KNOXVILLE — Tennessee (2-3, 2-3 SEC) will have an off week following a loss to Alabama Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
Ahead of playing Alabama, Jeremy Pruitt relieved defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh of his duties. Pruitt is now overseeing Tennessee’s defensive line unit for the remainder of the season.
Following the Alabama game, senior defensive lineman Matthew Butler discussed if he has noticed any changes since Pruitt began coaching the unit.
“In some small ways, but a little does go a long way,” Butler said. “Our style of coaching and what we did during practice changed, and like I said, a little goes a long way. Sometimes it doesn’t happen like that, but we’re going to continue doing what we’ve been doing and doing it better until nobody can stop us as a team.”
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Butler mentioned that Tennessee has to “eliminate mistakes” for the defense to improve.
“We have to eliminate mistakes in the front, second level and the back end,” he said. “We have to play collectively as a unit and when I say that, I just mean clean football. Stringing together multiple plays where all 11 people on the field are doing things perfectly, immaculately. As far as physicality and toughness, we have to raise that level and bring guys along with us while we’re doing that.”
Tennessee’s next game will take place at Arkansas on Nov. 7.