Will this years defense come close to Chavis' last year?

#26
#26
General Jack said:
They had none of those things because they had the game won in the first quarter and went hyper conservative. Everyone watching pretty much knew that a 17 point deficit would be insurmountable. I almost believe that Meyer put the brakes on to prevent a 63-0 type blowout in Neyland - just to try and keep fulmer around another year for the easy win.
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Maybe after UCLA, Meyer knew UT might not even be considered a quality win by the end of the year to the BCS number crunching.
 
#27
#27
As good as last year's defense was, I was still disappointed to see that Chavis didn't blitz any more than he diid. In years past, we would be told that the reason he didn't blitz more was that he didn't have the secondary capable enough to handle a situation if the blitz was picked up. Last year, I feel, was a very different story. Sorry if this is "off thread"........but it still pi$$es me off.
 
#28
#28
Chavis was a very good DC--one of the few coaches on the squad who knew what they were doing. We had a good defense last year, even though the D had very few really players--one to be exact (Berry). We should be as good or better this year, with Monte and because we return most of our defensive players from last year. I want to see if we can stop florida: But to do that, you have to have a competent offense and special teams, neither of which we had last year.
 
#29
#29
bleedorange0037 said:
Florida was 8 of 13 on 3rd down. That's not bad, but they still didn't have a TD drive of over 50 yards, and only had 243 yards of total offense. They scored their first TD because our kick coverage let them start at our 44, and then we gave up a punt return for a TD. Our special teams lost that game, along with offensive turnovers in the red zone.
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That's precisely why they are so good. Tebow takes the snap and runs for three or four yards, whatever, and they move the chains. Why nobody can stop him on third down--when everybody in the stadium knows he's running and there is such a thing as run blitzes--I don't know.
 
#30
#30
1.) Our only issue on D is our line. I think CEO and CMK will coach these men up.

2.) The D last year was ranked highly, even with the lack of offensive production. I think the offense will be better this year, and in turn help our D with better field position, and more time on the bench to rest. Our D was on the field so much last year, and were still beasts. Imagine getting a decent break instead of getting off the field, and turning right around after a 3 and out by our offense.
 
#31
#31
DC Vol said:
Maybe after UCLA, Meyer knew UT might not even be considered a quality win by the end of the year to the BCS number crunching.
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That's kind of the way I viewed us at that moment in time. I'm still bitter over having such high expectations going into last year only to get kicked in the balls on national TV in our first game... by a piss poor team that we should have mopped the floor with.
 
#32
#32
I have high hopes for the defense this year. Secondary is going to be out of this world. Linebackers should be good with Rico and some of the young guns. As said the D-Line is an issue but I am not that concerned. Ben Martin is going to beastly off the edge, exactly what Monte is looking for with his defense. I am a fan of Dan Williams, when he got in last year he looked more then capable and I am expecting a break out year. I am hoping Marlon Walls can step in a be a versitile D-lineman. I am expecting Donald Langley to do something. Most of all, as mentioned previously, these guys have a whole offseason to be coached up. Ignore the rivals rankings and lets see who can absorb these coaches like a sponge and show some heart. Thats what this team was lacking last year, atleast the offense.
 
#33
#33
3rd down conversions is what I am concerned about. Seeing that we didn't play as many offensive juggernauts as other teams also made our numbers better as well. Don't place so much emphasis on numbers and you do wins/losses.
 
#34
#34
g8terh8ter_eric said:
3rd down conversions is what I am concerned about. Seeing that we didn't play as many offensive juggernauts as other teams also made our numbers better as well. Don't place so much emphasis on numbers and you do wins/losses.
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Tennessee's defense was pretty damn good no matter which way you want to look at it.

They were on the field for 35-45 minutes of most games. Playing stingy defense while playing 40 minutes a game is great.

Argue third down percentage all you want but last year's D had my respect.
 
#35
#35
orangeblood said:
Even with the worst offense I can remember a Tennessee team having, the defense was one of the top ranked last year. Any chance this year's defense is close to as good as the one Chavis had last year?
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Defensive rankings mean what? Chavis was thoroughly outcoached by UCLA... then UF... then UGA... and Bama... UF could have easily scored 50 if they'd turned it on but Clawson's O was still an unknown at that point so Meyer played it safe.

Chavis was good at developing players. He was decent at game week prep. He was absolutely horrible as a play caller. He had enough talent to produce at least mediocre D's in 06 and 07 but blew it with his playcalling.

I think CMK will be an upgrade in every regard. That may or may not translate onto the field though depending on how the DT's come along.

IMHO, if Fulmer had had the sense to get rid of Chavis a few years back, he'd still have his job... for better or worse.
 
#37
#37
If Fulmer had had the guts to make a good hire with the OC and risk that person gaining popularity as a potential head coach (pretty much the way he got the job in the first place), he might still have his job.
 
#39
#39
I do not see the D being any better as far as national ranking. They will be better with discipline and hopefully tackling.
 
#40
#40
bleedorange0037 said:
If Fulmer had had the guts to make a good hire with the OC and risk that person gaining popularity as a potential head coach (pretty much the way he got the job in the first place), he might still have his job.
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Clawson has a job as a head coach. Fulmer does not.
 
#41
#41
sjt18 said:
I think CMK will be an upgrade in every regard.

IMHO, if Fulmer had had the sense to get rid of Chavis a few years back, he'd still have his job... for better or worse.
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That's not much of a stretch.

Chavis had a defense in 2005 that saved Fulmer from the ax.
 
#42
#42
I hope and believe that we will be close to last years defense. Maybe not ranking wise but certainly in total performance.(i.e. turnovers, 3 & outs, defensive scores, etc,) Also not being on the field for 40 minutes a game will help.
 
#43
#43
they will be better on all things. my concern is Florida!! Alabama will be beatable cause we will be more physical. GA coaching sucks they should have won a title by now. And south carolina players know they will be pumping gas for a living LOL! LOL! we should be in good shape
 
#44
#44
Bear Bryant said:
Oh give me a break you cannot honestly believe that.
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Yes I do. Fulmer is gone in large measure because of how his teams performed against the better teams. Chavis almost ALWAYS got outcoached in those games. As mentioned by others, UT's D this year benefitted from playing only 3 legit O's. Talent can carry a coach against inferior opponents... but they have to do their job when they play equal or better teams.

I'm not saying in the least that CPF deserves to be around... just that he would have been had it been in his make up to cut coaches loose that cost the team. He didn't do it with Sanders until forced to. He didn't do it with Chavis.

Of course that's only half the equation with Chavis. The other half was that he was a 300 pound sloth when it came to recruiting.
 
#45
#45
fwiw, my disgust with Chavis started long before the staff change or even the 08 season.
 
#46
#46
sjt18 said:
fwiw, my disgust with Chavis started long before the staff change or even the 08 season.
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Mine did too. His defenses are only good if he has superior talent. Bama had less overall talent on D. But they looked so much better than us when you watch them play. If Saban had Tennessee's defensive players last year he wouldn't have lost to Florida in the SECCG.
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#47
#47
orangeblood said:
Even with the worst offense I can remember a Tennessee team having, the defense was one of the top ranked last year. Any chance this year's defense is close to as good as the one Chavis had last year?
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That is a question I have been wondering about also. Chavis' defenses has never been the weak link. Yes, he did not adjust in the second half against UCLA last year.
But his defense came in 4th or 5th in the nation with a offense that fumbled running through the "T". I do think and want to believe that Monte will make game time adjustment's faster than Chavis. I guess we will see against UCLA this year.
 
#48
#48
justingroves said:
Tennessee's defense was pretty damn good no matter which way you want to look at it.

They were on the field for 35-45 minutes of most games. Playing stingy defense while playing 40 minutes a game is great.

Argue third down percentage all you want but last year's D had my respect.
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While that maybe true to a degree and it is, UT was their own worst enemy last year on defense and could have been on the field a lot less if they had stopped teams on 3rd down.
 
#49
#49
g8terh8ter_eric said:
While that maybe true to a degree and it is, UT was their own worst enemy last year on defense and could have been on the field a lot less if they had stopped teams on 3rd down.
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To a degree you are right. The problem with getting off the field on 3rd down last year was, they were right back out there 3 plays later.

In some games we had to score with our defense just to stay in the game.

Chavis was not the best DC in the country by any means, but his D's were pretty solid most of the time.

As far as the OP, I don't think we will be a lot better right off the bat. But in time, MC will field a great D. He needs players just like everybody else to suceed at a high level.
 
#50
#50
The hallmarks of Chavis defense were missed tackles, being out of position, and giving up 3rd and Chavis er Third and long, even 20 yards long.

The only reason that defense was rated as high as it was last year was becasue teams knew we couldn't score over 10-14 points.

I will give him one thing, his defenses hardly ever came out flat, he just had fundamental flaws in defending the pass and teaching tackling.

If he had a dline and lb corps that could make sure the qb didn't have time to get set he was OK, otherwise people picked us apart, including UCFRICKINLA, Cal year before last, any florida team etc etc etc etc.

I could personally be happy to never see the crapstain or the 15 yard cushion again.
 
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