Defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri made it his first priority. Football is a physical game. Tackling is a physical action. As a result, the biggest constant in Sunseri's development of his defense was to tackle in some capacity every day on the practice field.

"That was a big focus for us," senior Prentiss Waggner said. "We were pleased with how we tackled. Coach Sal, when he first came in, he taught us this fundamental tackling technique, he calls it 'near leg-near shoulder,' and the whole training camp that's what we emphasized, even when we didn't have pads on."

The product of that daily work was evident Friday night as the Vol defense had just a handful of missed tackles - an impressive feat in a first game.



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