2330859 said:

Not arguing with any of the OP points, or those additional comments. As for me, we performed defensively so much better against Clemson, largely a result of not having to contend with a multi-faceted QB like what we faced against GT, BC, SMU, ND and of course Miami.

English acknowledged that he simplified our defensive schemes, something that was necessary; however in fairness to English it was a much easier task against Clemson when the QB play was primarily confined to passing and handing-off to RBs. Chasing an athletic QB can not only be exhaustive, it can reduce any defensive strategy to limited success.

Click to expand...

I think there were multiple areas that we saw as strengths defensively Saturday night vs. the three losses, not the least of which is:

1. Health of the secondary, especially cornerback. We didn't have Riley against ND and SMU. Thornton was playing with an oven mitt and forced into playing with it due to another injury (can't remember if it was Holloway). Miami went at him all day because the best he was going to do was club the ball. We had an outstanding night in coverage and that over the top, Two Deep umbrella was a big help.

2. Health on the defensive line and the emergence of the transfers Thor Griffith and Guerrad. Guerrad wasn't fully healthy until the game in Charlottesville. We missed Tramel Logan for a period after getting hurt against SMU and he really hasn't been back fully since; ditto Konga who looked like our best DT early in the year. It is VERY clear that we sure could have used a healthy Mason Reiger.

...the pass rushing lanes against Klubnik were perfectly coordinated all night and rather than arcing the defensive end pass rushes it was tight and narrow keeping Klubnik boxed in. While he isn't anything like Stephens or Cam Ward getting out the pocket, he does have escapability that creates big plays downfield when things break down and he killed NC State with it.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

I admire Dabo’s decision to avoid the Portal, but clearly that model is not a successful one in this environment.

Not arguing with any of the OP points, or those additional comments. As for me, we performed defensively so much better against Clemson, largely a result of not having to contend with a multi-faceted QB like what we faced against GT, BC, SMU, ND and of course Miami.

English acknowledged that he simplified our defensive schemes, something that was necessary; however in fairness to English it was a much easier task against Clemson when the QB play was primarily confined to passing and handing-off to RBs. Chasing an athletic QB can not only be exhaustive, it can reduce any defensive strategy to limited success.

UofLouisville said:

The vols defense from mondays game that i watched is going to get shredded. They are not deep and we have much more versatile and better athletes. Going to be 90+ - 70(at most) UL win. Tenn will be gassed in the second half. Maybe we jump to 40 in the rankings next mon.

Click to expand...

Two players were not available for the Vols against Gardner Webb. One was in concussion protocol, another for personal matter. JP Estrella has an ankle injury and is not full strength. They lost to #18 Indiana in an exhibition game so Saturday should be a big test.

earsky said:

On the defense,there are likely more than one. Riley in the secondary since his return to full health and our linebackers,namely Stanquan Clark,putting themselves into just about every running play...like they should.

Click to expand...

As effusive as I was preseason about how good I thought Clark would be, Antonio Watts has been every bit as dynamic. That was most evident against Notre Dame as well as the Clemson game where both Clark and Watts were all over the place and arriving with big payloads.

UofLouisville said:

The vols defense from mondays game that i watched is going to get shredded. They are not deep and we have much more versatile and better athletes. Going to be 90+ - 70(at most) UL win. Tenn will be gassed in the second half. Maybe we jump to 40 in the rankings next mon.

Click to expand...

I said in an earlier post that I figured we should win by 10 plus. I like you’re projections more… easier on my blood pressure 🤪
I also said… if you can get Us and points take it and feel good about it.
But it will be our closest game under Coach PK so far. All of the others being in the 40 to 50 point range lol

The vols defense from mondays game that i watched is going to get shredded. They are not deep and we have much more versatile and better athletes. Going to be 90+ - 70(at most) UL win. Tenn will be gassed in the second half. Maybe we jump to 40 in the rankings next mon.

cardrock said:

I wonder where we will be after Saturday?

Click to expand...

Win and we make a jump. Can't wait to see how we do against a very good team. Two things i know for sure, we'll be prepared and we will play hard..

BYW, I could see something like IU-Texas A&M bowl matchup, if the Hosers don’t make the playoff.

The last time IU was this good was in 1967, when they went 9-1, with a blowout loss in Minnesota. They finished in a 3-way tie for first in the conference with Purdue (Mike Phipps and LeRoy Keys) and Minnesota.IU got the Rose Bowl invite since they had never been and Purdue had gone just the previous year. The gophers had been many times. There they lost to O.J. Simpson and USC, 14-3. They had some notable players including QB Harry Gonso, RB John Isenbarger and receiver Jade Butcher. It was when I first took notice of the sport and began a lifelong love of all things pigskin. Memories…

Congratulations, Jeff! Has he ever won this before?

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

Actually,we all thought we were gonna see another 20-0 hole to dig out of as the game started and it appeared like we had reverted back. The eyeball test tells me we're swealing with confidence lacking earlier to overcome the slow starts. It just happened to take 8+ games to get there. They've probably known for a while it was possible.

Leaders have emerged along the way that have helped others get in line. A freaking somersault by Shough? Nobody saw that one coming. A Freshman running back making a case for All ACC along with anotherpossibleAll ACC player Brooks.

On the defense,there are likely more than one. Riley in the secondary since his return to full health and our linebackers,namely Stanquan Clark,putting themselves into just about every running play...like they should.

I don't need to get into some of the crap that happened in some of those losses. We all saw it. The difference is the response from the players and the leadership of a few that have taken over the team.

I wonder where we will be after Saturday?

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

I think the conference as a whole maybe transitioning. Clemson and FSU are in flux. Miami seems to have the resources but I am still not convinced they have the coaching.

The Clemson game plus last year’s success should have a positive impact in player acquisition. As long as they continue to
acquire more talent and depth through the portal they can compete with those 3. Then hit on a special year on occasion. Missed an opportunity this because SMU and Miami were are home and getable.

If I could describe this team in terms of a former player, and by extension Coach Kelsey, but it feels like we cloned a bunch of roger burkmans and set them loose.

Said another way, the Clemson game was one data point. I understand as the last one, it's the most important. But the analyst in me wants to see something in the way of a trend.

And if I reflect back just one more week (data point), we were down 20-0 to Boston College. If you think you're legitimately seeing progress, that's a helluva lot of improvement in three quarters of football. Forget about Clemson, I hope someone recorded what Jeff said at halftime of the BC game...