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2. The Defense
While the offensive line has gone about as expected, anything but can be said for the defense. Sure, the secondary was supposed to be tight, and you had to figure that A.J.’s return meant good things for the linebacking corps. But few people could have predicted just how much the line would show out so far. Throw in a returning Curt Maggitt and Jalen Reeves-Maybin (who might be the most underrated player in the entire SEC if not nation) and the end result is a defense that’s playing WAY above the level most projected for them.
Team 117 ranked 79th in scoring defense. Team 118, 39th. Team 117 was 27th at stopping the pass. Team 118, 13th. The 2013 Vols were 102nd versus the rush. This years squad ranks 68th. Team 118 also has the decided advantage in total yards allowed per game, ranking 31st as opposed to 84th last year.
That’s an average of 35 spots higher in each of the four major defensive categories. And that will bode well, indeed, down the stretch.
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