Recruiting Forum Football Talk [RIP 9.3.2019]

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I'll say this, if Pruitt ends up not being the guy, we'l never be back to the level we were from 89-01 consistently. We will be and will be seen as a second tier program. This will be the last chance IMO.

I can’t help but feel this way too. I sort of feel like the Pruitt/Fulmer experiment is the last gasp to get it all back on track. The program is definitely at a crossroads IMO, and can’t really afford another 4 win season.
 
I can’t help but feel this way too. I sort of feel like the Pruitt/Fulmer experiment is the last gasp to get it all back on track. The program is definitely at a crossroads IMO, and can’t really afford another 4 win season.

Even with all the suck we have endured over the last 15 years, we have only had one 4 win season. Why on earth, would people only think we can win 4 with this coaching staff. Butch would have won 6 last year if he hadn't given up. Lots of laps and midol need to be taken.
 
I can’t help but feel this way too. I sort of feel like the Pruitt/Fulmer experiment is the last gasp to get it all back on track. The program is definitely at a crossroads IMO, and can’t really afford another 4 win season.

I’m of two minds on this. One part of me is convinced we are about to break out of our doldrums in the near future. Another part of me has wondered if what Tennessee needs is to truly fall into obscurity with modest fan engagement so that some coach can come in here free of pressure and scrutiny and just build this thing back up from nothing. Cole Cubelic summed up Tennessee pretty well this offseason by saying it is the hardest rebuild in the SEC with Bama and Georgia firing on all cylinders (and Clemson taking the recruits we used to get) and our fanbase expecting instant success. Basically, coaches don’t have a chance.

I still don’t think Pruitt gets a honeymoon this fall. Once the games come on and Pruitt is slogging through October getting crushed in a few games parts of this fanbase will explode.
 
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Even with all the suck we have endured over the last 15 years, we have only had one 4 win season. Why on earth, would people only think we can win 4 with this coaching staff. Butch would have won 6 last year if he hadn't given up. Lots of laps and midol need to be taken.
Some of you have a hard time understanding what a “floor” is.
 
Even with all the suck we have endured over the last 15 years, we have only had one 4 win season. Why on earth, would people only think we can win 4 with this coaching staff. Butch would have won 6 last year if he hadn't given up. Lots of laps and midol need to be taken.

I just feel like if 4 wins is the best we can do this year, it’ll set off a nasty catch-22 cycle for recruiting. And then we might as well resign our beloved program to New Mexico Lobos/Idaho Vandals/Kent State Golden flashes status.
 
I just feel like if 4 wins is the best we can do this year, it’ll set off a nasty catch-22 cycle for recruiting. And then we might as well resign our beloved program to New Mexico Lobos/Idaho Vandals/Kent State Golden flashes status.

That said, I think we can get to 8-5 with a bowl win.
 
Has anyone read reports referencing the team's psyche after last year and what the staff is doing to overcome that? Know is was made mention of on here, that it's a thing, and at least one coach has addressed it in an interview. But, what is the staff actively doing to boost confidence and change that mindset?

My impression of Pruitt and Co. is they demand toughness, especially mental toughness. He's refreshingly old school like that. WV could be a big deal for this reason, so too could the UF game. If we play UGA close, then I see us upsetting AU. For that reason the Bama game is close also. I can see us starting the season at 5-2, because of mental capacity. We have the talent. The team lacked fortitude last year (and our best players weren't on the field, i.e Jumper and injuries).

How we lose to Bama will determine if we lose to USCe, but we'll be really banged up going into that game. If we lose badly to USCe, then we'll drop a fourth game, but not sure to which team. I'm going to say either an 8-4 season or a 5-7 season.
I think kongbo's interview the other day provided the best insight into how he teaches and demands excellence without demoralizing. Kongbo was asked about getting the wrath of Pruitt and he said they only get mad if you aren't giving full effort. If you give full effort and make a mistake they just slow down and teach you until they know you get it. Lack of effort is what gets them mad. Imo that is why Pruitt and the assistants he hired have such a great reputation with their former players. And I believe that is how they will build confidence without coddling. Real confidence comes from knowing what yer doing. And they will make sure the team understands.
 
Scrimmage notes
** Jeremy Pruitt said that all four quarterbacks saw snaps Saturday, but in talking to folks, Jarrett Guarantano did nothing to lose his hold as the frontrunner for the starting job. None of the quarterbacks were outstanding, per sources, with Pruitt acknowledging as much Saturday, saying, “it probably wasn’t fair to the offense (to play four guys)” and “it hindered the offense’s timing and stuff there.” Still, Guarantano remains on track to start against West Virginia. The coaches continue to challenge the redshirt sophomore on his intangibles, namely making all 10 guys around him better.

*** Although Pruitt was complementary of his offensive line Saturday afternoon, the unit struggled as the scrimmage went on. Ultimately, the defense won the day, per sources.

Ty Chandler had some bright moments, but UT's run defense was much better than a week ago. The defense also came up with multiple turnovers, with Trevon Flowers making a play for the second straight scrimmage. It’s clear that freshmen defensive backs Flowers and Alontae Taylor are going to play a ton in Week 1 — with Taylor likely starting at corner and Flowers pushing for a safety spot.

*** Still, while it might not have been the best day (or the fairest day) for the offensive line Saturday, things on that front are changing — for the better.

Everyone has been eagerly awaiting the return of Trey Smith. Smith is expected to be full go this week. But Smith's return — and the hope that Chance Hall might be able to provide spot snaps in the fall — not the only growing positives with this unit.

Redshirt freshman K'Rojhn Calbert has seen his confidence grow daily and the 6-foot-6, 330-pound guard is showing up more and more at RG. Calbert isn't expected to be a starter in two weeks, but there's real optimism that he will play a lot this fall, especially as he continues to settle in. Pruitt said Saturday that there will be guys who don’t start Week 1 but will work their way into the lineup by midseason. Calbert is a prime candidate there.

The other lineman who is starting to show up with more and more reps is Jamir Johnson. Johnson struggled with conditioning early, but he benefitted greatly last week with Drew Richmond working at right tackle. That move allowed the JUCO transfer to see his greatest amount of work this fall at left tackle. Johnson isn't the heaviest guy, but he's a good athlete who plays with good leverage and has shown a lot of toughness. The focus now is making sure his conditioning improves and getting up to speed mentally.

Bottom line, the number of guys who can help along the offensive front seems to be growing as fall camp closes. Tennessee has options and once the staff decides whether it wants to play Smith at LT or LG, then the rest of the unit will sort itself out.

*** Finally, Jauan Jennings had one of his best days of camp. While the junior has been bothered by a knee injury all month, he battled Saturday and is working his way back into the mix.

*** Tennessee will be off Monday and then return to the practice field Tuesday afternoon.
--Simonton
 
Not really. The floor has literally never been 4 when last year our team was underdeveloped and still had 2-3 games it could have won. Historically, 4 is not a floor at UT.
Hell, last year wasn’t even the floor. Should’ve lost to UMass and GT.

It’s just funny that the floor can’t be real because it’s bad. Well... that’s kinda the point.

It doesn’t mean that I’m predicting the floor - and no one else here is. But bare minimum - everything goes to **** and we don’t know if Pruitt is worth a damn - is 4 wins and it has to be considered as a possibility.
 
It’s obvious that Jg and KC are battling for the 1spot. But i do think it’s odd that even this late we are giving so many meaningful reps to McBride and shrout. Makes me wonder if they want to get one of them extra reps Incase of a departure.

If KC gets the nod it sure as hell better be because he is more than just marginally better than JG.
 
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