Another tiresome coaching thread.

[McDad]

I am in the Pruitt must prove it camp before I trust his coaching ability. This has created some tension and many straw man debates on VN. While I agree his DC pedigree is impressive, I'm not yet sold on him as a HC. Also, I know he gets 3 years or more even if he isnt the right man for our job.
I dont expect this year to be a miracle turnaround. I am not anticipating a strong season.

To adequately explain my position, I wanna draw a comparison to the Titans game yesterday. Titans have a new to head coaching, first time coach. The team had several key people out for the game. But the Titans came out fighting, prepared, and energized. They pulled out all the stops. And, imo, Vrabel simply outcoached O'Brien.

That spark or hunger or enthusiasm (whatever you wanna call it) is exactly what I want to see from a CJP led team. It isnt about winning right now, it is more about the way this team is playing the first 3 games.

I dont believe that expectation is unfair to CJP or the Vols.

 

[malinoisvol]

I am in the Pruitt must prove it camp before I trust his coaching ability. This has created some tension and many straw man debates on VN. While I agree his DC pedigree is impressive, I'm not yet sold on him as a HC. Also, I know he gets 3 years or more even if he isnt the right man for our job.
I dont expect this year to be a miracle turnaround. I am not anticipating a strong season.

To adequately explain my position, I wanna draw a comparison to the Titans game yesterday. Titans have a new to head coaching, first time coach. The team had several key people out for the game. But the Titans came out fighting, prepared, and energized. They pulled out all the stops. And, imo, Vrabel simply outcoached O'Brien.

That spark or hunger or enthusiasm (whatever you wanna call it) is exactly what I want to see from a CJP led team. It isnt about winning right now, it is more about the way this team is playing the first 3 games.

I dont believe that expectation is unfair to CJP or the Vols.

I think we'll see it this Saturday.

 

[McDad]

I think we'll see it this Saturday.

Brother, I certainly hope so. If they cant find a fire for Florida, their wood is wet.

 

[OJ]

Do you think Al Wilson had to be fired up before every game by the Coach or did he just have a God given inter motor?

 

[Paukotajs]

What's the question here?
I can comment on your expectation about the miracle turnaround. I agree with that sentiment. This definitely isn't going to be a miracle year, but I do believe it will be a turnaround. I think TN will be more of a whole team unit this year. Meaning - the players won't hate the coach and the coach will give 2 craps. Unlike last year.

 

[chargervol]

You know I respect your opinion and to be honest, all I have is hope that he's the right guy. Would never say he is at this point.

The only thing I'll point out is that everybody there was coached well enough to make it to the NFL . And they already had enough hunger to make it to the NFL. Several of our guys just don't seem to fit that bill.

 

[MaxVolnGA]

I am in the Pruitt must prove it camp before I trust his coaching ability. This has created some tension and many straw man debates on VN. While I agree his DC pedigree is impressive, I'm not yet sold on him as a HC. Also, I know he gets 3 years or more even if he isnt the right man for our job.
I dont expect this year to be a miracle turnaround. I am not anticipating a strong season.

To adequately explain my position, I wanna draw a comparison to the Titans game yesterday. Titans have a new to head coaching, first time coach. The team had several key people out for the game. But the Titans came out fighting, prepared, and energized. They pulled out all the stops. And, imo, Vrabel simply outcoached O'Brien.

That spark or hunger or enthusiasm (whatever you wanna call it) is exactly what I want to see from a CJP led team. It isnt about winning right now, it is more about the way this team is playing the first 3 games.

I dont believe that expectation is unfair to CJP or the Vols.

I “think” I saw a small spark from a couple players last Sat. Hopefully those embers catch fire with the rest of the team this week.
If not, I fully expect the head ball coach to go all underclassmen and start playing for next year.
Is that Mc as in McEachern?

 

[Pacer92]

I am in the Pruitt must prove it camp before I trust his coaching ability. This has created some tension and many straw man debates on VN. While I agree his DC pedigree is impressive, I'm not yet sold on him as a HC. Also, I know he gets 3 years or more even if he isnt the right man for our job.
I dont expect this year to be a miracle turnaround. I am not anticipating a strong season.

To adequately explain my position, I wanna draw a comparison to the Titans game yesterday. Titans have a new to head coaching, first time coach. The team had several key people out for the game. But the Titans came out fighting, prepared, and energized. They pulled out all the stops. And, imo, Vrabel simply outcoached O'Brien.

That spark or hunger or enthusiasm (whatever you wanna call it) is exactly what I want to see from a CJP led team. It isnt about winning right now, it is more about the way this team is playing the first 3 games.

I dont believe that expectation is unfair to CJP or the Vols.

This weekend will tell a lot..

No coach in this country, college or professional, could have us any better than 2-1 right now...

 

[AllVolinGA]

The coach, whoever it is, can not want it more than the players. I realize part of coaching is motivation, but at the end of the day it is still up to the players to take the fire to the field.

 

[felloffthetrain]

We got too many of Butch's losers on our team this year. We'll start winning more once those losers are gone.

 

[FLVOL_79]

I am in the Pruitt must prove it camp before I trust his coaching ability. This has created some tension and many straw man debates on VN. While I agree his DC pedigree is impressive, I'm not yet sold on him as a HC. Also, I know he gets 3 years or more even if he isnt the right man for our job.
I dont expect this year to be a miracle turnaround. I am not anticipating a strong season.

To adequately explain my position, I wanna draw a comparison to the Titans game yesterday. Titans have a new to head coaching, first time coach. The team had several key people out for the game. But the Titans came out fighting, prepared, and energized. They pulled out all the stops. And, imo, Vrabel simply outcoached O'Brien.

That spark or hunger or enthusiasm (whatever you wanna call it) is exactly what I want to see from a CJP led team. It isnt about winning right now, it is more about the way this team is playing the first 3 games.

I dont believe that expectation is unfair to CJP or the Vols.

Havent seen it yet. They play like they practice..

 

[piratelifeforme]

I am in the Pruitt must prove it camp before I trust his coaching ability. This has created some tension and many straw man debates on VN. While I agree his DC pedigree is impressive, I'm not yet sold on him as a HC. Also, I know he gets 3 years or more even if he isnt the right man for our job.
I dont expect this year to be a miracle turnaround. I am not anticipating a strong season.

To adequately explain my position, I wanna draw a comparison to the Titans game yesterday. Titans have a new to head coaching, first time coach. The team had several key people out for the game. But the Titans came out fighting, prepared, and energized. They pulled out all the stops. And, imo, Vrabel simply outcoached O'Brien.

That spark or hunger or enthusiasm (whatever you wanna call it) is exactly what I want to see from a CJP led team. It isnt about winning right now, it is more about the way this team is playing the first 3 games.

I dont believe that expectation is unfair to CJP or the Vols.

I get what you are trying to do there but comparing the Titans game to UT's game is kind of a stretch dont ya think. The Titans were playing a division rivalry game while UT was playing a winless team from last year with their game of the season the following week. If the Titans come out EVERY game like that then you can make that point.

I have no doubt our team is prepared, energized might be something different. Seems the teams starts like CJP coaches, on the even keel without being too high or too low. The talent level is simply not there to make the game look any different than it does. We struggle in very key areas, OLine, DLine, secondary, QB, which make every aspect of the game look sloppy and ugly.

 

[McDad]

You know I respect your opinion and to be honest, all I have is hope that he's the right guy. Would never say he is at this point.

The only thing I'll point out is that everybody there was coached well enough to make it to the NFL . And they already had enough hunger to make it to the NFL. Several of our guys just don't seem to fit that bill.

That's a fair assessment. There is a certain percentage of guys who fizzle out in any program. If we have a higher than usual percentage of fizzles, that's not all on the coaches.
Otoh, I'd love to see our defense pop some folks on tackles and our offense players fight and scrap like JJ does.

 

[05_never_again]

Do you think Al Wilson had to be fired up before every game by the Coach or did he just have a God given inter motor?

Al Wilson was also a member on teams that went 45-5 (29-3) during his Tennessee career. I love Al Wilson - he's probably my all time favorite Vol, but admittedly it was easier for him and everybody on those teams to get fired up than our current bunch. He came here as a freshman expecting to win, and that confidence and fire only grows when you are a part of really good teams. He saw the examples of how it was done, and he became the example he saw the older he got. If Pruitt is successful, it will take him a few years to build that culture at Tennessee.

I don't know any specific guys, but I think there is a lot of disillusionment on this team with the juniors and seniors, especially the guys who this is going to be their last year. They don't really have anything to look forward to. Even if Tennessee is much better in the future, they won't be there to see it, they know this year is going to be tough, and the years they did experience here were mostly disappointing on the field.

 

[MaTaLa]

Do you think Al Wilson had to be fired up before every game by the Coach or did he just have a God given inter motor?

If we had 22 Al Wilson's we wouldn't need coaches.

 

[McDad]

I get what you are trying to do there but comparing the Titans game to UT's game is kind of a stretch dont ya think. The Titans were playing a division rivalry game while UT was playing a winless team from last year with their game of the season the following week. If the Titans come out EVERY game like that then you can make that point.

I have no doubt our team is prepared, energized might be something different. Seems the teams starts like CJP coaches, on the even keel without being too high or too low. The talent level is simply not there to make the game look any different than it does. We struggle in very key areas, OLine, DLine, secondary, QB, which make every aspect of the game look sloppy and ugly.

Respectfully, I dont think the comparison is a stretch. I'm not expecting the young men in college to play up to the standards a professional does. I'm also not expecting the challenges in the lines or young DBs to be overcome overnight.

I'm simply looking for a game so far which looks to my eye like they're motivated, hungry, passionate to play the game. Furthermore I believe it is the coaches job to dial the team in for a game.

 

[feathersax]

McDad=McRedundant. Always takes shots at CJP. Life doesn't have to be miserable, y'know.

 

[McDad]

McDad=McRedundant. Always takes shots at CJP. Life doesn't have to be miserable, y'know.

I dont know where you're seeing shots here. Guilty as charged on redundancy.

 

[McDad]

Al Wilson was also a member on teams that went 45-5 (29-3) during his Tennessee career. I love Al Wilson - he's probably my all time favorite Vol, but admittedly it was easier for him and everybody on those teams to get fired up than our current bunch. He came here as a freshman expecting to win, and that confidence and fire only grows when you are a part of really good teams. He saw the examples of how it was done, and he became the example he saw the older he got. If Pruitt is successful, it will take him a few years to build that culture at Tennessee.

I don't know any specific guys, but I think there is a lot of disillusionment on this team with the juniors and seniors, especially the guys who this is going to be their last year. They don't really have anything to look forward to. Even if Tennessee is much better in the future, they won't be there to see it, they know this year is going to be tough, and the years they did experience here were mostly disappointing on the field.

Interesting last paragraph. Something I haven't considered.

 

[SaintLouisVol]

. . . The talent level is simply not there to make the game look any different than it does. . .

I think people think that if they say this enough, it will be true. Generally speaking, do you think that Vanderbilt or Kentucky have more talent than Tennessee? No. They do not. What they do have is better football players. That is, players that have played in the same system and have been competently coached to play in that system for at least a few years. Butch Jones was the self-proclaimed 'steward of Tennessee football," and under his stewardship, the program regressed to levels almost unimaginable to those who have some experience of its past.

In terms of the Pruitt system and player development, the team is effectively made up of EE freshman. The whole team has one spring and one fall under its belt.

I'm not defending Pruitt. I have been a frustrated at times as anybody, but it's going to take some time to get these players to play up to their talent level.

 

[Booker512]

I would be more concerned if Pruitt acted like he believed he had done something already. He’s made it pretty clear he isn’t impressed with their effort or gameplay. At the end of the day, you can coach and coach all you want, but sometimes, at the end of the day, certain players just don’t give a flying ****. What are you gonna do?

Get them graduated and on their way out. Period.

We have an extremely poor roster right now. It’s hard not to look at some of our guys and be stunned at how slow they look at times. Absolutely Nothing but recruiting can fix that. Just going to have to be patient lol

Every coach is going to make blunders their first season. That’s just how it goes. Kirby Smart looked like a bust in 2016. Losing on homecoming to Vandy and playing an absolute slobber knocker with Nicholls State in Athens didn’t exactly look all that impressive to me. Maybe I’m in the minority. But I thought Kirby was a bum that first season. Seems like a million years ago now tho.

 

[McDad]

I “think” I saw a small spark from a couple players last Sat. Hopefully those embers catch fire with the rest of the team this week.
If not, I fully expect the head ball coach to go all underclassmen and start playing for next year.
Is that Mc as in McEachern?

No sire. My Mc is different.

 

[Pacer92]

Respectfully, I dont think the comparison is a stretch. I'm not expecting the young men in college to play up to the standards a professional does. I'm also not expecting the challenges in the lines or young DBs to be overcome overnight.

I'm simply looking for a game so far which looks to my eye like they're motivated, hungry, passionate to play the game. Furthermore I believe it is the coaches job to dial the team in for a game.

This team lacks in confidence...some talent...it will come with time...

I don’t think that is a reflection of our HC...

I don’t think he’s done one thing so far that paints a picture of he’s not HC material...

Give him some time. We should know by the end of the year...if not sooner...but premature is premature...

 

[piratelifeforme]

I think people think that if they say this enough, it will be true. Generally speaking, do you think that Vanderbilt or Kentucky have more talent than Tennessee? No. They do not. What they do have is better football players. That is, players that have played in the same system and have been competently coached to play in that system for at least a few years. Butch Jones was the self-proclaimed 'steward of Tennessee football," and under his stewardship, the program regressed to levels almost unimaginable to those who have some experience of its past.

In terms of the Pruitt system and player development, the team is effectively made up of EE freshman. The whole team has one spring and one fall under its belt.

I'm not defending Pruitt. I have been a frustrated at times as anybody, but it's going to take some time to get these players to play up to their talent level.

OK I will give ya that difference between "talent" and a "better football player" Our players are still high school seniors when it comes to development.

 

[piratelifeforme]

Respectfully, I dont think the comparison is a stretch. I'm not expecting the young men in college to play up to the standards a professional does. I'm also not expecting the challenges in the lines or young DBs to be overcome overnight.

I'm simply looking for a game so far which looks to my eye like they're motivated, hungry, passionate to play the game. Furthermore I believe it is the coaches job to dial the team in for a game.

Some kids have it and some dont. I think that fire you look for has been coached out of them over the past few years. Did Fulmer have to motivate Al Wilson, Leonard Little, Jamal Lewis?