4. Will the defense be clutch under Bob Shoop?
![Photo Credit: Mason Burgin/RTI](https://www.rockytopinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screen-Shot-2016-04-16-at-10.32.41-PM.png)
Tennessee’s defense wasn’t bad in 2015. It just struggled at times to step up and make the big play, especially in some late-game, fourth-down situations. Enter Bob Shoop from Penn State, one of the most respected defensive coordinators in the nation.
He has made his reputation on generating pressure and producing top-10 defenses nationally at both PSU and Vanderbilt. Loaded with likely his most overall talented defense of his career, Shoop’s charge is not only to produce a defense that improves a bit statistically, but, perhaps more importantly, steps up in the big moments to help get the Vols more wins in 2016.