Recruiting Forum Football Talk LVII

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#8,301
#8,301
Glitch said:
Newt be like...

"No thanks...
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#8,302
#8,302
Rivals Camp Series Charlotte: Five schools that should be pleased

The Vols had their spring game on Saturday and plenty of the prospects in attendance on Sunday were buzzing about Tennessee, headlined by Crouch, the nation’s No. 1 overall player. Tennessee is in Crouch’s top three and he said he’s developing quite a bond with the Vols coaches. Crouch’s interest in Tennessee is anything but casual, and it looks like the Vols will be a major player going forward. Three-star defensive back Shyheim Battle was on campus in Knoxville on Saturday and said he enjoyed the trip as well, and he showed no signs of road weariness while turning in a solid performance at the camp. New Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt has talked about the importance of recruiting North Carolina, and it appears he and his staff are doing a nice job keeping the school on the minds of the area’s top players.
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- Adam Friedman and Woody Wommack


Other 4 schools mentioned were FSU, UGA, Clemson and WVU
 
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#8,303
#8,303
LA Vol said:
IDK why people are trying to rationalize or soften Pruitt's criticisms. He's not going to walk back his comments and he's not sorry he made them. He wanted the players to play better and he wanted fans to fill the stadium. He's going to continue to speak his mind and some people will like it and some won't. One way or the other, it will define his tenure here.

Saturday didn't change my expectations for the season. I think we'll see a different team this summer, and it'll be a better one.
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Same reason you were offended by them Saturday during some of your posts about the comments. At least it came off that way to me.

Pruitt is going to rub people that don't take criticism well the wrong way. We are seeing what some of those initial UGA rumblings were about where he ruffled some feathers because he felt things were too loose/lax and not pushing the envelope. He ended up being right about that. Hopefully same happens here that everyone answers the bell especially the team.

I think he was mainly mad because he is a defensive guy and they didn't respond to adversity well. It's big on both sides but ish can go really bad if your defense can't handle adversity.
 
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#8,304
#8,304
Nashvegas31 said:
Same reason you were offended by them Saturday during some of your posts about the comments. At least it came off that way to me.

Pruitt is going to rub people that don't take criticism well the wrong way. We are seeing what some of those initial UGA rumblings were about where he ruffled some feathers because he felt things were too loose/lax and not pushing the envelope. He ended up being right about that. Hopefully same happens here that everyone answers the bell especially the team.

I think he was mainly mad because he is a defensive guy and they didn't respond to adversity well. It's big on both sides but ish can go really bad if your defense can't handle adversity.[/QUOTE]

Spot on. You have to be alpha to be on defense. He's looking for them. It was clear they didn't have many last season and he saw the issue first hand this spring.
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#8,305
#8,305
HankHill said:
The ball he threw to Palmer ,i think, down the sideline in between cover 3 was probably the best ball he’s thrown in his career here.
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Yes it is. And another over the middle in tight coverage. He just looks more confident, like he’s been coached.
 
#8,306
#8,306
Nashvegas31 said:
Same reason you were offended by them Saturday during some of your posts about the comments. At least it came off that way to me.

Pruitt is going to rub people that don't take criticism well the wrong way. We are seeing what some of those initial UGA rumblings were about where he ruffled some feathers because he felt things were too loose/lax and not pushing the envelope. He ended up being right about that. Hopefully same happens here that everyone answers the bell especially the team.

I think he was mainly mad because he is a defensive guy and they didn't respond to adversity well. It's big on both sides but ish can go really bad if your defense can't handle adversity.
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I wasn't offended. I flat-out didn't like it. I don't think it was smart to call out an incredibly loyal fanbase. It created negativity and controversy for no reason at all. When you get 60K people to turn out to watch what he called a "not very good" football team play a scrimmage game, why not thank them and say you're looking forward to a full house in the fall?

Like I said, he has the right to say whatever he wants and people don't have to like it... or him. But most of the time, a little goodwill goes a long way.
 
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#8,307
#8,307
LA Vol said:
I wasn't offended. I flat-out didn't like it. I don't think it was smart to call out an incredibly loyal fanbase. It created negativity and controversy for no reason at all. When you get 60K people to turn out to watch what he called a "not very good" football team play a scrimmage game, why not thank them and say you're looking forward to a full house in the fall?

Like I said, he has the right to say whatever he wants and people don't have to like it... or him. But most of the time, a little goodwill goes a long way.
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The only thing it did is make 10% of the fanbase question whether or not they like the guy. Which is a useless thing to do. Especially considered this team is going to have to scratch and claw for a bowl game.

I’ll tell you this: he’s really getting the benefit of the doubt because Fulmer hired him. If he finished the poor recruiting effort off, made those comments, and was hired by Hamilton, Hart or Currie, the backlash would’ve been much more severe.
 
#8,308
#8,308
LA Vol said:
I wasn't offended. I flat-out didn't like it. I don't think it was smart to call out an incredibly loyal fanbase. It created negativity and controversy for no reason at all. When you get 60K people to turn out to watch what he called a "not very good" football team play a scrimmage game, why not thank them and say you're looking forward to a full house in the fall?

Like I said, he has the right to say whatever he wants and people don't have to like it... or him. But most of the time, a little goodwill goes a long way.
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He isn't very good at word play. Hopefully that comes with time. It's kind of like text he says one thing but should expand on it to explain what he is thinking. Probably comes with working for Saban and propst for so long
 
#8,309
#8,309
LA Vol said:
I wasn't offended. I flat-out didn't like it. I don't think it was smart to call out an incredibly loyal fanbase. It created negativity and controversy for no reason at all. When you get 60K people to turn out to watch what he called a "not very good" football team play a scrimmage game, why not thank them and say you're looking forward to a full house in the fall?

Like I said, he has the right to say whatever he wants and people don't have to like it... or him. But most of the time, a little goodwill goes a long way.
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Booom
 
#8,310
#8,310
Three things we learned in the Vols' last week of spring ball:
1. Pruitt's craves more competitiveness – Pruitt has spoken all spring about body language. He's talked about playing the next play. Saturday, Pruitt made it clear he wasn't pleased with some on his roster who he said "quit." Pruitt played his first team's pretty much the entire Orange & White Game, not for punishment but to help with the mindset of every snap is competitive.

Pruitt will get help in the competitive department in a month when the rest of his signees arrive and with some injured players being healthy.

“The good thing is that in a couple of weeks, we’ll have a bunch of guys that aren’t on the injury report anymore. We’ll have 14 new guys here and maybe more. So some of these guys that don’t want to do it and don’t want to do it right all the time, they’ll just be watching.”

Pruitt's program needs many things. It needs more talent. It's needs current players to get bigger, faster, stronger. It needs the current team to fully grasp the offensive and defensive systems. But above all of that the program needs to have a higher level of competitiveness. Pruitt has known it from the day he first arrived. Saturday, he was reminded of it as he watched his team. He made sure everyone understand that in his post-spring game media wrap up, too.

2. The quarterback race is wide open – It's safe to say that Jarrett Guarantano hasn't cemented himself as anything in Tyson Helton's offense yet. After what was a solid outing on Saturday, Pruitt made it clear that his quarterback battle is far from over.

“You look at one days work out there, that's not really a true indication of how spring actually went,” Pruitt stated.

“We will know who our quarterback is probably when we go to Charlotte about halfway through the fourth quarter. Then, we will have a good idea who our quarterback is at that point. There are guys that are running open on both sides when you got a good pocket you gotta step up there throw the ball and you gotta catch the ball.”

Stanford transfer Keller Chryst arrives next month and it's going to be a wide open competition starting in late May. Who wins? The signal-caller who makes everyone around them better, according the Pruitt.

3. The offense is going to be very multiple – Lost in all of the post spring talk about what all Pruitt said was the idea that fans got a small glimpse of what Tyson Helton's offense is going to look like. Clearly, it's not a finished product and there will be tons of offseason tweaking but it's safe to say it's going to be multiple. We saw the Vols in three-wide spread looks. We saw them in two tight I-formation. Yes, that was a fullback on the field. We saw them with a H-back, in the shotgun, and under center. We saw a vertical passing game, some West Coast elements as well. We saw everything on Saturday with the exception of a screen game. We saw power runs between the tackles. We saw stretch run plays as well.

Clearly, Tyson Helton's offense has a lot elements to it.
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VQ
 
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#8,311
#8,311
LA Vol said:
IDK why people are trying to rationalize or soften Pruitt's criticisms. He's not going to walk back his comments and he's not sorry he made them. He wanted the players to play better and he wanted fans to fill the stadium. He's going to continue to speak his mind and some people will like it and some won't. One way or the other, it will define his tenure here.

Saturday didn't change my expectations for the season. I think we'll see a different team this summer, and it'll be a better one.
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Exactly.

Nothing else to do, though, so it is time to over analyze everything.
 
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#8,312
#8,312
Two questions heading into the summer:
1. Who leads? – Leading up to spring practice and through the first three weeks of Pruitt talked about how the leaders of his program were his coaches. But late in spring Pruitt started talking about the need for players to lead.

Saturday after the game, Pruitt was asked about how he would handle the players who he thought quit. He said he would confront the players and handle it, but noted it won't always be him that handles effort issues.

“Eventually around here, when we have things the way we want it, I won’t have to police them anymore. They’ll police themselves because they’ll be so invested in the program. They’ve paid the price. They’re not going to let any of their teammates, roommates, or whoever let them down. They’ll confront them. But until then, I’ll be the one that does all the confronting.”

The question is can anyone on Pruitt's roster become the confronter for the head coach in a key first offense where everyone is trying to learn Pruitt's way of business.

2. Where does Alontae Taylor play? – Let's make something clear here. No one is anointing Alontae Taylor any kind of savior. He's not end all be all difference maker on this roster. However, Taylor is a guy that clearly Pruitt likes. Pruitt has stated that Taylor wants to play receiver. Anyone who has followed recruiting knows that Pruitt and Alabama liked Taylor as a defensive back.

Tennessee has real concerns at the cornerback position. They have a junior college player coming in and are in the market for a graduate transfer as well. But is Taylor one of their two best options at cornerback?

In 2018, Taylor is going to play. The question is where? Can Pruitt afford to play him anywhere other than cornerback?

One prediction: The roster will change
Pruitt will hold individual meetings with players in the coming days/weeks. Does everyone on the roster stay? Based off Pruitt's press conference on Saturday some of those conversations aren't going to be the most comfortable. And likely some guys are contemplating, considering their futures.

Pruitt is also still recruiting prospects in the class of 2018 and hasn't closed the door on adding another grad transfer as well.

Bottom line is the roster isn't set for the 2018 season.
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VQ
 
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#8,313
#8,313
jordan4vols said:
Rewatched coach Pruitt's halftime interview with spears and his fan comments...a couple of thoughts

1. He didn't say we as in reference to still being a Bama guy. He said "When I was playing we didn't beat Tennessee. I was part of the 9 year stretch during Tennessee's winning streak. Hopefully we can get back to that". I saw someone reference that he said we in reference to bama and was referring to all 9 years. He played there. Its ok to say we in reference to his team he was on and he said PART OF not all 9 years.

2. People are upset about the comments about the fans. He said the fans are great and its been analyzed and over analyzed but I think the message was mainly for his team. He was upset at his teams effort and to relate what he saw to fans he was simply saying some were here and some couln't be (injuries to players), but some should have been here and weren't (the players that weren't there mentally).

I think the guy just wants to win and I for one love the breath of fresh air of him vs what we listened to for the past 5 years. Just wait if we beat WV for that Florida game. The stands will be rocking. I'm excited to see all the newcomers in the summer and what they can add.

What I like the most is that Pruitt is not going to make excuses. He wants to win now and will do whatever it takes to do so. No more year 0 talk or Butch talking about 7 years to build a program. He wants to and will expect to win every game. I think the team mentality will follow suit with the head coach. We've went from an excuse maker/former band member to an alpha male. Some of us will have to get used to it as well. I love it. I'm excited. Lets hope the guys continue to work out and get bigger and lets see what we look like come fall.
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This
 
#8,314
#8,314
LA Vol said:
IDK why people are trying to rationalize or soften Pruitt's criticisms. He's not going to walk back his comments and he's not sorry he made them. He wanted the players to play better and he wanted fans to fill the stadium. He's going to continue to speak his mind and some people will like it and some won't. One way or the other, it will define his tenure here.

Saturday didn't change my expectations for the season. I think we'll see a different team this summer, and it'll be a better one.
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Yep, may as well get used to it. Whether I like what he says or not, I appreciate that he says what he’s thinking.
 
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#8,318
#8,318
Kingston Vol said:
The only thing it did is make 10% of the fanbase question whether or not they like the guy. Which is a useless thing to do. Especially considered this team is going to have to scratch and claw for a bowl game.

I’ll tell you this: he’s really getting the benefit of the doubt because Fulmer hired him. If he finished the poor recruiting effort off, made those comments, and was hired by Hamilton, Hart or Currie, the backlash would’ve been much more severe.
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There seriously hasn’t been anything said or done to warrant any “backlash”
 
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#8,322
#8,322
BruinVol said:
Pruitt is being open about his wishes to play WR and it played a role in recruiting. Maybe I am reading too much into it.
Hope so
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Pruitt said Taylor would work with the receivers in fall camp and have a chance to get in the rotation. But he'll probably get on the field faster and play more on D. It's a win-win for him, really.
 
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#8,323
#8,323
LA Vol said:
Pruitt said Taylor would work with the receivers in fall camp and have a chance to get in the rotation. But he'll probably get on the field faster and play more on D. It's a win-win for him, really.
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Ok good. I didn't know he had been told he gets to work with the WRs in the fall.

Good move telling him he at least gets some reps there
 
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