Jimbo Fisher shares concerns over Tennessee's pass rush
Texas A&M will look to bounce back from their loss against Alabama this weekend when they hit the road to take on the No. 19 ranked Tennessee Volunteers. And if they want to do so, there’s no question that they’ll have to slow down Tennessee’s pass rush.
Nobody in the SEC has gotten to the quarterback quite like the Aggies have, ranking first in the conference and in the entire country through the first half of the season in sacks. But trailing right behind them is Tennessee, whose 22 sacks in their five games rank closely behind the Aggies’ 26 on the season.
Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher spoke about Tennessee’s ability to get after the quarterback on ‘The Jimbo Fisher Radio Show’, revealing what makes their scheme so effective and unique.
“They’re the old-school front where they’re a penetrating front,” Fisher said. “You don’t get as much of the old 4-3 the way Florida State was in the 90s, the way Miami was in the 80s and 90s, the front is more of the old-school, penetrating front four in how they play.”
Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks is in the midst of his third year as the Volunteers’ defensive play caller under head coach Josh Heupel, and through the first half of the season there’s no question that Tennessee has looked the best they ever have across the board on defense since Heupel took over the program.
The Vols are holding their opponents to 17.8 points and 308.2 yards per game, making them top five in the conference in each category. But where they really stand out is up front, where they’re fast and physical personnel is able to do some serious damage on the line of scrimmage.
“They get up field, they can rush. Outside I mean 30 and 27 can bring it, the inside guys 21 and 55 and those guys are all athletic, they get up, 9 and the backer, I mean they’re a downhill team and get penetration and try to create negative plays,” Fisher said.
No. 27 James Pearce Jr. has been having a breakout sophomore season for the Volunteers, presenting a mismatch physically with many who try to block him with his long 6-foot-5, 242-pound frame. He leads the Volunteers in sacks this season with five, getting to the quarterback in bunches with a pair of two sacks games this season.
Texas A&M had struggled last weekend versus Alabama’s pass rush, with quarterback Max Johnson being sacked five times in their loss to the Crimson Tide. And there’s no question that if they don’t slow down Pearce and the rest of the Volunteers rushers, this Saturday’s results could resemble lasts.