eat the clock, we have a game fellas.

If we start turning it over and giving up big plays on ST....break out the Jack Daniels. It's going to be a long afternoon.
Click to expand...

They'll do what UCLA did: load the box and commit to stopping the run. It's vital that Crompton plays without any mistakes.

Florida will capitalize on turnovers... especially if they're committed within 50 yards of their endzone. Believe that.
 
#18
#18
Regardless of the outcome of the game I want Fla to realize that they were in a game. I want UT to leave it all on the field and be physical for 4 quarters.
 
#19
#19
cd12 said:
Regardless of the outcome of the game I want Fla to realize that they were in a game. I want UT to leave it all on the field and be physical for 4 quarters.
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I hope Kiffin forced the team to understand that the crap that happened under Fulmer will not cut it.

Quitting in the 4th Quarter will not be tolerated. Crompton may make mistakes, and that's frustrating, but quitting must not happen.
 
#20
#20
dan4vols said:
1. Does UT have the corners that can jam the UF receivers on the LOS to help the d-line penetrate?
2. Can our defensive tackles penetrate and put pressure on Tebow up the middle...1 sure way to attack the spread.
3. If we can last the 1st half and be within a score of Florida at halftime we have a chance. They are rarely as physical as UT and in the 4th quarter the start wilting. Recall their Vandy games.. Vandy blitzes lights out and doesnt get beat until the 2nd half. Do we blitz lights out 1st half too?
Click to expand...

UF doesn't wilt in the 4th quarter. Strong 4th quarter play has been a staple of Urban Meyer's Florida teams since he arrived. The stats from last year won't back that up, because the starters didn't play in the 4th quarter very often.

Two big examples from 2008: SECCG, and NCG.
Also, 2006 Tennessee anyone?

And what games have you been watching? Under Spurrier, UF was no where near as physical as Tennessee, but since Meyer has been here, UF has outworked UT in every game.
 
#21
#21
If I were Monte Kiffin on running downs I would tell Eric Berry you have one responsibility...Tebow...If he runs you hit him, if he pitches the ball on an option you hit him, if he tosses the ball and rolls out like a play action you hit him, I want Tebow so tired of 14 at the end of the game that he makes a statement about it to the media after the game.
Like in the movie "Unnecessary Roughness"...Think we can block 14 from plantin my A$$ sometime today??
They have speed on Offense but not a lot of size...We just need to take good angles and wrap up and gang tackle all game on the Defensive side of the ball...It's the stuggling offense that I'm worried about...We really need great special teams in this game as well...
 
#22
#22
m37bruno said:
If I were Monte Kiffin on running downs I would tell Eric Berry you have one responsibility...Tebow...If he runs you hit him, if he pitches the ball on an option you hit him, if he tosses the ball and rolls out like a play action you hit him, I want Tebow so tired of 14 at the end of the game that he makes a statement about it to the media after the game.
Like in the movie "Unnecessary Roughness"...Think we can block 14 from plantin my A$$ sometime today??
They have speed on Offense but not a lot of size...We just need to take good angles and wrap up and gang tackle all game on the Defensive side of the ball...It's the stuggling offense that I'm worried about...We really need great special teams in this game as well...
Click to expand...

Not a lot of size? Their starting Oline averages over 320 pounds...

Riley Cooper is 6'3, 215 and David Nelson is 6'5, 220. Aaron hernandez isn't exactly tiny either.

Where do you get that UF is tiny? Because of three players? Demps Rainey and James? What about Tebow at 245?
 
#23
#23
knoxville's finest said:
Ive seen teams beat tennessee that should have never scored more than 14 points. Ive seen better tennessee teams lose to florida. When was the last time tennessee was an under dog a beat a team? Was it miami, when they had kellen winslow?
Click to expand...

Don't you mean, THE SOLDIER!
 
#24
#24
Just a thought, I know Eric is gonna plant whoever he can, but Major Wright and Spikes are also known for the licks they deliver. If Nukeese and Teague get nailed a couple of times are they gonna be hearing footsteps instead of keeping their eyes on the ball?
 
#25
#25
AFL2008 said:
UF doesn't wilt in the 4th quarter. Strong 4th quarter play has been a staple of Urban Meyer's Florida teams since he arrived. The stats from last year won't back that up, because the starters didn't play in the 4th quarter very often.

Two big examples from 2008: SECCG, and NCG.
Also, 2006 Tennessee anyone?

And what games have you been watching? Under Spurrier, UF was no where near as physical as Tennessee, but since Meyer has been here, UF has outworked UT in every game.
Click to expand...

Actually Tebow/Rainey/Harvin were all still in the game in the 4th last year. One could reasonalby argue that they weren't trying to pull out every play in the book on us at that point but we were still seeing they're starters. In case you hadn't noticed FL, be it under Spurrier or Meyer, doesn't quit trying to score until the game is over.

Then again, the defense wasn't or isn't our biggest concern I would think.
 
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