Recruiting Forum Football Talk III

[MoCo_Vol]

Shrout got two first downs from penalties and made a few good throws. If he plays all game, he throws two picks and everyone hates him. I’m glad he played well and had his moment, but he is not our answer at QB.

I mean I get why Chaney loves 'em. He seems the most like Bray, big arm but may put the ball in bad spots too often cause he thinks he can make every throw.

 

[GoBigOrangeVols]

Shrout got two first downs from penalties and made a few good throws. If he plays all game, he throws two picks and everyone hates him. I’m glad he played well and had his moment, but he is not our answer at QB.

He played arguably the best quarter of UT football at the QB position since the Dobbs era...

 

[RyanWalkerPGH]

Need someone to dig a bit on these candidates....I want the HC that can keep his staff longer than a flipping single season, feels like we can't build if the program has a revolving door for staff members.

One reason I think Campbell is a very strong candidate. He's only got 2 guys on staff that haven't been there longer than 2 seasons.

Supposedly he treats his staff horribly and Rick Barnes can't stand him. So not surprising it's a revolving door. The only ones that seem to stay are his buddies and guys he coached with at Bama.

 

[05_never_again]

Need someone to dig a bit on these candidates....I want the HC that can keep his staff longer than a flipping single season, feels like we can't build if the program has a revolving door for staff members.

One reason I think Campbell is a very strong candidate. He's only got 2 guys on staff that haven't been there longer than 2 seasons.

Campbell or Freeze is probably the best candidate. Campbell has the best blend of P5 head coaching success with minimal red flags. I think that what Freeze did at Ole Miss is more impressive than what Campbell has done at Iowa St, but there are the obvious red flags.

Fickell is also an interesting name, but he's a defensive-minded HC and is coaching at a G5 school. Maybe I'm getting too hung up on this, but I think we need a guy with a positive P5 track record as a HC.

 

[butchna]

I'm just sick of the "prove it" coaches. It hasn't worked for us this decade.

Having P5 experience as an HC is not some guarantee that the coach will be successful, and obviously there are coaches who have had success despite having no experience when they took the job. We absolutely need what you're talking about - leader, needs to hire a good OC and DC, team of good recruiters, be a CEO. I think that Tennessee in particular, since we're terrible at identifying up and coming HCs, would maximize their chances at hiring a good HC if they hired a guy that has done it before at some other P5 school. Hiring a "proven head coach" has never been Tennessee's M.O., and it is probably time to do something different.

Post-Fulmer, the only guy who was remotely close to a proven HC was Butch. He did have some success at G5 programs, but he was also following in the footsteps of Brian Kelly at both stops. Dooley's HC experience was a joke (losing record at La Tech), Lane had no college HC experience (although he's the only one of the lot who can actually coach), Pruitt had none.

Don’t necessarily disagree with you, but both Napier and Chadwell are far more successful at their level than Dooley or Butch. Can you name a signature win for either pre-UT?

 

[SpringBokVol]

Some South Carolina fans are already upset with new hire Shane Beamer

 

[MoCo_Vol]

He played arguably the best quarter of UT football at the QB position since the Dobbs era...

Well that's 100% ******** and not true AT ALL.

Hell JG had a better quarter last season against Kentucky 7 of 8 for 115 and 2 TDs. A better defense that was actually playing hard, unlike Florida in the 4th Saturday.

 

[VolInDayton]

He played arguably the best quarter of UT football at the QB position since the Dobbs era...

It's a shame this was his first fair shot. His only other chance this year was a pentaly handing it off twice, then having his first past being a 3-long within his own 20.

I remeber hearing JG was suppose to have a short leash this year, but he was the only QB that didn't have a short leash lol.

 

[AppStVol]

What -- and who -- to watch as college football's coaching carousel heats up (espn.com)

Anyone have ESPN Insider?

Tennessee
Coach: Jeremy Pruitt
Record: 2-6 this season, 15-18 overall
Contract situation: Signed through 2025 season, owed $12.88 million if fired this year

Pruitt seemingly has lost all momentum from a strong finish in 2019, when Tennessee won its final six games, including the Gator Bowl over Indiana. Tennessee has lost six straight, all by double digits, and still must face No. 5 Texas A&M on Dec. 19.

The Vols' offense has flatlined, failing to produce 20 points since Week 3 and falling short of 30 since a Week 2 win against Missouri. If Pruitt survives, major staff changes on offense are virtually guaranteed.

Tennessee awarded Pruitt a two-year contract extension before the season, an arguably unnecessary decision that would decrease the chances of a dismissal months later. Athletic director Phillip Fulmer remains supportive, and, to be fair, Pruitt is only in his third season, and he still can flip the roster through recruiting and development.

"Fulmer can't afford to [make a change] right now," an industry source said.
The one caveat is if Tennessee falls to winless Vanderbilt this week. A loss to the Commodores could force Tennessee to move on from Pruitt. Tennessee still would draw a good group of candidates, including Liberty's Hugh Freeze.
"If you lose to Vandy, you're done," a program source said.

 

[SpringBokVol]

Jets fire Gregg Williams - ProFootballTalk

 

[Kingston Vol]

nvm beat to it

 

[vol494]

Don’t necessarily disagree with you, but both Napier and Chadwell are far more successful at their level than Dooley or Butch. Can you name a signature win for either pre-UT?

Agreed.

And Chadwell has already beat Napier this season. Probably gonna do it again next Saturday.

 

[johnfnkelly]

He played arguably the best quarter of UT football at the QB position since the Dobbs era...

That's depressing to think about.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Agreed.

And Chadwell has already beat Napier this season. Probably gonna do it again next Saturday.

A game I'm 100% not gonna miss. Watched the 2nd half of the BYU game and Coastal is pretty fun to watch, seem to play real fast. I've not seen Louisiana play yet.

 

[Kingston Vol]

Tennessee
Coach: Jeremy Pruitt
Record: 2-6 this season, 15-18 overall
Contract situation: Signed through 2025 season, owed $12.88 million if fired this year

Pruitt seemingly has lost all momentum from a strong finish in 2019, when Tennessee won its final six games, including the Gator Bowl over Indiana. Tennessee has lost six straight, all by double digits, and still must face No. 5 Texas A&M on Dec. 19.

The Vols' offense has flatlined, failing to produce 20 points since Week 3 and falling short of 30 since a Week 2 win against Missouri. If Pruitt survives, major staff changes on offense are virtually guaranteed.

Tennessee awarded Pruitt a two-year contract extension before the season, an arguably unnecessary decision that would decrease the chances of a dismissal months later. Athletic director Phillip Fulmer remains supportive, and, to be fair, Pruitt is only in his third season, and he still can flip the roster through recruiting and development.

"Fulmer can't afford to [make a change] right now," an industry source said.
The one caveat is if Tennessee falls to winless Vanderbilt this week. A loss to the Commodores could force Tennessee to move on from Pruitt. Tennessee still would draw a good group of candidates, including Liberty's Hugh Freeze.
"If you lose to Vandy, you're done," a program source said.

This thinking is silly to me - although I don't doubt it's true.

"We don't have the money to fire Jeremy Pruitt. Unless he loses one game we've determined is the line in the sand. Then suddenly we have the money."

Either you can do it or you can't. Either you've got the money or you don't.

 

[LA Vol]

Shrout, Bailey and Salter will give us three solid options for next year. UT still hopes to bring in a transfer, but we should be much stronger at QB next year. We could've been stronger this year... but spilt milk.

 

[05_never_again]

Don’t necessarily disagree with you, but both Napier and Chadwell are far more successful at their level than Dooley or Butch. Can you name a signature win for either pre-UT?

Both more successful than Dooley at their levels. Butch had a longer track record of success at the G5 level than both Napier and Chadwell though. It shouldn't be discounted though that he followed Brian Kelly at both Central Michigan and Cincinnati.

Butch coached at the G5 level 6 years and was a conference champ or co-champ 4 times. Napier's only been at Louisiana 3 years; he was .500 his first year, lost the conference title game last year, and he'll have another chance this year. Chadwell had multiple playoff berths at the Division II/FCS level, and has been at the G5 level just 2 years.

If our admin had a track record of finding up and coming coaches, I'd be totally with either Chadwell or Napier. And they probably both are pretty good coaches. I just don't trust our people with making such a hire though. I think they have no clue what to look for as far as potential, so they need to go with someone that has already proven it.

 

[SpringBokVol]

This thinking is silly to me - although I don't doubt it's true.

"We don't have the money to fire Jeremy Pruitt. Unless he loses one game we've determined is the line in the sand. Then suddenly we have the money."

Either you can do it or you can't. Either you've got the money or you don't.

This is the issue on my end too - either you do or you don't. It should not depending on beating an awful football team - why is that the lynch pin here?

Either he is the guy or he isn't - that game has nothing to do with it.

 

[05_never_again]

This thinking is silly to me - although I don't doubt it's true.

"We don't have the money to fire Jeremy Pruitt. Unless he loses one game we've determined is the line in the sand. Then suddenly we have the money."

Either you can do it or you can't. Either you've got the money or you don't.

They do have the money. It's just a matter of them being pushed to a certain level of embarrassment in order to spend it.

Also, a loss to Vandy could be a tipping point between it being more expensive to fire Pruitt, or being more expensive to keep him. You might have some more casual fans go "Oh wow, I knew they were bad but they even lost to Vandy? I'm out" with a Vandy loss.

 

[scvolfan7]

Shrout, Bailey and Salter will give us three solid options for next year. UT still hopes to bring in a transfer, but we should be much stronger at QB next year. We could've been stronger this year... but spilt milk.

The offense is so bad from a play calling stand point that I doubt a different QB would help. Would have to be a dobbs or Lamar Jackson type to make a difference

 

[Kingston Vol]

They do have the money. It's just a matter of them being pushed to a certain level of embarrassment in order to spend it.

Also, a loss to Vandy could be a tipping point between it being more expensive to fire Pruitt, or being more expensive to keep him. You might have some more casual fans go "Oh wow, I knew they were bad but they even lost to Vandy? I'm out" with a Vandy loss.

Right, that's what I'm thinking and that's insane.

One game is going to determine whether or not we spend $20m or not. That's short sighted.

We all want Pruitt gone, but if you don't want to spend the money, or want to give Pruitt the opportunity to turn it around, then you need to come out and say that - preferably two weeks ago or so.

Letting this thing linger into 2021 with nothing being said is the worst thing they can do.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Shrout, Bailey and Salter will give us three solid options for next year. UT still hopes to bring in a transfer, but we should be much stronger at QB next year. We could've been stronger this year... but spilt milk.

I’d play both Bailey and Shrout the remaining games and if they keep impressing, then I’d would skip bringing in a transfer QB.

 

[LA Vol]

The offense is so bad from a play calling stand point that I doubt a different QB would help. Would have to be a dobbs or Lamar Jackson type to make a difference

Seriously? You don't think having a QB who can make quick reads, connect with WRs and take care of the football makes a difference? Then I guess you don't think QB TOs leading to points for the other team cost us games this year, either?

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I'm still so confused by the offense. Is it Chaney just being terrible? Is it Pruitt trying to play dictator and Chaney being more than willing to get paid to listen?

Thing is Chaney doesn't need to succeed here to make a name for himself, he's done that. So is he just too old to fight a HC if the HC is trying to tell him how to run his offense? I mean Jay & Tee both can turn out NFL talent at the position group they are coaching. I don't think Friend or Weinke either can make that claim.

So it's a weird dynamic, ultimately whoever made the call to stick with JG needs to be gone. Because Saturday showed us one thing, JT who is a 3rd year guy here at UT is without question more capable of running that offense than JG. Maybe that's why he's rarely seen the field? Trot out Maurer who may appear "fun" but is ultimately pretty bad at this point in his career. Makes it easier to say "we got no one else!" if the backup is worse than the starter.

 

[Dudley Smith]

One thing on Matt Campbell (beyond what is supposedly an enormous buyout) that gives me pause is that he has never had a recruiting class ranked higher than #46, and is currently sitting at #51 for 2021. I know that's at Iowa State, and Tennessee recruits itself, winning and players in the NFL speak for themselves, etc., but just worth noting that he is at best unproven in that area. Coming into the shark-infested recruiting waters in which Tennessee swims, that is a concern.