London Vol
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After taking time to recover from Saturday (Sunday in England) I would like to lay out how I see things now, I have had to re-assess my expectations for this season from an 8-4 season to who knows what!
The First decision to make was, do I give up on the Vols (I have supported them since Daniel Lincoln was trying to kick over Mount Cody 11 years ago, so I have only known "thin and thin", no 1998 or Manning or White for me to remember"or do we try to salvage what we can from the 2019 season, well there was no decision to make the first option was NOT an option.
Jeremy Pruitt
I am still a fan for now, he inherited a clustertuck (no players went to the combine or drafted) and in the 11 years of suffering as a VOL (the Auburn and Kentucky wins last year were the best ive known, the Hail Mary at Georgia was great but a fluke) my concerns are that I believed him when he said JG had improved, Burrell was better than our DBs (he may be soon but not now) both Lines were stuff full of 300llbrs and whilst this is true they seem unfit and we are always struggling late in the game. I think/hope Pruitt will be fine, I think of him like a Freshman that you have to accept rookie mistakes but you will be rewarded in time.
But that leash is a year shorter after the start this year.
Jarret Gaurantano
He gets his own section because this piece of the jigsaw is so important. The evidence is clear now that he is limited, His dunk passes are far too hard and he uses his arm strength to try to overcome double or triple coverage, that's now not working, in fact the best throws I can think of were the ally oops last year and that was only successful because of the leaping abilities of the Wide Receivers. I guess you stay with him now and do Everything to secure Harrison Bailey in December.
Offensive Line
This season is all about creating momentum for 2020 (look how Nebraska started last year and the finished) it will also help recruiting.
Morris, Smith, Kennedy, Carvin or Calbert and Wright. Let them build some chemistry, let them take the rookie lumps this year, in 12 months these will be the boys we will treat as the heart of the team
Running Backs
We have all known about Chandler and at last he will not be underused this season, but the flip side will be that his stats and highlight reel will lead him to the NFL next year. But Eric Gray is almost an upgrade so 2020 at running back is bright here.
Wide Receivers
Lets hope Josh Palmer comes back and Keyton has a chance to shine this year also Gilbert etc are recuited but this may look in 2020 like the D Line did in 2019
Defensive Line
I was pleasantly surprised with the D Line against BYU, three sacks, I don't recall the last time that happened in a 3-4.and plenty of penetration against a Big 5 O Line.
Soloman, Emerson and Bumphus are all due back next year so let them take the bumps this year. There are also some very promising additions on the horizon in Baron and Hardy.
Linebackers
Taylor, Bituli, To`oto`o and Crouch for the rest of the season. Ignont first he surprises me with a good play then it is the complete reversal, he should be the backup now to allow To`oto`o and Crouch to develop. Harrison also needs some experience and who knows with JJ.
Defensive Backs
Taylor, Jackson, McCullough and Burrell, Im tired of waiting for Warrior to deliver and organising the defence for the 64 yard completion pass on Saturday was so annoying, lets see what Tank has got. Taylor seems to have regressed this season but I think the organisation at the back has been so poor (shocked as I thought Pruitt was a DB whisperer) but I think he will still be fine in his career in Orange.
Kicking Team
Never been so good in all phases and all due to return next year, horray.
The Schedule
Unlike last year, Vandy, Miss State, Kentucky and South Carolina are all not as strong so there are chances to shine and with Chatt and UAB also on the schedule a bowl game is not out the question but I do not recommend purchasing tickets yet!!
In short, go young, go for broke ironically we need a shock win against Florida or Georgia or a squeeky close game against Alabama (ironically we may be taken for granted this season by one of them) to rekindle hope and recruiting for next year. Its so disappointing that I now have consider 2020 but there is no other choice.
One day this will all be worth it GO BIG ORANGE
The First decision to make was, do I give up on the Vols (I have supported them since Daniel Lincoln was trying to kick over Mount Cody 11 years ago, so I have only known "thin and thin", no 1998 or Manning or White for me to remember"or do we try to salvage what we can from the 2019 season, well there was no decision to make the first option was NOT an option.
Jeremy Pruitt
I am still a fan for now, he inherited a clustertuck (no players went to the combine or drafted) and in the 11 years of suffering as a VOL (the Auburn and Kentucky wins last year were the best ive known, the Hail Mary at Georgia was great but a fluke) my concerns are that I believed him when he said JG had improved, Burrell was better than our DBs (he may be soon but not now) both Lines were stuff full of 300llbrs and whilst this is true they seem unfit and we are always struggling late in the game. I think/hope Pruitt will be fine, I think of him like a Freshman that you have to accept rookie mistakes but you will be rewarded in time.
But that leash is a year shorter after the start this year.
Jarret Gaurantano
He gets his own section because this piece of the jigsaw is so important. The evidence is clear now that he is limited, His dunk passes are far too hard and he uses his arm strength to try to overcome double or triple coverage, that's now not working, in fact the best throws I can think of were the ally oops last year and that was only successful because of the leaping abilities of the Wide Receivers. I guess you stay with him now and do Everything to secure Harrison Bailey in December.
Offensive Line
This season is all about creating momentum for 2020 (look how Nebraska started last year and the finished) it will also help recruiting.
Morris, Smith, Kennedy, Carvin or Calbert and Wright. Let them build some chemistry, let them take the rookie lumps this year, in 12 months these will be the boys we will treat as the heart of the team
Running Backs
We have all known about Chandler and at last he will not be underused this season, but the flip side will be that his stats and highlight reel will lead him to the NFL next year. But Eric Gray is almost an upgrade so 2020 at running back is bright here.
Wide Receivers
Lets hope Josh Palmer comes back and Keyton has a chance to shine this year also Gilbert etc are recuited but this may look in 2020 like the D Line did in 2019
Defensive Line
I was pleasantly surprised with the D Line against BYU, three sacks, I don't recall the last time that happened in a 3-4.and plenty of penetration against a Big 5 O Line.
Soloman, Emerson and Bumphus are all due back next year so let them take the bumps this year. There are also some very promising additions on the horizon in Baron and Hardy.
Linebackers
Taylor, Bituli, To`oto`o and Crouch for the rest of the season. Ignont first he surprises me with a good play then it is the complete reversal, he should be the backup now to allow To`oto`o and Crouch to develop. Harrison also needs some experience and who knows with JJ.
Defensive Backs
Taylor, Jackson, McCullough and Burrell, Im tired of waiting for Warrior to deliver and organising the defence for the 64 yard completion pass on Saturday was so annoying, lets see what Tank has got. Taylor seems to have regressed this season but I think the organisation at the back has been so poor (shocked as I thought Pruitt was a DB whisperer) but I think he will still be fine in his career in Orange.
Kicking Team
Never been so good in all phases and all due to return next year, horray.
The Schedule
Unlike last year, Vandy, Miss State, Kentucky and South Carolina are all not as strong so there are chances to shine and with Chatt and UAB also on the schedule a bowl game is not out the question but I do not recommend purchasing tickets yet!!
In short, go young, go for broke ironically we need a shock win against Florida or Georgia or a squeeky close game against Alabama (ironically we may be taken for granted this season by one of them) to rekindle hope and recruiting for next year. Its so disappointing that I now have consider 2020 but there is no other choice.
One day this will all be worth it GO BIG ORANGE
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