There has been plenty of offseason chatter about Tennessee’s defensive line, led by one of the best defenders in the nation. However, James Pearce isn’t the Vols’ greatest strength on defense. Overall depth will be Tennessee’s calling card this season.
That was pretty apparent against Chattanooga as the Vols walloped the Mocs 69-3 while EDGE rusher James Pearce only played 10 plays. However, here’s a more pertinent number to consider in the Vols’ season-opener last week. Tennessee played 13 defensive linemen for ten or more snaps against Chattanooga.
Defensive lineman Tyre West led the way against Chattanooga with a sack and two tackles for a loss. However, you might not even hear his name when the No. 14 Vols play No. 24 N.C. State on Saturday. That’s not to say that West is going to fall off. However, Tennessee’s defensive line is a numbers’ game. The Vols should have multiple standout players in games throughout this season as they roll players in and out of the defensive trenches.
The key for the Tennessee’s defensive linemen is to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. With so many players vying for snaps, there might not be as many opportunities as some Vols have been accustomed to in the past when the Vols’ roster wasn’t as stocked up front defensively.
While West was the standout in the Vols’ first game, there are a number of players who could have breakout games against the Wolfpack on Saturday. North Carolina State gave up just one sack in its season opener. However, that was against Western Carolina. The Vols should be a bit better than the Catamounts up front.
Here’s a more telling stat: North Carolina gave up nine tackles for a loss. The Vols should be able to reach that with Pearce and the depth they have. Then, there’s another factor to keep in mind: coaching.
Tennessee didn’t pull out many of defensive coordinator Tim Banks’ exotic twists, blitzes and stunts that he’s known for against Chattanooga because he didn’t need to, kind of like he didn’t play Pearce extensively in such a one-side game.
The Vols were fifth in the nation in tackles for a loss last season with nearly eight per game. And that was with far less depth than the Vols have this year.
There is little question that Pearce is the star player for the Vols up front defensively. However, he won’t be the star each and every week. Different players will step up from game to game. However, there is reason to think the Vols might have been saving Pearce, in particular, for a special homecoming.
Not only did Pearce not play much against the Mocs, he also dropped into coverage so much that it was almost as if the Vols were trying to hide him. There isn’t any question that North Carolina State is aware of Pearce, who is from Charlotte, N.C., where the game will be held on Saturday.
While it’s impossible to project just who will be a star from week to week on Tennessee’s defensive line, it’s a safe bet that Pearce will have a major impact this week against a better opponent in his hometown because he’ll have more chances to wreak havoc in the Wolfpack backfield. All this makes things incredibly difficult for North Carolina State.
Tennessee’s defense is multiple and can bring pressure from most any area while most defenders can drop into coverage, as Pearce often did against the Mocs. However, that was a vanilla look that the Vols gave the Mocs. The game may be named after mayonnaise but the Vols will likely be more like hot sauce before the Duke’s Mayo Classic has concluded.
