5 reasons Tennessee is built to win 10 games in 2018

#1
dduncan4163

dduncan4163

Have at it Hoss
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#1
5 reasons Tennessee is built to win 10 games in 2018


KNOXVILLE — Following the worst season in school history, Tennessee can bounce back from its 4-8 finish to potentially a 10-win season in 2018.
When new head coach Jeremy Pruitt took over, he expressed his expectation “to win every game that we play.”
All head coaches have that desire and mindset, but Pruitt’s winning track record along with his ability to game-plan and prepare players gives Tennessee faithful a reason to be optimistic.
Optimism alone won’t guarantee a winning season, which would be only the program’s fourth this decade, much less winning 10 games. But the former Alabama assistant has brought in some solid recruits considering the circumstances, and he should provide an upgrade in game-day coaching over Butch Jones — perhaps enough to turn this season’s narrow losses to SEC East foes Florida, South Carolina and Kentucky into victories in 2018.
With time to prepare for an opening game matchup against West Virginia in Charlotte, Pruitt has a chance to get off on the right foot against the Mountaineers. With three other winnable non-conference games — against ETSU, UTEP and Charlotte — the Vols will have a legitimate chance of eclipsing nine regular-season wins.


1. Coaching staff

When Jones was hired in December 2012, he let it be known that he was bringing in the best coaching staff in the nation. That did not pan out. The new Tennessee staff provides a recruiting footprint with relationships in the Southeast along with the ability to develop players and have personnel in place for game day.

  • Tyson Helton (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
  • Brian Niedermeyer (TBA)
  • Robert Gillespie (Running Backs)
  • Will Friend (Offensive Line)
  • Tracy Rocker (Defensive Line)
  • Chris Rumph (Outside Linebackers)
  • Kevin Sherrer (Defensive Coordinator and Inside Linebackers)
  • Terry Fair (Defensive Backs)
  • Charles Kelly (Special Teams/Safeties)


3. Pieces in place on defense

What makes Pruitt a good coach is not having a formation dictating what type of coach he is. He will run what he feels is the best scheme for that opponent.
Pruitt says that he thinks “it’s important that you play the best personnel that you have.”
“If you’ve got two really good linebackers and five really good defensive linemen, then we probably need to be playing those five defensive linemen and those two really good linebackers,” he said. “I think that’s part of it, especially with me having a high school background. There’s some years that the three-technique weighs 300 pounds and there’s some years that he weighs 150.
“You have to find a way to be adaptable, be flexible and that’s what we’ll do.”
Pruitt and his defensive staff will lose defensive backs Justin Martin, Shaq Wiggins, Emmanuel Moseley and Evan Berry, along with linebackers Cortez McDowell, Elliott Berry and Colton Jumper. Kendal Vickers will be lost off the line.
Todd Kelly Jr., Marquill Osborne, Nigel Warrior, Baylen Buchanan, MaLeik Gatewood, Rashaan Gaulden, Micah Abernathy, Maleik Gray, Shawn Shamburger, Theo Jackson, Terrell Bailey and Cheyenne Labruzza all return in the defensive backfield. It is still to be seen if Gaulden will test his chances by declaring for the NFL Draft. Wide receiver Tyler Byrd could also make a move over to the defensive backfield and play a role on defense.








I love the optimism but a Florida win and a bowl is all I'm seriously hoping for in 2018. Pruitt will get us back to the top but it will take a time.


Then again maybe we really aren't as far away from greatness as we think. Hope springs eternal.



GBO
 
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#3
#3
Yeah I was about to say some of the info about coaches and players was a little dated. Idk if we'll get 10 wins this year, but I know we'll beat expectationa.
 
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#5
#5
I'm ready for it, DunCAN !!

Although, some of our fans likely will try to show 10 reasons while we'll win only 5 games.
 
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#9
#9
Orange defense said:
I’ve been saying it all along. Smart can’t beat Pruitt.😬🔥🤭👀
Click to expand...

Yes you have. Unfortunately not a word of it has come to pass yet either. Nor will it for months to come at best. Good to know how proud of yourself you are so far tho.
 
#12
#12
The most important reason UT may get to 10 wins is the schedule. You can make reasonable arguments that UT could win 9 of their games on their schedule this year (UGA, Bama, and Auburn reasonably aren't gonna happen this year). If you add a bowl game to it, that's 10.

The counter-argument is UT could just as easily lose 9 games this year (All SEC games plus WVU).

Playing the odds, I see 6-6....
 
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#14
#14
dduncan4163 said:
5 reasons Tennessee is built to win 10 games in 2018


KNOXVILLE — Following the worst season in school history, Tennessee can bounce back from its 4-8 finish to potentially a 10-win season in 2018.
When new head coach Jeremy Pruitt took over, he expressed his expectation “to win every game that we play.”
All head coaches have that desire and mindset, but Pruitt’s winning track record along with his ability to game-plan and prepare players gives Tennessee faithful a reason to be optimistic.
Optimism alone won’t guarantee a winning season, which would be only the program’s fourth this decade, much less winning 10 games. But the former Alabama assistant has brought in some solid recruits considering the circumstances, and he should provide an upgrade in game-day coaching over Butch Jones — perhaps enough to turn this season’s narrow losses to SEC East foes Florida, South Carolina and Kentucky into victories in 2018.
With time to prepare for an opening game matchup against West Virginia in Charlotte, Pruitt has a chance to get off on the right foot against the Mountaineers. With three other winnable non-conference games — against ETSU, UTEP and Charlotte — the Vols will have a legitimate chance of eclipsing nine regular-season wins.


1. Coaching staff

When Jones was hired in December 2012, he let it be known that he was bringing in the best coaching staff in the nation. That did not pan out. The new Tennessee staff provides a recruiting footprint with relationships in the Southeast along with the ability to develop players and have personnel in place for game day.

  • Tyson Helton (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
  • Brian Niedermeyer (TBA)
  • Robert Gillespie (Running Backs)
  • Will Friend (Offensive Line)
  • Tracy Rocker (Defensive Line)
  • Chris Rumph (Outside Linebackers)
  • Kevin Sherrer (Defensive Coordinator and Inside Linebackers)
  • Terry Fair (Defensive Backs)
  • Charles Kelly (Special Teams/Safeties)


3. Pieces in place on defense

What makes Pruitt a good coach is not having a formation dictating what type of coach he is. He will run what he feels is the best scheme for that opponent.
Pruitt says that he thinks “it’s important that you play the best personnel that you have.”
“If you’ve got two really good linebackers and five really good defensive linemen, then we probably need to be playing those five defensive linemen and those two really good linebackers,” he said. “I think that’s part of it, especially with me having a high school background. There’s some years that the three-technique weighs 300 pounds and there’s some years that he weighs 150.
“You have to find a way to be adaptable, be flexible and that’s what we’ll do.”
Pruitt and his defensive staff will lose defensive backs Justin Martin, Shaq Wiggins, Emmanuel Moseley and Evan Berry, along with linebackers Cortez McDowell, Elliott Berry and Colton Jumper. Kendal Vickers will be lost off the line.
Todd Kelly Jr., Marquill Osborne, Nigel Warrior, Baylen Buchanan, MaLeik Gatewood, Rashaan Gaulden, Micah Abernathy, Maleik Gray, Shawn Shamburger, Theo Jackson, Terrell Bailey and Cheyenne Labruzza all return in the defensive backfield. It is still to be seen if Gaulden will test his chances by declaring for the NFL Draft. Wide receiver Tyler Byrd could also make a move over to the defensive backfield and play a role on defense.








I love the optimism but a Florida win and a bowl is all I'm seriously hoping for in 2018. Pruitt will get us back to the top but it will take a time.


Then again maybe we really aren't as far away from greatness as we think. Hope springs eternal.


GBO
Click to expand...
I am buying, what a big unknown in favor of UT, not one SEC coach has a clue as to how these coaches will coach a team, UT has players, and I truly believe CJP will get the most out of each man in Orange. This team has a very bad taste in their mouth, and proving everyone wrong is a BIG toothbrush.

:rock::rock::rock::rock::rock::rock::rock::rock:
 
#15
#15
I appreciate the enthusiasm. However there's just no way that a brand new head coach and staff are going to win away games in the SEC against UGA,Auburn and USCjr. Couple that with a near certain loss to Saban and that's 4 losses I thing are nearly 100% probable.

We have a chance to beat Florida with a new coaching staff playing on the road. We probably beat UK and probably lose to Vandy on the road.

Depending on how the WV game goes I see at the very most 7 wins and as little as 5 or maybe 4 if it's a total disaster.

Let's just call it 6 and move on.
 
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#16
#16
How old is this? Gauldens gone. Gillespies gone. Just shows how much (hahahaha, excuse me) or how little people read.
 
#24
#24
No way we have a 10 win season with our O-Line issues.

Just another click-bait article giving Tennessee fans a false sense of hope.
 
#25
#25
Game 1 will tell us a lot about how this season will go. If our defense drastically improves, and shuts down West Virginia, I think its possible to see when looking at our schedule, maybe 8,9,10 wins. I think our offense will be much improved just by switching to a more Pro-Style scheme.
 
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