Gut feeling on Pruitt?

#101
#101
ATLVols said:
He seemed like he was still getting used to orange, but his wife was on cloud 9. He seems like a real football coach though. Tough, hard worker, will pound the ball on offense and contest every inch on defense. I love that he expects to win every game and didn’t temper expectations.

He was a little nervous at the press conference probably because he’s dreamed of this moment to be a college head coach his whole life. I think he will do well here, but there will be a little learning curve as a head coach in year 1.

I watched the Arky team when they met with Chad Morris and he came across as a phony. Pruitt came across genuine and like a guy who knows football in the SEC. Glad we ended with Pruitt.
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His wife gets to go buy a new home with all new fancy stainless steel appliances and the like.
 
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#102
#102
Of the legit guys we discussed, I will say that Pruitt seems like the best choice:

Steele has lousy head coach record
UGA def cord not yet ready
Mullen has low ceiling
Wasn't impressed with Morris
Ohio State guy is a perv
Miles too old
Leach be way too crazy
NC State guy is loser
Kiffin not worth the trouble
Tee Martin needs another couple of years experience
Purdue guy didn't need to leave a HC gig after one year
 
#103
#103
this is a pretty good read, and probably sums up pruitt pretty well. i thought it was interesting that he thinks Fulmer will be the #1 reason he might fail. i see FUlmer the ying to pruitt's yang, and usually that works well so long as everyone in that relationship is self aware enough to know they need need each other to make up for each others shortfalls, and check their own limitations.
What is Tennessee Getting in Jeremy Pruitt - Dawg Sports
 
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#104
#104
My "gut" has to be tempered since the guy "speaks to me" in a way that Jones never did. He's a football coach. Jones was a used car salesman. For good or ill, Pruitt is going to succeed or fail because of how he coaches and not how he "talks".

In retrospect, Jones was probably over his head as a football coach at Cincy. His actual coaching skill and knowledge are better suited for a mid-major or lower.
 
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#105
#105
My gut tells me we have got something special in CJP. May be looking at this through rose colored glasses but that’s my choice. To the guys b^%ching about it...GTFO!
 
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#106
#106
He looks and sounds like a coach, not a salesman (Butch) or whatever Dooley was. He is building a staff that has SEC exp and yet he knows when to hire someone he may not have worked with before (coach G) based on his results. We got murdered in the SEC because Butch brought a MAC coaching staff and used cliches instead of toughness. I think (and hope) Pruitt will suceed here.
 
#107
#107
UTK said:
Obviously there’s no way in knowing the future, Pruitt could do well, do amazing, be mediocre, or be a bad HC when it’s all said and done. But what’s your gut feeling?

Do you think we will finally win another SEC championship under him? I’m going to go with yes. Im cautious. But for some reason I just have this gut feeling I didn’t have with Butch or Dooley that we’re finally going to be elite again. Year 3 we win the East, year 4 we win the whole thing. (The SEC, not a saying a natty)
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Gut...a bit better than Jones but not enough better. But.... potential ceiling is higher.

Specific predictions...Pros: expect instant improvement on defense. Players will play hard for him. Recruiting will be good good but not overwhelmingly so.

Cons: Worried about offensive side. Not impressed with offensive coaches coming in.

Unsure: Player development. Never in DC role long enough to gauge this aspect, and bammer system good with or without him.
 
#108
#108
BanditVol said:
Gut...a bit better than Jones but not enough better. But.... potential ceiling is higher.

Specific predictions...Pros: expect instant improvement on defense. Players will play hard for him. Recruiting will be good good but not overwhelmingly so.

Cons: Worried about offensive side. Not impressed with offensive coaches coming in.

Unsure: Player development. Never in DC role long enough to gauge this aspect, and bammer system good with or without him.
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What’s the reservation on Helton? His offenses were top 10 at WKU without any trickery.

Also, player development was Pruitt’s primary responsibility at Bama for 3 years. One would hope those instincts haven’t faded.
 
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#109
#109
Just looking at the numbers, probably a 50-75 percent chance of failure.

Saban's coaching tree has a few successes but more flame outs because so many of them get hired.

75 percent of the final playoff top 25 for the last 3 years were headed by guys from the offensive side of the football. You're more likely to have success coming from there in today's game.

There's a reason he wasn't even considered for most any job in the country. I know everyone likes to give them grief, but experienced ADs are usually good at finding and hiring personnel. They consult with people across the industry and that's where their lists come from.

I suspect his lack of attention comes from his several past events involving his interaction with his fellow coaches. Plenty of reports that he's very abrasive and not particularly good to work around. Kirby Smart refused to retain him at UGA even though they'd both coached for Saban. Mark Richt and he apparently were like oil and water.

Apparently Pruitt was all for his "Alabama boys" but was standoffish with everyone else. It was to the point at Georgia that assistants were trying to physically fight him during staff meetings.

The positives, he's apparently a great defensive coach who is good at identifying talent on the defensive side of the ball.

He's arrogant, outspoken and I don't believe he'll let Fulmer meddle in the program like I suspect Phil wants to do.

I expect more high staff turnover, stories of tirades that will shame any rumors of Butch and lots of funny moments where he blasts the media.

In the end, he needs to just win games and I don't know if he will or not. But that's where we are with the spectacularly bad search and administration at UT. Another new coach, another load of questions with no answers.
 
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#110
#110
I've been around some pretty good football coaches and Pruitt is a football coach. I just hope all the politics at UT doesn't eat him up. My gut tells me if the decision makers leave him alone and let him coach we could have a winner.

All that said, I've been off the train for awhile and I'm not getting back on until they show me something.
 
#111
#111
They will leave him alone, and if he wins and they try to mess with him that fans might eat them alive. GBO!
 
#112
#112
I am 50/50 atm. He talks a good game, but I will hold judgement until I see the actual product on the field. I like the staff he is bringing in and think recruiting will be in good shape. This class may not be the best because of kids not wanting to risk their future with a new staff, but future classes should be excellent.

As far as Pruitt leaving for Bama: If he brings our program back to the point that Bama wants him back, he will have invested too much at Tennessee to be able to turn his back on the program. With the way the last 10 years have gone, I would be happy to have a program that other elite football programs would try to lure our coach away.
 
#113
#113
My only worry is that we are again the testing ground. He’s been a great DC at programs that have had an attraction bigger than him. Whether it was the name of the school or the name of the coach, he always coached the best of the best, and they may not have been there because of him.

Now it’s all about him. Tennessee is in a much worse place than any of the programs he was at, and he’s not coaching with someone else’s “credit card.”

I can see the potential, but we will likely have to suffer a while to see if it comes to fruition.
 
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#114
#114
kckempf said:
What’s the reservation on Helton? His offenses were top 10 at WKU without any trickery.

Also, player development was Pruitt’s primary responsibility at Bama for 3 years. One would hope those instincts haven’t faded.
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I'm unsure how much of Helton's success at USC senior was due to Tee, who, after all, is the OC. I am also unsure if Helton tutored Darold or if Darold is just good. Plus, it's Pac-12 defenses.

Having said that, if he was that good at WKU then I feel better about it.
 
#115
#115
Why arent people FREAKING OUT over the OC hire? Pruitt is inexperienced with a defensive background. Everyone agreed he needed a home run OC. Instead we get a guy you cant google or find any info on. Hate me now but get ready for another abysmal offensive year.
 
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#117
#117
I feel good about the hire. BUT people have to give it time. We really do have a harsh fan base. We can’t be screaming for his head in year 2 if he doesn’t have 9/10 wins. This team is a mess and I think we’re doing extremely well to get 6 wins next year. We are just as bad off now if not worse than when Dooley left. Butch didn’t do a damn thing at this program but a few star performances overshadowed thst until this year.
 
#118
#118
My gut says;
Jennings walks into CJP's office an says "coach I want appologize for the way I acted before you got here"
CJP says "you ever appologize to me again and I'll take you behind the ROCK and woop your a$$ with this belt, AIGHT! Now get your a$$ on the practice field, start running, and ill see you when I get tired"
JJ says "AIGHT COACH!"
 
#119
#119
EastTNVol6240 said:
I feel good about the hire. BUT people have to give it time. We really do have a harsh fan base. We can’t be screaming for his head in year 2 if he doesn’t have 9/10 wins. This team is a mess and I think we’re doing extremely well to get 6 wins next year. We are just as bad off now if not worse than when Dooley left. Butch didn’t do a damn thing at this program but a few star performances overshadowed thst until this year.
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Sorry... but no. "Patience" isn't just something fans are unwilling to have but it is impractical. We saw it with Jones. A new coach MUST win something significant within the first 3 years. If they don't... and especially if it is clear they could have like with Jones... momentum turns against them. They no longer have the "new kid in town" appeal with fans or especially recruits. All of the flaws that people saw but ignored become major irritants (like Jones' clichés). They have a "history" that allows negative recruiting to start in earnest.

And generally speaking... they will have demonstrated whether they have coaching skills or not. Great coaches, coach great. Jones lost to Vandy in year 1 with more talent. The team never played to their talent potential that year.... or the next... or at any point during his tenure. But the signs were clearly there in the first 3 years and prevented him from achieving something significant.

You may think you are supporting the program by preaching "patience" and setting a low bar but you aren't. Being "patient" with someone who isn't talented enough to do the job only drives the program further in the hole. You said as much yourself when you said the program may be worse off than when Dooley left. Giving Jones those extra two years... helped what?

But the roster IS better. A good coach can win with youth. Six wins would be an underachievement of the roster talent UT returns... plus an indication that he can't get talented Fr ready to play either.
 
#120
#120
KINGSVOL said:
My gut says;
Jennings walks into CJP's office an says "coach I want appologize for the way I acted before you got here"
CJP says "you ever appologize to me again and I'll take you behind the ROCK and woop your a$$ with this belt, AIGHT! Now get your a$$ on the practice field, start running, and ill see you when I get tired"
JJ says "AIGHT COACH!"
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Jennings and Boulware were products of Jones' turmoil and staff. I'd take them both back if the team votes to accept them.
 
#121
#121
sjt18 said:
Sorry... but no. "Patience" isn't just something fans are unwilling to have but it is impractical. We saw it with Jones. A new coach MUST win something significant within the first 3 years.
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I gave Jones 4 years due to the absolute cluster-**** that Dooley left us with. And for that matter, Jones got closer in 2015-6 than many on here give him credit for. Beating uga and uf and going 5-0 last year was sweet, even if it didn't quite pass the eye test.

Having said that, for that very reason my expectations are higher for Pruitt. If even a coach as challenged on game day as Butch can have back to back 9-win seasons and at least sniff the SECCG, then the cupboard can't be that bare, can it?

I expect us to compete for the SECE in three years. Period, dot.
 
#123
#123
I think he's a good hire-especially with the other potential suitors in the last few weeks!
 
#125
#125
He isn't coming I to a completely bare cupboard like dooley and Jones got. They just haven't been coached
 
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