Time to reclaim our tradition on defense

#1
Voltillyafall

Voltillyafall

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#1
This year, our defense will finally vanquish all vestiges of the ghost of Sal Sunseri. We will return to the glory days when "Tennessee" meant "defense"...yes, we'll be good on offense, and they deserve all the ink they are getting. Dobbs, Hurd, all of them. However...

It is on DEFENSE that the Tennessee brand was built. Pre-season All-SEC predictions to the contrary, we will have TWO All-SEC caliber defensive ends this year. Maggitt and Barnett give us two premier edge rushers like we haven't had since Leonard Little and (Pick a name...Leonard Little and anybody equals a great pair of defensive ends!) roamed Shields-Watkins Field. Reeves-Maybin will finally get the recognition he deserves by years end. And Cam Sutton will, by his play on the field, make sportswriters who left him off All SEC First Teams look like the idiots they are.

Our kiddie corps defensive tackles will wreak havoc because of our depth. Their won't be exposed by having to play too much and letting fatigue become a factor.

The only question is MLB. When athletes like Kirkland and Bates around, it won't be a question for long.

Offense gets the ink, but our defense will reclaim it's lost glory this year. The exorcism of Sal Sunseri will be complete.
 
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#2
#2
We have the potential to finish in the top 15 for total defense. Most people seem to be talking up our offense more than our defense. I think that is a mistake. I believe our D wll be better than our O. Our O should be pretty dang good too.
 
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#3
#3
I think the D could be extremely nasty this year (and for years to come), and that's the good kind of nasty.

It all starts up front. I haven't been this excited about our DL since '01.

Time to bring that 'mean, crazy nasty' back! Just like 'Big' John Henderson used to get some!
john-henderson-o.gif
 
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#5
#5
I keep saying that with the additions to our D line rotation this year alone they will add AT LEAST 2 more WINS above last season in our regular season.

That's 8 WINS we'll get IMO in the regular season just from our better depth and better talented D line alone.

That's my bottom line of what I expect this season, more than 8 regular season Wins this season tells me we're further along in our rebuilding process than I could have ever expected.

I still think we're 1 year ahead of schedule on our rebuilding task and at my age that's a great thing.

I want to keep seeing those great bricks coming to Tennessee and stacking up.

#BrickbyBrick...VFL...GBO!!!
 
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#7
#7
JDisThereThere said:
I think the D could be extremely nasty this year (and for years to come), and that's the good kind of nasty.

It all starts up front. I haven't been this excited about our DL since '01.

Time to bring that 'mean, crazy nasty' back! Just like 'Big' John Henderson used to get some!
john-henderson-o.gif
Click to expand...

That pumps me the hell up. Big John was a damn monster.
 
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#10
#10
I expect the defense will salt away some games this year. It will also allow the offense to be less predictable which should make the skill positions shine even more. Very excited to get things going!!!
 
#12
#12
I Love me some good D! I have not seen it as of late, I hope I am Floored this year with the talent on the field!
 
#13
#13
If the Vol's can find a MLB that is really good, the greater the odds that they finish as a top 20 defense or better.
Run defense must improve considerably from last year and passing defense needs to improve as well. One thing is for sure and that is the fact that the Vol's should be fun to watch once again.
Go Vol's
 
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#14
#14
Voltillyafall said:
This year, our defense will finally vanquish all vestiges of the ghost of Sal Sunseri. We will return to the glory days when "Tennessee" meant "defense"...yes, we'll be good on offense, and they deserve all the ink they are getting. Dobbs, Hurd, all of them. However...

It is on DEFENSE that the Tennessee brand was built. Pre-season All-SEC predictions to the contrary, we will have TWO All-SEC caliber defensive ends this year. Maggitt and Barnett give us two premier edge rushers like we haven't had since Leonard Little and (Pick a name...Leonard Little and anybody equals a great pair of defensive ends!) roamed Shields-Watkins Field. Reeves-Maybin will finally get the recognition he deserves by years end. And Cam Sutton will, by his play on the field, make sportswriters who left him off All SEC First Teams look like the idiots they are.

Our kiddie corps defensive tackles will wreak havoc because of our depth. Their won't be exposed by having to play too much and letting fatigue become a factor.

The only question is MLB. When athletes like Kirkland and Bates around, it won't be a question for long.

Offense gets the ink, but our defense will reclaim it's lost glory this year. The exorcism of Sal Sunseri will be complete.
Click to expand...

Fwiw, LWSVol said in another thread that the coaches expect Colton Jumper to start at MLB as things stand at the moment.

Also, while I believe our defense has a chance to be really good, I also think we have more questions than just who will play mike lb.....we have 3 I think...

1. DT rotation and depth....lotta youth and inexperience after OBrien and Williams.
2. Who plays nickel and how well? Assuming it's Gaulden and he's very talented, but he's yet to make a start on D
3. Who's the CB opposite Sutton? Moseley or Martin or somebody else....and how well will they play?
 
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#15
#15
KBVol said:
Fwiw, LWSVol said in another thread that the coaches expect Colton Jumper to start at MLB as things stand at the moment.

Also, while I believe our defense has a chance to be really good, I also think we have more questions than just who will play mike lb.....we have 3 I think...

1. DT rotation and depth....lotta youth and inexperience after OBrien and Williams.
2. Who plays nickel and how well? Assuming it's Gaulden and he's very talented, but he's yet to make a start on D
3. Who's the CB opposite Sutton? Moseley or Martin or somebody else....and how well will they play?
Click to expand...




Starting a walk on at MLB? Is this a recipe for success?
 
#18
#18
photovol said:
Starting a walk on at MLB? Is this a recipe for success?
Click to expand...

Heard Thig being interviewed by Doug Mathews several weeks ago....he raved about Jumper, particularly his toughness and IQ. I certainly had no idea he'd be favored to be the starter, but it was striking how complimentary Thig was of Colton.

Must say though, has me wondering a bit about Bates and where/how he's gonna contribute.
 
#19
#19
I'm rooting for Dillon Bates to emerge as starting Mike...

And flatten Chubb the first time he comes thru the middle...for his Daddy!
 
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#20
#20
voltillyafall said:
this year, our defense will finally vanquish all vestiges of the ghost of sal sunseri. We will return to the glory days when "tennessee" meant "defense"...yes, we'll be good on offense, and they deserve all the ink they are getting. Dobbs, hurd, all of them. However...

It is on defense that the tennessee brand was built. Pre-season all-sec predictions to the contrary, we will have two all-sec caliber defensive ends this year. Maggitt and barnett give us two premier edge rushers like we haven't had since leonard little and (pick a name...leonard little and anybody equals a great pair of defensive ends!) roamed shields-watkins field. Reeves-maybin will finally get the recognition he deserves by years end. And cam sutton will, by his play on the field, make sportswriters who left him off all sec first teams look like the idiots they are.

Our kiddie corps defensive tackles will wreak havoc because of our depth. Their won't be exposed by having to play too much and letting fatigue become a factor.

The only question is mlb. When athletes like kirkland and bates around, it won't be a question for long.

Offense gets the ink, but our defense will reclaim it's lost glory this year. The exorcism of sal sunseri will be complete.
Click to expand...


👌💯
 
#21
#21
I am wondering if we end up seeing a more Mike linebacker by committee this season, where we see the bigger more downhill LBs against run heavy offenses and then our better coverage guys against the pass heavy spread em out teams. I remember CJJ talking about not having the depth at DB to run any Dime packages last year and,that it hurt us in some games. I think CJJ wants to be a little more multiple on Defense. Just wondering if we might see Mike LBs rotating out based on situation.
 
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#22
#22
Colton Jumper is a good, feel-good story. He will be a monster on special teams, not unlike JRM in the past. However, he won't be our MLB. Bynum is slow but steady, and is merely keeping the seat warm for Kirkland/Bates.
 
#23
#23
Voltillyafall said:
Colton Jumper is a good, feel-good story. He will be a monster on special teams, not unlike JRM in the past. However, he won't be our MLB. Bynum is slow but steady, and is merely keeping the seat warm for Kirkland/Bates.
Click to expand...

There are only a small handful of guys who post on here that I would believe if they claimed the coaches have Jumper penciled in as our starter at mike right now.....LWSVol is on the short list.
 
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#25
#25
KBVol said:
Heard Thig being interviewed by Doug Mathews several weeks ago....he raved about Jumper, particularly his toughness and IQ. I certainly had no idea he'd be favored to be the starter, but it was striking how complimentary Thig was of Colton.

Must say though, has me wondering a bit about Bates and where/how he's gonna contribute.
Click to expand...

Colton jumper put on a show in the spring game if anyone was paying attention. He was all over the field
 
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