Why can't the Vols defense ever seem to tackle? I have followed the Vols for years, attending grad school when we won our BCS National Championship. Excluding Al Wilson, et al (and even they had some moments), the Vols seem to be one of the worst tackling teams in the country. I watch the Hurricanes play and see them even hold on to shoe-string tackles. The Vols can't hang on when placing the face-mask in the numbers. So, many times, do opposing ballcarriers slip away for extra yards, even scores, it is a wonder we have had such a remarkable record for nearly ten years.
I know Fulmer was an offensive lineman, but Chavez should know how to teach tackling. Too many times, even as we won the national title, Vol defenders prefer to lower their head and try to knock a ball-carrier off his feet with their shoulders. However, as we've all seen, this not only frequently does not work, but even has allowed the occasional runner to hurdle the would-be tackler, even going on into the endzone.
Wrap your arms around the ball-carrier, defense. If you do, maybe you won't be on the field so long that you tire in the 4th.

[ross]

Fundamentals have been nagging the Vols for years. How many yards after contact did we see for Alabama today? A ton.

I just don't think we're a very good team this year. Should be pretty good, with all the athletes scattered all about but we're just not there.

Mentally, physically... we're not there. The inability of the Vols defense to finish the job tacking is just another example.

On the other hand, I do need to give props to the D for the seven hundred goal line stands they had tonight. For the most part, that was the time they really showed up. Now about the other 59 minutes....

[rmjvol]

Welcome to the boards azvolfan13!

I agree with ross...fundamentally we're not as sound as we have been in the past.