The Numbers Don’t Tell The Whole Story On Tennessee’s Defense
Image: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
By Aidan Sidoti
On Tuesday, Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard compared Tennessee’s defense to a “field of dreams” and “a great opportunity for our offense.”
While the comment may serve as motivation for Tennessee’s defenders, it doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
While the raw numbers might look rough, they don't tell the full story of what this defense has actually done.
Yes, Tennessee allows the third-most yards in the SEC at 393.8.
Yes, they’ve given up the most pass yards at 257.8 per game and sit middle of the pack against the run.
And yes, they’re allowing 29.3 points per game, second-most in the conference.
Ultimately, context matters.
Tennessee ranks second-to-last in the SEC in time of possession at just 26:48 per game.
The defense is spending more time on the field than almost any other unit in the conference.
Part of that is on the defense, as the Vols rank fifth-worst in third-down stops, allowing opponents to convert 37% of the time.
Though, the other part falls squarely on the offense, which has turned the ball over nine times this season, tied for third-most in the SEC.
Sudden changes of possession and short fields will inflate any defense’s numbers– Tennessee’s included.
Look at the Georgia game.
Tennessee was up 35-30 with 8:21 left in the fourth quarter. Joshua Josephs forced a strip sack at the Georgia 34-yard line, with a prime chance to close the door against the Dawgs.
Instead, the offense went three-and-out, burned just 1:41 off the clock, and settled for a 48-yard field goal to make it 38-30.
You know the rest, Georgia tied it, forced overtime, and escaped Neyland with a 44-41 win.
Against Mississippi State, Tennessee’s defense didn’t just show up, they put points on the board.
Colton Hood’s 23-yard pick-six and a Tyre West strip sack, returned 41 yards by Joshua Josephs, accounted for two defensive touchdowns.
When the game reached overtime, linebacker Arion Carter sealed the win by deflecting Blake Shapen’s fourth-down pass at the goal line.
Even in the Arkansas game, the defense delivered in key moments.
Tennessee entered the second half tied at 17 and opened the third quarter with a Max Gilbert field goal to take the lead.
The defense followed with a forced fumble on Braylon Russell, a fourth-down stop at the Vols’ 25, and a three-and-out on Arkansas’ next drive. Despite those key defensive stands, the offense managed just one more touchdown heading into the final frame.
Jon Reed is right, if we are being honest, the defense has outperformed the offense.
The final score rarely tells the full story of what Tennessee’s defense has endured.
Against Mississippi State, the offense turned the ball over three times, giving the Bulldogs starting field position at the 20, 26, and 17-yard lines.
That’s 21 points handed over that weren’t the defense’s fault.
Yeah, the yardage totals are high, the points allowed are clearly inflated. But when you factor in short fields, offensive miscues, and time of possession, the Volunteer defense has done more than hold its own, it’s bailed the offense out repeatedly.
