Veteran defensive tackles Danny O'Brien, pictured, and Kendal Vickers have made more of a statistical impact this season for Tennessee.KNOXVILLE - There was no shortage of excitement surrounding Tennessee's first- and second-year defensive tackles entering the season, but through four games it's the veterans carrying the heaviest load for the Volunteers.
In the past Danny O'Brien and Kendal Vickers quietly did their jobs at defensive tackle, but now their production is starting to show up more in the box score.
"Those two are what I would term true program guys," defensive line coach Steve Stripling said Wednesday, "that (since) we got here, they've been in the program the entire time. They've developed their technique, their strength, their mental toughness. And I think along with that, they've developed playmaking ability.
"Corey Vereen's another example. A couple of years ago, Corey's a young man that did everything right and didn't make a lot of plays. Now they've just been with the program, understand the system, and I think that allows you to play a little bit faster and make more plays. With confidence through experience, you become more aggressive and play quicker."
A fifth-year senior, O'Brien is on pace for at least six tackles for loss when he had no more than 4.5 in any of his first three seasons, and Vickers needed three games to double his tackle for loss total after recording just 1.5 last season.
Tennessee pairs sophomores Shy Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie with the two veterans for a healthy and productive four-man rotation at tackle.
Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop is especially a fan of O'Brien, the rugged fifth-year senior.
"There's a certain amount of precision, there's a certain amount of focus and there's a certain amount of intensity required to win at this level," Shoop said, "and Danny brings that to the table every day."
Banking on Buchanan
Shoop confirmed Baylen Buchanan will start opposite of Emmanuel Moseley at cornerback at Georgia on Saturday.
The freshman came in when Cameron Sutton was injured against Ohio and replaced Justin Martin after the talented second-year player was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the opening kickoff and gave up two long completions to Antonio Callaway in the first half against Florida this past Saturday.
"Being a corner in today's game is all about being long on confidence and short on memory," Shoop said. "When things happen you look at it and you say is it a philosophical issue, is it a scheme issue, is it an execution issue and if it's none of those things, it's a personnel issue and you've got to put the best players on the field for what the situation dictates.
"Baylen has played well. Emmanuel played well last week and that was good. He did have a pass break-up on the last play of the game and he tackled well."
What's wrong?
In four games under Shoop, Tennessee's defense has been lights out in the second half. The Vols have allowed their first four opponents to average only 132 yards of offense and score 24 points after halftime. Those numbers are boosted by late touchdowns by Virginia Tech and Florida when Tennessee led by 28 and 17 points.
What Shoop can't figure out, though, is why his unit struggles so much to start games.
"And we've tried," he said. "You can start to overanalyze it, too, I think at times. You start to say, 'Is it the way we're practicing? Is it the game plan? Is it what I'm saying to the guys before the game? Is it what they're having for breakfast?' You start to do all those things, and a person like me whose mind races like that starts to think along those lines."
Virginia Tech (234), Ohio (200) and Florida (300) each lit the Vols up in the first half, and Tennessee can't afford similar early-game struggles the next three games.
"I think we just have to play better," Shoop said. "I'm trying not to overanalyze it. Whether it's me calling aggressive plays on defense or what have you, we certainly seem to have been on our heels to start the game, and we've got to turn that around and that can't happen any longer."
Football or fútbol?
By now you've likely seen the clip of Tennessee defensive back Rashaan Gaulden theatrically flinging himself to the ground when Florida receiver Brandon Powell popped him in the helmet with his hand after a play in the fourth quarter, which led to Powell being penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected.
Shoop smiled Wednesday when asked if Gaulden had been taking acting lessons.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Shoop joked. "We practice that every day, you guys are out there. That was crazy. I thought I was watching a World Cup match."
On Wednesday, Florida coach Jim McElwain said the Southeastern Conference had overturned Powell's suspension. Powell, who's second on the team with 15 catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns this season, would have missed the first half of Saturday's game against Vanderbilt.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.