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Tennessee football’s five offseason priorities for 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee defensive back Jaylen McCollough (22) reacts after a play at the 2021 Music City Bowl NCAA college football game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Kns Tennessee Purdue
Tennessee defensive back Jaylen McCollough (22) reacts after a play at the 2021 Music City Bowl NCAA college football game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Kns Tennessee Purdue /
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Nov 27, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Aaron Beasley (24) and linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) ready to play defense during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Aaron Beasley (24) and linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) ready to play defense during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Improve containment on defensive back end

It’s no secret Tennessee football’s biggest weakness was containment by the back end. Cornerback coverage is a separate issue, and nickel play was fine, but the safeties and linebackers struggled keeping quarterbacks in the pocket throughout most of the year. This was a key issue for the defense.

Matt Corral had his best rushing performance against the Vols, which is why the Ole Miss Rebels won that game. Bryce Young was pretty elite a week later. Week in and week out, quarterbacks would torch the Vols with their legs regardless of their mobility.

It started with the linebackers. UT had a unique case of being deep at the position in terms of numbers and not experience, and Jeremy Banks, Aaron Beasley and Solon Page III saw the action. Banks racked up a lot of stats, but all of them struggled. Jaylen McCollough and Trevon Flowers, however, didn’t do much better. They were great in coverage but not in reading the quarterback.

Next. Five things Kelsey Pope as WR coach means for Vols. dark

This proved costly. Tim Banks needs to spend the offseason improving Tennessee football’s defense here. Part of that could be new personnel at linebacker with Juwan Mitchell healthy. However, he generally needs to just work with the linebackers and safeties on spying quarterbacks better. That’s the one thing that held back the defense.

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