Recruiting Forum Football Talk II

[MoCo_Vol]

warrior has blown way too many coverages. Taylor lost something from this year to last, probably sometihng to the whole man to zone deal that's been discussed.

banks is getting better, but still learning. it was his idea to move to LB once he saw the writing on the wall in the RB room. he'll get better. and there'll be opportunity at ILB with Bituli being done after this year.

Yeah I think Taylor is better man to man. Probably just how it's going to be, some players can read plays and excel in zone...and some guys just need to focus on their guy and they'll excel.

Not a fan of all the "tinkering" we did all off-season...too many young guys you need to rely on for them not to have the maximum reps possible to figure out the position they'll play.

 

[Jimdog's Revenge]

Pruitt needs to ask each upperclassmen one question. " Do you love the game of football?"

*The University of Tennessee

 

[volsfan_17]

The problem is, the rise of other players doesn't diminish the level other players are playing at. I think Theo Jackson, KG, and Burrell might just be elevating past them. I mean Taylor had one bad play against BYU, but it's been #4 giving up more of the big gains/TDs that I've seen.

Flowers didn't play last year, so no clue how you can compare this season to his year on injure reserved.

# 4 is Burrell. I don't think he's elevating past anyone as of yet. I agree he's given up a ton of plays against.

 

[SouthKnoxVOL]

Former Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead has died.

 

[jakez4ut]

I’d say there’s a pretty big reason we only have 14 commitments.

well, it's been holding around that number for a few months....and was going to hold around that number for a few months.

the fact that nothing has changed too drastically is probably a good thing at this point.....i think we probably have hurt ourselves with some of hte really big time prospects that were uncommitted but had us in their top 5's or whatever, but i think the core of this class should hold together if there's no change at the HC.

and i'm not saying that's why you keep him. just that in regards to the class in general, it's not a forgone conclusion that it gets blown up. top 5 or 10? probably out the window at this point....lol. top 20? not out of the question....but would need to see some sign of life, some resaon to have some level of belief......

 

[BruinVol]

The problem is, the rise of other players doesn't diminish the level other players are playing at. I think Theo Jackson, KG, and Burrell might just be elevating past them. I mean Taylor had one bad play against BYU, but it's been #4 giving up more of the big gains/TDs that I've seen.

Flowers didn't play last year, so no clue how you can compare this season to his year on injure reserved.

Burrell isn’t anywhere close to as good as taylor was last year. Not even close


Flowers played in 7 games last year. That experience is supposed to be paying off and it’s not

 

[jakez4ut]

I agree. But with the caveat that several of the high level guys we re after aren't committed anywhere else either at the moment. I honestly don't think we re sitting at 20 commits with wins over BYU and Ga St either. I think some of those decisions were not coming until Oct and Nov. regardless.

And IMO. We could have taken 8 -10 commits from lower level guys and been ranked higher at the moment. But thats not the goal.

yep.

 

[chargervol]

well....in a word...yeah. lol.

This board and fan base are a microcosm of civilization falling apart in the apocalypse. Things go wrong, people go stupid. Then turn on one another

Seeing the likes certain posts are getting,.. proof the crazier things become, the more attention the insane are given.

 

[BeecherVol]

well, it's been holding around that number for a few months....and was going to hold around that number for a few months.

the fact that nothing has changed too drastically is probably a good thing at this point.....i think we probably have hurt ourselves with some of hte really big time prospects that were uncommitted but had us in their top 5's or whatever, but i think the core of this class should hold together if there's no change at the HC.

and i'm not saying that's why you keep him. just that in regards to the class in general, it's not a forgone conclusion that it gets blown up. top 5 or 10? probably out the window at this point....lol. top 20? not out of the question....but would need to see some sign of life, some resaon to have some level of belief......

They may have done some damage that cant be repaired with some of those guys. IDK.

If (big if) they can survive and progress there are enough games on the schedule they can change the perception some. Even tho it's still gonna leave questions.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Burrell isn’t anywhere close to as good as taylor was last year. Not even close


Flowers played in 7 games last year. That experience is supposed to be paying off and it’s not

Last 2 games of the season he was just running special teams. He's also not been left at his safety role either. He did play in 7 games last year, never at one position only and missed almost half the season, gets a new DC who reworks the scheme for his unit.

I don't recall him really flashing like Bryce or Taylor last year. So I think he's just not catching on as fast as a guy like Theo who has been healthy and has over 20+ games under his belt going into this season.

 

[jakez4ut]

Yeah I think Taylor is better man to man. Probably just how it's going to be, some players can read plays and excel in zone...and some guys just need to focus on their guy and they'll excel.

Not a fan of all the "tinkering" we did all off-season...too many young guys you need to rely on for them not to have the maximum reps possible to figure out the position they'll play.

easy to say in hindsight.

we're stuck in the mud in regards to having to play young guys for the wrong reasons. have been for a pretty good while actually.

so we're conditioned to believe that if you're not immediately better than the guy you're replacing, or supposed to replace cause he's sucked, then you suck too.

i think this staff looked at some of the veterans...especially in the def backfield and at QB, and thought they had seen enough during the off season to like what their chances would be.

then the games started, and the guys you NEED to be able to erase youngsters errors, are making the most aggregious errors......Warrior and JG at the top of that list.

you can't have guys like that make the kind of mistakes they've made, and have the FR make mistakes and win.

that's why Bama, Clemson, GA and OSU and OU can start freshmen. they have erasers on their rosters. we don't.

 

[jakez4ut]

This board and fan base are a microcosm of civilization falling apart in the apocalypse. Things go wrong, people go stupid. Then turn on one another

Seeing the likes certain posts are getting,.. proof the crazier things become, the more attention the insane are given.
View attachment 226924

lol....love that gif. and yeah, losing like we do, it's inevitible.........

 

[Ron Swanson]

LWS you done with CJP?

not done with him. I think we have to give him time to get 3 more classes. tall order but here is the deal..

The next hire likely a higher risk with maybe not as good a resume as a football coach as Pruitt. Tennessee is toxic for coaches. Coaches are well aware of the history here, the recent history..

dysfunctional university leadership for years. No clear sign that is fixed yet. an interim president and an AD who will be 70 next year.

dysfunctional booster base with many different players and right now, not a Tom Elam anywhere in sight.

a fan base that will not be patient beyond year 2. If we aren't competing by year 2 they will give up on the coach. Of course they have the recent history of sabotaging a potential hire. Coaches will ask, who is in charge?? Its a valid question. (there was also the Martin deal)

Now JP has not shown me at all he is close to being able to be the head coach of a football program. I still believe he is a good football coach and probably a great DC. But that doesn't mean he knows how to run a program. He is still learning how to do that.

But everyone be prepared. If it is after 2019 or 2021, the next coach will come from the assistant ranks, lower FBS programs or FCS.. You will not be happy with the choice IMO.

 

[BruinVol]

Last 2 games of the season he was just running special teams. He's also not been left at his safety role either. He did play in 7 games last year, never at one position only and missed almost half the season, gets a new DC who reworks the scheme for his unit.

I don't recall him really flashing like Bryce or Taylor last year. So I think he's just not catching on as fast as a guy like Theo who has been healthy and has over 20+ games under his belt going into this season.

I thought flowers flashed well in the West Virginia game but yea the injury hurt him and he’s never recovered. I’m not saying he’s regressed so I can agree he’s just been passed But as for taylor he’s clearly regressed. That’s on coaching

 

[tnmarktx]

i'm not so sure about that.

even in that 2017 season....there were some fairly high profile kids in that class that would have still come here had CBJ still been the head coach. not syaing that's why you keep CJP, but that if we do, there's a core part of this class that should stick....can't say all obviously. but most. ....but go back to that class...LynJ Dixon (playing at clemson) trey dean (playing at UF) Jaycee Horn (playing at USCe) Cade Mays (playing at UGA).....

it's the uncommitted ones that we probably lose out on.

if you can keep Hardy and Baron in state, plus the core group we have committed, this class can still be another foundational piece....

but all those really big time prospects...smalls, sewell, jarrett, gilbert, washington etc...yeah, they go elsewhere....

i've said it more than once, that this rebuild was bigger than most people thought it was.

this season has definitley not helped in that category, and probably extended the time line simply because it will affect the ability to bring in "instant impact" type players, or at least the quantity of them....

bottom line, we're going to see this team get younger over the rest of this season, and next season......which aint'a recipe for becoming great overnight.......

there's going to be a point, and i think we're there, where there's just going to have to be some acceptance of that. and even firing pruitt doesn't change the timeline of any of what i've said above. in fact, it probably extends it again....and you'd then have a roster for 2020 that would have CBJ, CJP and whoever the new guy would be on it. ugh.....think we have culture issues now? lol.

tough situation for all involved....no easy way out, no quick fix..........this is a s**t sandwich, and we're basically gonna have to put some salt and pepper on it, and choke it down the next couple years.

yea.

So in year 5 of the Jeremy Pruitt era, what's an acceptable win total?

 

[Volbucky]

LSW you done with CJP?

Who's LSW?

 

[jakez4ut]

They may have done some damage that cant be repaired with some of those guys. IDK.

If (big if) they can survive and progress there are enough games on the schedule they can change the perception some. Even tho it's still gonna leave questions.

yeah, there's no avoiding that at this point.....it's obviously fairly freakin' important to keep the core of this class together.......

you start seeing guys that have been comitted here for a LOOONG time decommit............and...yikes. then it's abandon ship and everybody hits the panic button.

the job for these coaches right now is difficult on all fronts.

 

[Ashevolle]

This board and fan base are a microcosm of civilization falling apart in the apocalypse. Things go wrong, people go stupid. Then turn on one another

Seeing the likes certain posts are getting,.. proof the crazier things become, the more attention the insane are given.
View attachment 226924

Rapture, huh? Who's the crazy one?

 

[BearCat204]

LSW you done with CJP?

Yeah, I dont see any way Pruitt isnt here for at least another year.

 

[VolInDayton]

What's he saying?

Went on a 5 minute spill about how Tennessee fans should be worried than any fanbase in college or NFL about the future of their program with the current head coach. He then proceeded by saying the QBs are so bad that Peyton would have been able to walk on the field in his current state and beat that florida team. I think him saying that the QB poing kind of discredits his argument about how worried we should be because that means we are making progress at a program we just need to find someone to plug in and run the show at QB.

 

[SLICKYINC]

Since Banks is on topic right now. I think it's telling that he only follows the young guys and current commits on Twitter. Doesn't follow any of the upperclassmen. I've been telling you guys there is a divide in the locker room and it's not just a rumor, it's real. I know we have some upperclassmen that are really good football players but for the most part they are an issue. Bass brought it up a few weeks ago but people need to seriously look at the JR class, it's pathetic.

We have a few SR and JR players who are on board but for the most part it's Pruitt's 2 classes who seem to be on board with what we have going on. The issue with that is that most of them aren't ready to play but are being forced out there because we have no choice.

Who are the young guys looking up too? What upperclassmen are really showing them the ends and out of the positions they play and what its like to be a TN Vol?

 

[Fun coupon VOL]

LSW you done with CJP?

Exactly. You can’t be done on Pruitt, yet. The offense needs to be less predictable with counters and misdirection in the run game.

JG has to learn to put some touch on the ball and take some steam off. 7-21 points were missed because of this.

 

[BearCat204]

Who's LSW?

Leisure Suit Willy

 

[BearCat204]

Exactly. You can’t be done on Pruitt, yet. The offense needs to be less predictable with counters and misdirection in the run game.

JG has to learn to put some touch on the ball and take some steam off. 7-21 points were missed because of this.

JG needs to learn how to carry a clipboard

 

[LA Vol]

Not to mention how quickly these things turn. Like you, I just AV and LA. I think they provide good information. However, they can only provide what is technically “true” and been spoken out loud. So we won’t know Fulmer is, for example, thinking about inserting himself as HC until he tells someone about his plans. Of course that hasn’t happened yet. But will it if we’re 1-7 and struggling vs UAB? Time will tell.

Of course no one knows what anybody else will do in any given situation. Fulmer has said repeatedly that he is happy being AD and I believe that. The idea that he orchestrated any of this to take over as HC is clickbait. He has more to lose than to gain by putting himself in that position.

Nobody foresaw this scenario, including the coaching staff, who interacts with these players and works with this team every day. Unless they completely misevaluated their players and their ability to develop them, they should be able to fix some of the issues over the bye. But I doubt there's anybody at UT who doesn't think 1-7 is on the table, given the first four games. Barring a complete reversal of trend, it's more likely than not.