If Tennessee football is going to take a step forward this season, they must be better defensively.
The main group to turn to would be the secondary in terms of units that have to improve, but the pass rush is also an area that can be better than last year.
The Vols’ ability to get after the quarterback won them games at times last year, but to become a more well-rounded defense, Tennessee needs to be better at applying pressure with four.
Senior defensive lineman Omari Thomas and head coach Josh Heupel know that. At SEC Media Days, each mentioned affecting the passer with just the front four as an area of emphasis leading into the season.
“One of the other areas that we have had to improve upon is the ability to affect the passer with our front four, not just bringing pressure,” Heupel said. “We need that because of situational football. We have to get better on third downs, third-and-long in particular. And I thought those guys did a great job this spring, Coach Garner and Coach Ekeler, what those guys have done up front, really happy and really pleased and excited to get to training camp with them.”
While Heupel acknowledged getting after the quarterback with four is a big focus in 2023, Thomas was more openly critical about their efforts in 2022 and spoke on how he can be better, personally.
“That was something that as a defensive line, we want to work on more,” Thomas said. “This offseason, we’ve really just been focusing a lot on the little things, those small details, the attention to detail. Because that’s something we noticed last year, that we just had a lot of miscommunications, where we might not have gotten beat off of them, but… us being out there, we knew that it was a miscommunication. It was an error that we need to fix.
“I need to know where the linebackers are going to be, if it’s DBs blitzing off the edges so I know I can work outside or I have to stay inside,” Thomas added. “It all plays hand in hand.”
Thomas went on to comment that it’s been a group effort to make the defensive line better at penetrating opposing offensive lines, from the coaches and trainers to themselves.
“We’ve been working with trainers, coaches, us out there on the field, ourselves,” Thomas said. “We’ve focused on improving pass-rush moves, working on counter moves… everything that goes into a play. Because it’s not all about rushing the quarterback, it’s everything.”
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Not only is it vital for Tennessee’s defensive line to take a step forward, but Thomas specifically. He is the top returning interior defensive lineman and is becoming one of the defense’s top leaders on and off the field.
“He’s got great energy every single day,” Heupel said about Thomas. “He’s become a really strong leader and being able to command guys, and that can be positively or it can be trying to get them to go accomplish the things that they need to in the weight room or on the practice feed. He’s got a great voice inside of our locker room. As I said, a tremendous leader. Vitally important for us as we continue to try to take steps on the defensive side of the ball.”
Thomas and the rest of the Vols defensive line will aim to continue to get better at affecting quarterbacks without blitzing once fall camp starts early next month.
Tennessee’s season opener against Virginia is set for Saturday, September 2, vs. Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville at 1 p.m. ET.
