In 5 years at Vanderbilt and Penn State...

[Creek Walker]

...Bob Shoop's defenses never gave up more than 355 yards in a game.

In his last seven regular season games at Tennessee (I'm throwing out the TnTech game, for obvious reasons), his defense has given up 592, 594, 325, 635, 740, 608 and 655.

What gives? Better talent at Vanderbilt? Micromanagement by Butch Jones? Clearly, something is amiss. You could only blame so much of it on the injuries last season, and obviously the D seemed to pick up last night exactly where it left off last season.

[RockyMtnVol]

Good question.  It's unlikely that talent is the reason.  Was Franklin the real brains behind the defense?

[murfvol]

Very interesting. How is that possible?  A more industrious person thsn I could check PSU's numbers from last year.

[volsboy]

I don't think Franklin ever had any higher ranked classes than the Vols at either place. Where is all the talent Jones has recruited at UT. It is not translating to the field. Which, means in my opinion our talent is not where we think it is and the coaching is not adequate. I just hope the amount of yardage they gave up was just a GaTech anomaly. They really made the DL look weak.

[VinnieVOL]

Last year it was kind of "maybe it's the assistants", right?   I just find it so hard to believe Shoop is really this bad.

Last night was awful, no doubt, but hopefully we see major improvement and are able to look back and say that GT was just a nightmare matchup.  Part of me thinks you throw out the tape from last night and just be thankful we stole one.

[BanditVol]

Good question.  It's unlikely that talent is the reason.  Was Franklin the real brains behind the defense?

that's what I think

I was hoping last year was injuries, and you have to wonder how much the option was a factor, but we are looking really bad now.  2012 sunseri bad.

but...Michigan held Florida to 12 yards rushing.   We will find out exactly how shizzlety we are when we play them.

I am an optimist, but I am seriously worried about that game.

I think Butch should be thinking about canning Shoop, and have a Plan B handy (promote Hoke?).

[Tnphil]

Johnson left a lot of good defensive talent at Vandy to work with....Penn States defense is better since Shoop left. The 2 most overpaid DC's in the SEC is Shoops and Chavis IMO.

Need more talent on defense too....DL...linebackers...DBs. Crap load of talent can make any DC look a lot better.

[BanditVol]

Johnson left a lot of good defensive talent at Vandy to work with....Penn States defense is better since Shoop left. The 2 most overpaid DC's in the SEC is Shoops and Chavis IMO.

Need more talent on defense too....DL...linebackers...DBs. Crap load of talent can make any DC look a lot better.

Not sure why we are so thin at LB...