It’s fair to wonder if Tennessee defensive lineman Omari Thomas has gotten bored at times this season. He’s dominated lessor competition and, when he was supposed to be challenged, one of the Vols’ best leaders dominated them as well.
Thomas’ snaps have been limited against Chattanooga and Kent State because he’s a proven commodity at defensive tackle. There was no need to risk an injury to a player as proven as Thomas, especially since he keeps everyone “in line” up front defensively and, also, away from the field. Looking for proof of Thomas’ leadership? The Vols took him to SEC Media Days twice. That’s pretty unusual. In fact, in the past 25 years, I can only recall that happening a handful of times for any team in the SEC.
There was a reason Thomas was selected to be queried by the media for a second consecutive time. Tennessee’s defensive line sets the tone for the Vols when their opponent has the ball. Thomas sets the tone for Tennessee’s defensive line every time steps on the field.
“We take a lot of pride in it,” Thomas said of dominating opposing offenses so far this season. “I know, especially the defensive line guys, take a lot of pride because we’re older guys. We want to be able to be leaders for the team, leaders for the defense, and we just want to go out there and we want to be the best that we can be, honestly.
“We want to go out there and show all the work we put in with each other, that we have grown as a defensive line, grown as a defense, grown as a team. I feel like that’s something that starts with the defensive line of just continuing to play hard, play on the other side of the line of scrimmage, celebrating with each other, having fun, making plays.
“It’s just beautiful to be out there. You see guys that you worked all year with, making plays in the backend, making plays on the front, so it’s a good feeling and we’re excited.”
Against the best team the Vols have faced this season, North Carolina State, Thomas pulled a 90.8 grade by Pro Football Focus, which was second highest among all Vols against the Wolfpack. That was second to only tight end Miles Kitselman, who was rated 94.0 against North Carolina State. Now, it’s time to take this show on the road when the Vols play at Oklahoma on Saturday at 7:30 EST.
“I’m very excited to get a chance,” Thomas said of playing a true road game. “The first SEC game, that brings a lot of energy to itself, but then able to start it out on the road, that’s something that we said at the beginning of the year (and) this offseason, that we want to be able to be a team that wins on the road. Be able to go into those hostile environments and be the same as we are playing at home games and things like that.
“I feel like that really just starts with the defense being able to play with high energy, play with high tempo to create that momentum for us because we know when you go into a hostile environment, they’re going to be cheering loud against our offense and things like that. So, we just have to go in as a defense to create that energy so that way it feels like a home game for us, as well.”
Tennessee’s defense is on a historic streak. The Vols haven’t given up an offensive touchdown in four games, dating back to the Vanderbilt game in November. That the best since a guy named Gen. Robert Neyland coached the Vols to a 15-game scoreless streak in from 1938 to 1939. While this Tennessee defense may be historically good, there’s room for improvement according to Thomas, who is always pushing the Vols to get better.
“There’s definitely things we have to clean up as a team,” Thomas said. “…I will say that we play hard. We come out every weekend locked in, just ready to play and ready to win games, but we definitely have things that we have to get better at for sure.”
So far, leadership isn’t an area in which the Vols need improvement. Tennessee seems pretty good in that phase of the game.
