Recruiting Forum Football Talk [RIP 9.3.2019]

[WriterVol]

Really? Who all do I put on blast or complain about?

.

You weren't being specific, but you just said you aren't allowed to complain about a coach.

It's mostly in fun. That's why I called you Grumpy Gus.

 

[InVOLuntary]

What are your thoughts on Pruitt then? I thought the offensive plan was severely lacking at times. Not sure if that’s on him or Helton. But we could’ve thrown the ball down the field on offense against their corners. I think WR is the strongest position on our team. We should have used them when JG had time in the second half but we didn’t.

I don’t feel the defense is his fault. We’re just slow and lack talent there. The freshmen will get better with experience. I also thought Pruitt managed the game well, I didn’t notice any poor clock management or decision making. Maybe a couple things like I wish he would’ve called time out before going for it on 4th and goal in the 4th quarter, but other than that I thought for his first time out he managed the game as well as any seasoned coach.

I’m just not sure how much we can judge him negatively for after tha performance. But what are your thoughts?

I was pleasantly surprised to at the offense. Sure, there were some bumps. I was extremely pleased with the development of JG. I was disappointed in some of the play calling, particularly with the zone read plays. Thought they were a waste of a down, but it was first game so I'm sure they were trying different things. I was a little disappointed that we didn't test them downfield some. I realize time in the pocket was an issue but in the second half it seemed the OL was holding up better. Other than the scoreboard, I think the offense was pretty good and has a chance to be a strong part of this team.

The defense was the shocker to me. I expected vast improvement. It wasn't there. Whether it's the players or play calling I'm not sure. I think it's probably a combination of both but mostly lack of quality, experienced players.

As to the coaching, I thought it was a huge mistake not going for it on fourth down late in the half. We were in that no man's zone where too long for a field goal and a punt was likely not going to yield much. I think the punt ended up being a net 15 yards of field position. We didn't score and they got three so it was a potential 10 point difference.

The only other blatant thing that I saw was putting the freshmen DBs on an island against that offense. It was never going to work. I 'll give him the benefit of the doubt as he may have been trying to get them ready for FL, which is a much more important game.

I like coach Pruitt. I think he has Amor potential. I think his biggest challenge is recruiting at a high level with the results we're going to see on the field this year.

 

[Chief Vol 13]

I want to preface this by saying I like Jeremy Pruitt and do think that, with the staff he brought in, he will ultimately be successful:

But this place would have burned down if John Currie would have hired Jeremy Pruitt in place of Greg Schiano. Not to riot levels like we saw, but no one would have been happy. The hire was looked on much more positively because we though Kevin Steele was the only legitimate alternative at the time.

I vividly remember Chief and I bouncing coaching candidates off of each other in September when the vast majority still thought Butch was going to make it and the only acceptable names at that time were Jon Gruden and Chip Kelly. Jeremy Pruitt’s name came up a couple of times and it was overwhelming laughed off.

I was thinking about a coaching search before the start of last season lol. One guy I really liked back then was Brent Venables, and I still do. I remember Hank bringing up Jeremy's name early on in the search and I remember thinking, "well I never thought about him, but I guarantee he would recruit on an elite level and bring a dynamite staff." And that's pretty much what transpired. I'm a little underwhelmed with recruiting right now, but I think that'll get better. I want to see improvement from this team throughout the year, hopefully make a bowl, and sign a top 10 class. Think we're looking at about 3 year project getting this program on the level where it needs to be.

 

[WriterVol]

I’m a big believer in Pruitt, but give it time. The coach worship hasn’t truly started yet in the forum. It will start with posters giving Pruitt cute lil nicknames after we win our first game. By year 2, the coach worship will be in full effect. Some posters here will have erected shrines, quilted Pruitt pillows, and replaced their Butch pictures with Pruitt above the family fireplace.

Oh my God! Fans doing fan things! Who woulda thought.

But you're right. They will. And it'll be OK.

 

[Aesius]

I was thinking about a coaching search before the start of last season lol. One guy I really liked back then was Brent Venables, and I still do. I remember Hank bringing up Jeremy's name early on in the search and I remember thinking, "well I never thought about him, but I guarantee he would recruit on an elite level and bring a dynamite staff." And that's pretty much what transpired. I'm a little underwhelmed with recruiting right now, but I think that'll get better. I want to see improvement from this team throughout the year, hopefully make a bowl, and sign a top 10 class

I wanted Venables as well. I think he and Pruitt are roughly interchangeable hires. Both dynamite recruiters and both are solid DCs. Venables has more experience but may be less hungry. Why is he still a DC? He's either waiting forever on K-State to open up or he's unsure if he wants to take the leap. Pruitt probably couldn't take the mantle of head coach fast enough.

 

[InVOLuntary]

“Fourth coach in a row that was probably not ready”...yeah I took license...not much tho.

He was probably not ready for a job this big. Doesn't mean he can't overcome his inexperience. The guy was coaching high school 10 years ago. He's extremely young.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Where did you see any of that crap that skipped your butt and plopped out of your virtual mouth. “Don’t allow you to see negative”? Get that Ulysses McGill goo goo bloodletting starter kit dramatic martyr bullshizz out of here! FURTHEREST from my point! FACT! There’s never been a single perfectly called game in the history of sports. There’s always one or a hundred that the big guy would like back! Would it have been cool to see some downfield passing? Sure, but these teachers we’ve hired have seen these players attempt them in practice and held back. Out of what you’ve glimpsed as a coaching mess...I saw NO TURNOVERS on our side and at our most most recent peak performance as a team, I personally witnessed an assload down in College Station! That’s a sign of COACHING! West Virginia beat us...without our help!! There’s REALITY and then there’s what you Reality Warriors try to shove down people’s throats! You were a good one...I’m ashamed of you.

Lol..never change Butchie..

 

[mrMet]

A lot of our older players just don’t have it between the ears. It’s pretty clear to see and we need to roll with the young guns and take the lumps when they come

 

[Nashvegas31]

I'll be interested to see how we come out Saturday. It's a scrub but the past two years we didn't even put away scrubs so our backups could play.

 

[Billy Antrim]

Speaking of getting creative. How 'bout putting in a package with Jennings at safety so he can decapitate someone?

Ha, Jennings won't be in the game more than five minutes before he gets thrown out for targeting. Pass.

 

[volfanCLT]

I’m also not sure about Warrior as our KR. Wasn’t really impressed at all

 

[JacketVol]

Either they filmed the coaches show as soon as he got off bus or Pruitt never left his office because he had same clothes on and looked like he hadn't slept in awhile lol

He also looked like he didn’t want to be doing that show. Lol

 

[volfanCLT]

I'll be interested to see how we come out Saturday. It's a scrub but the past two years we didn't even put away scrubs so our backups could play.

I could also see our starters play longer than normal the next couple games even in a blowout.

No substitute for live game reps and they need all they can get to speed up the adjustment process imo

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Blaming the L on pruitt is silly.

It is pure stupidity at this point. I think Chavis's auto default is to just blame everything on coaches. Either that, or he just loves the drama of coaching searches and can't wait to get to the next one.

 

[Chief Vol 13]

I wanted Venables as well. I think he and Pruitt are roughly interchangeable hires. Both dynamite recruiters and both are solid DCs. Venables has more experience but may be less hungry. Why is he still a DC? He's either waiting forever on K-State to open up or he's unsure if he wants to take the leap. Pruitt probably couldn't take the mantle of head coach fast enough.

I think Venables is one of those guys who's alright with being a coordinator for life, and I understand that. Hell he's making two million a year for coaching ball, and doesn't have to worry about all the headaches of being a head coach. Pretty sweet gig. I find it interesting to try and remember my perception of a guy before he became a coach at Tennessee. With Kiffin, I remember thinking he was an outstanding recruiter and offensive coach. With Dooley, I had no idea who he was. With Jones, I thought he was a corny northerner who had no idea what football in this part of the country looked like. But with Pruitt, I thought he was a stud recruiter and defensive football coach, who was a little shady. A lot of times your initial thoughts on a guy before emotion takes over are pretty dead on. I think Pruitt will be successful here.

 

[chavisut]

.

You weren't being specific, but you just said you aren't allowed to complain about a coach.

It's mostly in fun. That's why I called you Grumpy Gus.

I don't mind positivity. You won't find me going around talking down guys like Ron, nick, etc. I just don't care for the vitriol thrown out by some toward any negative thought.

FWIW, not much, I like Pruitt and feel confident in our future. I have little takeaway from Saturday's game and it went about how I expected.

I'll also admit I hated the hire originally.

 

[InVOLuntary]

And now we get the drama of, "I can't even question a coach around here without somebody counter replying."

Guys, that's how it works. Opinion-counter-opinion.

InVOL, I usually like your stuff most of the time, but you've gone super negative since the game. Were you super positive before it or something? Your posts were almost unreadable in the game thread. Way over the top for you.

I kind of expect it from Grumpy Gus Chavis. He always complains about positive posters.

Fans tend to give the benefit of the doubt until they can't. We all know this. It isn't a surprise. It's talked about regularly. Yet, it's still surprising to some that they "just can't be objective."

I think y'all are misinterpreting my position. Did the game disappoint me? Absolutely. Do I think Pruitt is doomed for failure? absolutely not. What that game did for me was remind e how pitiful a program this has become. It's not Pruitts fault, hell i admire him for taking on this mess. All I've said is he's extremely inexperienced and the odds are stacked against him.

As to buying in, I scratched my head on the Kiffin hire but put my misgivings to the side anyway. I scratched a bald spot in my head with the dooley hire but repressed those feelings of doubt. I beat my head against the wall with the butch hire and went all in anyway. I love what coach pruitt is doing so far but forgive me if i guard my cojones this time around.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

I wanted Venables as well. I think he and Pruitt are roughly interchangeable hires. Both dynamite recruiters and both are solid DCs. Venables has more experience but may be less hungry. Why is he still a DC? He's either waiting forever on K-State to open up or he's unsure if he wants to take the leap. Pruitt probably couldn't take the mantle of head coach fast enough.

Vanderbilt expressed an interest in Pruitt for their head gig not long ago, and he declined to even interview with them. Kind of shoots down that theory.

 

[chavisut]

It is pure stupidity at this point. I think Chavis's auto default is to just blame everything on coaches. Either that, or he just loves the drama of coaching searches and can't wait to get to the next one.

Wrong. Find the blame.

Seriously, you have no idea what you're talking about here.

 

[Chief Vol 13]

I was adamantly against Pruitt. Called him an angry DMV employee. But the list of names by the end was so pathetic that Pruitt was like a breath of fresh air. Schiano, Doeren, Steele?!?

Yeah, Bama's DC suddenly doesn't seem so bad.

I'll agree that his staff is solid and honestly much better than I expected. I thought he would have some C-tier staff of SEC rejects, ala John Jancek and Willie Martinez, but he got some good guys. It makes me pretty hopeful for him.

I know I'm on an island with this one, but I really don't think Steele would have been bad. Great recruiter and defensive coach, would have brought a nice staff. He's just too old IMO.

 

[JacketVol]

Kiffin's experience was limited at best, didn't make it a full season with the raiders. True, Butch and Dooley but neither was a hot commodity. Don't tell me you didn't scratch your head with both of those hires. CPF is a different because he was promoted from within after being at his alma mater for a long time.

Fact is our previous three BUST had HC experience

 

[SpringBokVol]

I have reset my expectations and I still love this team.

I am going to enjoy every play, every game. Regardless of the result.

The outcome will be the outcome regardless of what I do. I have zero influence.

But I will be a fan and I will support and cheer on this team because I bleed orange. Period.

 

[InVOLuntary]

They're young. Give 'em some more reps and they'll get it figured out.

Except you InVOL. You're old.

I prefer more experienced.

 

[Chief Vol 13]

Vanderbilt expressed an interest in Pruitt for their head gig not long ago, and he declined to even interview with them. Kind of shoots down that theory.

Yeah he wanted nothing to do with Vanderbilt lol. I also think Mississippi State wanted him, but he held out for the Tennessee job.

 

[engineerVOL]

So here’s a play that i watched again...



We come out in a cover 2 man under look. Which honestly should cover this play perfectly:

Diagramed like this:


The problem is the Lb bites on the playfake instead of dropping straight back. Even though Buchanan was beat and chasing, if the LB doesn’t bite and drops back that route has to go deeper and would be a tougher throw and closer to the safety.... and I’m not even going to comment on Abernathy’s tackle attempt.

Good call, poor execution.

Simmons ran away from Buchanan like he was stuck in mud..