Tony Elliott's quote about one aspect of Virginia's defense is good news for Tennessee
Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott made a comment this week that should have Tennessee Vols coaches, players and fans smiling like the Cheshire Cat. Elliott joined "The Nation" on WNML over the weekend and he was asked which matchups are critical for Virginia in the Cavaliers' upcoming season-opener against Tennessee. And one thing that […]
Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott made a comment this week that should have Tennessee Vols coaches, players and fans smiling like the Cheshire Cat.
Elliott joined "The Nation" on WNML over the weekend and he was asked which matchups are critical for Virginia in the Cavaliers' upcoming season-opener against Tennessee.
And one thing that Elliott pointed out is bad news for Virginia (and good news for the Vols).
"Oh man, all of them, to be honest with you, man," said Elliott when asked about critical matchups for Virginia. "Ton of respect for Coach Heupel and what he's been able to do there at Tennessee. And they got a great collection of players. So every matchup is going to be critical. I think it starts in the trenches. Can our guys up front on defense be able to hold up against the run and then get some pressure on the quarterback and then vice versa? Can we handle the size and the speed of their defensive line and the athleticism of their linebackers?"
"At the corner matchup against the wide outs for us is going to be a big one because we're breaking in new corners — where we lost a lot of experience at the corner position," added Elliott. "Can we handle the tempo? Can we get lined up? They're going to play fast….everybody's gonna have to do their job and find a way to win their matchup."
It's that comment about Virginia breaking in new cornerbacks that probably doesn't bode well for the Cavaliers.
The Vols are a run-first team — Tennessee ran the ball 40 times per game compared to 32 pass attempts per game last season — but the passing game is where UT typically puts opponents away.
And lining up against a Virginia defense that's breaking in a couple of new cornerbacks — Virginia is replacing Anthony Johnson (now with the New Orleans Saints) and Fentrell Cypress II (transferred to Florida State) — could help UT put the Cavaliers away early.
(Virginia brought in Clemson transfer Malcom Greene and SMU transfer Sam Westfall, who provide collegiate experience, but they're still adjusting to the Cavaliers' defensive approach.)
Breaking in new cornerbacks is always going to be a process that includes some growing pains. But those growing pains for Virginia's new, albeit not young, cornerbacks will likely be intensified in the season-opener against the Volunteers.
Josh Heupel should forever be a legend for what he did during a team meeting before Vols’ win against Alabama
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel should forever be a legend for what he did during a team meeting before Vols’ win against Alabama
Featured image via Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
