So what can we expect from here?

#1
DD4ME

DD4ME

Zoo Keeper
Joined
Jan 24, 2010
Messages
76,950
Likes
258,687
#1
Under Butch any win or positive momentum felt like it was rented or a mirage. I've been watching this season wondering what we could fully expect from Pruitt with a tough hand to play.

WVU was tough but it was game one with new scheme and coaching, and I did not put much stock in it as a measure of Pruitt. UF though broke my heart and gave me pause because it was such an epic collapse on nearly all fronts. I had some optimism after UGA despite them walking away from us at the end. It was good to see we could at least regroup and play sound football.

Yesterday though was like a baptism at the river. I genuinely felt the weight of a bad year leaving and the spark of some hope.

Obviously Bama will be Bama, but dare I dream we could make a bowl and notch some more SEC wins?

Not sure what to expect but I am circling the USC game as one to cool my jets or get really pumped for things to come.

My only goal for Pruitt is to beat Vandy and to reclaim the State. Losing to them repeatedly has hurt worse then most in a sea of bad losses. Hell beating Vandy was why we landed Neyland, so I count it as a maxim.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Weezer, NorCalVol67, OneVolNation and 3 others
#2
#2
SC and Mizzou are in play. Bowl game is there as well... team is coming together, moral, confidence is surging after Sat and that will push them in a tight game.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dduncan4163 and Pacer92
#3
#3
NEVolFan said:
SC and Mizzou are in play. Bowl game is there as well... team is coming together, moral, confidence is surging after Sat and that will push them in a tight game.
Click to expand...
AU opened the door for that optimism for sure. Am rooting like hell that Pruitt can capitalize and put this Vol fans fears to bed about what progress should look like.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Weezer and dduncan4163
#5
#5
DD4ME said:
Under Butch any win or positive momentum felt like it was rented or a mirage. I've been watching this season wondering what we could fully expect from Pruitt with a tough hand to play.

WVU was tough but it was game one with new scheme and coaching, and I did not put much stock in it as a measure of Pruitt. UF though broke my heart and gave me pause because it was such an epic collapse on nearly all fronts. I had some optimism after UGA despite them walking away from us at the end. It was good to see we could at least regroup and play sound football.

Yesterday though was like a baptism at the river. I genuinely felt the weight of a bad year leaving and the spark of some hope.

Obviously Bama will be Bama, but dare I dream we could make a bowl and notch some more SEC wins?

Not sure what to expect but I am circling the USC game as one to cool my jets or get really pumped for things to come.

My only goal for Pruitt is to beat Vandy and to reclaim the State. Losing to them repeatedly has hurt worse then most in a sea of bad losses. Hell beating Vandy was why we landed Neyland, so I count it as a maxim.
Click to expand...
I think USCe is a trap game due to them having 2 weeks rest and preparation.
I think our team matches up well against KY.
Sadly, Vandy is now a bitter rivalry like it or not.
Mizzou I have no idea what to expect. I would guess they'd be like a WVU lite.
 
#7
#7
I doubt we live off multiple turnovers from our opponents for the rest of the season. Those turnovers really helped us against AU. However, we are improving as a team so we may not need the help after Bama. Nice to have some hope again.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Behr, joevol33 and DD4ME
#8
#8
If we beat South Carolina 8-4 may be achievable. Kentucky comes here so if we go into that game on a two game winning streak Neyland will be absolutely rocking. The players will be playing with another level of confidence. The way this team played Saturday if they continue to improve week to week who knows. I went crazy a few days ago when someone posted we may go 8-4 he was reaching at that point but after seeing us play winning Football it's possible.
 
#9
#9
McDad said:
I doubt we live off multiple turnovers from our opponents for the rest of the season. Those turnovers really helped us against AU. However, we are improving as a team so we may not need the help after Bama. Nice to have some hope again.
Click to expand...
I agree about AU giving us help, but we helped pressure to create those and took advantage. Still their mistakes is a big reason that while I am optimistic I am still cautious about what to expect in the w/l column from here. I am hopeful it is a big springboard though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Weezer, Behr and McDad
#11
#11
Eastknox865 said:
If we beat South Carolina 8-4 may be achievable. Kentucky comes here so if we go into that game on a two game winning streak Neyland will be absolutely rocking. The players will be playing with another level of confidence. The way this team played Saturday if they continue to improve week to week who knows. I went crazy a few days ago when someone posted we may go 8-4 he was reaching at that point but after seeing us play winning Football it's possible.
Click to expand...
Call me a battered Vol but I don't have my tint turned up on my glasses enough for a view that orange. I want to believe though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Weezer, PapaGeorgio and VolsnRavens
#12
#12
DD4ME said:
Fair. So can we beat Mizzou or Candy?
Click to expand...
I see Mizzou as a WVU lite type team. After seeing the pressure of our dline and lb, I feel it is possible. We are gonna have to score a lot but we know this.
Vandy is a rivalry now sadly and will be a brutally fought game down to the wire imo.
I will say I believe we will be underdogs in every game the rest of the season, minus Charlotte; that's fine by me.
 
#13
#13
DD4ME said:
Call me a battered Vol but I don't have my tint turned up on my glasses enough for a view that orange. I want to believe though.
Click to expand...
Im not 100% sold myself but defensively Kentucky, South Carolina, Missouri, or Vanderbilt I don't believe any are better than Auburn. Kentucky maybe but they come to Neyland. It's possible but also possible we lose them all.
 
#15
#15
A loss Saturday, a win against Charlotte and Vandy and we steal one from Mizz or Kentucky for a bowl berth. Just my .02.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tobybeast
#16
#16
AaronUT said:
I think USCe is a trap game due to them having 2 weeks rest and preparation.
I think our team matches up well against KY.
Sadly, Vandy is now a bitter rivalry like it or not.
Mizzou I have no idea what to expect. I would guess they'd be like a WVU lite.
Click to expand...
Would love another shot at WVU.
 
#18
#18
AaronUT said:
I think USCe is a trap game due to them having 2 weeks rest and preparation.
I think our team matches up well against KY.
Sadly, Vandy is now a bitter rivalry like it or not.
Mizzou I have no idea what to expect. I would guess they'd be like a WVU lite.
Click to expand...
Vandy has always been a bitter rival for me, I've been to a bunch of games there and can't stand anything about them or their highschool stadium. I will say it's more competitive now which sucks but that's the way it is I guess. I agree I think we match up pretty good with Ky except that running QB will give us problems. I wish SC was another week instead of after Bama, Missouri who knows which team we'll see.
 
#19
#19
Protect JG as much as possible. Tell him to throw it away more frequently against Bama, and throw it deep on 3rd, just like against Auburn. UTs WR are pretty freaking good, maybe we keep it close, or go into the late 4th with a lead, just like the AU game. Hey, I would have NEVER picked UT to upset Auburn, and it really didn't look like a fluke. We were a better team Saturday. UT was better than Auburn, and they are good. Real good. In fact, there D-line is NFL caliber. JG had a great day, and our WRs showed out. I was impressed with them especially. I am not going to go out on a limb and predict another upset, but I won't be surprised. I mean, we are talking about college kids here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: OneVolNation
#20
#20
NEVolFan said:
SC and Mizzou are in play. Bowl game is there as well... team is coming together, moral, confidence is surging after Sat and that will push them in a tight game.
Click to expand...

One interesting observation from this weekend is that Arkansas and Nebraska are in a similar rebuild mold to UT, and Morris and Frost are having to tear down the losing mentalities that have infected those cultures. This weekend the hogs and huskers had very big leads on Ole Miss and Northwestern respectively, both average teams this season, and the hogs and huskers both collapsed at the end. Contrast to UT, who tenaciously held onto the lead, and was rewarded with a win for believing in Pruitt's and the staff's message and fighting tooth and claw to the end. We are seeing a young team get tougher before our eyes.

Does that mean this team has arrived? No, of course not; the OL is still a major project. But the Auburn win does show if these guys continue listening to this staff, and continue to work harder every day on the details, then they at least now have a chance in every game left this season...once we get past Bama.

Another observation, and siap, but for the Auburn game Helton coached from the sidelines and not only did JG play out of his mind, but the receivers were all monsters out there. I don't know if the move had any significance on how JG played, but being superstitious when it comes to sports I say keep Helton on the sidelines.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Titan&Volfan4life
#21
#21
AaronUT said:
I think USCe is a trap game due to them having 2 weeks rest and preparation.
I think our team matches up well against KY.
Sadly, Vandy is now a bitter rivalry like it or not.
Mizzou I have no idea what to expect. I would guess they'd be like a WVU lite.
Click to expand...
There is no such thing as a trap game with this Vols team. Everyone said we would go 3-4 wins after the Florida game. Pruitt shocking the world.
 
#25
#25
I expect few more ups and few more downs. Hopefully enough ups to get to a bowl game. Rollercoaster ride of a season. I do see a lot of improvement from this team which is encouraging moving forward.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement





Back
Top