Recruiting Forum Football Talk II

[JohnnyD1024]

Teams that checker Neyland don't have the best win/loss record when doing so.

 

[jakez4ut]

What means very little is to have people dismiss Mullen's success because of the high level of player talent he got while in the same breathe dismiss Pruitt's failure because he still needs to flip the roster. I mean come on now?

4-7 to 10-4 from a coach who built Miss. State from nothing in the SEC West, during the Les Miles/Gus/Saban era. But he wasn't a better hire than Pruitt, with zero HC experience?

Please. I want Pruitt to figure it out and be elite, but he wasn't the best option when we hired him.

eh..........debatable at best. we were down to 3 coordinators.....

people act like we're years and years removed from the Schiano/curry deal...it hasn't even been 24 months.

dysfunctional program still? maybe not as bad as back then....but i think we're still in that category.

 

[jakez4ut]

Of course Mullen was a better hire. No one said he wasn't. But he also walked into a better situation. I'm not even sure how that's arguable.

yeah, the arguments against mullen were pre schiano/curry revolution.........

no one would have argued with mullen post revolution. lol. and i was very much on the fence about him from the jump. after all that though, would have given him a hug if he took the job at that point lol.

 

[Devo182]

I’m with you on all of it. I understand your position and I know everyone is unhappy.

The difference between you and I, I suppose, is that you think this thing is fixable. Your mantra has been to fix the immediate issues. And that’s a good thing to do! But you said it before BYU and before Florida. It’s too late in the season to make any wholesale changes and losing begets more losing.

This thing isn’t going to get fixed, man. Especially not this year. Doesn’t mean you have to be doom and gloom like me - I understand how much that sucks. But I have no interest in talking about things that aren’t going to happen. This thing is going to get worse before it gets better.

That is all perspective. Are you a doer and solution-minded or a lamenter and quitter? That is a mindset choice. Didn't we start 1 Majors year 1-something and win 6 straight? That didn't happen by throwing in the towel and "playing for the future". They played to win every damn game.

 

[Chuckie]

I want to make an appeal to you guys on behalf of the 2017 recruiting class, the “5-star hearts” kids. When I first heard that description the image that came to mind was the athletes that compete in the Special Olympics.

When I was a young teenager, my much older sister who was married at the time, and had a son of her own, adopted another boy that was retarded. (I looked on the national institute of health web site to make sure I could still use that word).

My sister’s family lived in Boston at the time. Her husband was a professor at Boston University. Anyway on occasion they would come back to Chattanooga for a visit. On one such visit their adopted son was sort of wearing on me and I said something unkind to him and obviously hurt his feelings. Upon hearing about it my sister ripped into me like you wouldn’t believe.

That was many decades ago. My sister’s husband is now deceased and she lives in upstate New York. Her adopted son lives there as well in I guess a sort of home that is supportive of people similar to him. He’s actually had a pretty good life.

On Christmas I knew she was coming to visit and she was bringing the adopted son with her. I wanted to buy him a gift so I got the best black hoodie I could find. It was the one with the word Tennessee emblazoned across the front. He was extremely excited when he unwrapped the gift and opened the box.

Over the next 4 days we would meet up at restaurants and different places with my sister and her adopted son and other members of the family, sometimes for a breakfast, a lunch, or a dinner, or just to spend some time together. Every single time the guy was wearing that Tennessee hoodie. I am almost absolutely sure it was never washed. I guess for some reason he would never take it off.

Anyway the point is I just wanted to suggest that we try not to be too unkind when we’re talking about our “5-star hearts” kids. jmo.

The difference is that your adopted nephew was dealt an unbelievably bad hand in life and had to deal with it the best he could. Some number (I'm not willing or interested in trying to figure out how many or which ones) hit the lottery with their God-given abilities, and yet they choose to loaf and half-ass their way through things when it's not going like they expected. That's what is unacceptable, and why some people might be less than kind when talking about them.

 

[Devo182]

How could they have really known anything about JG last year? He played behind an atrocious line that offered little to no protection. It disguised his shortcomings.

The one thing anyone could tell is our passing strength was our big tall receivers highpointing balls and going deep. Somehow this has been taken out of the gameplan it seems like, at least to a degree. We jumped out well vs auburn by going deep. Then going deep some more. Explosive plays can be a strength. Trying to make long drives sustain and chip our way into the end zone is not. This should have been evident from last year.

 

[KPT_VFL]

I was as anti Mullen as it gets and as pro Pruitt as it gets. I was wrong.

 

[jakez4ut]

Never saw it, but then I don't spend as much time in here. UF was willing to spend the money to attract a coach like Mullen. TAMU was willing to spend the money to attract Fisher. UT was willing to spend the money to attract Pruitt. That should speak volumes to people, but they'd rather ignore that and think somehow that would change with a new coaching search, in spite of the massive buyouts that would have to be paid. We're not going to spend the money. We've proven it time and again. People need to realize that.

you sure about that? i don't recall Pruitt being #1 on the list. i seem to remember us hiring Schiano, iwth a different AD pulling the strings. and i remember when that went up in flames, we got turned down by a who's who of coaching candidates....before we fired that AD, broke the emergency glass and gave the keys to Fulmer and wound up with Pruitt.

but let's not let any of that get in the way of a good narrative.

if you want to say that we didn't push for guys like Mullen and Fisher to begin with...then fine, i agree.

but it wasn't a matter of TN saying "nice hires and all aTm and UF, but hold my beer and let me show you how you hire a coach"

to say we've endured 10+ years of administrative ineptitude would still be a giant understatement.

but by the time we got down to winding up with pruitt...opening up the coffers wasn't the issue.....THAT was solely situationally driven.

 

[Devo182]

The difference is that your adopted nephew was dealt an unbelievably bad hand in life and had to deal with it the best he could. Some number (I'm not willing or interested in trying to figure out how many or which ones) hit the lottery with their God-given abilities, and yet they choose to loaf and half-ass their way through things when it's not going like they expected. That's what is unacceptable, and why some people might be less than kind when talking about them.

The one I don't get is how any fans can tell kids are trying or not. Every time we lose to Vandy it's excused away as having quitters. I just don't buy it unless something clearly happens. But I have yet to here a clear example of this. I saw our DL pushing every inch to stop UF at the end of the half. Our OL has played hard. I don't see any clear examples of lack of effort. I see a lack of execution and good football players.

 

[jakez4ut]

Iirc Mullen was coming here until Florida offered

no, we didn't either get in contact with him again or were late to the party or whatever, i forget the specifics....but............Mullen wasn't choice one here. we talked, and hired Schiano. and as soon as Kelly got hired by UCLA, Florida made Mullen the priority. by the time we decided to come back around, it was already over.

our window to hire Mullen was before UCLA hired Chip Kelly, cause that was UF's first choice.

 

[Weezer]

you sure about that? i don't recall Pruitt being #1 on the list. i seem to remember us hiring Schiano, iwth a different AD pulling the strings. and i remember when that went up in flames, we got turned down by a who's who of coaching candidates....before we fired that AD, broke the emergency glass and gave the keys to Fulmer and wound up with Pruitt.

but let's not let any of that get in the way of a good narrative.

if you want to say that we didn't push for guys like Mullen and Fisher to begin with...then fine, i agree.

but it wasn't a matter of TN saying "nice hires and all aTm and UF, but hold my beer and let me show you how you hire a coach"

to say we've endured 10+ years of administrative ineptitude would still be a giant understatement.

but by the time we got down to winding up with pruitt...opening up the coffers wasn't the issue.....THAT was solely situationally driven.

Money has consistently been an issue with every coaching search. You can choose to ignore that, but I don't.

 

[InstrumentalVol]

Yall gotta watch this interview. Q is hilarious. With him & the other freshmen I think we can at least appreciate his attitude and fire.

 

[Kingston Vol]

Thirty-one years ago sports talk radio show host Duncan Stewart climbed onto a billboard in downtown Nashville next to the interstate and vowed not to come down until the Tennessee Vols won a football game. Stewart ended up being stuck keeping his vigil for 33 days. Considering UT's current desperate state of affairs, Stewart says it's time someone take residence on a billboard again, at least until the Vols beat an FBS opponent. "This team is worse than that team in 1988," Stewart said. "This team's horrible and quite frankly the coaching's a lot worse. This guy (Jeremy Pruitt) doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with Johnny Majors (the coach in 1988). Jeremy Pruitt is not a good football coach. And I just feel so bad because the Vols fan base is one of the most loyal in the country.

He spent 33 days on a billboard waiting for a Vols win in 1988: 'This team is worse'

 

[Chuckie]

The one I don't get is how any fans can tell kids are trying or not. Every time we lose to Vandy it's excused away as having quitters. I just don't buy it unless something clearly happens. But I have yet to here a clear example of this. I saw our DL pushing every inch to stop UF at the end of the half. Our OL has played hard. I don't see any clear examples of lack of effort. I see a lack of execution and good football players.

You're right...the "bunch of quitters" narrative may be false, but at the very least it's almost impossible to prove. Perhaps, though, it doesn't have to be something observable. I think it could reasonably be supported by the fact that they have been unable to secure starting positions and/or be the type of leaders the younger guys need to help them have the right mindset to get through (and, hopefully, avoid at least part of) these adversities.

 

[Smokeytom]

I hear you bro. I just think there’s a lot of people playing both sides of the fence in an attempt to take up for the coaches.

People can’t say Pruitt doesn’t have the horses to win or be competitive in games then turn around and say this team is 3-1 or 4-0 with a decent QB.

it can’t be both? Geezus. The DL is absolutely void of talent and all our depth is freshmen and sophomores. how many contributors are there from the 2017 class? Look how pedestrian Ignont looked with a capable LB next to him. Who’s a real game breaker at WR? They are all capable, but not world beaters. Nobody going to take a bubble screen 80 yards anytime soon. And yeah, our QB has without a doubt missed those guys when the plays were there to be made. Trade QBs with GSU or BYU and I think we are 3-1. Both those dudes showed more ability than JG.

 

[bignewt]

I disagree. Look at the top teams in college football. Damn near all of them are finishing with top 15 classes. There is a direct correlation. I think we have talent, our issue is coaching and development of those players.

we can't win a game and you are worrying about the top teams. Smh, you guys have to start getting realistic.

 

[bignewt]

Fantasy football guys help me out. Pick two of these to play. It’s a PPR league (1 point per reception). Mike Thomas (without brees), Sammy Watkins, Larry fitz, Brandin Cooks

Cooks and Watkins

 

[Kingston Vol]

That is all perspective. Are you a doer and solution-minded or a lamenter and quitter? That is a mindset choice. Didn't we start 1 Majors year 1-something and win 6 straight? That didn't happen by throwing in the towel and "playing for the future". They played to win every damn game.

Well I get all that, but 1) there’s nothing we can say that’s revolutionary regarding the on-field product and 2) there’s nothing we can personally do about it.

We can all say things like “the QB needs to play better” “we need to tackle better” etc etc etc but none of that stuff changes anything.

 

[Devo182]

I know teams usually script the first few drives.

I wish we'd use the bye week to just script the whole daggum game. Script 80 plays and run em like Baylor used to in practice, at full speed, no breaks. Critique and analyze by film later. It'd take 1 hour to run 80 plays at full speed. Do it every practice. Let the D, Pruitt and Ansley, call defensive plays on the fly as if they were Kirby, and without knowing the script. Adjust the script after a couple days to foresee adjustments and stay a step ahead. Practice the best script over and over in week 2 until every play, every adjustment, every route and progression is forged into our minds. Limit all calls at the line for max speed and simplicity.

Could even alternate scripts and give 1 to Maurer and one to JG. See which is more effective and nail it down in week 2 with only that guy.

Then play it at full speed, no huddle, during the game. It can't be any worse than death by a million cuts.

 

[HankHill]

it can’t be both? Geezus. The DL is absolutely void of talent and all our depth is freshmen and sophomores. how many contributors are there from the 2017 class? Look how pedestrian Ignont looked with a capable LB next to him. Who’s a real game breaker at WR? They are all capable, but not world beaters. Nobody going to take a bubble screen 80 yards anytime soon. And yeah, our QB has without a doubt missed those guys when the plays were there to be made. Trade QBs with GSU or BYU and I think we are 3-1. Both those dudes showed more ability than JG.

If this roster is as “void” as your making it out to be then a serviceable QB isn’t fixing it. We would never be in position for it to.

Case in point jay cutlers best record in 4 years at vandy was 5-6. The other 3 was 2-10. That roster was void of talent. If you put jay cutler on this roster we’re winning at the very absolute least 7 games

 

[UTSuave’]

If he's calling plays that should work, why is creativity a problem? If our QB could throw accurately and on time, it wouldn't be a problem.

Look at Chaney’s play calling at Georgia compared to tennessee,I totally understand he’s hindered by the QB position so that limits a lot but even with JG’s issues.he’s still not using the play makers we have on Offense as far as Jet sweeps(RB),The TE (DWA) or even using Couch in some type of running package to give him some type of space to make a play,you could even throw Jauan in there on a trick play.

im just sayin it’s obvious the QB sucks so work around that and use the play makers you have to throw off the defensive off.When Chaney was At Georgia he was using his RB,TE a lot and used a lot of play action also while doing the “flea flicker” but it was never a “look to the WR outside First approach” which allowed everything to open up..here we are doing swing passes and hand offs ..the 3 plays and a cloud of dust is old school and won’t work.that’s why Les Miles is at KU and Steve’s spurrier is retired.Saban was on the verge of being passed up till he altered his offense a little bit other teams were catching on but he has the O line and play makers to do that.Creativity Use the tools around your QB to make him look atleast relevant even if he is S**t.i just don’t think we are including all of our play makers much.

 

[Dooby15]

DWA wasn’t scoring on that play.

Yeah he was

 

[Devo182]

I was as anti Mullen as it gets and as pro Pruitt as it gets. I was wrong.

Tbf almost all, even Mullen guys, said the same thing - of course Mullen will be better the first couple years. That gap certainly looks huge right now. He's a seasoned hc in the sec...the question was ceiling vs ceiling. Can Mullen ever breakthrough his ceiling? If we stick with Pruitt, we'll have at best a rough idea of his ceiling, but not till at least year 4 or 5, minimum. That is the hardest part of having a 1st time coach, all the "what ifs".

Let's not forget even Saban took till year 5 to get Michigan St beyond 7-5. He was barely above .500 after 4 years. And we're talking the GOAT here as comparison.

 

[UTSuave’]

No skill at QB is hindering our other players on O. Only flaw as far as I can tell is that Chaney gets a little pass happy but we knew he had that tendency.

I’m just sayin at Georgia he was really good at using everyone in different packages.he created plays around the skilled players he had on Offense as far as (Trickery) or ways to get them open..I know JG sucks but when I mean (creativity) I mean Throw Jauan in there at QB on a trick play or something..this team has weapons on Offense we just need a QB to shine the light on them.

 

[Devo182]

Yeah he was

Only if he can outrun that safety, which I highly doubt. Maybe a good stiff arm would do the job, but haven't seen that from him to be honest.