I think we turn it around and win 6

#51
#51
IF, big if here, but if they get their act together I can see 6-7 wins. That said, when you give up a gimmy game like Georgia St. you really better hope that it doesn't come down to beating Missouri and Vandy to get bowl eligible.
Just like every other year.
 
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#53
#53
So lets look at this then. Its a lot of the same roster, but how many freshmen played on Saturday. A lot...... The more everyone talks about this "pattern" the more it looks apparent that Pruitt's guys are not the problem.

At the end of the day, Pruitt said on national tv that he will recruit 25 guys at a time that want to be here and that can take on the likes of Alabama. He can only do that in increments of 25.... That takes time.

And sorry, but I'm willing to take a wash on the first two seasons before I judge him 100%. Sure a reasonable expectation for season 2 should be no worse than last year (5-7). Anything worse would be upsetting, but if recruiting doesn't crater, I really don't care about this season. This isn't the average job. The previous coach always has recruiting issues in terms of number of bodies in positions. In Kiffin's case, a lot of his recruits were in trouble with the law or couldn't cut it in the class room. Dooley couldn't recruit lineman even if he had money to spend to do it. Butch then doubled down on that.

If Pruitt does worse than 5-7 and recruiting absolutely craters, I will then reserve my judgement that a move might be necessary. However, we have tons of talent on the coaching staff alone and they didn't just get dumb overnight. Just get thru the first two years and then 2020 is when you have an overwhelming majority of your players with a good chunk being upperclassmen. That's when I will judge a coach honestly.

My friend, your faith is admirable. And may possibly be rewarded. But I see enough intangibles out there to be a strong doubter. If we had hustled, played hard, yet lost due to blown assignments and improper technique, I’d have more faith. The fact is I saw defensive guys jogging after the ball carrier, offensive guys watching flat footed as their guy ran by them, and lineup mistakes that should have been solved in camp. I saw a team that just didn’t really mind losing in such a dramatic fashion. And I see a coach on Xanax who only shows one emotion - slight irritation - when anything is remotely questioned. That reeks of culture.

But as I said, we shall see. I hope you’re right. I don’t think you are.
 
#56
#56
My friend, your faith is admirable. And may possibly be rewarded. But I see enough intangibles out there to be a strong doubter. If we had hustled, played hard, yet lost due to blown assignments and improper technique, I’d have more faith. The fact is I saw defensive guys jogging after the ball carrier, offensive guys watching flat footed as their guy ran by them, and lineup mistakes that should have been solved in camp. I saw a team that just didn’t really mind losing in such a dramatic fashion. And I see a coach on Xanax who only shows one emotion - slight irritation - when anything is remotely questioned. That reeks of culture.

But as I said, we shall see. I hope you’re right. I don’t think you are.

It isn't about having a faith that Pruitt is some mastermind next edition of Saban/Dabo. Its me being realistic that there were a lot of issues in this locker room and team in 2017 under Butch and then Hoke as interim. Pruitt doesn't have a full deck and won't have one until he gets a 3rd class in. If he somehow goes 4-8/5-7 this year, but recruiting stays strong, what will everyone say?

And like I said, this staff has tons of talent. They didn't just forget how to coach overnight.

In regards to Pruitt, he is quite the bore when it comes to his interviews and press conferences.... I get it cause he prolly doesn't want to do them and wants to be on the field or in the film room. If you could poll 100 coaches about yay or nay on media obligations, they would all vote against them in an overwhelming majority.

Also I agree that I saw, like others, a lot of players that were lethargic, but a lot of those guys are folks who have been here the longest.....

I just can't 10000% blame Pruitt for guys not buying in that he didn't recruit. Because he's been clear he wasn't going to baby them. That was clear during that interview of the Bama game when he said he would go find guys that wanted to be at Tennessee. And I agree that culture could be an issue, but you can only change the culture so fast..... I honestly would love to see Pruitt kick a few guys off and set an example this week. Lord knows he has enough reason to.
 
#58
#58
While Saturdays loss was horrific (not really compared to real life horrific but you get the point) its so very hard to get any mature information on this site. We seem to use this as a place to cry and seek pity for our injured egos because our lives are so wrapped up in a football game. Do I wished I had stayed home on Saturday? Probably. Is my life over because we lost? No. Will I ride out the rest of the season and make a more informed decision about the fate of the team? Absolutely. Do I hate when people "interview" themselves then answer their on questions? Yes....deal with it. I attended the Memphis, Wyoming, and Georgia State losses...maybe its me!!!!
 
#59
#59
The East is so weak this year and i think our talent on the roster will start to show up soon. Recruiting rankings dont lie just hang in their men.
East is weak this year? They're still better than Georgia State and we haven't beat South Carolina, Vanderbilt or Missouri in years. This season is done. We suck. Still a VFL though.
 
#60
#60
I really am not caring at this point. Not sure I can follow a coach or this Vol team that will lose the following games: Georgia St., Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Missouri.

I can see maybe beating SC and BYU because SC just lost their starting QB. Kentucky usually shoots themselves in the foot like we do when we play Florida. Miss St is a true toss-up to me. I think 6 wins with this team is the ceiling and they could easily go 4-8. Unless this team beats UF, Georgia or Bama, I am pretty sure most of us are checked out for the season. Too bad after only 1 week. I anticipate a crowd of 70,000 for the BYU game and lots of it will be BYU fans.
 
#61
#61
Well the wide out were open JG just needs to settle down. We took them lightly and by the time we realized it was too late. As far as 6 wins being ok at UT Did you watch the last decade?
Yes I have watched the last decade and beyond and it has never been acceptable for UT to win just 6 games much less expect it!!!!
 
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#63
#63
We have the same players on a 5 & 7 team last year except freshmen replacing the seniors that left. I said from the beginning we would be lucky to have 6 or seven wins this years. Now I am thinking it will be a challenge to get six wins.
 
#64
#64
I actually agree with you. I definitely don't think we will continue this trend, its just unfortunate we come out and lay a ginormous egg first game. They could have imposed their will on Georgia State, but they didn't want to get their high heels dirty this game.
 
#65
#65
I don't know if we win 6, but I do think if we continue to play young guys,in addition to the very few upperclassmen who have the heart to play, we'll improve as the season goes.

Not sure we have enough of butch's recruits that still care about winning to go along with the young players who are ready to play. Not fair to play a youngster who simply isn't ready yet and lose a needed redshirt year. This might end up being a season where you accept that we aren't going to win many, but practice focusing on getting the younger players ready for next season. Yeah...I know...another next season type year. Just not sure what other options exist when your veteran players don't care and check out on the team.
 
#67
#67
You win or lose ballgames in the trenches. We got our ass kicked and I mean kicked by one of the worst teams we will face this year. We have a crappy team in the trenches mixed with a crappy attitude. This team will be lucky to win an SEC game.
 
#68
#68
Not sure we have enough of butch's recruits that still care about winning to go along with the young players who are ready to play. Not fair to play a youngster who simply isn't ready yet and lose a needed redshirt year. This might end up being a season where you accept that we aren't going to win many, but practice focusing on getting the younger players ready for next season. Yeah...I know...another next season type year. Just not sure what other options exist when your veteran players don't care and check out on the team.
That’s an angle I really hadn’t considered.
 
#69
#69
IF, big if here, but if they get their act together I can see 6-7 wins. That said, when you give up a gimmy game like Georgia St. you really better hope that it doesn't come down to beating Missouri and Vandy to get bowl eligible.

We better pray Georgia State goes undefeated, otherwise playing like we did last Saturday may mean we are the 2-10 team this time.
 
#74
#74
The East is so weak this year and i think our talent on the roster will start to show up soon. Recruiting rankings dont lie just hang in their men.[/QUOTE

I've been waiting a looooooong time for the "talent" on our roster to show up. It has kinda left me empty and not really giving a crap any longer. How sad.
 

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