MIKE STRANGE

Mike Strange: Details the focal point for Tennessee's defense

Mike Strange

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Charles West (37) catches a ball during Tennessee Volunteers football practice at Anderson Training Facility in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, March 23, 2017.

Tennessee's defense allowed 5,840 yards in 2016. It's a big number, an unprecedented number.

That's 3.318 miles that opponents moved the football against the Vols.

The 2016 defense was, by November, being compared to the historically awful 2012 defense. To be fair, last year's defense didn't give up as many yards per game (449.2) as 2012 did (471.4). Last year it took a 13th game to land at 5,840.

But now Team 121 is on the spring practice field, trying and hoping to put November far into the rear-view mirror.

Toward that goal, "details" are a spring talking point. It starts with head coach Butch Jones and his new catchphrase: details, accountability and toughness.

Two practices in, the Vols are echoing the party line.

Asked about his new secondary coach Charlton Warren, cornerback Emmanuel Moseley said, "I knew he was in the military so I I knew he was about certain little things like details, things of that nature.

"That's what we need, so I like that he was business on that.''

Safety Todd Kelly Jr., vouched that Warren was "all about details.''

I would imagine every coach from Alabama to Carson-Newman is all about details. Derek Dooley obsessed over details. Where to place the trash can in the office. How to maintain shower discipline. Pick up the phone and call before you come to watch practice.

The trick is obsessing over the right details. If you're going to sweat the small stuff, it better be the small stuff that makes a difference.

Clearly, some of it does. The Vols' defense was a mess last November.

There were ominous signs in October. Texas A&M piled up 592 yards. Alabama topped the Aggies at 594. South Carolina didn't have big numbers, but a busted coverage gave up what proved to be the decisive touchdown in a 24-21 loss.

Kentucky rolled for 636 yards. Missouri put up a staggering 740, a single-game record for a UT opponent. Vanderbilt went for 608 in the crushing upset.

The defense stopped the carnage with a solid effort in the Music City Bowl win over Nebraska. Of course, the Vols were in the Music City Bowl instead of the Sugar Bowl because up to that point they hadn't stopped anybody for a month.

The upshot is that Warren is the new secondary coach, one of five new position coaches. Brady Hoke takes over the defensive line. And details, accountability and toughness will, according to the mission statement, turn the defensive tide back in a positive direction.

Someone wondered what particular detail might improve a secondary that intercepted a modest 11 passes and gave up more than its share of 50-50 catches.

"One thing is stopping explosive plays,'' Kelly said. "A lot of times we stopped teams for 1 yard, 2 yards, negative-1 then a bust for 70. You can't have that. We're working on eliminating those plays.''

Moseley was a bit more specific.

"Basically, eyes,'' he said. "Just having good eyes. That's what messed us up last year, and we're doing a better job of going over that now.''

Tennessee fans should like the sound of that. Grumblings about what was wrong with the defense inevitably included someone asking why the defensive backs didn't turn and look for the ball when it was in the air. I'm no coach, but I wondered the same thing at times.

Spring is just getting started. Between now and the Orange and White Game the foundation of an improved defense needs to be established.

The devil is in the details.

Mike Strange may be reached at mike.strange@knoxnews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Strangemike44

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