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Tennessee Stat Book
Vanderbilt Commodores
Despite what the cliche says, defense doesn't always win championships. In fact, it doesn't always win games.
The deeper Tennessee goes into one of the worst seasons in school history, the better the defense looks statistically.
The team is 3-7. The offense is ranked 115th out of 119 teams. But the defense is ranked seventh.
And it's getting better by the week.
Although UT had an open date last week, the defense still moved up in the rankings. Its schedule indicates it could move up even higher.
Saturday's opponent is Vanderbilt, which ranks 116th in total offense. Up next is Kentucky, which ranks 102nd.
UT's defense also will benefit from not having to play in a bowl game, where it likely would face a more competent offense than what it has had to deal with on an average Saturday.
The six teams that rank ahead of UT in defense will all play in bowls. Also, two of those teams - Florida State and Alabama - will have to play Florida, which ranks 25th nationally in total offense.
Bottom line: A possible nine-loss UT team could finish as high as third nationally in defense.
What do you make of that?
Before answering, check the schedule.
The Vols opened the season against UCLA, which ranks 107th in total offense. Their last game was against Wyoming, which ranks 110th.
In between, they have played Mississippi State (111th), Auburn (99th), South Carolina (96th), and Northern Illinois (83rd). After UT closes against Vanderbilt and Kentucky, seven of its 12 opponents likely will rank in the bottom 25 offensively and eight will be in the bottom third.
Georgia (23rd) and Florida (25th) are the only teams UT has played with top-25 offenses. Alabama is ranked 50th and UAB, 47th.
UT's defensive ranking isn't based solely on the ineptitude of opposing offenses. But you can't say that star power has much to do with it.
Strong safety Eric Berry is an obvious first-team All-SEC pick. However, he's not the only UT defender having a good season.
Linebacker Ellix Wilson is tied for third in the SEC in tackles per game. End Robert Ayers ranks second in the conference in tackles for loss. Tackle Dan Williams has played well. And linebacker Rico McCoy has been much more productive in the second half of the season.
Individual play often loses its significance in a season as bad as this one. Statistics don't have as much impact, either.
But years from now, the ranking will remain. And no one will remember how many bad offenses this team played.
Instead, UT fans will look back on a defense that got virtually no help from its offense, yet finished in the top 10 in defense.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 52
blitzshoot writes:
The defense kept it from being 0-10 at this point.
ncvol17 writes:
Seniors on D will have to remember this throw away season the rest of their life. Think they can't help but be mad at the inept Offense coaches and in particular the O line? They will save travel money on future reunions though...
hotrodvol writes:
The defense would have been even better, if it had an offense to of helped them.
murrayvol writes:
We may need to revisit the old saying that "defense wins championships". Some offense is required.
arkyvol writes:
i'm sorry, but visions of the defensive scheme chavis ordered up in the 2nd half against u.c.l.a. keep coming back, kind of like a post traumatic stress syndrome. i won't be sorry to see him gone.
leedsvol2007 writes:
Funny I remember people thought Fulmer was a fool for hiring and then sticking with Chavis.
Where have you gone Woody Weidenhofer a lonely Vol nation waits for you.
dvols writes:
when our opponents know that we won't score more than ten, well yeah......every offense whipped the d's but then called off the dogs
pdhuff#552644 writes:
True.
Take a gander at Paul Johnson's offense on ESPN 2 vs Miami.
jdpvol writes:
agreed blitzshoot, the defense has kept it from being 0-10, and i don't disagree with arkyvol either.also hot rod vol has a goodpoint, two things keep coming to mind for me if the defense had not been on the field 3 quarters(at least it has felt this way)every game they would have even better stats. and also I think that because of the scores of the games,(except for UCLA) Chavis has not had the chance to let the vaunted Mustang out of the corral, maybe. Just some thoughts.
TommyJack writes:
Yeah, that ol' 3 yards and a cloud of dust sure is boring, huh?
BillsBrother writes:
I never felt that this defense could give us a big stop when it was needed. But to their credit, they were on the field 35-40 minutes in more than one game.
Holding my breath on every third and long left me out of breath too many times this year. I hope that changes next season.
tnbigg writes:
Hear...hear...
tnbigg writes:
I wouldn't het too carried away about the "d" this year...like the wise and noble blitzshoot points out...it has prevented us from being 0 - 10...but there were plenty of uglyness on the "d" this year...second half vs UCLA...and more...give credit hwerre credit is due...but it isn't like we should knighting Chavis...THIS IS THE WORST TEAM IN TENNESSEE FOOTBALL HISTORY...do you understand that? Shall I repeat it for the underaware among us? THIS IS THE WORST TEAM IN TENNESSEE FOOTALL HISTORY...let us rejoice in celebration on Phil Phulmer Day...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwEMxY...
tnbigg writes:
For the next coach who replaces this blight...let's hear this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxGGck...
mlfree53#214595 writes:
3rd &>6 Chavis= FIRST DOWN
tnbigg writes:
Dupree in fantasy land...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s05jcr...
tnbuco#393180 writes:
Based on what Florida has done the last six weeks, do you really think that Urban Myth called off the dogs?
Why does he have a soft spot for Phil that he doesn't have for the rest of the East?
BillsBrother writes:
tnbigg, you were in Cincy this week? did you do any "recruiting" while you were there?
tnbigg writes:
I was in Cincy this week...but only recruited for my business...sorry...Hammy didn't send me my million dollar package yet...
adamsck#591720 writes:
Captain obvious to Isle 13. John, please stop. You are making me want to switch teams. Just stop. Please. If not, I'll be forced to undertake a hostile takeover of Scripps and sack you.
blitzshoot writes:
Good point. I have tried to forget the UCLA game, but the 2nd half was ugly. The offense though has never given these guys a time the breathe. UT's OL is the worst I have seen in a long time. I am a big fan of D II and DIII football, because of the passion and work ethic.
BillsBrother writes:
Yes, 2nd half UCLA is one to forget.
But 4th quarter Mississippi State is one for the Vol archives.
tnbigg writes:
You are spot on about our "offensive" (multiple applications) line...for what was billed as an all star group - all returning veterans...it is beyond explanation...this dreadful memory will be all these seniors remember about their Tennessee football experience for as long as they breath...what a travesty..
cdonsbach writes:
They did a stellar job during the 2nd half of the UCLA game!
BillsBrother writes:
I think the pinnacle of my frustration with this team is when CPF would line the team up on 3rd and short with a tight line, three tight ends and an I formation. We haven't been able to push the d-line for a first down in a number of years.
I doubt Richmond had that formation in their playbook.
tnbigg writes:
Agree Bro'...good point...I gotta' roll...have a great evening!
Gigavol writes:
The defense does not get better by not playing. That's like losing weight by other people getting fatter.
bobbyutvol writes:
Hat off to Chavis, kept Fulmers job for years as we all can see now. We need Mike Leach or Chris Peterson along with Chavis.. Leach is my top pick, hope no Kelly to much like Fulmer BORING just an opinion what do you guys think???
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
This is th ekind of article Adams should write. What are things which are similar in the two losing seasons of Coach Fulmer. Show a little respect for starters. Your job is dependent on sports, those who play and those who coach and mentor them, not on you, John Adams. Now show the comparisons of these two seasons. Quarterback problems, good defense, quality of the opponents? You know, get yourself out of the middle, John. And actually, nobody is calling us a great defensive team, except John. I mean, Jon Crompton and the UCLA game, who were we supposed to start? Another article is how do coaches change as they start losing? Compare Fulmer to Paterno, Bowden, Neyland, etc. Would make good reading. Really guys, nobody hates John Adams(more than me, just kidding), we just want more knowledgeable articles, not ones which jerk our strings. It's like the guy knows we're in jail, in the chain gang, and he just comes along and pulls us around. You want more from your coaches, I want more from my writers!! And from ESPN, and from my officials too! This article is like some guy commenting on a poll. Just numbers. Well there are other numbers too, so string some others beads together.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
In fairness to Chavis, one run over 22 yards given up and that to UAB. Per Tennessean.
Didn't say runs after catching a wide-open dump-off in the flat.
D got a lot of game experience. Think Ga kept the ball for like 10 minutes in 4th quarter. 90 yd drive or so.
O-line is atrocious. Foster has 1876 yards. 1387 were behind the line of scrimmage.
We won't discuss special teams.
Greyback_Vol writes:
So, Vanderbilt's offense actually produces fewer yards than UT?
I won't say Vandy's offense is worse, because they can't possibly be as fumble and penalty prone as the boys in orange have been this year.
What has happened to Volunteer football?
Looks like a defensive struggle Saturday.
cltvol writes:
I am glad this article finally came out. The D has been thrown in the bucket and maligned with the poor O and dismal kicking game. They have not quit. I do agree there were breakdowns, but that's when the O has to step it up.
Last year's O and this year's D would have produced a 10-2 team with losses to AL and FL,,we may have beaten FL with a good O and good kick game. If a frog had wings.....
leedsvol2007 writes:
I agree with you when you win all is forgiven.
Defense does win championships because it keeps you in games on the road where crowd noise is a factor in playing offense.
But you have to have at least an average offense to be a championship contender.
If you do you can play field position offense in which you play conservatively inside your own 40 and aggressively from the 40 to your opponents goal.
The most damning evidence when it comes to our offense is the 5 times we had the ball inside the Auburn 50 in the 2nd half and came away with no points.
In those situation a good offense will score at least 3 out of 5 times.
On the other side of the coin because we have had so many 3 and outs our defense is playing more snaps than it should.
I don't think anyone will confuse this defense with the 98 or 2001 teams talent wise but these guys have played at a high level and they have provided enough turnovers through interceptions to score a lot more points than we have.
As a fan I'm particularly proud of Dan Williams, Wes Brown and Robert Ayers for their high level of play. These guys appear to be giving all they have. And Demonte Bolden does not get his name called much but he is probably drawing double and triple teams so he is helping the others.
That's no slight on Eric Berry who as we all know is very special.
This terrible season has been caused by turnovers in our end and lack of punch when we are in the opponents end. That as we have seen is the recipe for disaster.
The defense has been good enough to win.
GreeneVol writes:
Assuming the new coach and John Chavis wanted to work together, what is right/wrong with keeping John Chavis on as DC?
murrayvol writes:
"worst I've seen in a long time"
I've been watching (or listening) for well over 40 years and IMO no previous line approached this level of futility.
murrayvol writes:
Brilliant!
murrayvol writes:
"In those situations a good offense will score at least 3 out of 5 times."
A bad offense would've scored once which would've won the game. Aaaaaargh and gyaaaaaack!
jasonn1970 writes:
Imagine Leach's offense with Chavis's defense.......
The new coach would be wise to give Chavis some consideration. And surely they'll hire an offensive oriented head coach considering how bad the offense has been much of this decade.
CrankE writes:
Yes, the defense has been pretty good, has anyone else noticed that in years where our offense sucks the defense is awesome? Silly question, I know. In years where the offense can bring the hammer, the defense struggles? I believe there's some cause and effect there that should not be ignored.
We've all said it and felt it lately; If an opponent gets us down 10-0, it's over. Our opponents know this too. Example, UF and Alabama scored 100 points combined on UT last year. That UT offense could have, should have, but didn't made things interesting. This year, only ~30 a piece. Is it all due to improvement in the defense, or could it be that they both know that when the 2008 Vols are down by a score or two, it's all over?
Give EB his due, but with an offense as inept as ours is this year, an opponent can afford to be patient and still get the win.
Jeremy7679 writes:
John Adams sucks.
bluetickhoundguy writes:
I guess this is as close as it comes for Tuscaloosa John to have anything good to say about the Vols...
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
Honestly, could this offense be any worse? Clawson, you have done the impossible; make Dandy Randy look like Norm Chow.
I wish someone would write a book explaining WTH happened this season. Hyams, are you listening?
Jeremy7679 writes:
Jimmy Hyams sucks too.
TommyJack writes:
No. This team needs a total break from the past. We need to give opponents something new to think about when preparing for TN. No knock on Chavis, but all the old blood needs to be transfused out of this program. Any potential new HC with will want his own staff. Sorry, clean break needed.
spvol writes:
A positive article? Who are you, and what have you done with John Adams?
OldNumber7 writes:
There is a really good reason why Tennessee should pursue Mike Leach as number one candidate. First off, there is not enough information about Brian Kelly to be 100% confident in his ability to get it done at our 1A SEC program. There are only 2 teams that are worthy on the Cincinnati schedule this year, Oklahoma and Connecticut (go figure) and the Bearcats were pounded by both. Looks like another Fulmer to me. And no substantial database to draw from to convince me he can coach at this level consistently.
Lane Kiffin…I don’t know. He could very well pan out – he did coach at USC, but was the offense at USC good because of him or because they were loaded with arguably the best talent in last decade? And he was only OC for a year….again, like with Brian Kelly, no large database to draw from at this level and therefore risky as heck.
Now for Mike Leach. This man has made tremendous turnarounds happen everywhere he has gone – immediately. Not only that, he has been consistent at each school and for many years. Take a look at these numbers at Texas Tech since 2002 (available data on ESPN website):
Texas Tech since 2002
Average score for: 39.4 std. dev. = 16.7
Average score against: 26.5 std. dev. = 14.9
Now look at Tennessee in the same timeframe:
Tennessee since 2002
Average score for: 25.5 std. dev. = 13.3
Average score against: 20.5 std. dev. = 12.2
Now for you statistical whack-jobs, Texas Tech’s bad 1-sig day is only 42% of their average score, whereas Tennessee is 52%. They not only score two touchdowns per game more than Tennessee, but on a bad day for Mike Leach (-1sig), Texas Tech still scores comparable to Tennessee on a good day! Take a look at Tennessee’s defense. At 20.5 points per game, and with a standard deviation of 12.2, it suggests that Chavis is doing a great job and consistently since 2002.
Since 2002, Tennessee has NEVER outscored its opponents, in any season, by double digits on average. The 1998 National Championship team averaged 33.2 points per game and allowed 14.7 – that’s a margin of 18.7 per game average that season! So to win a title at Tennessee, you need to have a Chavis defense with an offense that scores 18.7 points more than the defense does. Enter Mike Leach; with a Chavis defense (20.5 per game over a 7-year span), he must score 20.5 + 18.7 = 39.2 points per game to be a national title contender every year. Are you starting to catch on? He has scored, with Texas Tech talent, 39.4 points per game since 2002.
The bottom line is very clear. Mike Leach is a proven coach and has been consistent at this level. If Tennessee wants to win immediately, and be in a position for championships ever year, then Hamilton should pay Leach millions and bring him to Knoxville now.
woodwr#217203 writes:
2005 had a great defense too.
Imagine 2008 Volunteer defense statistics if the offense held the ball for a more than five plays for the average possession.
These guys are not the galoots of John Henderson and Albert Haynesworth but take away the Special team scores and special team field position and give them eight to ten plays to rest between possessions, and they look pretty good.
How Many of Florida's 30 points came from driving the field?
How many of Georgia's 26 points came from driving the field?
How Many of Carolina's 27 points came from driving the field?
If this offense had scored 28-33, how many games would have been lost?
If the 2008 offense had scored the points of 2007 team against the same opponents?
fhjm1234#209203 writes:
This defense is average for an SEC school. As the level of our recruiting has gone down so has the defense. Our 3rd down defense, which is the MONEY down, is not and hasn't been very good. Teams save the plays that they are most confident in for 3rd down against us.I would argue that every team that played us had their best 3rd down conversion rate of the year (discounting games like Fla/Citadel or other mismatches) This allows their defense to rest longer. Our defensive scheme for years,under Chavis has been to "keep the ball in front of us" then tackle. This has always left the defense on the field for more minutes. It is not an ineffective philosophy when you have a ball control offense as Fulmer and Cutcliffe have favored. This year everything imploded. The new clock rule is such that if you are not getting the opposing offense off the field as quickly as possible you are really cutting into your offensive possessions. When you employ the "bend but do not break" defense philosophy as we do and have a very poor offense this new clock situation kills you. There have been games this year where we only got a handful of possessions. How can even a poor offense get any better with so few game reps. To say that is defense is really any better than mediocre is joke.
G8er_H8er writes:
They are bad at every aspect of the game. Gerald Jones and Eric Berry are the only players that should start on a good SEC team. Colquitt could with his skill set, but would have been kicked off most other teams before now.
Hammy, please make the right hire. We can't stand another season like this or 2005.
G8er_H8er writes:
Correct on all accounts. Good call.
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