University of Tennessee Athletics
Third Act A Success
September 16, 2014 | Football
By Brian Rice KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
UTSports.com
The Volunteers had held opponents to seven third down conversions in the first two games. But how would they respond in an environment like Norman against a team like Oklahoma?
The answer was clear. Even without the home crowd or "Third Down for What" blaring through the speakers, the defense was as stout as ever.
"They're really doing a good job," defensive coordinator John Jancek said. "I think a lot of it is they're putting a lot of extra time in on Thursdays after practice. I make a cut-up for them and give them all the calls, all the nuggets for third down. They go in, watch it, talk about it, and I think that's been very beneficial.
"Everyone is doing their job. Third down is the money down. It's the most critical down for us. Right now, it seems to be coming together for us."
It came together in the form a 3-for-12 (.250) performance on third down for the OU offense, the lowest third down conversion percentage for a Sooner team at home since going 4-for-17 (.236) against Oklahoma State in 2009.
Tennessee ranks third in the nation in third-down conversion defense at 23.3 percent.
"We spend an inordinate amount of time on third down," head coach Butch Jones said. "Those are the critical downs, that's situational football. The `Third Down for What' the way our fans have taken to that, we practice that way and our players understand about winning situational football and third down is a big part of that."
Perhaps the most impressive number comes in the ground game, where Oklahoma entered averaging 222 rushing yards over its first two games. Against the Volunteers, OU ran for 146 yards, the lowest total for the Sooners at home in nearly two years.
The performance did not surprise Jancek, so to speak, but was another piece in a trend of progress that has defined the young defense to this point. The progress has not been a surprise either, though Jancek admitted it has been a little smoother than he anticipated.
"I think the way they've handled themselves, being young," Jancek said of any surprises from the defense. "I thought we would have a lot more issues than have occurred. They've been able to learn things quickly, they've been able to apply some concepts that have allowed them to progress at a pretty good rate. I'm just really pleased with their overall level of maturity as a group."
