2 simple things..

[volfan8]

I honestly believe that Pruitt wouldn’t be in the situation he’s in if he would’ve simply did two things different.
1. Obviously the mishandling of JG and our Quarterback development.
2. The loss of Fitz and hiring Artis, who is IMO highly unproven at this level. Nobody has really talked about this. You HAVE to get a big proven guy here on this hire! Our team has been gassed, pushed around, and weaker in my opinion this year. His resume speaks for itself. I’m sure he’s a great guy but... ??
This obviously falls on JP and I believe he should be gone. It’s funny how 2 simple things can make or break a man’s career and season. God knows only 1 simple decision can break a man’s life these days. We live and die by quite frankly...simple choices.

 

[sonofUT62]

I’m extremely hesitant to use Covid as an excuse for anything related to this season. But let’s give the S/C guy a year under normal circumstances before passing any judgement. The S/C situation seems like it would probably be the one most affected by all of this mess.

 

[DC_Vol]

Third thing: lack of development of the o-line unit.

 

[BDB88]

I’m extremely hesitant to use Covid as an excuse for anything related to this season. But let’s give the S/C guy a year under normal circumstances before passing any judgement. The S/C situation seems like it would probably be the one most affected by all of this mess.

Couldn’t agree more. Also, you have to take into count that when the players are in quarantine they can’t workout either so they aren’t practicing nor are they lifting weights and conditioning. Makes you wonder if other programs are having the same quarantine procedures or is this a UT thing. I haven’t followed other programs closely but it seems like the way we handle Covid is different from other programs. Could be wrong but if we are different could explain some of the product on the field.

 

[GVol1966]

I honestly believe members on this board spend countless hours trying to think up reasons that explain the simplest of things.

2 things are barely even a start to the long list of things that need to be different for Pruitt to not be in the situation he’s in

 

[Roustabout]

I honestly believe that Pruitt wouldn’t be in the situation he’s in if he would’ve simply did two things different.
1. Obviously the mishandling of JG and our Quarterback development.
2. The loss of Fitz and hiring Artis, who is IMO highly unproven at this level. Nobody has really talked about this. You HAVE to get a big proven guy here on this hire! Our team has been gassed, pushed around, and weaker in my opinion this year. His resume speaks for itself. I’m sure he’s a great guy but... ??
This obviously falls on JP and I believe he should be gone. It’s funny how 2 simple things can make or break a man’s career and season. God knows only 1 simple decision can break a man’s life these days. We live and die by quite frankly...simple choices.

Not ever hiring a true DC and screwing up the OC hire out of the gate. They turned away Penix ad also snubbed a couple of grad transfers that works ha e fixed the QB room.

 

[wmcovol]

I’m not sure we have enough evidence whether the strength coach change is an impact or not. Off season wasn’t a real offseason in 2020.

What we do know is the QB & OL play has been bad all 3 yrs. Offensive play calling has been suspect at best last 2 yrs under Chaney. In game coaching has been bad and team motivation for big games does not exist.

 

[cbatey1]

Strength and conditioning crossed my mind a couple days ago

 

[AllOrangeInOhio]

I personally think it's one simple thing, QB play and play calling. Our defense has played remarkable in the first half of every game. We cannot sustain drives in the first half and our defense is on the field for the what would be the equivalent of a whole game. They come out in the second half completely gassed and demoralized because our QB play and offense still sucks and they know they will spend the rest of the game on the field. Plain and simple, the offense and QB play is the root of all our problems.

 

[volfan8]

All the other teams that are excelling didn’t seem to miss a beat. OSU, Bama, Florida.. The list goes on. Why do we at Tennessee accept “a learning year” or “Covid year.” These big 10 teams didn’t even hardly practice! We are too soft when it comes to accountability these days. You shouldn’t get a learning year in this league. Our players have regressed physically. Plain and simple. My grandma can see it.

 

[onevol74]

All the other teams that are excelling didn’t seem to miss a beat. OSU, Bama, Florida.. The list goes on. Why do we at Tennessee accept “a learning year” or “Covid year.” These big 10 teams didn’t even hardly practice! We are too soft when it comes to accountability these days. You shouldn’t get a learning year in this league. Our players have regressed physically. Plain and simple. My grandma can see it.

Because Tennessee fans are the most gullible in the country.

 

[volfan8]

I’m not sure we have enough evidence whether the strength coach change is an impact or not. Off season wasn’t a real offseason in 2020.

What we do know is the QB & OL play has been bad all 3 yrs. Offensive play calling has been suspect at best last 2 yrs under Chaney. In game coaching has been bad and team motivation for big games does not exist.

Off season conditioning is not as important as in season conditioning. You can lose 10-20 percent of muscle and cardiovascular progress in as little as 2 weeks on a simple summer or fall break! I agree there’s more things to the big picture. Play calling has been horrible.

 

[patrick]

I honestly believe that Pruitt wouldn’t be in the situation he’s in if he would’ve simply did two things different.
1. Obviously the mishandling of JG and our Quarterback development.
2. The loss of Fitz and hiring Artis, who is IMO highly unproven at this level. Nobody has really talked about this. You HAVE to get a big proven guy here on this hire! Our team has been gassed, pushed around, and weaker in my opinion this year. His resume speaks for itself. I’m sure he’s a great guy but... ??
This obviously falls on JP and I believe he should be gone. It’s funny how 2 simple things can make or break a man’s career and season. God knows only 1 simple decision can break a man’s life these days. We live and die by quite frankly...simple choices.

Couple that with not even interviewing D-line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh before hiring him, then firing the guy during half-time of a football game. Pruitt is all-time bad as a head coach!

 

[Smokey X]

I honestly believe that Pruitt wouldn’t be in the situation he’s in if he would’ve simply did two things different.
1. Obviously the mishandling of JG and our Quarterback development.
2. The loss of Fitz and hiring Artis, who is IMO highly unproven at this level. Nobody has really talked about this. You HAVE to get a big proven guy here on this hire! Our team has been gassed, pushed around, and weaker in my opinion this year. His resume speaks for itself. I’m sure he’s a great guy but... ??
This obviously falls on JP and I believe he should be gone. It’s funny how 2 simple things can make or break a man’s career and season. God knows only 1 simple decision can break a man’s life these days. We live and die by quite frankly...simple choices.

agree with this but don't forget the losses on defense....linebacker coaches and DL coach all left in addition to what you stated. And who were they replaced with???
Very unproven BN and SF take over LB's and who knows WTH went on with Brumbaugh.

 

[volfan8]

agree with this but don't forget the losses on defense....linebacker coaches and DL coach all left in addition to what you stated. And who were they replaced with???
Very unproven BN and SF take over LB's and who knows WTH went on with Brumbaugh.

I definitely agree. Pruitt’s decisions on some of these hires and a simple decision to change Quarterbacks shocks the conscience of any normal thinking person. It shows that he doesn’t want to hurt coaches or players feelings and take charge. As a leader you tend to hurt people in the process of doing what it takes.

 

[volbeast33]

All the other teams that are excelling didn’t seem to miss a beat. OSU, Bama, Florida.. The list goes on. Why do we at Tennessee accept “a learning year” or “Covid year.” These big 10 teams didn’t even hardly practice! We are too soft when it comes to accountability these days. You shouldn’t get a learning year in this league. Our players have regressed physically. Plain and simple. My grandma can see it.

I’m not making excuses for this mess at all but Pruitt has been extremely pissed from the beginning bc our contract tracing is much more extreme than a lot of other programs.....

 

[Boone&Crockett]

100 percent

 

[malibuvol]

Strength and conditioning crossed my mind a couple days ago

Me too...I think it's difficult to judge the S&C coach given the various restrictions placed on athletes this past summer. Certainly should be able to get a better picture next year to see how the team develops. I do think Fitz leaving was a big loss...

 

[germantown902]

Your second argument is solid. A telling story about the S&C was when Josh Palmer was interviewed for the JPS and said he worked out harder at home than he did during camp.

 

[jeff1vol]

The OP is 100% correct, IMO. Whether it is Covid or the S&C coach... The FACT of the matter is that we are slow, weak and not in very good condition. The constant rotating of players is a great indicator. ALL of this, plus a coach that is in WAY over his head, has added to our stellar 3 win season.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

I honestly believe that Pruitt wouldn’t be in the situation he’s in if he would’ve simply did two things different.
1. Obviously the mishandling of JG and our Quarterback development.
2. The loss of Fitz and hiring Artis, who is IMO highly unproven at this level. Nobody has really talked about this. You HAVE to get a big proven guy here on this hire! Our team has been gassed, pushed around, and weaker in my opinion this year. His resume speaks for itself. I’m sure he’s a great guy but... ??
This obviously falls on JP and I believe he should be gone. It’s funny how 2 simple things can make or break a man’s career and season. God knows only 1 simple decision can break a man’s life these days. We live and die by quite frankly...simple choices.

Thanks for the clue. I didn't realize we had a S&C coach.

 

[thistime]

Two things........STUBBORN.........PRIDE.

 

[uncle chewii]

Couldn’t agree more. Also, you have to take into count that when the players are in quarantine they can’t workout either so they aren’t practicing nor are they lifting weights and conditioning. Makes you wonder if other programs are having the same quarantine procedures or is this a UT thing. I haven’t followed other programs closely but it seems like the way we handle Covid is different from other programs. Could be wrong but if we are different could explain some of the product on the field.

I would have to disagree with you on this. The strength and conditioning should have been more evident this year. Yes we had a lot of players in quarantine but this is where our S/C failed. They should have had protocols in place to keep these guys in shape. There are workouts you can do to help maintain strength without being in a gym. Hiring an unproven S/C coach was a bad move and very evident this year. The whole world went through the same thing and the top teams aren't showing any sign of regression like we did. Inexperience costed us this year.

 

[uncle chewii]

Your second argument is solid. A telling story about the S&C was when Josh Palmer was interviewed for the JPS and said he worked out harder at home than he did during camp.

I think that is the problem with some of our guys is that they didn't workout when it wasn't mandatory. You either want it or your don't and Palmer wanted it.

 

[uncle chewii]

Off season conditioning is not as important as in season conditioning. You can lose 10-20 percent of muscle and cardiovascular progress in as little as 2 weeks on a simple summer or fall break! I agree there’s more things to the big picture. Play calling has been horrible.

Offseason conditioning isn't as important as in season conditioning please explain. Offseason conditioning is what gets you read for in season. You should be bulking up during the summer and working out hard and doing just maintenance conditioning during the season to keep your strength and conditioning during the season. It is hard to build muscle and condition during the season.