Why so down on our defense?

#1
DougVol

DougVol

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#1
Who did we really lose? And why can't this unit be twice as good as last years? I'll skip Reveiz for all of the obvious reasons. You just can't replace his intangibles.
1.Chris Walker? Pretty decent stuff with 45 tackles 3 sacks. I'll be happy to see J. Smith get the majority of reps at end this year. With last years 24t's and 2 sacks with limited playing time, he should be a huge improvement over Walker.
2.G Williams? Probably the surprise of the defense last year. We shouldn't notice his loss too much with C.Miller, Walls, and bit of Bohannon.
3.Hughes? 17t's, 1 sack? Joseph Ayres had those type of numbers too, I like a Hood, Couch rotation to help Mal.Jackson in the middle. We got zip for pressure in the backfield last year. Probably similar results this year.
4.L.Thompson. 60T's, 0 sacks. This is a loss. Lathers back before Florida would remedy alot of our concerns at LB. 75t's and 2.5 sacks was second to Nick's numbers.
Secondary we lose nobody. We will probably end up having the 2nd best secondary in the SEC. Bama is too talented.
With our Massive offensive line sustaining drives and keeping our defense rested. We may bust out to a 4-0 start and suprise the world. Can't wait. Why all the worry?
 
#2
#2
Basically all new starters on the line besides jackson, lathers prob wont be back by florida, and even if were "as good as last year".... our defense was not that good last year either
 
#3
#3
Everyone is worried because we lost some experienced players on a defense that wasn't very good last year.
 
#4
#4
We were sacked 41 times for negative 289yards. How many drives were killed by that stat? Our defense was exhausted by the 4th quarter.
 
#5
#5
I feel much better about the d line this year, but frankly with lagers out our linebackers are around a D.
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#6
#6
DougVol said:
Who did we really lose? And why can't this unit be twice as good as last years? I'll skip Reveiz for all of the obvious reasons. You just can't replace his intangibles.
1.Chris Walker? Pretty decent stuff with 45 tackles 3 sacks. I'll be happy to see J. Smith get the majority of reps at end this year. With last years 24t's and 2 sacks with limited playing time, he should be a huge improvement over Walker.
2.G Williams? Probably the surprise of the defense last year. We shouldn't notice his loss too much with C.Miller, Walls, and bit of Bohannon.
3.Hughes? 17t's, 1 sack? Joseph Ayres had those type of numbers too, I like a Hood, Couch rotation to help Mal.Jackson in the middle. We got zip for pressure in the backfield last year. Probably similar results this year.
4.L.Thompson. 60T's, 0 sacks. This is a loss. Lathers back before Florida would remedy alot of our concerns at LB. 75t's and 2.5 sacks was second to Nick's numbers.
Secondary we lose nobody. We will probably end up having the 2nd best secondary in the SEC. Bama is too talented.
With our Massive offensive line sustaining drives and keeping our defense rested. We may bust out to a 4-0 start and suprise the world. Can't wait. Why all the worry?
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I know most people on here wear Orange Blinders but please show some signs of living in the real world. We ranked what 107 out of all NCAA teams last year in total defense. We have zero linebackers with starting experience, Lather's being sidelined, and a front four that consists of one major "proven" talent Mailik Jackson who is the real deal. Now does that make you jump with enthusiasm?
 
#7
#7
Fijivol72 said:
I know most people on here wear Orange Blinders but please show some signs of living in the real world. We ranked what 107 out of all NCAA teams last year in total defense. We have zero linebackers with starting experience, Lather's being sidelined, and a front four that consists of one major "proven" talent Mailik Jackson who is the real deal. Now does that make you jump with enthusiasm?
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When the young guys are more talented than the older guys, yes.

The reality will lie somewhere in the middle. Not great, but not as down as you think.

Looking at your posts, I feel you live a sad, sad existence, and for that I am truly sorry.
 
#8
#8
Fijivol72 said:
I know most people on here wear Orange Blinders but please show some signs of living in the real world. We ranked what 107 out of all NCAA teams last year in total defense. We have zero linebackers with starting experience, Lather's being sidelined, and a front four that consists of one major "proven" talent Mailik Jackson who is the real deal. Now does that make you jump with enthusiasm?
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That's what I was trying to say. The OP talks about how we didn't really lose anything. That's great, but we didn't really have anything to begin with.
 
#9
#9
Experience to depth ratio for the front 7 is a little scary on paper, linebackers are the biggest question mark
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#10
#10
TennesseeOrange said:
That's what I was trying to say. The OP talks about how we didn't really lose anything. That's great, but we didn't really have anything to begin with.
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To be fair, our defense also improved vastly as the season progressed. You may say it's a function of our competition, but we held Kentucky and Ole Miss down farther than anybody else did, and the first 28 minutes of the 2nd half against UNC was fairly dominating.

We're not going to be Alabama, but we're getting better.
 
#11
#11
Fijivol72 said:
I know most people on here wear Orange Blinders but please show some signs of living in the real world. We ranked what 107 out of all NCAA teams last year in total defense. We have zero linebackers with starting experience, Lather's being sidelined, and a front four that consists of one major "proven" talent Mailik Jackson who is the real deal. Now does that make you jump with enthusiasm?
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Miller and Smith are sophmores now. When do you think they should get their look? Nothing against Walker and Williams, but mediocre loss of talent. Just a "body" could replace Hughes' production. Is Ayres your 4th on the front? We still have him for a winded Hood or Couch now. And yes we still have a M.Jackson to anchor the damn thing.
 
#12
#12
Incipient said:
To be fair, our defense also improved vastly as the season progressed. You may say it's a function of our competition, but we held Kentucky and Ole Miss down farther than anybody else did, and the first 28 minutes of the 2nd half against UNC was fairly dominating.

We're not going to be Alabama, but we're getting better.
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I agree. I think the offense having some sustained drives the last half of the season helped too. I think we're gonna be better, but I'm saying I understand how people would be worried about the defense.
 
#13
#13
well to start you worry b/c they weren't that good last year - so while you aren't losing great players - we weren't great on D last year so you start looking at who you added

Lathers is hurt, jacques is coming off injury - no proven pass rusher or run stopper other than malik - really starting year with only 1 proven SEC player in the 2 deep of the front 7 - i'd say that is reason to worry

we will playing FLA with note 1 proven SEC LB in the 2deep - that is reason to worry

we are depending a perennial undersized backup (vereen), converted FB, or freshman at the LB spot and a juco xfer and a player coming off injury to solidify the line

im not saying there is no talent but there is certainly reason to worry
 
#14
#14
Fijivol72 said:
I know most people on here wear Orange Blinders but please show some signs of living in the real world. We ranked what 107 out of all NCAA teams last year in total defense. We have zero linebackers with starting experience, Lather's being sidelined, and a front four that consists of one major "proven" talent Mailik Jackson who is the real deal. Now does that make you jump with enthusiasm?
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I agree that we should be in the real world, but so should you. The NCAA stats for 2010 rank UT at 69th, not 107th. Where'd you get 107th? I got my info on the NCAA site, under 'Total Defense':

Total Defense - NCAA.com

Now, 69th is nothing to brag about, but it's a far cry from 107th. Also, I'm pretty sure Austin Johnson has started games at LB.

Beyond all of that, I agree, the D is unproven, young and inexperienced. The 'cone of uncertainty' with respect to this year's D is wide due to the talented, but unproven newcomers and the big questions at LB, primarily.
 
#16
#16
Fijivol72 said:
I know most people on here wear Orange Blinders but please show some signs of living in the real world. We ranked what 107 out of all NCAA teams last year in total defense. We have zero linebackers with starting experience, Lather's being sidelined, and a front four that consists of one major "proven" talent Mailik Jackson who is the real deal. Now does that make you jump with enthusiasm?
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Your posts make me want to vomit.
 
#17
#17
winchestervol63 said:
I agree that we should be in the real world, but so should you. The NCAA stats for 2010 rank UT at 69th, not 107th. Where'd you get 107th? I got my info on the NCAA site, under 'Total Defense':

Total Defense - NCAA.com

Now, 69th is nothing to brag about, but it's a far cry from 107th. Also, I'm pretty sure Austin Johnson has started games at LB.

Beyond all of that, I agree, the D is unproven, young and inexperienced. The 'cone of uncertainty' with respect to this year's D is wide due to the talented, but unproven newcomers and the big questions at LB, primarily.
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He pulls things out of his ass.

For all I know he's the world's greatest troll.
 
#19
#19
I agree with original poster and believe D will be pleasant surprise. I think Austin Johnson has started at LB and maybe King too, late in 09.

If King is healthy, I'd start him, Austin in middle, big A.J. on other outside, and not look back.

DL will be improved, DBs will be improved, O will let D get more rest than last year. If we can just catch a punt, I think we will be OK. :hi:
 
#21
#21
Fijivol72 said:
I know most people on here wear Orange Blinders but please show some signs of living in the real world. We ranked what 107 out of all NCAA teams last year in total defense. We have zero linebackers with starting experience, Lather's being sidelined, and a front four that consists of one major "proven" talent Mailik Jackson who is the real deal. Now does that make you jump with enthusiasm?
Click to expand...

No place for common sense around here! Mods, please delete.
 
#22
#22
Mostly we are thin of great talent in the front 7, and not very deep at any position in the defensive front. I think fans are going to miss guys like C-Walk, G-Will, Nick and Thompson more than they realize right now. Some very young guys are going to have to play way above their heads for our D to have a chance to help the offense win some close games this season.
 
#25
#25
DougVol said:
Just quoting stats. I will say this. I was surprised by Ayres production and Hughes' lack thereof.
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The fact that you don't seem to see glaring differences in the quality of player might explain why you don't understand why people might be concerned about our defense.

To answer your OP: people might be down on our defense because we gave up 30 or more points to every decent team we played last year except LSU, and many of the situations that caused that probably haven't been solved.
 
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