You don’t have to watch Tennessee’s football team for long to see there’s room for improvement. While the Vols have their stars on offense, the defense is a different matter. That could be changing, but it won’t happen overnight.
It’s easy to sit back and question Tennessee’s defensive coaches. However, the criticism of UT’s defense usually revolves around its pass defense, which ranks dead last in the SEC. Overall, the Vols are 12th in the SEC overall in total defense.
It’s easy to point to Tennessee’s defensive backs as cause for concern when it comes to pass coverage. That’s a bit too simplistic. It’s a team game. UT’s second-level coverage at the linebacker position has struggled. While the Vols have also shown flashes on the defensive line, there’s still not an elite defender up front.
Tennessee SEC East nemesis, Georgia, was in a similar position when Kirby Smart took over the Bulldogs in 2016. The first thing that Smart addressed was Georgia’s offensive and defensive linemen. Smart knew that he needed his defense to be bigger, more athletic, and more dominant in the trenches, like Alabama, where he previously coached.
The Vols don’t necessarily need bigger offensive linemen, although they’re not going to turn down a big guy that can move. Tennessee’s offense can thrive just fine with smaller, quick offensive linemen. Center Cooper Mays is a prime example. However, those same type of athletes can struggle on the defensive line in the SEC, especially in the interior. Sure, the Vols need more talent in the defensive backfield, but a couple of war-daddies, as coaches often to refer to them, on the defensive line would change the entire look of UT’s defense.
Tyre West could be one of those guys. He looks like a young player that could fit the mold of a mobile defensive tackle and, at 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, he can get bigger and stronger.
Joshua Josephs is another. He’s more along the lines of a defensive end/linebacker type that can cause havoc on the edge. Both have shown enough flashes to think that they can continue to develop and have an impact. That may not be this season. However, championship-level defenses aren’t built overnight.
Neither West nor Josephs are going to be confused with Reggie White just yet. However, they’re holding their own. As freshmen in the SEC, that’s something to be optimistic about.
“I thought they played really well – gap integrity in the run game and being able to affect the quarterback in some of the passing situations,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said. “Tyre had some tackles that were behind the line of scrimmage. I think those guys are going to continue to grow here as we go.
“We’re deeper and able to play more guys who are able to play harder for longer and play at a higher level. Those two guys’ continued growth here is something I’m really excited about seeing here on the back two-third of the season.”
West and Josephs are two of the players that can benefit greatly from a bye week. The Vols could also benefit from their continued development in years to come.
