Tennessee football has seen better days.
Currently 0-5 in the SEC, the Volunteers are ready to do what it takes to score a conference win. Head coach Derek Dooley said he’s putting more and more attention on the team’s lackluster defense.
“I have been spending all of my time over there and more to be just another eye to make sure that our players are out there not confused and not thinking,” Dooley said. “We have made some significant changes that I hope will show up a little big on game day, but it is not something that you can overhaul in one week.”
With a conference game against Missouri on Saturday, the Vols know a challenge is not far off. Dooley said they’re working on just finishing each week successfully.
“The biggest thing we have focused on is trying to be 1-0,” said Dooley. “We did it last week, that was all our focus, was to be 1-0 any way we could do it. Our team has kept their focus pretty good. The reality is they know what is at stake and certainly going to the bowl game is a big deal. It is still out there and it is our opportunity to take advantage of it.”
The Vols’ current record isn’t what players, fans and coaches had hoped for. Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said he and the other coaches feel the pressure to win, but that the goal is to continue doing what they do and not let it affect who they are as coaches.
Chaney said part of that is watching quarterback Tyler Bray and seeing his performance continue to improve week to week.
“There (are) always two or three plays in the last couple of weeks that we would have liked to have back. But it is better than six or seven,” Chaney said. “I do feel that way. I feel like he has played with more discipline or calm in the last few weeks.”
Defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri said it has been difficult to see the defense continually play mediocre football each week. He said it all comes down to him.
“We are not playing as good as we need to play on defense, and I am responsible for it because I am the guy that is calling it,” Sunseri said. “It has to get done. I am not one to turn my face or my eyes away from it, we have to get it done. We are going to keep battling until we get it done.”
This is something Sunseri said he felt the team accomplished last week against Troy.
“The only thing that I am not disappointed about is that we won the game the other day. We figured out a way to get off the field at the end of the game and give the ball to the offense,” Sunseri said. “Then we played well in two minute(s). In this game, people told me that I was too small to play, I was too this and all that and I worked through it and got it done. Right now, we just have to play better defense and that is the attitude that I want to take to the kids. We are going to work through it until we understand it, and we do what we need to do to get better.”
Regardless of the record, Sunseri said the season isn’t over yet and there’s still time to turn the Vols’ current trend around.
“I think the season right now, we are sitting here and we have a chance to go out there and get another win,” Sunseri said. “We are looking at this game. It’s been a learning process on both sides.”
