Insight about the roster turnover and what CJP has to work with. (article)

[jonnon111]

Rucker: Let’s be real about size, scope of Vols’ rebuild

Some hightlights:
All the transfers are not a bad thing.
The guys from '16 and '17 recruiting classes are not what they were on paper
Pruitt's first class was assembled in essentially 2 weeks so those are just marginally "his guys" and thats UTs fault for the coaching debacle.
Our roster is not good currently (I know I know, GaSt., shot happens is all I can say)

I thought this was laid out very well and encompasses alot of the discussion on this board.

 

[FiremedicVOL127]

I've read and heard people saying these same comments but this is the 1st I've heard from a media report that goes a little more in depth about our situation.

Rucker: Let’s be real about size, scope of Vols’ rebuild

 

[DonDiego]

This is a very good article. I wish all of those screaming to fire would read it.

 

[TJVol95]

A lot of truth I only hope to see basic improvement in the next 3-4 weeks.

 

[westy]

Lack of talent still doesn't explain players that look confused, clueless, and unmotivated.

 

[The Tall Gguy]

Same excuses we've been hearing year after year after year. If they are true, these coaches should be sued for negligence.

 

[aaronvol]

Things will be good. It is a time thing. No excuse for Georgia State, they absolutely blew that and there is no reason for it, none, not a single iota...but, I think in time we will be pleased that Pruitt and Co. are here.

 

[TrentVol]

 

[MadWorld]

Pruitt's first class was assembled in essentially 2 weeks so those are just marginally "his guys" and thats UTs fault for the coaching debacle.

This one is kind of a half-truth. Hindsight now, he should have come directly to the HC position and not coached Bama in the NC. He lost some time there he could have been recruiting, although he said he was part-time.

 

[Volinnooga]

While I am nowhere near suggesting that we need to let CJP go, I disagree with this mentality that he inherited a mess and that's why we have been underwhelming and, in fact, have regressed. The situation CJP inherited was not as horrible as the mess inherited by either Dooley or Jones, and somehow those teams didn't succumb to the low level this team has played at so far.

I do think there will be some improvement but I just don't think "the mess he inherited" is the root cause of this year's regression.

 

[jwilliams]

Lack of talent still doesn't explain players that look confused, clueless, and unmotivated.

Yep... and there's no reason we can't have a lack of talent AND a bad coach. It's obvious Pruitt is learning on the job at this point, but time will tell if he's taking these lessons to heart... he could figure things out. We have no choice but to give him time to try.

Rucker's article prompted me to go look at the '16 and '17 classes again, and he's right... for 4 and 5 star players from the class, I count 4 to 11, players who have contributed positively to those that have not or have left the team. Those classes have just not panned out, outside a few good players. But you're right, that is no excuse to lose to GA ST or not have our guys lining up properly.

 

['Boro-vol]

Things will be good. It is a time thing. No excuse for Georgia State, they absolutely blew that and there is no reason for it, none, not a single iota...but, I think in time we will be pleased that Pruitt and Co. are here.

So...you're saying everything will be fine, sometime.

Marvelous.

 

[winsec]

As usual Rucker writes an article any of us could have written. If he would have written this article before the season it would hold more weight. He is just like us fans. He picked us to win game one. then he picked us to win game 2. then he picked us to play Florida close. Now he writes this article. lol. Now we all see what Pruitt has to work with and it's going to be a long painful process. We can't fire him. We can't afford to go back to square one. The reality is we are not very good and really it matters not who the qb is from here on out. We will find other ways to lose games. (see byu). Hey Rucker...tell us water is wet!

 

[Gandalf]

Definitely worth the read and sums it up fairly well, IMO.

The 16 and 17 class was really bad. Defense explainable, especially with injuries. IMO, they are improving. Pruitt is known for a scoring deffense and the turnovers against Florida were a welcome sight (tho sadly our O could not capitalize). JGs regression after spending time with Chaney makes no sense at all and losing to Gstate will always be flat out inexcusable. O being horrible with a serviceable Oline is just a mystery.

Buckle up buttercups, its going to be a ride. He also rightly points out that 19 class was really his first class of people he put together. The newly imposed early signing period and the 25 rule came at a bad time.

 

[DonDiego]

Lack of talent still doesn't explain players that look confused, clueless, and unmotivated.

Why not?

 

[westy]

Why not?

Is this supposed to be in blue font? If not please explain.

 

['Boro-vol]

Why not?

Because they, reportedly, have a coach to correct those mistakes...one who makes a sizable sum of money to make sure they aren't clueless, confused, and unmotivated.
We had all of that with Butch Jones. Everyone has been telling us that Pruitt is a "real football coach".

OK...so, coach.

 

[BruisedOrange]

Rucker's points are reasonable. My belief before the start of the season was that we would be a much improved team, but that it would not show in the won/lost column. We're too thin at some positions, too young everywhere.

And youth is more than just inexperience in game situations--it's not knowing how to practice at this level, not having seasoned leadership at each position during and especially after practice.

I still think it'll be season 4 before the efforts of this staff become cleary evident on the field.

 

[DonDiego]

Is this supposed to be in blue font? If not please explain.

If you lack talent, why wouldn't you look confused and clueless? I lack talent. If they put me on the field I would probably look pretty clueless.

 

[westy]

If you lack talent, why wouldn't you look confused and clueless? I lack talent. If they put me on the field I would probably look pretty clueless.

Talent means running a 4.4 40 or benching 300+ lbs. Agreed? If your 4.4 guy has no idea who to cover or which route to run then that negates his talent. Same with the lineman...if they have no idea who to block or which stunt to run then again that negates their talent. It's up to the coaches to tell them where to run and who to block. That's why when a well coached team played us (Ga St.) we got beat. As we were running around at half speed because we weren't sure what to do a slower smaller player ran right by us. The worst part was there was no fight in the team. They just stood there bewildered.

 

[fifties fan]

This one is kind of a half-truth. Hindsight now, he should have come directly to the HC position and not coached Bama in the NC. He lost some time there he could have been recruiting, although he said he was part-time.

Actually, not true. The time spent with The Dark Side was, in fact, a NCAA mandated recruiting 'dead period.' So, he would not have been recruiting. Not to say there weren't dozens of other things to do, but not recruiting.

 

[beneVOLence]

This is a comment to his article. I agree with this guy.

TitanBlueGoVols
10 hrs
Not having the right guys on a team to fit the standards is one thing, but flipping guys around left and right is not the way to go about it either. I get buying in as well, but buying into what? Pruitt has been a DC not a head coach. GOOD coaches can work with what they got. I get they were not Caliber players. So example.... When Jim Harbargh goes to San Fransisco after Singletary gets fired being 6-10. He brought in All Pro Bowlers for a team that went 13-3 the next year? Willis was there already. Did Harbaugh get All Americans to come to Western Ky win they won I-AA ? Maybe at Standford to win the Pac? I like the article and in some cases its true, but just to blame on give him a longer leash because of player turnover talent leftovers. I'm not totally buying in. I will bet my house. EVEN with same Rosters. Same starters or backups. URBAN Meyer is 3 -1 right now if not 4-0 by having thoroughly scouted his old team to a T. I'm gonna give Pruitt the I need my guys leash, but sometimes a coach needs to show u can coach and raw raw up his guys regardless of their star power ranking.

 

[McDad]

Definitely worth the read and sums it up fairly well, IMO.

The 16 and 17 class was really bad. Defense explainable, especially with injuries. IMO, they are improving. Pruitt is known for a scoring offense and the turnovers against Florida were a welcome sight (tho sadly our O could not capitalize). JGs regression after spending time with Chaney makes no sense at all and losing to Gstate will always be flat out inexcusable. O being horrible with a serviceable Oline is just a mystery.

Buckle up buttercups, its going to be a ride. He also rightly points out that 19 class was really his first class of people he put together. The newly imposed early signing period and the 25 rule came at a bad time.

Did you mean "pruitt in known for a scoring defense"?

 

[Roustabout]

This one is kind of a half-truth. Hindsight now, he should have come directly to the HC position and not coached Bama in the NC. He lost some time there he could have been recruiting, although he said he was part-time.

Exactly. Bammer is and Bammer does.

 

[IPleadInsanity]

Rucker: Let’s be real about size, scope of Vols’ rebuild

Some hightlights:
All the transfers are not a bad thing.
The guys from '16 and '17 recruiting classes are not what they were on paper
Pruitt's first class was assembled in essentially 2 weeks so those are just marginally "his guys" and thats UTs fault for the coaching debacle.
Our roster is not good currently (I know I know, GaSt., shot happens is all I can say)

I thought this was laid out very well and encompasses alot of the discussion on this board.

Yes the Ga. State players were huge! Not 1 of them could even walk on here at UT. Its like getting whipped by the tackling dummies. I agree with you but this game and the Vandy game last season can't be explained.