Improved Vols defense to face potent, varied offenses

Knoxville

You can count on Tennessee’s defense being better this season. And that’s not just wishful thinking from its fan base.

There’s plenty of evidence, the most obvious of which is: How could it be any worse? Weakened by injuries, the Vols stumbled so frequently in the second half of the 2016 season that they wound up ranked 95th nationally in defense.

But let’s get more specific in making a case for progress.

The defensive line is healthier than this time last season.

The returning linebackers are supposedly leaner, faster and stronger.

The secondary is more experienced and has added a graduate transfer in former Louisville cornerback Shaq Wiggins.

The players should be more familiar with Bob Shoop’s system. And UT’s second-year defensive coordinator should better understand how to tweak his system to best accommodate his personnel.

So it’s all good, right?

Well, not exactly.

As improved as Tennessee’s defense might be, no one is likely to confuse it with Alabama’s. Moreover, its challenges could be greater and more varied than they were last season.

The Vols will have to contend with some of the best running backs in the country, headed by LSU’s Derrius Guice and including Georgia’s Nick Chubb and whoever emerges from a five-player pack to be Alabama’s lead running game.

Runners aren’t the only threats. Every SEC opponent will return its starting quarterback, although it’s apparent Florida’s Luke Del Rio has fallen behind more talented players on the depth chart.

The Vols also will have to contend with All-American candidates at wide receiver in Calvin Ridley of Alabama and Florida’s Antonio Callaway, who beat them two years ago in The Swamp. Don’t forget about the tight ends, either. Two of the best are Georgia’s Isaac Nauta and South Carolina’s Hayden Hurst.

Tennessee also will encounter a wide range of offensive systems, starting with Georgia Tech’s option-oriented flexbone. The Vols won’t see anything else like that but repeatedly will face varied offensive challenges.

One of Florida’s goals is to be more physical in the offensive line, which should serve hard-running Jordan Scarlett well. And the Gators’ pro-style offense could include a running threat at quarterback in Notre Dame transfer Malik Zaire.

Georgia’s pro-style offense will pose a different problem. You don’t have to worry about strong-armed sophomore quarterback Jacob Eason running, but you must stay on high alert in the secondary. Otherwise, just when you think a receiver is out of his quarterback’s range, you might realize he isn’t out of Eason’s range.

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Alabama’s offense should be as versatile as it is talented. It has a dual-threat quarterback in Jalen Hurts and can beat you with speed or power.

On successive Saturdays in November, Tennessee will face Missouri’s spread offense, which features playmakers and depth at wide receiver, then return to Neyland Stadium, where Guice could be making a stretch run for the Heisman Trophy.

By then, you will know just how improved Tennessee’s defense is.

Reach John Adams at john.adams@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6284 and on Twitter @johnadamskns.

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