Thacker out at DC, now Safeties coach

[GoJacketsInRaleigh]

You guys wanted change after yesterday. You got it. Be happy

 

[wesgt123]

Im in the camp that this action is needed and better than keeping Thacker at DC. Sherrer has a lot of experience so we just hold our breath and see what happens next weekend

 

[roadkill]

Some fans are justifiably in a foul mood due to bad-loss hangover. I know I am. We could have announced we cleaned house and hired Saban and his staff as replacements - but they would have complained that he's too old.
That said, I'm trying to see this move as somewhat planned in advance and a net positive. Key says he holds people accountable and is showing them the consequences of poor performance.

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

I applaud Key for the move. He probably told Thacker after last year that they need to improve or else.

 

[Southern psu fan]

Moved to safeties coach. Kevin Sherrer is the new DC

There you go. Brent Key felt a change needed to be made and he made it. I support the move and now it’s time to get behind Kevin Sherrer and get the defense going in the right direction. I thought Thacker might be in trouble after yesterday. It’s a good move.

 

[wvGT11]

Man, some of y'all will never be happy, expecting us to hire a new DC on the spot, best time will be end of season.
Guessing this allows thacker to finish out the season, while we test the waters with an interim

 

[GTRambler]

Can’t say I disapprove of this move. I’ve been wondering about Thacker for a long time. Over the past four years, in fact.

I still don’t understand why a new DC wasn’t named to replace Thacker in the first place, before this season began.

 

[roadkill]

I like the move, but also think it's delusional to expect to now be able to go down to Miami and stonewall them. Their QB is playing at an elite level. I do hope and expect that our D plays with a sense of urgency and energy going forward. If we suddenly learn how to tackle, well, I will be happy to be wrong.

 

[takethepoints]

We’ve seen some bad play calls. However, all defenses look bad when people whiff on tackles

Amen, brother.

 

[kg01]

This is like using Scotch tape as a band aid.

 

[GTRock]

So... does this mean safeties were taken away from DB coach Tillman? Are we back to having separate coaches for cornerbacks and safeties?? That did not work too well.

 

[LargeFO]

I like the move, but also think it's delusional to expect to now be able to go down to Miami and stonewall them. Their QB is playing at an elite level. I do hope and expect that our D plays with a sense of urgency and energy going forward. If we suddenly learn how to tackle, well, I will be happy to be wrong.

I don’t think anyone thinks we will be doing that. But some improvement would be nice.

 

[Eli]

Look at 2018 Tennessee the defense Sherrer was responsible for gave up 50 or more points 4 times. I’m willing to give the guy a chance but his linebacker crew has been below average thus far

 

[AlabamaBuzz]

Well, either Key decided to be cagey at his presser, or J Batt told him if he wants support, he better do something. With that said, hard to believe that everything is Thacker’s fault since he was co-DC with the new DC.

I hope it makes a difference, but color me skeptical with our current jimmies & joes. Defense, unlike the O side of the ball, comes down to hosses with “want to”. Hopefully with Thack out of the way, Sherrer will show us we have hosses who now have “want to”, but I doubt it.

 

[billga99]

Batt knows we have to win in major sports to improve the revenue outlook. I think he will have little patience for failure.

 

[stech81]

Look at 2018 Tennessee the defense Sherrer was responsible for gave up 50 or more points 4 times. I’m willing to give the guy a chance but his linebacker crew has been below average thus far

That may be cause of the players.

 

[danny daniel]

Amen, brother.

I have been bothered by the bad tackling for some time and have come to the conclusion that Thacker's defense is based on bend/don't break until we can rip out a fumble. This worked better with Thomas/Eley. This objective requires arm reaching, punching, ripping,, wrestling, grabbing face masks, and with attacking at a higher approach. Too many of our tackles yesterday were from the side or back from the third or fourth player and with unsuccessful tacklers strewn in a trail behind the runner.. Tackling requires hitting and locking up (not catching the runner) Maybe a change in DC will bring about a different concept and lead to better tackling which will go a long way to improving the D.

I watched the game at BD and again on TV. The D was as bad as I saw live and I believe the O was worse on TV without any effective run game and failed to get us back in the game with the opportunities we had. The LB play was really bad in coverage, finding the ball, tackling, getting to the outside, and maintaining outside leverage when in that position. The LBs are contributing very little and putting the burden on the DBs coming off coverage to make tackles in space after long gains. Our scheme seems to be gimmic to stop certain things and leave other things in jeopardy. The good experienced coaches know how to adjust and find our holes.. We saw all these things in spades yesterday.

 

[stech81]

It seems that some people above don't like this move. Given where we are at (late September) i do not see how this can be viewed in a negative manner. I think doing nothing is, by far, the worst move a manager can make when things are this far in the ditch.

I'm fine with the move not much more you can do after the season started.

Question is what defense does Sherrer like to run? not sure if he doesn't like the one we are running anything can change till our open week.

 

[Eli]

That may be cause of the players.

From 2014-2018 Tennessee had an average recruiting ranking of 10th.

 

[billga99]

another question with this is how does this impact recruits especially on defense. Changes and unknowns normally spook recruits.