What'll Fix 3rd Down D?

[madbamahater]

What can be done from a schematic standpoint to help get the Vols off the field on 3rd down for what? Whether it's 3rd and short or 3rd and long, the defensive woes are a chronic issue. For every 3rd down converted is a drive extended and one more play they have to defend.

The offense keeping the ball for longer periods of time will help with time of possession and limit the amount of snaps by opponents. This may be something that never gets better with a coach so offensive minded, the defense suffers always.....

......see Big 12 / Pack 12 historically....

 

[BDHVOL]

Depth. Most teams sub in 3rd down specialist with fresh legs. Are ends never hardly get if the field.

 

[GAVol]

We just don’t have very many difference makers in the front 6/7.

 

[farmdogvol]

An elite pass rusher. They get pressure, but don't get home for the sack often enough. They need to bring in Chuck Smith to work with the d line.

 

[Other_Guy]

For what?

 

[fullmetalvol]

Recruit defensive lineman that are about 1 1/2 steps quicker. He doesn't have any pass rushing specialist on the sideline that can come in on passing downs. This line plays hard! He is getting a lot of effort and results from them, but on the scrambles they are always 1 step away.

 

[jonnon111]

It's depth as was stated above. We just have kids playing twice as many snaps as other teams and they are getting tired.

 

[farmdogvol]

For what?

Chuck Smith runs an elite pass rusher camp. He is a pass rush guru.

 

[TJVol95]

No answer. Coaches need to fix this fast!

 

[allenfan1]

Chuck Smith runs an elite pass rusher camp. He is a pass rush guru.

Last time I checked we need bodies, I don't know of a better coach that is doing what we are with NO depth, he has already shown he can have our team ready for three quarters before we run out of gas in the 4th.

 

[Sarms58]

In the last two games their QB has been able to consistently beat our spy - and the spy was a LB. I would say we need a more talented spy - someone who can eat up running backs and quarterbacks in the open field. But as others have commented - it's a team game and having élite pass rushers would be huge in terms of cutting down the time the QB has to make a decision and having elite cover guys reduces the QB's options...an overall more talented team is needed to improve 3rd down perfor4mance on both sides of the ball.

Alabama has had 41 players drafted by NFL teams over the last 4 years so they are averaging 10 draftees per class. During the same time frame we've had 7 players drafted (2 per year) so you kind of see how big the talent mismatch is currently. Our guys played with heart and gave it all but we're not in the same league talent wise...

 

[JoAllan]

Talent and depth

Tennessee has played 8 games. Half of those were vs current top 10 offenses in the country.

3 were vs top 7 scoring O’s in the country.

Every team gets to play some weaker competition……..however very few play 4 of 8 top 10 offensive teams.

Tennessee needs more bodies, and they need more talent.

 

[vader]

Jimmies and/or Joes

 

[VOLfrombama]

Depth and some faster pass rushers

 

[joevol33]

 

[Vol524]

Depth and someone has to stay home in the middle.

 

[Revived2002]

Looks like everyone is passing the test

In the end, it's simply too hard to scheme around the lack of athleticism and depth. Just got to recruit and develop players.

With that said, it's clear the kids pay hard for Heupel and staff and they are fun to watch. For this season, that's enough for me!

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Better athletes.

 

[Cartervol]

Players.. They just don't have anyone to stop that deal..When you're thin and not as talented you have to play a certain way to stay in games.

 

[peaygolf]

 

[The Original Fade]

I’m not sure about the answer, but we are getting absolutely killed by QB runs

 

[CAVPUT]

Obviously, more talented players with a lot more speed especially on the back end. Since that's not possible this year, the only thing I can think of is to get creative with stunts and blitzing to get more pressure on the qb. The problem then becomes losing containment. We just get killed by mobile qbs.

 

[MurphyVol]

I've never understood why coaches don't blitz more when they know they're in a "we can't stop them no matter what" situation.

I'd always rather go down swinging.

 

[Nocleats]

Depth

 

[TennEddie]

A lack of skill/depth.
We have also been misfortune to face a number of very
skilled pass/run QBs.