9. Defensive backs coach
Part of that defensive evaluation will be looking at some of the assistant coaches. Defensive backs coach Willie Martinez will be under the microscope for sure. Martinez had great rapport with former defensive coordinator John Jancek after they had worked together in the past. I’m not necessarily saying that there was a disconnect between Martinez and Shoop, but the production from the DBs certainly wasn’t the same. Cam Sutton’s injury played a huge role in that. The other corners, however, struggled to step up and help out. UT fell to 10th in the league in passing defense, and its struggles were never more on display than in the regular-season finale against Vanderbilt when the Commodores lit up the secondary (which had Sutton) for 416 yards through the air.
