KNOXVILLE, Tenn. –– Throughout the four games of Tennessee football this season, the defense has turned in the most consistent play. Some would say that the Vols are well ahead of schedule in Jim Knowles’ tenure, and that is a great thing. Offensively, Tennessee will welcome more possessions off of a stop and not have to worry about playing a shootout type of game.
Tennessee’s defensive front has generated 19 sacks on the season, which ties them with LSU for first in the country. They also lead the Southeastern Conference with 34 tackles for loss, which is fifth in the country. Even though they’ve lived in opponents’ backfields and got after quarterbacks, they remain with the mentality that more is there for the taking.
Last week, the defense got to Arch Manning for six sacks, and were self-aware that there were other times they should have reached him. Those plays resulted in big plays for Texas, and ultimately played a part in the difference of the game. Tuesday, we heard from defensive linemen Tyree Weathersby and Carson Gentle, defensive back Dejuan Lane, as well as Leo’s coach Andrew Jackson. Each recognized the work done so far by the unit, and the work needed.
“It’s early in the season,” Jackson said. “Definitely impressed by the way we’re playing, but if you look back at the game, we could do a lot more. Both scores that were let up in the game, we could have played better up front, so I think, yeah, we’re excited about the stuff we’ve put on tape so far, but there’s definitely more out there for us.”
Tennessee took it to the No. 1 team in the country defensively, and that is something that’s been a little under-talked about after the offensive points of the game. The Vols have a hungry group that is never satisfied, and that starts from the top as Knowles wants the opposing offense to enjoy nothing about facing the Vols. Also, coach Rodney Garner knows how to get the most out of the d-line, as Weathersby alluded to.
“I think we had six sacks on the day,” Weathersby said. “It was a great day of course, but we still got a lot to improve on. Like Coach G said, he still don’t think we scratched the surface of what he feel like we can do.”
One of the driving forces up front has been Xavier Gilliam. The defensive lineman has recorded 16 total tackles (seven solo) with four sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss, and Gentle said his teammates saw it coming from the moment he arrived.
“When X got here, I think we could all tell he was gonna be a dog, and he just puts in a lot of extra work,” Gentle said. “He’s always making sure young guys and us guys that have been here a few years are working too. You know when you’re on the field with him, you’re gonna get his best. He’s gonna be physical. He’s gonna be smart. That’s why he’s been so successful so far.”
This week, the Auburn Tigers will come to Neyland and Tennessee will look to close out the three-game homestand with another win. The Tigers have a lot of similarities to Tennessee, even down to a mobile quarterback, which helps them prepare.
“It was interesting,” Gentle said about watching Auburn’s film. “Yesterday when I started watching film on them, I was like, ‘These are the plays we see.’ Not every day, but I remember from two years ago seeing these plays a lot, and so that was interesting to see. And there’s probably some tendencies there that we might pick up on.”
With the increased pressure up front, that should bode well for the Vols on Saturday. Auburn has turned the ball over at times this season, and quarterback Byrum Brown has tossed five interceptions with three coming week one against Baylor. Tennessee’s secondary should be in a position to benefit on Saturday, and if the field is wet from rain, that adds another element to the equation.
“As Coach Knowles says, we like to play offense on defense, so we’re coming at guys,” Lane said. “We’re being very aggressive and we’re not playing to lose, we’re playing to win. So that’s our mentality on defense and that’s our mentality as a football team.”
That aggressiveness has spread the production around, with 10 different Vols recording a sack this season. Gentle credited the makeup of the room. It’s a brotherhood where everyone wants to see the other eat.
“Nobody’s selfish in that room,” Gentle said. “It’s a very selfless room. We wanna see each other succeed. When somebody makes a play, we’re all celebrating, so I think that opens up the opportunity for more guys to go in there and make plays.”
Tennessee and Auburn kick off Saturday at Neyland Stadium at 3:30 p.m. EDT. The game will be televised on ESPN with Bob Wischusen (Play-by-Play) and Louis Riddick (Analyst) on the call. Stormy Buonantony will provide the sideline report.
