re: Stopping the run

Steele’s gameplan was the reason for AU giving up so many rush yards. He spaced out the DTs apart more than they usually are and the DBs played more zone coverage than any game Steele has coaches since he’s been here. Tennessee is actually pretty good with deep passes that’s why the CBs played 10-15 yards off every play and tenn took full advantage of it by running quick out routes and dig routes etc. They picked up multiple first downs but the point was to limit the deep shots which it did. The bad was giving up multiple easy completions and first downs, the good was the pick 6 and giving your DBs a better chance to make a play downfield. As for the run D, the DT being spaced out means nearly every play an Olineman will go unblocked and get to the second level immediately, that means out 6’0 230ish pound LBs agains 6’5 320+ Olineman and your asking them(Owen&Zakoby) to shed that lineman plus make the tackle. As talented and tuff as Pappoe and Zakoby are there’s not much they’re gonna be able to do when an Olineman comes at the immediately and isn’t even the lead blocker. Steele should’ve kept the zone coverage in the secondary but kept the DTs inside like usual so it would be easier for the LBs to come in and clean up like the should. Britt and Zakoby were great at it. Trues and Newkirk are capable of holding there gaps it’s the 2’s Z.Walker and even sometimes Colby tend to play the DT position like there still at the DE position and allow gaps to form in the middle. Would’ve been a big help if the 2 jucos played like we thought they would