Amazing stat re: defense

Thanks. I see it loud and clear. Thank you Austin, we got a defense again.

 

Very excited to see the direction of the defense for sure. We will have a real test next weekend. I think we can rattle Joe Milton. The only stat I would like to see would be turnovers. So far the defense has not generated a turnover. Looking forward to it and I will be there ready to roll.

 

I have been, what some would call a sunshine pumper, when it comes to Austin Armstrong and what he will do for our defense... I knew it!! Lol...

 

The improvement in tackling was obvious from the start of the Utah game and a refreshing change from last year. Defense is young, but the depth and talent are there for them to keep us in every game.

 

Yea you were really down on Toney last year. Glad to see our defense playing the way a defense should.

 

Man last years defense gave that up nearly that in three drives in the first quarter.

 

I was more up on Armstrong than down with Toney, but yeah... I knew we needed a change at DC, and he got promoted to the NFL. That was a stroke of luck. As soon as I heard AA in his first presser I knew he was the right man for the job. And then I read about all the great coaches he's worked for in the recent past. That got me really excited about Austin Armstrong.

But listen... it's not an automatic that our defense turns into world beaters. It will still take some time for he and his crew to get that defense working like a well oiled machine. But... he's the right man for the job, IMHO.

 

Gave up over 400 yards to USF... nuff said.

But there were other factors in Toney's first and last year here. We had NO quality depth... speed was sub standard and we were in a first year/new defense.

AA has us in the second year of the same defense with far more depth, and overall talent is better. That freshman class of DBs is as good as advertised.

And next year we will be getting to that high octane defense that we remember in years past.

I'm psyched about the 2024 class... Maybe get a few plug-and-play transfer players... and we should be ready to compete with the best teams out there.

I just want this defense to play much better than last year's defense did. A top 20 to 25 overall defense would be amazing.

 

As cliché as it sounds, it really is the fundamentals. Gap integrity, setting the edge, tackling. Makes life on D so much easier if you just do those things.

Edit: Just after typing this, heard the stat that last year we averaged 10.2 missed tackles per game, and through 2 games this year it's 4.5

 

Yep, missed tackles is what made our last year's depleted defense look even worse then they should have been. What a difference a year makes.

 

"We'll be aggressive and legit with our defense"

 

Add DEAPTH

 

Under Toney we ranked 103 out of 106 D1 schools in 3rd down efficiency on defense. You read that right. We were just about the last in the nation.

 

I still want to see us go against a better offense before being too confident, but I’m liking the results so far. The Vols should offer a good test.

 

I agree, McNeese isn't a real test. Utah on the road as the #14 team in the nation was a better test even with Rising out. We held them to 270 total yards, 50 yards in the 2nd half, and 3-13 on 3rd down. Their lines and players are comparable and are veterans compared to our youth. I'm seeing a different defense.

 

Here’s a stat I do not like. Tennessee leads the country in TFL at 12.5 pg (25 total)
We have 10 total (8 vs mcneese )
We are 22nd in the country in rush defense (and that’s what Tennessee is… the Heupel offense spreads you out to create running lanes )
They rank 4th in the nation in rush offense and 81st in passing
Florida 39th passing:60th rushing.
tennesee is 27th in the-country in rush D
We are 7th in the country in 3rd down defense
Tennessee 24th
Florida is 2nd behind only Air Force on 1st downs allowed
Tennessee is 27th

All that is with them playing Va and Austin peay which are arguably much worse than Utah and Mcneese.

this game will 100% come down to who can run and who can stop the run.

 

Overall the defense is much better. Very young. Will make errors. And the pass rush concerns me against real fronts, however its a big upgrade vs last year.

 

It’s a journey. You don’t get to the championship without dealing with and overcoming adversity.

 

Arguably? I think if we played UT's joke schedule, UF's defensive stats would be other-worldly. Now they may come in here and light us up, but their defensive stats at this point are suspect.