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Tennessee's defense heads to Auburn ranked last in the SEC in third-down stops and also last in sacks. That's probably no coincidence.
"That (sacking the quarterback) is one of the biggest ways to stop drives,'' UT defensive coordinator John Chavis said this week. "In three ballgames, three sacks is not where we'd like to be.''
When the Vols (1-2, 0-1 SEC) drop in on No. 15 Auburn (3-1, 0-1) at Jordan-Hare Stadium (3:30 p.m., WVLT), one of their missions will be get the defense off the field quicker.
UT is allowing opponents to convert third down 45.5 percent of the time. That ranks 98th out of 119 teams in the Bowl Subdivision.
Another goal will be to make sure Auburn quarterback Chris Todd has grass stains on his uniform.
The Vols have recorded only one sack per game: linebacker Ellix Wilson at UCLA; tackle Walter Fisher against UAB; safety Eric Berry against Florida.
Only 10 teams nationally have fewer sacks.
That's not to say Tennessee has not mounted any sort of pass rush.
"We've been more disruptive early this season than we were last season, but we haven't gotten the number of sacks,'' said head coach Phillip Fulmer.
Added Chavis, "We've had good push. I don't think the quarterback has been able to stand back there and get comfortable.
"Whether it's pressures or hurries, those things are important, but sacks are what stops drives.''
Closing the deal, turning hurries into sacks, is on the minds of the defensive front. In particular, the ends don't have a single sack yet and Wes Brown said he and fellow starter Robert Ayers are anxious to get in on the party.
"We need to make more plays,'' said Brown. "Tennessee is known for having great defensive ends. It goes back throughout the history.''
Recent history, not so much.
The Vols averaged 42.5 sacks 1997-2000, setting a school record of 50 in 2000, John Henderson's Outland Trophy season. They recorded only 24 last year, but that was up from 17 in 2006.
They're on pace for 12 in 2008.
To be fair, sacks are harder to come by in this age of spread offenses and three-step pass drops.
"It is a lot harder because people are getting rid of the ball,'' said tackles coach Dan Brooks. "You look around the country.
"Like in our first game (UCLA), the ball comes out so quick you could come completely free and you're not going to get there before it's over.''
In the bigger picture of third-down defense, UT has to curtail more possessions, whether it's against the run or the pass.
Florida was 8-of-13 on third-down conversions in a 30-6 win last Saturday. But with Tim Tebow at quarterback, Florida is going to convert a lot of third downs against a lot of teams.
"You're not going to get many stops on third-and-short when you've got a 245-pounder that can pick and weave and get a yard on his own,'' said Chavis, "and he's good at that.''
Chavis has been UT's defensive chief since 1995. He acknowledged (seemingly with dry humor) this week that he's "been nicknamed and tagged 'the third-down guru' but on the wrong end of it.''
"I look back at our stats last year and the year before and the year before and we've been OK, not where we want to be,'' he said.
The 2005 defense allowed a 36.6 conversion rate on third down, not so far removed from the 34 percent of the 1998 national champions.
The rate was around 40 percent each of the past two years.
"Last week we did our very best job of first-down defense all year,'' Chavis said. "But the biggest thing is third down.
"You've got to be able to get off the field.''
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Comments » 29
Orangebrewbasher writes:
First
glenncandrews#217154 writes:
FIU, FAU, Tennessee, Washington navigating in Bottom 10 waters
By David Duffey
ESPN.com
Updated: September 23, 2008
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CT_VOL writes:
Tenneesee is like the financial crisies....spiraling downward.
vol1994 writes:
Just horrible!
jsmithnga#207674 writes:
I don't comment much on this site, but I am not into reading many comments because of the bitterness of so many so called fans. We were fairly happy with everything until the NC and now anything less is unacceptable and the coaches need to go. The behavior of the fans with the booing is totally absurd; it belittles the players who are doing their best and sends a bad message to potential recruits. Maybe it is meant for the coaches, but it reflects on the players. Is it time for a coaching change--maybe, but this is certainly not the way to express it. I am constantly reminded that we have the worst fans in the SEC and I have defended them; but now I am beginning to agree that maybe as a whole we don't have the worst, but we certainly have some of the worst. I will keep visiting this site for info, but won't bother to read any comments until BB season.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
The ugly truth rears it head even higher.
No D-line pressure allows the other team to run their offense which is offensive to your W-L record.
Guess what, check out the great d-line recuits Phil has got in the wings. On second thought - don't.....
DingoVol writes:
This week I have watched the 89 UT/Auburn game and the 97 SEC Championship game against Auburn on ESPN Classic. It is downright depressing to see how far we have fallen. The 89 team rushed for 384 yards with Cobb and Webb! The 97 team had Peyton, Al Wilson, Leonard Little, Cosey Coleman, Jamal Lewis, Peerless Price, and on and on.
We won because we had better talent. Now that we do not have superior talent, the lack of coaching is even more evident. Imagine what Urban for Saban would have done with our teams in the 90s. I am willing to lose every game for the rest of the season if it means we can get a new coach. My Gator friends had to do this in the Zook era and look how it turned out for them.
Orangebrewbasher writes:
Im watching the USC/Oregon st game and Oregon State had a better opening drive than we have had all year, against USC. Now that is putting things into perspective isn't it.
CoverOrange writes:
DL pressure is coming from the opposing OL being pushed back into the QB's face. Nobody is breaking through and really chasing the QB. Nobody is drawing double teams thus stunts are easily picked up and shunted. Maybe I missed it but I haven't seen a safety blitz once this year. All opposing lines we face can't be that good. They must know what's coming every third down. Predictability or lack of disguise?
BoarderVol writes:
Was Berry's sack of Tebow not a blitz?
BillVol writes:
Why does the N-S even bother to print the comments of John "Spin" Chavis? His spin through the years on his defense has been pathetic and sad. Third and Chavis.
rblakeh writes:
Fire Coach Carroll!!!!
Goosfraba writes:
I totally agree with you Dingo. PREACH ON BROTHER!
BillsBrother writes:
When our opponents have the ball third and long I imagine the other head coach is saying, "Ah, We have them right where we want them."
Our "D" needs to watch some film of the 1985 Volunteer "D". That was a gritty bunch!
Urbiewerecomingtogetyou writes:
js: I know you're not going to read this, but I'm going to say it anyway. I don't believe we should boo the players or coaches. With that being said, I understand and respect the right of others who choose to do so. With the arrogance and defiance that Coach Fulmer exibits I don't blame them one bit. Rebellion by the fans is the only way we will ever see an upgrade in coaching and the need for that is very obvious.
wyomingvol writes:
Funny, but not really, I have been saying 'they have us right where they want us on third down and/or holding a lead late in a game for the last 7 years or so.
Lets' pooch kick off to em'.....
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
We used to be great defensively, and i mean really great. It was an abberation to be otherwise, but as the years have gone by , ever since 98, memories of loses piles up, and a lot of it has to do with defenses. But the longer we live we have more loses. Either we balance them out with wins or do not. I think we would have had more wins with more defensive stops, and we've also lost a few thanks to the refs also. Its been an exciting run, and if we'd won 3 or 4 more, and maybe 9 or 10 more 'Fulmer would be another Knute Rockne.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Vols, give it your very best shot vs the Tigers and let the chips fall. No one faults you if that's all you've got and you come up short.
This should not be easy there. Pls avoid the turnovers.
Best of luck on the Plains.
Sheepscape writes:
Ah yes, the patented "3rd and Chavis" defense.
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
We really have a SERIOUS problen on the defensive line. We are the only team in the SEC that can't get any pressure on the QB. This is really a sad situation. Well i guess it's par for the coarse, we can't do anything well right now.
CoverOrange writes:
BoarderVol wrote: "Was Berry's sack of Tebow not a blitz?"
Truthfully, I've been trying to remember that play. Can't claim that I saw every play but the one time I saw Berry tackle Tebow in the backfield he was definitely outside the tackle box. Unfortunatly, don't have a tape to review.
99gator writes:
it was not a blitz.
it was a designed shovel pass to brandon james that tenn actually had covered. tebow, wisely, did not shovel the ball forward and continued to roll to his right to try to get as many yards as he could on the ground. berry came up and made the tackle.
Ironcity writes:
Chavis reminds me of Don Devoe. Great in an era of no 3point shot or 35 second rule. The game has passed Chavis by. We pass rush on 3rd and long as if we are afraid of giving up a 4yd run. We have ends with great speed why do we try to bull rush or stunt every time. Everyone in the stadium can tell when we blitz and every team audibles to a slant which works about 5 times a game. I really like Fulmer but he must know that what he wants and what is happening are two different things. If this season continues to spiral down hill he needs to do the right thing and move on. Please don't be Bobby Bowden and hang on 20 years past your prime.
wildberry14 writes:
i love how i just knew that when i saw berry going after tebow that he was going down. you cant say that about anyone else on our defense. any other guy would have gotten faked out, missed the tackle, or run over. berry just grabbed him.
CoverOrange writes:
99, that is what I remember.
wildberry, it looked like everyone was in slow motion and the lightning known as Eric, knifed through and struck.
invisiblekid writes:
Berry was credited with a sack on the play.
Sorely disappointed with the DE's to this point. I really thought we'd see some improvement at the position with the graduation of Reynolds and Mitchell. I know that teams are going with quicker drops, etc. etc. but we aren't seeing anything out of these guys compared to the glory years. Averaging less than 2 sacks a game for the past 2 years and 3 games and that simply isn't UT defense.
Txvol57 writes:
WE DONT GET SACKS BECAUSE CHAVIS HAS OUR DB'S 10 YARDS OF THE REVCEIVERS!!!! IF YOU PLAY PRESS MAN COVERAGE....GUESS WHAT...THE QUARTERBACK HOLDS THE BALL LONGER!!! WHY DO YOU THINK NORM CHOW PUBLICLY SAID AFTER THE UCLA GAME THAT "AT HALFTIME WE REALIZED THAT ALL OUR RECIEVERS HAD TO DO WAS RUN 5 YARDS DOWN THE FIELD AND TURN AROUND." I PLAYED DE IN COLLEGE AND I DONT CARE IF YOUR NAME IS DEWIGHT FREENY OR JEVON KEARSE...YOU CANT GET TO THE QUARTERBACK WHEN HE IS THROWING IT IN UNDER 3 SECONDS BECAUSE RECEIVERS ARE RUNNING 5 YARD OUTS AND BUTTON HOOKS. CHAVIS SUCKS!!!
Lofton4Three writes:
You must be in the 5% that Phil talked about. Maybe you should call him and Chavis.
They won't listen to other 95% of us that didn't play college football.
jcherrie#219531 writes:
A lot of people claim it's because of our Mustang Defense.
It is but it isn't. Every college and Pro team in the country uses a 5 DB package.
The problem is that we infrequently blitz out of the package. Also, most of the time we fall a soft zone from the nickle and dime packages. A 5 DB defense can be super agressive - I haven't seen that out of ours.
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