Ask me your questions about WVU...

[Cpatter4]

I would imagine our LT Cajuste would start opposite of Smith and our RT McKivitz would supplant one of your guards.

WR Jennings would start for you guys, I don't know who he'd start over, but he would probably start over most receivers in the country.

Our LB Long is certainly good enough to start for the majority of the teams in the country, though, his size could present problems for him in the SEC. But I doubt it.

Marcus Sims would probably be your starting KOR.

We have our own Jennings, who I'm sure would start over most of your WRs.

 

[sjt18]

We have our own Jennings, who I'm sure would start over most of your WRs.

Calloway would be the best WR on WVU's team by a fairly considerable margin.

 

[sjt18]

Think your Blue and Yellow glasses affected your brain when typing that one. When Grier was at UF he made plenty of bad reads and passes, he just made some good ones too that made up for it.

If UT opens the #PruittEra with a 21 point ass kicking I'm not even logging on here for a few days.

I watched several games. Grier made good decisions and got the ball out. Va Tech surprisingly didn't put much pressure on Grier. Maybe they didn't know what to expect from Grier in his first start with WVU?

KU tried... bless their hearts... they just didn't have nearly good enough athletes to do what they needed to do. But give their DC some credit. OSU watched that game and picked up on something. OSU played their receivers tight, focused on stopping the run, and started getting pressure on Grier. In response he made some really bad decisions resulting in 4 picks and others that could/should have been picked. Under pressure, he sometimes just heaves it.

Like most QB's, put him under some pressure... and it isn't so easy to make good decisions.

 

[Rooster1]

What do you think about the Vols talent level?

I think we are much better than you think talent-wise. Butch was a poor in game coach, but he and his staff did a good job recruiting, and they did so at a pretty high level. 2015- 4th in nation, 2016- 14th, 2017- 17th. Pruitt's first class (2018- 22nd) was strong top to bottom, filled a lot of needs, and he brought in several highly ranked transfers at key positions like center, TE and RB. We have have 3 former 5 five stars in Trey Smith (best offensive lineman in FBS), Jonathon Kongo, and Kyle Phillips.. and nearly thirty 4 star players on roster, several being highly ranked 4 stars.

We are better at some positions than WVU: O-line, secondary, kicker, and RB. I'd say WVU has the advantage at QB and WR, and that's about it.

I honestly think our backs London, Chandler, and Jordan are going to run all over and down the throat of the WVU defense. And WVU will have to respect JG's arm, he has a cannon. And while everyone is hyping up Greir.. let's not forget JG was the # 1 dual threat in the nation out of high school, and just shy of a 5 star. He is very talented and can run. This year he has a line to protect him (if we stay healthy).

I think our defensive speed, and special teams is really going to shock WVU. I think the Vols win 27-14.

You can blame everything on Jones all you want. But if those class rankings were accurate (they were not) no way UT goes ofer in SEC play in 17. Many of the players in those classes have left and many were flat out over rated. I'll take the abuse that is coming for saying this but its the truth either way.

 

[TN Outlaw]

You can blame everything on Jones all you want. But if those class rankings were accurate (they were not) no way UT goes ofer in SEC play in 17. Many of the players in those classes have left and many were flat out over rated. I'll take the abuse that is coming for saying this but its the truth either way.

Between Jones being a really bad coach and having the majority of the experienced highly talented guys hurt or otherwise not playing is why last year happened. Not necessarily because the ratings were off that much for an entire class.

 

[TN Outlaw]

I'm curious being that the 1st few games of the season are usually coached and schemed close to the vest and with a very bland gameplan as to not give up much info about the team. Especially when it's an OOC game. My question for the Vol fans on this thread, do you think CJP does this with WV knowing his main objective is the SECe or do you guys think we actually pull out all the stops and play them like its the NC game?

If WV is nearly as good as advertised or half as good as most of their fans believe they will be, for us to even stand any chance CJP will have to throw the book at them, so does he?

 

[VFL-82-JP]

And there’d likely also be a significant drop in money from the SEC Network when its deal would be immediately renegotiated.

They say there's no such thing as too much money. I can't confirm or deny that, haven't yet reached the point where I feel empowered to judge.

Nevertheless, I think we'd be okay financially, and a lot more comfortable culturally, with the shift.

West Virginia is only a couple million folks, but it's pretty close to the target-rich market of Washington, DC ... a town perennially searching for a college team to back (esp. with the way the Redskins have done in recent years).

 

[VFL-82-JP]

I'm curious being that the 1st few games of the season are usually coached and schemed close to the vest and with a very bland gameplan as to not give up much info about the team. Especially when it's an OOC game. My question for the Vol fans on this thread, do you think CJP does this with WV knowing his main objective is the SECe or do you guys think we actually pull out all the stops and play them like its the NC game?

If WV is nearly as good as advertised or half as good as most of their fans believe they will be, for us to even stand any chance CJP will have to throw the book at them, so does he?

Casey Pruitt said in a recent interview that you don't have to parse Jeremy's words to find the hidden meaning. He always says exactly what he means.

So I'm going to take him at his word when he said not too many weeks ago that he's going to try to win every single game, that's the plan and that's the goal.

He'll throw the kitchen sink at West Virginia if he thinks it'll help him get the W. Figure out how to re-introduce surprise with the Gators and Bulldogs later. For now, win. I believe that'll be his mindset, because he said so.

 

[TN Outlaw]

Good answer, and I hope your correct.

If we can line up and play power run and go right at them on offense and have success then we can be kind of bland but on D I hope CJP throws everything we have at Grier and keep him uncomfortable the entire game. The kitchen sink and the dirty dish rag!

 

[Gandalf]

Casey Pruitt said in a recent interview that you don't have to parse Jeremy's words to find the hidden meaning. He always says exactly what he means.

So I'm going to take him at his word when he said not too many weeks ago that he's going to try to win every single game, that's the plan and that's the goal.

He'll throw the kitchen sink at West Virginia if he thinks it'll help him get the W. Figure out how to re-introduce surprise with the Gators and Bulldogs later. For now, win. I believe that'll be his mindset, because he said so.

EXACTLY! - exactly my read on Pruitt as well. He is not about being subtle and knows the best way to maximize the rest of the season is to win the first game. He will likely pull out any stop saving getting on the field himself to give the team that chance. You had better believe also as his first game as HC, he is going to be coaching "lights-out" to establish momentum of his legacy.

 

[Alto1]

EXACTLY! - exactly my read on Pruitt as well. He is not about being subtle and knows the best way to maximize the rest of the season is to win the first game. He will likely pull out any stop saving getting on the field himself to give the team that chance. You had better believe also as his first game as HC, he is going to be coaching "lights-out" to establish momentum of his legacy.

I believe this also.

He will be aggressive and no holds bared!

 

[TN Outlaw]

Y'all are pumping me up!

I was worried CJP might not be so aggressive against WV while he evaluates how the players do in the new scheme and what works and what don't and try to remain healthy for SEC play.

I hope you guys are right and he pours it all on them.

 

[Rooster1]

I believe this also.

He will be aggressive and no holds bared!

Why would he disrobe his holds?

 

[Gandalf]

Why would he disrobe his holds?

Thats why it is called a rear "naked" choke - Pruitt will be choking WVU out

 

[sjt18]

Casey Pruitt said in a recent interview that you don't have to parse Jeremy's words to find the hidden meaning. He always says exactly what he means.

So I'm going to take him at his word when he said not too many weeks ago that he's going to try to win every single game, that's the plan and that's the goal.

He'll throw the kitchen sink at West Virginia if he thinks it'll help him get the W. Figure out how to re-introduce surprise with the Gators and Bulldogs later. For now, win. I believe that'll be his mindset, because he said so.

No surprises other than hopefully good playcalling as a product of player development, player execution and self-scouting. The best football teams and coaches don't depend on tricks. They depend on being fundamentally sound and executing well.

Wisconsin has run that same O for how many years now? They win lots of football games without a great recruiting base or strings of top 10 recruiting classes. They don't run many trick plays nor do they have the athletes for it most of the time. They don't run a lot of different offensive sets. They don't run a lot of different plays. They don't appear to ask their OL's to do a lot of complex blocking schemes. But what they do... they do well and do well consistently.

 

[sjt18]

Y'all are pumping me up!

I was worried CJP might not be so aggressive against WV while he evaluates how the players do in the new scheme and what works and what don't and try to remain healthy for SEC play.

I hope you guys are right and he pours it all on them.

If you have any interest in watching replays, watch the WVU v OK St game from last year. OSU has similar athletes on D to UT... if not a little below. They showed some different looks but the two most important things they did was get in the shirts of WVU's WR's and pressure Grier. They gave up a couple of big plays but were determined not to let WVU dink and dunk that fast break O up and down the field.

I don't know if Pruitt has had the time. I don't know if he has the players at DB. But his cover guys at Bama were very, very physical. They didn't give free releases. They hand checked a lot. They used their bodies to prevent receivers from accelerating into their routes. If he's gotten that far with UT's DB's... it will cause WVU lots of problems. They have some fast guys... but overall they aren't as fast as a lot of teams UT plays.

 

[marvin616]

A bowl appearance will be one of the goals going into the season and every W gets them closer to that. The W's will be tough to get especially when conference play starts.

So I believe this coaching staff and team know this and will do and give everything they have to get every W they can regardless of what point in the season it is.

 

[aaronvol]

We won't need to "pull out all the stops" to win. We simply need to line up and play man on man football.

 

[bmaultbay]

If you have any interest in watching replays, watch the WVU v OK St game from last year. OSU has similar athletes on D to UT... if not a little below. They showed some different looks but the two most important things they did was get in the shirts of WVU's WR's and pressure Grier. They gave up a couple of big plays but were determined not to let WVU dink and dunk that fast break O up and down the field.

I don't know if Pruitt has had the time. I don't know if he has the players at DB. But his cover guys at Bama were very, very physical. They didn't give free releases. They hand checked a lot. They used their bodies to prevent receivers from accelerating into their routes. If he's gotten that far with UT's DB's... it will cause WVU lots of problems. They have some fast guys... but overall they aren't as fast as a lot of teams UT plays.

This. There is a reason CJP has been working with the DBs this week according to reports.

 

[rocketskates]

I'm curious being that the 1st few games of the season are usually coached and schemed close to the vest and with a very bland gameplan as to not give up much info about the team. Especially when it's an OOC game. My question for the Vol fans on this thread, do you think CJP does this with WV knowing his main objective is the SECe or do you guys think we actually pull out all the stops and play them like its the NC game?

If WV is nearly as good as advertised or half as good as most of their fans believe they will be, for us to even stand any chance CJP will have to throw the book at them, so does he?

Pruitt needs to sell out to beat WVU in my opinion. Get a huge win, motivate the kids and the fans, get two weeks to make bland calls against cupcakes then get ready for Florida.

 

[UTwild82]

You can blame everything on Jones all you want. But if those class rankings were accurate (they were not) no way UT goes ofer in SEC play in 17. Many of the players in those classes have left and many were flat out over rated. I'll take the abuse that is coming for saying this but its the truth either way.

Injuries played a part, but you're right. We missed and (seemingly) signed quite a few over hyped guys.

Here's hoping Pruitt can bring the best out in them.

 

[TN Outlaw]

We won't need to "pull out all the stops" to win. We simply need to line up and play man on man football.

Maybe, maybe not.

If WV is way overrated and UT is a much better and a more physical team than the "experts" think, I believe you are exactly right.

If WV IS what most everybody thinks they are, then they are a top 10 team. It would be crazy to think we wouldn't have to throw everything we had just to hang if that's the case.

It all depends on what this UT team really is, what CJP can do with them in 1 off season, and if WV is the real deal or not. Either way we need to out physical them in the trenches and play keep away while we keep constant heat on Will Grier when they do get the ball.

 

[Vol4ever]

WV will not be able to stop our running game.

 

[Nuctech777]

Nigel Warrior. Remember the name. He is going to wreak havoc on defense.

 

[WVMULE]

Do you expect WV to play their base 3-3 defense or could we see 4 down lineman to help stop the run?

WVU's 3-3-5 allows DC Tony Gibson to show multiple fronts including a bear front. But I think you are asking if WVU will use more than three lineman. They could. WVU has the numbers to play a 4 man front.

Anything is possible, especially with the DL being a strength and the depth at LB being thin. I would guess if they do they run some variation of VT's 4-2 defense.