Let’s be honest. No one knows what to think about Tennessee’s secondary.
Why? Because the Vols’ defensive front has absolutely dominated since the season’s opening snap. Surely, the Vols will be tested in the defensive backfield, but that hasn’t happened yet and it won’t happen against Kent State on Saturday. Therefore, we’ll do the best with the information we have at hand.
The Vols have the 23rd-best passing defense in the nation in terms of yards allowed per game. The Vols are giving up 128.5 yards per game, which is tied for sixth-best in the SEC with Texas A&M. However, that stat is affected by the Vols’ pass rush and some opponents’ garbage yards when the game has been decided.
Per Pro Football Focus, Jermod McCoy (76.7) is the only player who played over a 70-grade against North Carolina State. At safety, Will Brooks is the only player to top that mark with a 70.1 rating. All other Tennessee defensive backs are in the 60’s, which isn’t great.
Whatever the ratings, sophomore Jermod McCoy isn’t happy just because things have gone his and the Vols’ way so far this season. He wants more.
“I wish I would have made a few more plays, maybe a pick,” the transfer from Oregon State said.
Interception or not, the Vols’ first two games, in which they won by a combined score of 120-13 over Chattanooga and North Carolina State, has had an effect on McCoy.
“It has definitely boosted my confidence for sure,” he said. “It makes me more patient, just knowing I can do what I know I can do.”
The transfer portal was good for the Vols’ secondary. In addition to McCoy, the Vols landed Jakobe Thomas from Middle Tennessee State. In case you’re wondering, Thomas has a 62.5 rating by Pro Football Focus.
“The mental part of the game,” the Tullahoma, Tenn., native said when asked how he’s most improved since becoming a Vol in January. “There is definitely a big jump from where I was to where I am now with being able to process and I.D. formations and things like that. That’s the part of the game I have grown the most in in the last couple of months.”
Like the acronym I.D., one group of Vols is doing all the work. Tennessee’s defensive line is the “dentification” while Tennessee’s secondary just has to be the “i” in the equation. As Norm MacDonald would say, it’s a strange acronym, as it is equally strange to feel so confident about one aspect of Tennessee’s defense and be completely ignorant about another.
Even defensive coordinator Tim Banks was somewhat vague when asked what he likes about his secondary so far.
“They have been really good. That is again another great point. Those guys are really athletic back there, and they can run. Again inexperience, obviously have not played a ton of football, but where they lack in experience, they make up for with sheer athleticism, Banks offered.
“Those guys have been very competitive, and we have been able to rotate some guys at that position as well,” Banks continued. “We think again, as long as they continue to grow week in and week out, we think those guys have a chance to be good here and give us something to be really proud of on that back end.”
It’s good that confidence is brimming, that Tennessee’s defensive backs are happy with their development, growth and performance. However, it’s also important to remember that Tennessee’s defensive line is helping with pass defense every time they step into the opponent’s backfield, which has happened a lot this season.
“The D-line, they help us out a lot,” McCoy said, surprising no one. “We know that the quarterback doesn’t have a lot of time to get the ball out, so it has to be quick passes. With us having good coverage and our D-line getting back there, it creates plays for us. It overall makes more plays happen.”
At some point, plays will happen in the Vols’ secondary. Historically, too many of those plays haven’t been good under Banks, head coach Josh Heupel and defensive back coach Willie Martinez. And, if the three were honest, they probably don’t know just how good their defensive backs are after two dominating performances from the Vols’ defensive line.
