Since taking over as head coach, Barry Odom’s defense has steadily improved after bottoming out his first year. This season, it feels like the defense has taken another step. With those improvements this season, it’d be easy to just pinpoint individual players’ development as the reason. You wouldn’t necessarily be wrong in doing so.
With a defense that ranked 8th in the SEC in sacks last season, the loss of Terry Beckner Jr. to the NFL undoubtedly raised concerns as to what 2019’s pass rush would look like. Currently after 4 games, the Tigers rank 3rd in total defense nationally, allowing 231 yards per game with a defense that allows less than 4 yards per play.