DEFENSIVE DEVELOPMENTSThere's still half a season left to play, and Tennessee will face three teams currently in the top half of the SEC rankings in total offense, but the Vols appear to have made improvements defensively, and the numbers support it.Here's a comparison of Tennessee's defense this season and last season in eight key defensive categories:Stat: 2014 (NCAA rank) // 2013 (NCAA rank)Scoring defense:21.0 ppg (t-37th) // 29.0 ppg (t-79th)Total defense:339.4 ypg (33rd) // 418.4 ypg (84th)Rushing defense:166.4 ypg (74th) // 207.3 ypg (101st)Passing defense:173.0 ypg (14th) // 211.1 ypg (t-27th)Yards per play:4.75 ypp (t-22nd) // 6.07 ypp (100th)Third-down defense:24.6 percent (3rd) // 42.5 percent (92nd)Sacks:11 (t-68th) // 18 (t-101st)Tackles for loss:42 (t-10th) // 65 (98th)
UT CHATTANOOGA (3-2) AT TENNESSEE (2-3)4 p.m. * Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn. * SEC Network/106.5 FM or 96.1 FMTHE MATCHUPThis is the first time these same-system programs have met since 1969.The most intriguing matchup, and the one area where the FCS No. 12 Mocs may have an advantage, is up front where Tennessee's inexperienced offensive line will be challenged by one of the deepest and most talented group of defensive linemen in the FCS.In particular, UTC defensive tackle Derrick Lott, a former four-star recruit and University of Georgia signee, and All-America defensive end Davis Tull could be real problems for the Vols' front. Those two have spent a lot of time in opponents' backfields, combining for 16 tackles for loss and eight sacks, and now face a group that has allowed 18 sacks.ONE TO WATCHMaybe this is the week Tennessee finally walks the walk instead of talks the talk with freshman tailback Derrell Scott. Neither Jalen Hurd (shoulder) nor Marlin Lane (ankle) are 100 percent, and those two have combined for 131 of Tennessee's 180 rushing attempts this season.The Vols have three SEC games on the other side of today's visit from UTC, and they'll need a healthy backfield -- Hurd in particular -- when they face Ole Miss, Alabama and South Carolina. If Tennessee elects to play it safe with Hurd and Lane, senior Devrin Young, walk-on Maryland transfer Justus Pickett and Scott, a former four-star recruit, are in line to pick up the slack.Scott likely would have played at some point in the season's first five games, but he missed time with a foot injury, and there weren't any situations against Georgia or Florida where the Vols felt comfortable debuting him. This would be the week to see what he can do.IN THE ENDWhere is Tennessee mentally after an emotionally-taxing loss to Florida last week? Coaches and players said all the right things this week, but the possibility of a hangover certainly is there. That could lead to a lethargic performance. The Mocs head up Interstate-75 riding the confidence of a three-game win streak and nothing to lose against the Vols.The intriguing matchup of UTC's defensive line and Tennessee's offensive line pits strength against weakness, but the Mocs could struggle to move the ball offensively. If UTC, playing without leading rusher Keon Williams, are unable to sustain drives, its defense could wear down.PREDICTION: TENNESSEE 35, UTC 7
KNOXVILLE - Tennessee football coach Butch Jones believes his defense has overachieved this season.
Defensive coordinator John Jancek is more hesitant to declare that the group has arrived.
Still, it's hard to ignore how improved the Volunteers appear to be defensively heading into the season's sixth game today against UT-Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium.
"I like the fact that we're getting better," Jancek said. "There's still a lot of things that we need to improve on. We can't think we're something we're not. We've built this defense through hard work. We've built it through effort and execution, and that's going to be the consistent message as we move forward each and every single week.
"We can't just show up and think that we're going to beat people. Anybody has the ability to beat us [when] you give up big plays and momentum swings, and our emphasis is on effort, execution and staying the course."
The Vols aren't to the point yet where they can shut down any offense.
Tennessee is, however, some 50 spots higher in the national total-defense rankings than last season and sit sixth in the SEC in that category after finishing 11th in 2013. The Vols are allowing eight fewer points and 79 fewer yards this season.
Aside from allowing some big plays at Oklahoma and letting Todd Gurley go crazy in the fourth quarter against Georgia, the defense has played well enough that the Vols probably should have better than a 2-3 record. The players are hardly satisfied with their performance, however.
"Us as a defense, we wouldn't say [we're overachieving]," linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin said. "We put in work with each other all summer, all year. We trust everybody. We know everybody's got each other's back. We count on everybody, so we're just playing our game. That's what we try to come out and do every Saturday, is just play our game."
In the second year of Jancek's defense, the Vols are playing with more confidence and benefiting from a greater comfort level in the defense, and that's led to them player faster.
Perhaps more importantly, though, is what Jones said Monday.
"We're benefiting," he said, "from some individuals really elevating their play."
First-year starter Reeves-Maybin and freshman defensive end Derek Barnett have added juice to the defense, while linebacker A.J. Johnson and cornerback Cam Sutton -- Tennessee's only two All-SEC selections of any kind in 2013 -- have raised their performance level, too.
Reeves-Maybin, who began his career at safety and starred on special teams last season, is tied for third in the SEC in tackles, leads the Vols with seven tackles for loss and has two sacks and an interception.
"The coaches did a great job with me -- just preparing me, teaching me the little techniques and the little details I needed to know about linebacker," he said. "All throughout the spring, I felt really comfortable. I knew that I would able to play."
Barnett quickly made an impact on the entirely new defensive line, a smaller, more athletic group that's exceeded expectations by holding up decently against the run and playing its part in the Vols' 42 tackles for loss this season.
"I really don't look at him as a freshman, because he's starting," Johnson said. "He's out there starting, doing his job, making plays. For him being a freshman, the things he's doing is way past a freshman level.
"He's a freshman, but he's not playing like no freshman."
Defensive tackle Jordan Williams and safety LaDarrell McNeil are playing perhaps better than at any point of their careers, Curt Maggitt is as fresh as he's been in his injury-riddled career, walk-on track athlete Michael Williams has solidified the corner spot opposite Sutton and freshman safety Todd Kelly has made plays when given opportunities.
Some potent offenses await the Vols in the season's back half, and Tennessee's defense isn't deep to overcome injuries or players wearing down. The improvement, though, is noticeable, even if there's room for more.
"It's a lot of small things," Maggitt said. "I feel like we're not perfect, and the guys would tell you we're not perfect. A lot of our effort takes up for our MAs (missed assignments) and our mistakes, so I feel like we need to correct those little things and keep up with our effort.
"If we just keep at it as a defense, I know the whole defense is hungry, from the D-line to the secondary. I'm impressed with what we have, and I'm confident in what we have."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.