By Jimmy Hyams
There was a time when averaging 30 points per game for an SEC team was an achievement.
Not any more.
Nine SEC teams averaged at least 30 points per game last season. Arkansas was ninth in the league in scoring at 30.83.
The last five teams to lead the SEC in scoring averaged at least 40 points. Eight of the last 10 leaders topped 40 points.
LSU averaged 32.8 points per game in 2015, putting coach Les Miles on the hot seat. He was fired four games into the next season because of an antiquated offense. LSU averaged 28.27 points last season.
The spread, the spread option, the run-pass-option and rule changes have contributed to the offensive explosion.
As offenses have changed, so have defenses. Teams are recruiting more speed on defense and using the nickel as a starting position, not a pass-only deployment.
That has changed the way teams are utilizing linebackers.
It has changed the way teams recruiting linebackers.
“Oh yeah, definitely,’’ said Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop. “It even changes the way you recruit linebackers from conference to conference.
“Today’s modern linebacker is nothing more, maybe, in some ways, than a glorified strong safety, a guy that’s got coverage skills, a guy that can play in space.’’
Shoop said the prototype is former Vol linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who registered more than 100 tackles as a sophomore and junior before injuries cut short his senior season. Reeves-Maybin arrived at Tennessee as a strong safety, moved to outside linebacker and prospered.
Shoop also thinks Darren Kirkland Jr. is the prototype middle linebacker nowadays. Kirkland can run, plays with great instincts, diagnosis a play quickly and is an every-down linebacker.
While UT losses Reeves-Maybin – pretty much a non-factor last season – Shoop thinks the linebacker position could be strong this season.
“It wouldn’t stun me if linebacker is the most improved position on defense,’’ Shoop said.
He said Kirkland, Daniel Bituli and Colton Jumper give Tennessee a “pretty solid 1-2-3 punch at middle linebacker.’’
He says outside linebacker Cortez McDowell has emerged as a leader, Q’uarte Sapp is “really fast and explosive,’’ and Dillon Bates, Austin Smith and Shannon Reid had good springs.
“They’ve all improved,’’ Shoop said, giving a shootout to linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen.
While hoping for linebacker improvement, Shoop said it’s a must that UT improve its porous run defense from a year ago.
To that end, he said solid cornerback play is important.
“If you want to stop the run, you have to commit players to box,’’ Shoop said. “If there are seven potential blockers, you’ve got to have put an eighth in the box.
“If you blitz, that means players on the perimeter need to have confidence and win one-on-one battles. I feel we’ve made a couple of technical changes to be more successful on perimeter and win one-on-one battles.’’
Shoop noted that corner Justin Martin was the most improved defensive back in the spring, returning starter Emmanuel Moseley is a year better and acquiring fifth-year graduate transfer Shaq Wiggins “is a great one for us.’’
Shoop said freshmen corners Cheyenne Labruzza, Shaun Shamburger and Terrell Bailey “haven’t taken a back seat to anybody’’ and will compete with Marquill Osborne, Baylen Buchanan, D.J. Henderson.
“They’re smart, they’re tough, they’re unselfish, they’re in good shape and they have a high football IQ,’’ Shoop said of the corners. “They’re ready to compete at that position.
“We need every position on defense to improve, but we need the corners to play better than they did a year ago.’’
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