Recruiting Forum Football Talk [RIP 9.3.2019]

[Vols410]

Were stocked with “top 15 recruiting” talent. If Pruitt can’t get 7-8 wins out of this team what can he sell? He must beat two or three more SEC teams or he’ll never get off the ground IMO.

I don’t disagree with you. I don’t think our fans are ready for a Mark Stoops-esque rebuild that takes 6 or 7 years (or a Johnny Majors rebuild). So he may not get it off the ground before we rise up and throw him in the Tennessee river. We may be 2 or 3 more coaches away from fans finally realizing there is no silver bullet quick fix coaching hire and that Tennessee is not a place where that can work.

I wish people had patience though! I think Pruitt can get it done if we give him time!

In all fairness though, it's not like we've run off two good coaches who would've figured it out in time. Dooley/Jones were clearly in over their head and that's being demonstrated even now.

As far as the length of the rebuild, I agree it'll take time. Heck, even that "top 15 talent" is practically meaningless taking into consideration the development of the roster. But if Butch freaking Jones could have this team wire to wire with Oklahoma/Alabama and beating Georgia in year 3, I see no reason we need to expect 6 to 7 years.

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

Plus most great coaches get things going year two. I think we will be fine. Finish this year strong on the field and in recruiting and let’s get ready for next year. Schedule isn’t too bad

We should win 8-10 next year with that schedule. In 2020 we should be competing for a championship

 

[InVOLuntary]

Yep. I’ve said it 100 times and I’ll say it again. We should take a jump next year or Pruitt isn’t “the guy.”

I think we'll be better next year. Question is how big of a jump is big enough? I think it will be year three before it's significant. I think between the players asked to leave and the one's moving on for whatever reason, our roster will be dependent on freshmen and sophomores again next year. We need upperclassmen all over the field and in backup roles or us to be good.

Look at KY. Much of their success this year can be attributed to having a heavy upperclassmen roster.

 

[drvenner]

That's not gonna happen

You really like to venture far out on those limbs, don't you?

 

[InVOLuntary]

That's why he goes to Fulmer. A guy who knows what a winning program needs, and says this is what I need. Fulmer then does Fulmer things and gets the money for it.

Fulmer still has challenges when it comes to money. All was not fixed over there when Fulmer was appointed AD.

 

[scvolfan7]

The key to win against SC is running the ball and controlling the clock. Their Dline is small. I’ve heard they might try to play rick sandidge at DT this week to get bigger up front but he’s a true freshman. This is a game where the oline can really build a lot of confidence.

JG or chryst need to make just enough passing plays to keep them honest too. I would feed JJ, callaway, and Chandler the same way we did against AU.

 

[BruinVol]

I missed the play where he got the unsportsmanlike conduct and the safety. Did something happen that is causing this Banks to LB shift?

He's coughed up the ball 5-6 times already on limited carries. A few haven't been ruled fumbles but he clearly can't hold on to the ball

 

[scvolfan7]

We should win 8-10 next year with that schedule. In 2020 we should be competing for a championship

My early prediction is 9-3. Lose at UF, BAMA, and either the MSST or UGA game.

 

[Kingston Vol]

I think we'llbe better next year. Question is how big of a jump is big enough? I think it will be year three before it's significant. I think between the players asked to leave and the one's moving on for whatever reason, our roster will be dependent on freshmen and sophomores again next year. We need upper classmen all over the field and in backup roles or us to be good.

Look at KY. Much of their success this year can be attributed to having a heavy upper classmen roster.

The comparison to Kentucky just doesn’t hold any weight to me because we’re getting much better players and paying much more for our coaching staff and strength program. Our results should be better and faster. That’s just the way it is.

I’m not expecting an East title or anything next year but we should firmly be in contention for it. We need 8 or 9 wins minimum.

It’s not an unreal expectation either. The schedule is as easy as it’ll ever be.

If we only win 6 or 7 games next year it will be a disappointment. Not a fireable disappointment - but Pruitt would enter the next season on a mild hot seat.

 

[GoBigOrangeVols]

How do you guys feel about these guys fitting in long term?:

2016 Class:

Carlin Fils-Aime
Marcus Tatum
Ja'Quain Blakely
Devante Brooks
Latrell Williams

2017 Class:

Maleik Gray
Eric Crosby
Cheyenne Labruzza
Terrell Bailey
Salon Page III
Shannon Reid
Princeton Fant
Jacquez Jones
James Brown
Will McBride

 

[Ron Swanson]

Florida isn't beating UGA

I wouldn't be so sure. Confidence is high in Gainesville and UGA isn't nearly as good as they were last year. UF can beat them and I think they will. JMO

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

My early prediction is 9-3. Lose at UF, BAMA, and either the MSST or UGA game.

We’ll beat Ms State. I don’t want to concede that florida game but this game really proved that there’s a mental hurdle that still exists with that game. Just like with Alabama, we peed down our leg. We just don’t have it mentally in those two games. It’s weird. That’s something I think Pruitt will fix. But I’m not sure he can fix it by next year. Gonna take a while to scrub the interns stench outta this place

 

[InVOLuntary]

I wouldn't be so sure. Confidence is high in Gainesville and UGA isn't nearly as good as they were last year. UF can beat them and I think they will. JMO

Such a conundrum as to who I'd like to see win that game. Probably will lose sleep over it.

 

[scvolfan7]

How do you guys feel about these guys fitting in long term?:

2016 Class:

Carlin Fils-Aime
Marcus Tatum
Ja'Quain Blakely
Devante Brooks
Latrell Williams

2017 Class:

Maleik Gray
Eric Crosby
Cheyenne Labruzza
Terrell Bailey
Salon Page III
Shannon Reid
Princeton Fant
Jacquez Jones
James Brown
Will McBride

Tatum and Blakely should stay. Maybe CFA. The rest...

I’m surprised Latrell Williams hasn’t been able to get on the field. I thought he was going to be a good one. Same with Jacquez Jones. Don’t get why we throw bubble screens to Brandon Johnson and not them.

 

[Ron Swanson]

Banks is the big power back CJP likes. Don't see that guy on the roster or in '19 recruits.

Crouch. Few more wins and Pruitt can close that deal.

 

[scvolfan7]

We’ll beat Ms State. I don’t want to concede that florida game but this game really proved that there’s a mental hurdle that still exists with that game. Just like with Alabama, we peed down our leg. We just don’t have it mentally in those two games. It’s weird. That’s something I think Pruitt will fix. But I’m not sure he can fix it by next year. Gonna take a while to scrub the interns stench outta this place

Yep and it’s really hard to win on the road. Sucks but Mullen looks to have the Gators going. Thanks Currie...

 

[jakez4ut]

Crouch. Few more wins and Pruitt can close that deal.

BEasley too. i still think they like him at RB as well.

 

[Ron Swanson]

Such a conundrum as to who I'd like to see win that game. Probably will lose sleep over it.

Hopefully it ends in a 0-0 tie.

 

[Ron Swanson]

BEasley too. i still think they like him at RB as well.

Definitely. But if they move Banks they'll need another.

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

Yep and it’s really hard to win on the road. Sucks but Mullen looks to have the Gators going. Thanks Currie...

I still think Pruitt will be better long term, but what he’s done with them this year has been impressive. I can’t believe they beat LSU

 

[Kingston Vol]

How do you guys feel about these guys fitting in long term?:

2016 Class:

Carlin Fils-Aime
Marcus Tatum
Ja'Quain Blakely
Devante Brooks
Latrell Williams

2017 Class:

Maleik Gray
Eric Crosby
Cheyenne Labruzza
Terrell Bailey
Salon Page III
Shannon Reid
Princeton Fant
Jacquez Jones
James Brown
Will McBride

I could see 75% of those guys being asked to find other homes.

A roster flip is going to happen this offseason. Pruitt is preparing the fans for it with these “we’ve only got a handful of guys doing it the right way” comments.

 

[GoBigOrangeVols]

I could see 75% of those guys being asked to find other homes.

A roster flip is going to happen this offseason. Pruitt is preparing the fans for it with these “we’ve only got a handful of guys doing it the right way” comments.

Curious if anyone has any insight on how that process/communicating that type of message is done.

 

[Big Orange#1]

Whew that 2017 class is ugly

 

[LA Vol]

I can see this. He's not used to what he's going through. I hope he has the patience to see it through. I think it will largely depend on what support he gets from the administration. If they start balking on things he perceives as needs to success, I think he leaves for a program that will invest in championship level success. We are a penny pinching program that looks a football as a cash cow for other things. We max out revenue and minimize expenditures.

Why hire Pruitt if you are not going to let him build it Bama style? I mean he's a relatively inexperienced coordinator (but very successful) with no head coaching experience. In my opinion you hire him for his inside knowledge of how to run a program.

So far, UT hasn't penny pinched with Pruitt at all. I haven't heard of anything he's asked for that he hasn't gotten. Now if the team doesn't finish strong against the weaker SEC opponents, there might be some pushback down the road. Hiring him was a calculated risk and giving him free rein to hire whoever he wanted on favorable contracts was another one. Pruitt is a good football coach, but he doesn't really know how to run a big program. He's learning OTJ, and if Fulmer wasn't shouldering some of the off-field responsibilities, it could be overwhelming. Fulmer's making it manageable, which allows Pruitt to focus more on recruiting.

This year's recruiting class is the tell. How far we can go and how fast we can get there depends on the next 25 guys.

 

[InVOLuntary]

The comparison to Kentucky just doesn’t hold any weight to me because we’re getting much better players and paying much more for our coaching staff and strength program. Our results should be better and faster. That’s just the way it is.

I’m not expecting an East title or anything next year but we should firmly be in contention for it. We need 8 or 9 wins minimum.

It’s not an unreal expectation either. The schedule is as easy as it’ll ever be.

If we only win 6 or 7 games next year it will be a disappointment. Not a fireable disappointment - but Pruitt would enter the next season on a mild hot seat.

All I'm saying is that the reason for KY's success this year is experience. Experience can negate inexperienced talent.