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Our defense

  • Reading the VIP Room (once again great job guys and thank you for your hard work), it seems to look like there's some miscommunications and minor problems such as missed assignments and alignments. They also said no one has completely gotten down the schemes. Now I know there's still 25 days til kickoff, plenty of practices and scrimmages.

    But does anyone worry that this defense may look kind of clueless when actual play starts and may look like "chickens with their heads cut off" and panic. Just don't want anyone to be left on an island alone.

    My description may be kind of elaborated but I hope I got my point across.
    Thoughts?

    johncimino19

  • I think it is too early to panic. We just had our 3rd practice, I would be more concerned if the players were saying that they have already mastered it.

    I also think something to consider about switching to a 3-4 is the personnel you are working with. I think our LB's in particular are a better fit i nthis defense, and if mccullers can play, we have the size we need at NT.

    Not saying I think the D is going to be dominant, but it won't surprise me at all is we sneak out a game because of our D mid-way through the season.

    bavw

  • bavw said...

    I think it is too early to panic. We just had our 3rd practice, I would be more concerned if the players were saying that they have already mastered it.

    I also think something to consider about switching to a 3-4 is the personnel you are working with. I think our LB's in particular are a better fit i nthis defense, and if mccullers can play, we have the size we need at NT.

    Not saying I think the D is going to be dominant, but it won't surprise me at all is we sneak out a game because of our D mid-way through the season.

    Good post. Way too early to panic. That being said, their will be some growing pains at the first of the season. Imo, this defense will make a lot of big plays, but it will give up some big plays.

    wataugavol

  • Maybe I'm a blissful optimist, but I'm feeling pretty confident with our D. All schematics aside, I like our returning talent. The linebackers are perhaps the best group we've had at the position in 5 years or so. I think their size/speed will be a great help in run and pass.

    As far as the D-line, we all know it has improved vastly from last year, in terms of depth and talent. Hopefully, the switch to 3-4 won't give us even less sacks than '11.

    A lot of people are criticizing the secondary, but I like what we have. Moving Waggner back to CB, I think, will earn us 2-3 interceptions alone. We all know he is a ballhawk. At the very least, it will create an island for QBs who respect Wagg. I like Coleman to step up and if he doesn't, a lot of signs point to Bonner having the ability to step in and steal some plays. Safeties look very strong, but can they cover? Either way, I feel comfortable with Moore, Randolph or Brewer back there.

    All in all, I'm excited. If anything, this is the year to install a new defense, as we have our best offensive roster in many years. So you can't argue with that.

    Go Vols!

    ~The Volunteer in Brooklyn~

    patspitzhotfire

  • I do like, however, that we play a team of the caliber of NC state first. I think it will be a good test, give us things to focus on against Georgia state, that will improve us going into Florida

    johncimino19

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    slimtonone10

  • atlemoryvol said...

    I'm definitely worried about that. But I'm not sure there is anyway around it. I think Sal will start to pair it down after this first week together. But looking at Georgia and other teams that have made the switch to a 3-4, I just think we are going to have a rough year on defense. We are going to have to out score our opponents. I really hope we do and I think we can. The investment in our D will pay off next year if we have a good enough year this year to keep all our coaches moving forward.

    I agree with all that

    volfan28

  • bavw said...

    I also think something to consider about switching to a 3-4 is the personnel you are working with. I think our LB's in particular are a better fit i nthis defense, and if mccullers can play, we have the size we need at NT.

    I get what you're saying but if EVERYONE doesn't know the defense well enough to play balls to the wall we're gonna have problems. You hear coaches all the time talk about "playing fast". If they aren't able to play fast, it won't matter how talented they are and it only takes one player making a mistake to give up a big play. I'm not expecting a good year on defense but I like the move by Dooley to go with Sunseri and the 3-4.

    volfan28

  • I expect to see us struggle on defense this year just bc of changing to a 3-4 and a new coach. All teams struggle their first year when making the switch. I just hope we can play well enough to not have to score 30 points a game to win. All that's said though, we should have an explosive offense and hopefully our d can play with a lead and they can just go out and make plays. I'm glad we made the change though. Wilcox is highly respected but I hated the soft coverage but maybe thats all he could do with what he had to work with. I like a defense that's nasty & fast and creates turnovers.

    butler0320

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    rodbeazy

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    tjack527

  • butler0320 said...

    Wilcox is highly respected but I hated the soft coverage but maybe thats all he could do with what he had to work with.

    I think you nailed it with last part of this statement. Seems to me like the goal was to limit touchdowns even if it meant giving up a few more yards and a FG. There was only one NFL caliber player in our secondary last year, Brian Randolph, and he was a true freshman. I know everyone feels good about Waggner but he's really not very good. He's reliable.. don't get me wrong. But he is not all-conference cornerback.

    volfan28

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    GoBigO

  • It has been stated that many of our existing defensive players are better suited to the 3/4 scheme. Also, several of them have experience with the scheme at the high school and or college level prior to their time at UT. If anything the issue is going to be an issue with learning the new scheme and not so much with the physical issues associated with it. Whereas most teams that change to the scheme have mental adjustment as well as suitable talent issues. It sounds like over the next few weeks they will be throwing the spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks and they will pare it down from there going into the NC State game. I also believe that they will get better and better over the year as they become more comfortable. I most definitely agree that now is not the time to panic.

    SWVolfan

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    Casvol31

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    MiltonVol

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    bUTchSlapped

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    volfan28

  • SWVolfan said...

    It has been stated that many of our existing defensive players are better suited to the 3/4 scheme. Also, several of them have experience with the scheme at the high school and or college level prior to their time at UT. If anything the issue is going to be an issue with learning the new scheme and not so much with the physical issues associated with it. Whereas most teams that change to the scheme have mental adjustment as well as suitable talent issues. It sounds like over the next few weeks they will be throwing the spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks and they will pare it down from there going into the NC State game. I also believe that they will get better and better over the year as they become more comfortable. I most definitely agree that now is not the time to panic.

    Glad I read down into the thread before posting because you have pretty well hit my main points. Many of the guys on defense have mentioned that they played 3/4 in HS and are comfortable with it. It's just a more complicated version of what they have done in the past. The good news is that we have enough depth, especially on the line to bring in the guys who 'get it'. I think we finish mid pack or a little better among SEC defenses. As has been said over and over the NCST game is critical. If we can win that game our guys will learn a lot and then have GaSt to refine what they have learned before the Gators come to town.

    tnbear66

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