Volume 1, Issue 5: Which Tennessee Defensive Stat Is Most Surprising?
The Vols have been elite in a lot of different categories defensively this season.
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In today’s column over at TPL Tennessee, I wrote about redshirt senior walk-on safety Will Brooks and his heroics against No. 15 Alabama over the weekend. Brooks ranks third among all Tennessee defensive players in PFF’s defensive player ratings this season. Coming into the season, a lot of folks wondered why defensive coordinator Tim Banks was comfortable rolling with Banks as one of his starting safeties this season. To a surprise to nobody who has been watching Tennessee’s defensive progression over the last four seasons, Banks was right on Brooks.
Brooks has been excellent in the Tennessee secondary this season. He was huge against the Crimson Tide on Saturday afternoon with his shoe-string tackle to stop star Alabama quarterback and Heisman hopeful Jalen Milroe from squeezing through the Tennessee defense for a long touchdown run on fourth-and-short in the first quarter.
Brooks tied sophomore cornerback Jermod McCoy for a team-high eight tackles in the game. The Vestavia Hills, Alabama native made the game-sealing interception, too, for the Vols. It was an all-around great day for Brooks and the vaunted Tennessee defense again as they held the Crimson Tide to just 17 points.
Brooks has been a surprising key piece on this Tennessee defense to be sure, but what has been the most surprising defensive stat for the Vols to this point?
It’s not the rush defense. It’s not the TFLs. It might be that Tennessee is No. 1 nationally in allowing just three thirty-plus yard plays this season. The Vols have allowed one play of forty-plus yards this season. Both stats are good for No. 1 overall in the entire country. The Vols have given up zero plays any longer than that and we’re over halfway done with the season.
For context, No. 2 Georgia has given up ten plays that went for thirty or more yards this season. Kentucky, who the Vols host after their idle week this week, have given up 16.
Part of the reason Tennessee has held every single opponent to fewer than 20 points offensively this season is they give up the big play less than any other team in the country.
It’s impressive considering the Vols had to replace so many starters in the secondary from a season ago. Instead, the Vols have been better than ever. McCoy has been a home run snag out of the transfer portal at corner. Rickey Gibson III has settled in nicely across from him. Freshman STAR Boo Carter is the only true freshman starter on this team, but he doesn’t play like it. Brooks and redshirt junior Andre Turrentine have been solid with MTSU transfer Jakobe Thomas and redshirt junior Christian Charles rotating often to create a solid four-man group.
The biggest question coming into the season for this season was whether or not this secondary would be able to limit explosive plays and get off the field on third down. Well, the Vols are No. 1 nationally in limiting those big plays and No. 2 nationally in third-down conversion rate.
TODAY ON THE CHASE THOMAS PODCAST
Chase Thomas is the Sports Renaissance Man, Atlanta Sports Guy & VFL. On today's program, Chase is joined by Rocky Top Insider's Ryan Schumpert to talk about No. 7 Tennessee beating No. 15 Alabama, Will Brooks incredible game, Nico Iamaleava's huge three drives in the second half, Dont'e Thornton Jr., Chris Brazzell II and Bru McCoy the best three Vol receivers, the elite Vols defense and why Tennessee has to start to scale back Dylan Sampson's carry count.
Host: Chase Thomas
Guests: Ryan Schumpert
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Today Over At TPL Tennessee
On Tuesdays, I spotlight one Tennessee Volunteer athlete who shined over the weekend for the Vols.
This week, redshirt senior safety walk-on Will Brooks.
Read a brief excerpt from the column below:
“Against Alabama on Saturday afternoon, Brooks recorded eight tackles, which tied McCoy for a team-high in the ball game. Brooks also made the biggest defensive play of the ball game with his shoe-string tackle of Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe on a key fourth-and-short conversion. Milroe got the first down to keep the drive alive, but without Brooks tripping up the Heisman candidate when he did, the latter likely scores a big touchdown run and who knows how the rest of the game unfolds for the Vols.”
You can read the whole piece here:
You can watch the latest TPL Tennessee episode below:
Make sure you’re also subscribed to the TPL Tennessee YouTube channel and hear from some of your favorite Tennessee Vol athletes each week.
Check out the latest episode featuring Tennessee Volunteers wide receivers Kaleb Webb and Dont’e Thornton Jr below.
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The TPL Tennessee Daily Column Schedule
Each day, I write a different column over at TPL Tennessee on the Tennessee Vols all year long.
MONDAY- 48 Hours After Tennessee Vols Recap
TUESDAY- Terrific Tennessee Spotlight
WEDNESDAY- Tennessee Vols Wednesday Wonder
THURSDAY- Know The Foe Vols Game Preview
FRIDAY- 3 Thoughts & 1 Prediction For The Tennessee Vols
SATURDAY- Instant Reaction To Latest Tennessee Vols Game
SUNDAY- Stock Report For The Tennessee Vols
The Chase Thomas Podcast Weekly Lineup
There are a lot of different ways to stay locked in on all the Tennessee Vols podcasting coverage I’m putting out every day.
Below is my weekly podcast lineup, so you always know what’s coming down the pike each day on the program. (Note: There are always surprise special Tennessee Vols guests that pop in throughout the week as well.)
MONDAY - A Pod Divided w/ Fellow University of North Georgia alumni Matt Green
TUESDAY - Tennessee Vols Sports Guys w/ Rocky Top Insider’s Ryan Schumpert, Saturday Down South’s Ethan Stone and Omaha Production’s Jack Foster
WEDNESDAY - More Important Issues w/ Landon Raby & Caleb Mitchell
THURSDAY - A Pod Divided w/ Fellow University of North Georgia alumni Matt Green
FRIDAY - TBA (STAY TUNED)
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Make it a great Tuesday, everyone.
Best,
Chase