Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium, John Chavis will be too caught up in the moment to think about it.

To think about how he's fighting his last battle with some guys who are dear to his heart.

Tennessee loses six of its front seven defensive players this year: all three linebackers, plus ends Jason Hall and Parys Haralson and tackle Jesse Mahelona.

Presumably, junior tackle Justin Harrell will return although an early departure to the NFL is an option.

Players come and go in a four-year cycle. Chavis has remained a constant on Tennessee's defense.

He's been there since 1989, been the coordinator since 1995. By college football standards, that's an eternity.

Changes are imminent on Phillip Fulmer's staff, but not likely on Chavis' side of the ball.

Dan Brooks has been coaching the tackles since 1994, Steve Caldwell the ends since '95 and Larry Slade the secondary since '99.

I don't hear much public outcry for fresh blood on the defensive coaching staff. If it's not broken, don't fix it.

This wasn't a flat-out great defense in 2005, but it was good, most often good enough to win.

At times -- OK, numerous times -- it was put in tough spots by UT's offensive and special-teams ineptitude. Usually, it minimized the damage.

It did get burned by some big pass plays late. To be fair, Jason Allen, lost on Oct. 8 to a season-ending hip injury, might have had something to say about that.

Kentucky notwithstanding, one can't help but wonder about 2006.

Let's assume the offense is better but not a ton better. The schedule again will be rugged.

Now subtract those six starters from Chavis' defense.

Erase a fine linebacker corps: Omar Gaither; Kevin Simon; Jason Mitchell.

Take Hall and Haralson off the depth chart. Remove All-American Mahelona from the middle of the line.

Getting nervous yet? Now hear this:

"I don't see it being a big drop-off,'' said Chavis.

"As a matter of fact, I think with some development we can be even stronger at some positions.''

You know what? I think I believe him.

The Chief generally shoots straight when it comes to sizing up his guys.

"It goes back to talent,'' Chavis said. "It goes back to what you've done in the past. It goes back to having confidence in yourself.

"And all those things are there.''

The cupboard, in fact, is far from bare up front. Robert Ayers, Xavier Mitchell, Antonio Reynolds, Turk McBride and Tony McDaniel are all SEC-caliber players.

That's just the ones who contributed this year. There's more where they came from.

As for what position might be stronger in '06, Chavis said, surprisingly, linebacker.

"I don't want to start naming names yet,'' he said, "but we've got a couple you haven't seen that I think you'll be excited to see.''

We saw a little bit of Jerod Mayo before he got hurt. I'll go ahead and name Rico McCoy, for one.

The four secondary starters return and youngsters like Demetrice Morley will be hard to keep off the field.

Bottom line, my money's on the offense having bigger problems to solve for 2006, no matter how many starters are back.

Chavis can't help with that project. Naturally, he'll be observing with interest.

And, with no small confidence.

He is unwavering and outspoken in his faith in the program and the program's leader.

"We'll get this program back where it needs to be,'' Chavis said. "That's going to happen.

"You can say I guaranteed that if you want to. That's what I'm saying.''

That's saying a lot. But considering the source, don't discount it.