Tennessee has some players tabbed to beef up their defensive line. Are they ready? It’s time to determine who is prepared to go from being a contributor last season to much more in 2022.
Byron Young is one of the players that will be counted on to up his game during preseason camp. After transferring from junior college, Young played in 11 games, started eight and was widely considered one of the top edge rushers in the SEC.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder isn’t done. The senior has worked on improving his grasp of Tennessee’s defensive scheme during the Vols’ offseason.
“I think B.Y., his football IQ has improved tremendously from where he was last year this time,” Tennessee defensive line coach Rodney Garner said following practice this week. “He continues to move that needle in that direction. I think just understanding the nuances of football.
“To me, last year when we first started, he really was like a newborn colt. He was just all over the place. (His) body was everywhere, just learning how to control his body, just understanding football, understanding pass rush, how to use his hands, how to flip his hips.
“And also, just improving on understanding how the scheme fits. Not just what he does, so how it all plays together, which will help him become a better player. And then, it’s also going to give us the flexibility to actually maybe have an opportunity in some different packages, maybe we can put him in different places as his IQ continues to improve.”
Young, however, has his limitations. He’s much more comfortable sacking a quarterback than delivering a public speech. The leadership skills are a work in progress.
“I think B.Y. is trying, but B.Y. is a different type of leader than that,” Garner said. “B.Y. is much quieter. He just really takes care of B.Y. We need him to come on and be a more aggressive guy and take the bull by the horns, per se.
“Big O (Omari Thomas) needs to get better so he can become a better leader too. That comes with also doing it on the field and not just being a verbal guy. You have to also do it by your actions too.”
Thomas started six games last season as a sophomore and played in all 13 contests. Clearly, he’s ready to take a major step forward. If he can do so, then the Vols can pressure opposing passers with their defensive front and not have to bring added blitz pressure. That would allow them to be better against the pass than they were last season, which was last in the SEC.
“We have to be able to affect the quarterback just with the front, and not have to bring blitzes down in order to affect the quarterback,” Thomas said. “That’s something that Coach G (Garner) has taken pride in, as well as the defensive line room.”
It’s easy to talk about transfers and incoming freshmen as ways that the Vols could improve their pass defense. However, it’s obvious that Tennessee’s coaches have a bigger picture in mind than just applying a Band-Aid to the problem. There’s a philosophical goal that could remedy the ailment of poor pass defense. That’s a stout pass rush without having to blitz.
If the Vols are able to provide pressure up front with fewer defenders, then Tennessee can assign more players to defend the pass. The Vols just have to find the players up front that can help achieve that goal.
