An inside look at the Tennessee Volunteers defense.

Defensive line

One thing the Tennessee Volunteers have on their defensive line is experience, with two seniors in defensive tackle with Demonte Bolden and defensive end Robert Ayers, and two juniors in defensive tackle with Dan Williams and defensive end Wes Brown anchoring the group.

Defensive tackle Dan Williams is fourth on the Tennessee defense with 18 total tackles, four-and-a-half of them for a loss. Last weekend against Auburn, Williams had eight tackles, an impressive number for a defensive tackle. Defensive end Ayers has nine tackles, with 3.5 of them for a loss on the season.

One other defensive lineman who should see a lot of playing time is senior defensive tackle Walter Fisher. According to the team’s depth chart, it is possible that Fisher could start at one of the defensive tackle spots.

However, none of the Vols’ starting defensive linemen have recorded a sack on the season.

Grade – B+

Secondary

The Tennessee secondary is the youngest part of the defense, as the group features two sophomores.

The best player on the Volunteers’ defense is strong safety Eric Berry. In 2007, Berry had five interceptions. His 222 interception return yards are a Tennessee record.

For his outstanding season, Berry was named the 2007 SEC defensive freshman of the year by the Sporting News. He was also named second team All-SEC. So far, throughout the season Berry has two interceptions as well as a sack.

Tennessee is No. 20 in the nation in pass yards per game with 162.8. The Volunteers are also tied for No. 7 in the nation in interceptions with eight, two from cornerback DeAngelo Willingham and one from cornerback Dennis Rogan.

Grade – A+

Linebackers

Like the defensive line, the Tennessee lineback core also has experience in senior Adam Myers-White, senior Ellix Wilson, and junior Rico McCoy.

Middle linebacker Wilson leads the Volunteers in tackles with 35, and has 4.5 tackles for loss. The Memphis native also has a sack and an interception.

Last Saturday against Auburn, Wilson led Tennessee with 10 tackles, including one for a loss.

Outside linebacker McCoy is second on the team with 24 tackles. Last season McCoy finished with 106 tackles and was named second team All-SEC. The Washington D.C. native was named to the SEC’s AllFreshmen team in 2006.

Outside linebacker Myers-White has 15 tackles, with three of them for a loss so far on the season.

Grade-B+

Special Teams

Sophomore kicker Daniel Lincoln is only 3-6 on field goals on the season, but two of those attempts have been from over 50 yards.

In 2007, Lincoln was 21-of-29 on field goals, and was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, given to the nation’s best kicker.

Lincoln was also named second-team All-SEC by the associated press as well as the league’s coaches.

Chad Cunningham handles the team’s punting, as well as kickoffs. Cunningham has punted 22 times this season and averages 38.7 yards per punt, ranking ninth in the SEC.

Cunningham has dropped nine of his punts inside the 20 yard line. Starting cornerback Dennis Rogan handles kickoff returns, while sophomore wide receiver Gerald Jones is the team’s main punt returner, although Rogan has two punt returns on the season.

Grade- B-