A few days ago, we posted a list ranking the Vols’ offensive players who need to stay healthy for the team to have success this fall. Nobody’s gotten hurt since we posted that on Friday, so today, we’ll do the same for the defense.
Key defensive injuries in 2017
You’ll recall that the whims of fate treated last year’s similar post as sort of a sinister to-do list, starting at the top and checking guys off as they retreated to the sideline for extended absences. Eat That Frog, Fate!
First on our list last year was middle linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr., who never even suited up for a game due to a season-ending injury in fall camp. Linebacker Cortez McDowell was right behind him in the No. 2 spot, and he was out for the season after the third game with a wrist injury. Safety Todd Kelly Jr. was at No. 4, and he lasted only two games.
It wasn’t a good year for injuries on the defense, is what I’m saying. Or much else, for that matter.
Defensive players whose health is critical to success in 2018
Like Michael Scott, I’m not superstitious, just a little stitious, which is why I can write this post with only the normal preseason jitters. But if you’re medium stitious, think of it this way: We’ve intercepted the villain’s hit list, and our job, should we choose to accept it, is to keep these guys healthy and on the field. This message will never self-destruct because it’s on the internet.
Feel better? Okay, then. Here’s a list of defensive players for the Vols whose health is critical to the team’s success this fall. Knock here. Use both hands.
7. Outside linebackers Darrell Taylor and Jonathan Kongbo
Both Taylor and Kongbo have changed their official position titles from defensive end to outside linebacker, but they’ll both basically be doing the same thing as last year, which is chase the quarterback and/or frighten him into poor decisions. This is an extremely important aspect of Pruitt’s defensive scheme, but there seem to be enough bodies available behind Taylor and Kongbo to worry more about other guys at other positions.
6. Linebackers Daniel Bituli and Quart’e Sapp
If there’s any comfort on the defensive side of the ball, it’s probably at the linebacker position, and that’s largely due to how Bituli and Sapp handled things last year despite some trying circumstances. Each of them started only eight games, but Bituli led the team in tackles with 90, and Sapp added 78. There’s depth here, but having these talented guys on the field is important.
5. Inside linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr.
We’ll never know just how much difference it might have made for the defense last year had Kirkland been available to play. But when really healthy, he’s been really good. As a true freshman in 2015, he started 10 games at middle linebacker and had 66 tackles on his way to Freshman All-SEC honors. He missed much of the 2016 season and all of last year due to injury, so he’ll need to knock off some rust. But he’s been heralded as a talented guy who knows what he’s doing at a critical position. That sounds important.
4. Defensive ends Kyle Phillips and Alexis Johnson
Phillips and Johnson (also an electronics/toothpaste firm) appear to be penciled in as starters at defensive end in Pruitt’s 3-4 scheme. There are some prospects and hopefuls on the depth chart behind them, but not very much experience at all, so having these two guys available to anchor down when things are threatening to drift is vital.
3. Safety Todd Kelly Jr.
Nigel Warrior (see below) pretty much has one of the safety spots locked down, but the other one appears to be a competition between Kelly and Micah Abernathy. Even if Kelly doesn’t win the job, the former Freshman All-SEC player’s continued availability will be extremely important from a depth perspective, especially with all of the questions at cornerback.
2. Nigel Warrior
Warrior was one of only five guys who started all 12 games last season. (Abernathy, Trey Smith, Kendal Vickers, and Ethan Wolf were the others), so he’s proven to be durable. He’s also extremely good at what he does, as he’s the highest-graded player returning from last year’s team, according to Pro Football Focus.
With him at one safety spot and Abernathy and Kelly competing for the other, the defense should be fine at safety. But with questions at cornerback, the safeties are going to be critical, helping the corners when needed without leaving their own responsibilities vulnerable.
1. Nose tackle Shy Tuttle
Tuttle is the presumed starter at the all-important position of nose tackle in the 3-4, and there really doesn’t appear to be anyone seriously challenging him for the spot. As we posted over the summer, our best guess is that Pruitt wants 3-6 nose tackles on the roster, and he wants them to be between 290-340 pounds. There were serious deficiencies in the spring, but Pruitt did a pretty good job of shoring them up in the offseason, getting current players to add weight and adding new players who fit the mold to the roster. Still, most all of the non-walk-on true nose tackles behind Tuttle are fresh off the tree: Greg Emerson (true freshman), Emmit Gooden (new JUCO), and Kingston Harris (true freshman). Alexis Johnson fits the nose tackle blueprint, but is apparently slotted for end for now).
That’s pretty light on numbers and on experience for nose tackles, and with Tuttle having, through no fault of his own, so many problems with injuries in the past, it’s a fragile situation. The good news is that Tuttle is reportedly as healthy as he’s ever been heading into fall camp. If he can stay that way, it will go a long way toward making the team more competitive.