Tennessee's defense is a step ahead of where it was last season, and quite possibly, a step ahead of where it has ever been.

"It's one of the fastest defenses we've had, all the way through,'' Vols' coach Phillip Fulmer said. "And, there's some depth there.''

Fulmer said if the defense lives up to its promise, it'll enable the offense to play loose.

"We try to always mesh our offense with our defense,'' Fulmer said. "If our defense is the team that it looks like it can be, with our speed and the ability to make big plays, then certainly we'll fit that with our offense and that allows them to take more chances.''

UT defensive coordinator John Chavis has plenty of ideas of what the Vols might do, from a scheme standpoint.

For now all Tennessee's "Chief'' says is that the Vols will "do what they do best.''

In the past, that has meant blitzing, twisting and shifting into multiple fronts to confuse and disrupt opponents' pass protection.

But with the talent in UT's front four this year, blitzing might not be as necessary.

"We've been doing pretty good getting pressure with a four-man rush,'' Fulmer said. "The best thing is to play coverage and get pressure rushing four. All the guys up front are better than last year, and they should be, we have three seniors and a junior.''

UT senior captain Parys Haralson said he sees a difference.

"The defense is a lot faster; we have guys that know what they're doing out there,'' said Haralson, a preseason All-SEC defensive end. "Another difference is our experience and our unity. We play for each other out there.''

Haralson said with the front seven's experience, and the depth and talent in the secondary, the Vols can be very multiple.

"We seem to be doing a lot more things,'' he said. "It all depends on when Chief wants to make the calls.''

Chavis must first make the calls on his starting lineup. He said junior Turk McBride is a candidate to supplant senior defensive end Jason Hall or senior defensive tackle Justin Harrell in the starting lineup.

"Nobody can afford to let up,'' Chavis said. "We also have some linebackers who are pushing our three seniors at that spot.''

There will be plenty left to determine after the starting 11 for the Sept. 3 season opener against UAB game is set. Chavis isn't settled on personnel for the "Mustang'' package (three down linemen, two linebackers, six defensive backs) or the "Straight Dime,'' which includes four down linemen, one linebacker and six defensive backs.

If cornerback Jonathan Wade is healthy, the other five defensive backs would likely be Roshaun Fellows, Jason Allen, Jonathan Hefney, Antwan Stewart and Antonio Gaines.

If Wade's not ready to play, Chavis said Inky Johnson isthe sixth defensive back.

Two names missing from the mix are junior Corey Campbell and freshman Demetrice Morley.

That could change before the Sept. 17 Florida game.

Campbell, a former starter with a penchant for stepping up in big games, is serving a one-game suspension after offseason troubles.

Morley possesses a 41-inch vertical leap and is "more athletic'' than former UT All-American Deon Grant, according to secondary coach Larry Slade.

Chavis said he might limitblitzing until the secondary is solid in its assignments; projected starting safeties Antwan Stewart and Jonathan Hefney are converted cornerbacks.

"We've got to be somewhat careful because we're still inexperienced in a couple of places,'' he said. "But I'm tired of defending our secondary people don't realize that two and three years ago, our secondary was the main reason we were able to win key games.

"Our defensive backs are being coached by one of the best in the nation and we're getting better there every day.

"We're going to have a lot of different ways we can match up this season.''