Total defense ranked 105th mainly because of our secondary

[BigOrangePaddy]

Willie Martinez is the biggest weak link. I know we are low on talent there but this is inexcusable. We would literally be LSU 2019 good if not for that one weak link.

 

[BaldBiker]

Willie Martinez is the biggest weak link. I know we are low on talent there but this is inexcusable. We would literally be LSU 2019 good if not for that one weak link.

We were somewhere between 112 and 129 last week.

We're moving up! Yes!

 

[titansvolsfaninga]

Willie Martinez is the biggest weak link. I know we are low on talent there but this is inexcusable. We would literally be LSU 2019 good if not for that one weak link.

So you think we have the talent in the secondary that LSU had? Who in our secondary is the equivalent to Kristian Fulton and Derek Stingley Jr.?

 

[kayman1]

Too many injuries doesn't help!! Plus we jump ahead and alot of teams abandon the run early in games.

 

[vol94]

The good news is we should be healthier Vs KY. Levis is a quality, future NFL QB. However, I think TN will bring pressure and focus on stopping the run. Their RB has fresh legs since he was suspended first three to four games of season. He’s a quality back but contain the run and TN should be okay on defense and hold KY to 30 points or less.

I don’t think this offense will have any problems scoring over thirty vs KY. I don’t know if the rankings will improve but just keep winning.

 

[LittleVol]

Willie Martinez is the biggest weak link. I know we are low on talent there but this is inexcusable. We would literally be LSU 2019 good if not for that one weak link.

Man this issue has been discussed literally 100s of times.

It's not just Willie Martinez. He's not even the DC...

 

[Orangeblood75]

Just win baby !

 

[Shaun1985]

These numbers are so skewed. I agree our secondary is weaker but with the T.O.P and how quickly we score, your asking a lot from the defense. Injuries don't help but even being at full strength, it still wouldn't look pretty.

 

[WillisWG]

STOP!

 

[CBR07]

I know Tennessee struggles in the secondary but at the same time aren’t those stats inflated due to the opposing team getting a lot more possessions against Tennessee due to the pace that’s played?

 

[Volosaurus rex]

In terms of talent, the secondary is, without question, our Achilles heel on defense. On the other hand, we are tied for ninth nationally with Ohio State in run defense (90.9 ypg), which is one spot ahead of Alabama (93.9 ypg) (NCAA College Football FBS current team Stats | NCAA.com).

When you score as much as Tennessee does, opponents will, out of necessity, throw the ball a lot, 322 times in 7 games to be precise, which is going to produce a lot of garbage yardage. In terms of scoring defense, we are tied for 50th at 23.14 ppg, which isn't great, but given the fact that we lead the nation in scoring offense at 50.1 ppg (NCAA College Football FBS current team Stats | NCAA.com) means that we are outscoring opponents on average by almost 27 ppg. In year number two of Heupel's rebuild, I will take that.

 

[Fatdad32]

I believe the stats are skewed because we’re really good against the run #1. Our DL is pretty darn good. Our secondary has had some issues for sure but most teams are having to throw constantly to keep up plus the #of passes we defend are way more than most! This D should be judged by pts scored against and STPs made not yardage. Just my thoughts! Go Vols!

 

[WillisWG]

Tennessee has played seven games so far this season (including games against four ranked opponents) and they’ve scored 351 points.

In 2019, LSU also scored 351 points through their first seven games of the season (the Tigers played two ranked opponents in those first seven games).

Tennessee obviously has a long way to go before they’re in the same discussion as 2019 LSU — the Vols are only halfway there and they have to continue to sustain this same level of offensive success.

But Tennessee, so far, is right in line with what LSU did in 2019. One difference, however, between 2019 LSU and the 2022 Vols that’s been mentioned is defense.

The Tigers’ defense in 2019 wasn’t elite, but it was good enough (they allowed 20 points per game).

There's another strong similarity between Tennessee and 2019 LSU

We allow 23.1 a game, so get a grip.

 

[Eastknox865]

Willie Martinez is the biggest weak link. I know we are low on talent there but this is inexcusable. We would literally be LSU 2019 good if not for that one weak link.

This isn't true what so ever. It's obvious you're clueless

 

[lexkyvol]

i think our secondary guys are very athletic with bad technique at times!

 

[Eastknox865]

This team is lacking talent at key positions especially on defense. The defensive strategy is bend but don't break. Stop the run and make a team pass the ball 75 yards each drive to score. Once in the red zone hold them to field goals. Our secondary plays off of the WR'S so that they don't get beat deep and the qb wr combo must be flawless the entire drive. This has nothing to do with Willie Martinez it is the strategy of the team. Do I like it no not really but it makes sense when you believe you can out score the other team. At the end of the day we are 7-0 with a chance to get to Atlanta at worst 10-2 and here we are having a conversation about coaching. Just be grateful

 

[JoAllan]

Is it because of the secondary?

Could it have anything to do with teams being forced to pass? Every team Tennessee has played has been down by 3 scores except Pitt. Every team passes the ball more on Tennessee simply because they have had to.

Tennessee has seen more passes than any team in the country…….and 49 of those teams have played 8 games.

Tennessee does not have a good passing D. However you might want to look at some of the “other” stats which help determine the full extent of a teams passing defense………because they are not nearly as bad.

The number #1 passing D (as yards given up) is Boise ST. “If” teams had passed on them as much as they have on Tennessee they would be rated 126th……..and their supposedly #1.

Some folks are too blinded simply by ONE stat.

Yes that stat is bad……it’s terrible…….however it CANNOT be good…..there is literally NO way it can be good or even decent………because of how much teams have to pass (they get down and they can’t run anyway).

 

[bpalmer28]

We give up a lot of yards because we give our opponents a lot of possessions.

When you give the other team the ball every 2-3 minutes, you’re going to give up some yards.

 

[bpalmer28]

The only stat i care about for our defense is points per possession, and I don’t even know if that’s a stat people track.

 

[BanditVol]

As posted elsewhere, teams have to throw a lot to keep up with our offense, leading to inflated passing yards which translates into total yards.

A far more meaningful stat is that we are 50th in scoring defense. That's not great, but its slightly above average.

With our offense above average is good enough.

It would of course be better if we allowed fewer points, but IMO the defense has shown a lot of improvement over the course of the season

 

[CNCVol88]

 

[JoAllan]

Is it because of the secondary?

Could it have anything to do with teams being forced to pass? Every team Tennessee has played has been down by 3 scores except Pitt. Every team passes the ball more on Tennessee simply because they have had to.

Tennessee has seen more passes than any team in the country…….and 49 of those teams have played 8 games.

Tennessee does not have a good passing D. However you might want to look at some of the “other” stats which help determine the full extent of a teams passing defense………because they are not nearly as bad.

The number #1 passing D (as yards given up) is Boise ST. “If” teams had passed on them as much as they have on Tennessee they would be rated 126th……..and their supposedly #1.

Some folks are too blinded simply by ONE stat.

Yes that stat is bad……it’s terrible…….however it CANNOT be good…..there is literally NO way it can be good or even decent………because of how much teams have to pass (they get down and they can’t run anyway).

Georgia gives up 5.36 yards per pass attempt……which is amazing. If teams passed on them 322 times they would be ranked 93rd in pass D.

Tennessee ranks around 50th in yards per completion, around 64th in yards per attempt, 68th in passing efficiency D, 13th in red zone D, 51st in scoring D, 28th in 3rd down D.

 

[rdk4121]

Remember when LSU managed to put up 13 points on us, then proceeded to drop 45 points on both Florida and Ole Miss? The defense has helped us win games this year, they really helped us win the Pitt game when the offense just couldn't get going. They made big plays when it mattered against Alabama and Florida. Of course teams put up pass yards against us, teams can't run against us and are constantly playing from behind. Those factors, plus being down to playing a walk on in the 4th quarter against Bama is going to lead to some headaches at times there. We'll be better this week I'm sure, because Kentucky’s offensive line is not good.

 

[Volfanstucknga]

STOP!

 

[HalfullVol]

Willie Martinez is the biggest weak link. I know we are low on talent there but this is inexcusable. We would literally be LSU 2019 good if not for that one weak link.

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