Recruiting Forum Football Talk [RIP 9.3.2019]

[vol2002]

It’s gonna be fine

Yeah I think so according to my definition of fine. But I think many fans still think we are a couple of years away from marching UGA and Bama. I think we are more in the 5 to 7 years away range. Gotta crawl before you walk. Not sure fans have patience for that. Which may mean we are 7 to 10 years away if fans turn too quick and force us into yet another rebuild. Interesting times!

 

[Jack Burton]

Ubben’s statement here should be a wake up call to the 8+ win crowd.

”Tennessee is still pretty average all over the field, despite recruiting at a high level. Fans can’t agree that Butch Jones’ staff developed talent poorly and then also believe they have more talent than Vanderbilt and Missouri.”

 

[chargervol]

Man , Ubben bringing the hard truth in today’s Tennessee mailbag. If recruiting doesn’t have you down, that thing will.

I will confess I haven’t alllowed myself to believe that Vandy and Mizzou are deeper and more talented than Tennessee. Or that Tennessee’s roster is comparable to Iowa State’s roster when Ubben followed them. That Pruitt may have actually underachieved last fall, all things considered. That the only thing holding Texas back is a solid QB while Tennessee needs a comprehensive overhaul of every facet of the roster and is years out from competing at the level we want.

Ouch!

Better buckle up boys! It’s partly cloudy and the storm clouds are gathering on the horizon! No way our fan base will have the patience for the rebuild Pruitt is being tasked with. We may still be several coaches out from the fans finally giving up and going away so that someone has the space and time to put this thing back on the tracks....

Like Hole, I lean towards 4 yr total but even WORST case (yr5), people make it sound more dramatic than it is.
We're gonna improve and have more wins every yr in between. People talk like a rebuild means we're gonna completely suck for 3 or 4 yrs, then magically become good the final yr. We're gonna see better football and have a little fun on the way imo.

All depending on Pruitt being a real coach of course.

 

[InstrumentalVol]

Great news guys only 4 more days until it's NOT MAY!!

 

[Johncarter53]

Man , Ubben bringing the hard truth in today’s Tennessee mailbag. If recruiting doesn’t have you down, that thing will.

I will confess I haven’t alllowed myself to believe that Vandy and Mizzou are deeper and more talented than Tennessee. Or that Tennessee’s roster is comparable to Iowa State’s roster when Ubben followed them. That Pruitt may have actually underachieved last fall, all things considered. That the only thing holding Texas back is a solid QB while Tennessee needs a comprehensive overhaul of every facet of the roster and is years out from competing at the level we want.

Ouch!

Better buckle up boys! It’s partly cloudy and the storm clouds are gathering on the horizon! No way our fan base will have the patience for the rebuild Pruitt is being tasked with. We may still be several coaches out from the fans finally giving up and going away so that someone has the space and time to put this thing back on the tracks....

He’s not wrong. Some fan never knew how bad butch actually was. IMO Pruitt actually overachieved last season by beating auburn and Kentucky. Greg schiano, or the other coaches Currie was going after, would have gone 3-9. That’s why recruiting is so important this year. Getting crouch, HT, Wright, and Morris was a good start but it will be a couple more years before we start competing for the east.

 

[scvolfan7]

Yeah Ubben writes great in depth articles but our biggest issue is the lack of S&C. We’re on our second year with Fitz. We’ll be okay. Not gonna be world beaters but this isn’t the 5 year overhaul people want to make it out to be.

7-9 wins in 2019. 8-10 in 2020. Consistent 9+ win team every year thereafter. Before long we’ll be there with the Alabama’s and UGAs of the conference.

Keep telling yourself that. This is going to take a long time. Until we give a coach minimum 5 years, we will be in constant rebuild mode (which is the reason we are so far behind).

 

[chargervol]

Keep telling yourself that. This is going to take a long time. Until we give a coach minimum 5 years, we will be in constant rebuild mode (which is the reason we are so far behind).

I don't think giving Dooley or Jones more time was the answer.
Please tell me that I'm misunderstanding.
Seriously, please say it.

 

[scvolfan7]

I don't think giving Dooley or Jones more time was the answer.
Please tell me that I'm misunderstanding.
Seriously, please say it.

IMO Pruitt has shown more in year 1 than either of them did. Our two big wins weren’t flukes. We went out and beat those teams soundly. That SC game in butch’s first year isn’t a win if spurrier just runs the ball on 4th and 1. It took him being an idiot and an amazing catch to win

 

[chargervol]

IMO Pruitt has shown more in year 1 than either of them did. Our two big wins weren’t flukes. We went out and beat those teams soundly. That SC game in butch’s first year isn’t a win if spurrier just runs the ball on 4th and 1. It took him being an idiot and an amazing catch to win

Cool, it thought you meant we were in constant rebuild because we didn't give the last 2 enough time. I was like "for what, to pee on the ashes they left in their wake" lol.

Pruitt will get time if he shows we're going the right direction, imo.

 

[butchna]

Yeah I think so according to my definition of fine. But I think many fans still think we are a couple of years away from marching UGA and Bama. I think we are more in the 5 to 7 years away range. Gotta crawl before you walk. Not sure fans have patience for that. Which may mean we are 7 to 10 years away if fans turn too quick and force us into yet another rebuild. Interesting times!

He was being sarcastic...know your posters.

 

[butchna]

Keep telling yourself that. This is going to take a long time. Until we give a coach minimum 5 years, we will be in constant rebuild mode (which is the reason we are so far behind).

We’ll see considerable progress or he isn’t the guy.

 

[scvolfan7]

Cool, it thought you meant we were in constant rebuild because we didn't give the last 2 enough time. I was like "for what, to pee on the ashes they left in their wake" lol.

Pruitt will get time if he shows we're going the right direction, imo.

For sure and I really hope he does. I just think that expectations are already starting to get ridiculous for next year. We’re replacing our entire Dline and are excited that two true freshmen may be our tackles. 6 wins is still progress I think. Though all those games other than maybe bama need to be competitive.

I will say though, Dooley may have made it here if he had hired Steele instead of Sal. 2012 team would’ve at least gone 8-4 or so

 

[Johncarter53]

Not sure if this has been posted already but it shows the blue chip ratio each year since Fulmer. Keep in mind how many butch recruits transferred or quit.

Tennessee is Recruiting For Championships in Blue Chip Ratio

 

[scvolfan7]

We’ll see considerable progress or he isn’t the guy.

What’s considerable progress?

Additionally, he’s just now getting his first recruiting class on campus. How will we know if he’s the guy this year?

Took Barnes 3 years to fix the b-ball program and he’s a top 7 coach in CBB

 

[#Vol4Life1991]

IMO Pruitt has shown more in year 1 than either of them did. Our two big wins weren’t flukes. We went out and beat those teams soundly. That SC game in butch’s first year isn’t a win if spurrier just runs the ball on 4th and 1. It took him being an idiot and an amazing catch to win

None of butch's big sec (fla, uga, usce) wins were in dominant fashion. All were rollercoasters. Hell even the uk and vandy wins weren't dominant. Really frustrating.

 

[Jack Burton]

More players? He hasn’t successfully peer recruited A player, yet. Singular.

We’ll have to wait until at least December to know how he does ultimately. It’s not really his responsibility anyway. He should be focused on his senior season but he’s a character guy so we should be thankful.

 

[chargervol]

I will say though, Dooley may have made it here if he had hired Steele instead of Sal. 2012 team would’ve at least gone 8-4 or so

Dooley could have bought time imo, destroying HS coaching relationships and lack of player respect, ends poorly regardless.

 

[scvolfan7]

None of butch's big sec (fla, uga, usce) wins were in dominant fashion. All were rollercoasters. Hell even the uk and vandy wins weren't dominant. Really frustrating.

Should’ve been a sign that dobbs was carrying his sorry butt all those years.

 

[Dudley Smith]

Man , Ubben bringing the hard truth in today’s Tennessee mailbag. If recruiting doesn’t have you down, that thing will.

I will confess I haven’t alllowed myself to believe that Vandy and Mizzou are deeper and more talented than Tennessee. Or that Tennessee’s roster is comparable to Iowa State’s roster when Ubben followed them. That Pruitt may have actually underachieved last fall, all things considered. That the only thing holding Texas back is a solid QB while Tennessee needs a comprehensive overhaul of every facet of the roster and is years out from competing at the level we want.

Ouch!

Better buckle up boys! It’s partly cloudy and the storm clouds are gathering on the horizon! No way our fan base will have the patience for the rebuild Pruitt is being tasked with. We may still be several coaches out from the fans finally giving up and going away so that someone has the space and time to put this thing back on the tracks....

Huh? Sam Ehlinger is a potential Heisman candidate. It's their lines and depth at LB that are question marks.

I'm in for the long haul with Pruitt & Co. I really believe he is doing things the right way (and making corrections when he sees things aren't working), but our roster was just one of the worst in the SEC when he arrived. I am not expecting a Meyer/Saban year 2 quantum leap in improvement this year.

 

[Vols4us]

TL;dr version.

OK, I read the David Ubben mailbag. I'm a big fan of David and his analysis. However, I see this one as more of a 'manage expectations' article. He even indicates it is too early to call on several points. That being said, I am watching for the Pennington/Sports Source nega-Vol influence that could rub off on him by his choice to be a regular on the show. We all know many in the local media have been negative influences on the program for most of their careers. If they were in Tuscaloosa, Athens, Auburn or Gainesville they would have run out of town years ago. Pennington would like nothing better than to turn a national media member.

Either this staff can develop players well or not. That's an unknown at this time, however, there have been zero indications they cannot do so. Zero. There will have been time for some of that development to happen with bigger, stronger players by the start of this season. Fitz. Our biggest weakness has been O-line. They signed two freshman 5* OT's. One played spring ball and started. They get a senior C back. JJ and Callaway came back. The backfield is filled with quality SEC RB's. They have a top TE. Add in Chaney to mix the parts together. The D improved to top 50 in total D last season with nothing but unknowns. Now the only unknowns are in the D-line and just how well the freshman LB's will be that nearly the whole nation wanted to sign. The rest is proven with strong upside from the season before. If Solomon and S-Williams are in the D-line rotation there is enough to warrant optimism they can hold their own. FWIW, I am really excited about Tank being a difference maker.

I believe the Top 20 recruiting class rankings are reasonably true indicators of talent based on the offer lists of the players we are taking alone. Can't say the same for Vandy, Mizzou, MS State, etc. So development should handle that issue since we know Pruitt and Chaney can scheme both sides of the ball at proven elite levels. Win more than you lose and go to a bowl this season. Rinse and repeat until the elite players start stacking up on the roster. Then raise the bar on expectations for titles. I see strong development as the way to build the base to 9 win seasons at the current roster talent level.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Ubben’s statement here should be a wake up call to the 8+ win crowd.

Well except Vandy & Missouri both have lost nearly 50% of their team production from last year...whereas we lost next to nothing (especially on offense).

So yeah it's very easy to say Butch didn't develop talent, but with Pruitt entering year 2 with 2 offseasons of work with the roster we are ahead of those two teams (I am not certain we're ahead of Missouri, because of how good they are at developing guys...or were, yet to be seen if Odom can do it like Gary did).

 

[Rocky_Top_Vol13]

Ubben’s statement here should be a wake up call to the 8+ win crowd.

”Tennessee is still pretty average all over the field, despite recruiting at a high level. Fans can’t agree that Butch Jones’ staff developed talent poorly and then also believe they have more talent than Vanderbilt and Missouri.”


I disagree with this statement. Getting nothing out of mostly four stars and some three stars would give you our results over the last couple of years than getting the most out of mostly three stars and some four stars. Once Pruitt starts to develop the talent we have, the gap will begin to widen again for the Vols and the likes of vandy and some others.

 

[scvolfan7]

Well except Vandy & Missouri both have lost nearly 50% of their team production from last year...whereas we lost next to nothing (especially on offense).

So yeah it's very easy to say Butch didn't develop talent, but with Pruitt entering year 2 with 2 offseasons of work with the roster we are ahead of those two teams (I am not certain we're ahead of Missouri, because of how good they are at developing guys...or were, yet to be seen if Odom can do it like Gary did).

We should be ahead of Vandy and we own KY like FL owns us. Win all the ooc games we’re in a bowl. SC and MSST are the toss ups. All the rest would be upsets IMO

 

[MoCo_Vol]

We should be ahead of Vandy and we own KY like FL owns us. Win all the ooc games we’re in a bowl. SC and MSST are the toss ups. All the rest would be upsets IMO

I agree, going to Missouri after they've hung 50 on us the last two seasons isn't a game I'd favor us in.

4-0 in OOC will be big this season. We then get USC here and we should have won last year there, we also beat the best KY team in program history and they lost a ton so I think that's another win. Then you beat Vanderbilt at home and you've got 7 wins...

I think we can surprise someone out of the other 5 games (AL, GA, FL, MO, MSST) but who knows.

 

[cHiZzLeVOL]

Bailey can have whatever he wants if it helps him recruit more players.

Smokey (Smoky) Grey’s should definitely be brought back strictly for the recruiting aspect of them. Even if you have to wear them once a year... just wear them against a crappy team. I mean obviously in our big games wear the traditional colors.