KNOXVILLE – University of Tennessee defensive lineman Matthew Butler has never been one to choose his words lightly. An NCAA postgraduate scholarship winner after recording a 3.63 GPA in his political science major, he was also a four-time All-SEC Academic performer.
So what Butler had to say on Tuesday about last year’s Vols as opposed to this year’s model isn’t long on emotion or short on reason. It comes from a calm and measured perspective.
But it also gives considerable insight into how a Big Orange defense that so often looked discombobulated and disinterested a season ago has become so impenetrable and spirited this time around under new head coach Josh Heupel and new defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
Asked during Tuesday’s weekly media event to explain that vast improvement, Butler replied, “It comes down to how we’re being coached, our philosophy on defense. I don’t want to get into the nitty-gritty about it. I don’t want to throw no staff under the bus. Other defenses use our old philosophy and play good. We didn’t. Just being real. Go watch the film. We didn’t play as good as we are right now. This fits us. It’s working.”
If you’re former coach Jeremy Pruitt, a supposed defensive mastermind, one word comes to mind: Ouch!