Bobby Petrino drops quote after Tennessee's win over Arkansas that should make Vols fans feel better about DC Tim Banks

The Tennessee Vols' defense hasn't been quite as stout this season as it was in 2024.

Tennessee currently has the No. 102 scoring defense in the nation.

The Vols allowed 203 rushing yards in their overtime win against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in late September. Tennessee again looked vulnerable against the run on Saturday night in the Vols' 34-31 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks -- UT allowed 241 rushing yards against the Razorbacks.

That's obviously not ideal. The Vols were fortunate to get the win on Saturday night, but allowing nearly 250 rushing yards usually isn't a recipe for success in the SEC.

Tennessee fans, however, do have a reason to feel optimistic about the run defense moving forward.

Tennessee made some important defensive adjustments against Arkansas

157 of the Razorbacks' rushing yards came in the first half against the Vols.

Tennessee held Arkansas to 84 rushing yards in the second half thanks to some defensive adjustments at halftime.

"They came down and got in more of an eight-man front," said Arkansas interim head coach Bobby Petrino after the game of the Volunteers' defensive adjustments after halftime. "And they were rocking and rolling their safeties. They just said throw the ball, basically. And it took me too long to get to throwing it."

Tennessee's defense certainly needs to improve moving forward. But it should be encouraging to Vols fans that defensive coordinator Tim Banks made the proper adjustments against Arkansas, which helped secure the win for Tennessee.

It's never going to be perfect, and the other team is always going to make some plays, but Banks was eventually able to adjust to what Arkansas was doing. And he essentially took the run away from the Razorbacks in the second half.

Banks' defense has struggled at times early this season. But he's still an accomplished coach who led a dominant Tennessee defense the last two years. I think Vols fans should have some confidence that the defense will improve in the second half of the season.

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