University of Tennessee Athletics
Steps Taken, Steps Yet To Take
December 16, 2014 | Football
Dec. 16, 2014
By Brian Rice
UTSports.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The improvements the Tennessee defense has made in the last two seasons are obvious, even to the most casual of observers.
A glance at the box scores shows the improvement. An even deeper look at the year-by year comparisons shows a contrast that is impressive, if not startling. An improvement in every measurable category, some of them so dramatic, they pop off the page.
"I think it's a good indication of the work that's been put in behind the scenes," defensive coordinator John Jancek said. "People see these guys play on Saturdays and their hard work has really paid off. I'm really proud of the guys fro their efforts and sticking with it."
The most obvious statistic is scoring defense. The Volunteers gave up 35.7 points per game in 2012, 104th in the NCAA, dead last in the Southeastern Conference. The 23.9 in 2014 ranks 40th in the country, ninth in the SEC, which shows there is more work to still be done. But a 12-point improvement is not something that happens without improvements at every position on the field.
It starts up front, where the defensive line has caused havoc for opposing offenses. The Volunteers sacked the quarterback 35 this season, equaling the total from the last two seasons combined. UT went from 98th in the country with 17 sacks in 2012 to 18th this season.
The pressure up front has sparked the progress in the defensive backfield as well. Two seasons ago, UT gave up 282.5 passing yards per game, 111th in the country. This season it was down to 197.8, fifth in the SEC while ranking third in the conference with 15 interceptions.
"It goes hand-in-hand," defensive backs coach Willie Martinez said. "In order to play well in the pass defense, you have to have pressure and it starts with the front four. It's been really good for us, it's helped us win some games. It's been really good the other way around as well, we've had good coverages to allow them time to get the sacks or force the quarterback into making a mistake."
The Vols' defensive third-down efficiency has taken dramatic steps as well, helping to feed the improvement all over the field and across the stat columns.
"That's the money down," Jancek said. "That's everything in our sport, getting off the field on third down. Our guys have been able to do a great job of that all year long."
At 34.8 percent, the opponent conversion rate on third down finished the regular season 21st in the nation, a drop from the top-five ranking it held early in the season, but a remarkable jump from ranking 91st a season ago.
Perhaps the most startling number comes in total defense, where Tennessee has allowed 111.4 fewer total yards per game than two seasons ago. A defense that ranked 107th in total defense in 2012 stands at 34th heading into the TaxSlayer Bowl. A current ranking that again shows there is work to be done, but also stands as tangible evidence of improvement for the players to continue grinding and moving forward.
"It's really exciting to see that we've improved so much defensively," said Jancek. "It's been a lot of work. The players know now that if we do our job, if we follow the plan the coaches' have laid out before us, then we have an opportunity to be successful.
