Handicapping the 2008 Vol Defense.......

Defensive Line - Robert Ayers, Wes Brown, Demonte Bolden, Dan Williams
Preseason Grade - C-

I admit that I teetered on giving this unit a D. And when you factor in the lack of proven depth and the lack of quality depth, I am not sure that they don't deserve it. This is the worst starting group in Knoxville since the early 1990's. And they are only worse than last year because Ayers and Brown were not good enough in 2007 to unseat Antonio Reynolds and Xavier Mitchell, who until this year were the worst DE's we've had starting since the early 1990's. Our pressure on the opposing QB last year when rushing four was non-existent, save a good game vs. Kentucky. Robert Ayers is a 5th year senior and another in a long line of Vol practice field legends. Some fans get excited because he led the team in "big plays." Too bad that won't mean anything this year and won't get him into the NFL. Brown is a little undersized, but I like his effort. Bolden cannot play consistent even though he has all the tools to be the next Henderson or Haynesworth. He has one more chance to prove himself. But the knock on him to date is that he isn't tough enough. Dan Williams over-achieved in 2007 and Vol fans are hoping that he can do the same in 2008. The DT depth is largely young and unproven. 5* JUCO signee Walter Fisher has been somewhat of a disappointment, but he's still first off the bench. DE depth shows some promise with Chris Walker and Ben Martin. Both are way undersized at this point in their careers though and SEC OT's are not statues like they used to be. They'll need more than speed around the end technique if they are to make an impact.

LB - Rico McCoy, Ellix Wilson, Nevin McKenzie
Preseason Grade - C

Rico McCoy will get all the press clippings here. Gone, is savior, Jerod Mayo, from 2007. Mayo clocked over 140 tackles at MLB last year and he will be sorely missed. McCoy is proven and is one of the top backers in the league. Wilson has some big shoes to fill, stepping in for Mayo. Wilson is a little slower and if he goes to an NFL combine, he'll measure out at about 5'9 1/2. In other words, 2008 is the end of the line for him as far as playing football goes. Perhaps he will go out with a bang. McKenzie is a converted SS that is still getting his feet wet at the OLB position. He has speed, but still has a tendency to not be in the right place at the right time. And this is where Ryan Karl will be missed. What Karl lacked in ability, he more than made up for with smarts. He also set the defensive alignments and made sure his peers were positioned correctly, pre-snap.

DB - Brent Vinson, DeAngelo Willingham, Dee Morley, and Eric Berry
Preseason Grade - B+

This group had better live up to all the hype that they have been getting all offseason. It starts and ends with Eric Berry. He's clearly the best football player on either side of the ball for the Vols. He'll likely play this year and next and (barring injury) will turn pro a year early. Vinson and Willingham are pretty good CBs on the outside. Look for Dennis Rogan to be the Nickel back. There is some concern over Dee Morley's playing status for the fall at this point. I don't know who to believe anymore. But as of this writing, I fully expect him to be on the field at UCLA on Labor Day. The knock on Morley though is that he is a risk-taker and gets caught out of position on occasion. If he doesn't reign that in, opposing OC's will catch onto this habit and exploit him. Also, Tennessee's defensive backs have a history of regressing from Year 1 to Year 2 under John Chavis and Larry Slade. I can't answer as to why that is. But it is a trend that we've seen time and again. That factor and Morley's gambling are the two things keeping this unit from getting an 'A.'

Overall Preseason Grade - C

The front seven is pretty bad, folks. And I am not buying into all the offseason hype about motivation from the press and the negativity. We've heard that garbage year after year and it never comes to pass. Plus, all of that rah-rah is out the window a few snaps into a game anyway. I assure you that every team in the SEC is working as hard or harder than we are. Moot point. Given the state of the front seven, I expect that our back four will suffer as a result. Our lack of recruiting in 2006 is starting to show its ugly face a little this year. We have some serviceable depth in spots on defense. But there are no superstars waiting in the wings that I see at this point. Lack of depth on defense (and offense) will hamper us this year. Especially against the better teams in the league.

Sheep Dog is a freelance writer for the Vol Blog. He lives in Western Vermont with his wife, children, and their two sheep dogs. He holds a PhD. in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee and is a proud supporter of the VASF.