- Joined
- Oct 22, 2003
- Messages
- 97,204
- Likes
- 116,935
(transcribed by me)
How important is it to make a bowl game?
The big thing is, I don't want to put a ceiling on what we want to accomplish this year. Our big goal for each individual player, as a unit, and as a team is to do our best every day. If we do our best then we'll see where the chips fall.
But obviously if you go to a bowl, you have an opportunity to probably get three more weeks of practice so it's definitely good for the young players.
Did you benefit from spring position changes?
The big thing is we're trying to figure out who our best football players are and we're trying to figure out what their strengths and weaknesses are.
Lots of times, especially at linebacker, you'll have guys that play inside backer and they'll also have the ability to play outside backer so if you have injuries it's an opportunity to create depth.
The same thing goes in the secondary, with guys that can play safety, or possibly play corner. We actually had some guys that we changed sides of the ball. We had some defensive linemen that moved to the offensive side. And we had some guys that played tight end and moved to running back. So, just trying to create value in them and it probably helps them learn the entire system.
Is there a chance you might move more players around before August?
There's probably some guys that's gonna be moved that have no idea they're going to be moved. We'll have to see where that goes this summer and fall.
Do you think a grad transfer has the right to go wherever he wants to without being blocked by another school?
The big thing when it comes to guys that are grad transfers if they've shown the maturity to do what it takes to get their degree -- obviously, I don't think they would be leaving a situation where they felt like they could continue to have success. If they've earned their degree, in my opinion, they've earned the right to choose where they want to go, by maturity and the things that they've accomplished.
We've had some guys that elected to leave here. That's their decision and we've supported them. The way I look at it is, who am I to determine where somebody is going to go to school. They've earned the opportunity to pick where they want to go.
Which coach has had the biggest impact on you?
I've had an opportunity to be around a lot of really good head coaches and you've mentioned all of them there. At the same time, I've been around lots of assistant coaches who have helped influence me and I've learned a lot from them. I also played for Boots Donnelly, so I've been very blessed with the men I've been around in this game.
There was a story that Lance Thompson told Nick Saban to hire you as a full time assistant. Were you aware of that story?
I wasn't aware of that story, but I've had an opportunity to work under Lance and I've had an opportunity to work with him, and coach against him, and he's a fantastic recruiter. He does a really good job on the field. He kinda gets the entire defense into position. So, he's a fantastic coach and yes he's a friend of mine and he's helped me along the way.
Alabama has a high percentage of their five-stars drafted in the first round, does that show the importance of player development?
I think there's possibly two reasons for that. The first thing is the recruiting evaluations. Knowing what you're looking for in a player, knowing what the critical factors that they must possess to have success as a player. Then once you get them on campus, obviously, having an opportunity to develop them as players. But I think there's two parts to that.
Talk about the process of putting together your recruiting board.
Number one, you have to understand what you're looking for, and it goes back to each individual position. You have a size and speed category. You've got the football characteristics -- do they have toughness, are they a leader, are they a competitor, how do they perform when things aren't going their way.
Then you have the critical factors for each position. If it's a wide receiver, number one, how well does he catch the ball? Does he catch it in his hands? Can he high point the ball? Can he adjust to it? Is he great with the ball in his hands or after the catch? Is he a difference maker? Is he hard to guard?
Defensive back... Can he play man-to-man? Can he play the ball in the deep part of the field? Can he open-field tackle? There's lots of thing for each individual position but you have critical factors and if the recruits don't meet the critical factors that you are looking for then you probably shouldn't be recruiting them.
How long does it take to change the culture of a program?
I think a lot of it has to do with -- each program is probably a little bit different. Some of it's probably got to do with leadership. And when you change the culture I don't think sometimes it's measured in wins and losses. It's the buy in factor. It's people trying to do it the way you want it done.
If you kinda look over the history of the guys taking jobs, it seems like lots of times you can look from year one to year two and you see a big jump, and I think that's part of guys having an opportunity to change the culture.
If players quit during the spring, could they quit during a game, or during workouts, or practice, or in the classroom? Does that attitude bother you?
Well, one thing that doesn't take any ability is the effort that you give. Effort and toughness has nothing to do with ability and I think it's the habits that you create. Sure, it obviously bothered me. But at the same time, it's a learning lesson and I would rather teach the lesson in April than have to learn it the hard way in September and October.
Is that a part of changing the culture?
Well, to me, I think it's a really good measurement of who you are. Who you are as a competitor. When things don't go your way, how you're going to respond.
It's easy to play at your best when the sun is shining and everyone is cheering for you, but sometimes it gets a lot tougher when you're on the road or things are not going your way and you gotta find a way to kinda change the momentum.
Is there a danger to presenting a recruiting method, like LSU, who sells players on turning pro in three years?
I don't know what the proper way is, I just know how we're going to do it. We're going to recruit guys to come to Tennessee to, number one, get their degree. That's far and away the most important thing that they'll do at this university, or any university.
Nobody is going to play football forever. You can look at the staff that we have here at Tennessee.
You've got Chris Weinke who won the Heisman Trophy, was a first round pick. He doesn't play anymore.
Terry Fair. All-American. First round pick. Doesn't play.
Tracey Rocker won the Outland, Lombardi.
I think you can just look at our staff and realize football is not going to be forever.
Is legalized gambling a concern for you?
You know what? I know as much about that as I would about predicting the weather. So, I don't know much about that.
What about redshirts being allowed to play up to four games and still redshirt? Is that something you would be in favor of?
That's probably a good rule. You get an opportunity for guys to get some experience and would motivate them throughout the fall.
Are you still looking at possibly adding another grad transfer?
We really can't talk about that. We can only talk about the guys that have signed with us. So, that' really where we'll have to leave that.
What does the rest of the summer hold for you and the players?
Right now we are in the minimester and I think we have 33 guys here on campus attending class or rehabbing, so that's pretty good number. We'll have our whole team back in here on the 30th of May to start summer school, and they'll start class and start they're summer conditioning, so we're excited about that.
Jeremy Pruitt (5.16.18) - Sports Talk - Omny.fm
How important is it to make a bowl game?
The big thing is, I don't want to put a ceiling on what we want to accomplish this year. Our big goal for each individual player, as a unit, and as a team is to do our best every day. If we do our best then we'll see where the chips fall.
But obviously if you go to a bowl, you have an opportunity to probably get three more weeks of practice so it's definitely good for the young players.
Did you benefit from spring position changes?
The big thing is we're trying to figure out who our best football players are and we're trying to figure out what their strengths and weaknesses are.
Lots of times, especially at linebacker, you'll have guys that play inside backer and they'll also have the ability to play outside backer so if you have injuries it's an opportunity to create depth.
The same thing goes in the secondary, with guys that can play safety, or possibly play corner. We actually had some guys that we changed sides of the ball. We had some defensive linemen that moved to the offensive side. And we had some guys that played tight end and moved to running back. So, just trying to create value in them and it probably helps them learn the entire system.
Is there a chance you might move more players around before August?
There's probably some guys that's gonna be moved that have no idea they're going to be moved. We'll have to see where that goes this summer and fall.
Do you think a grad transfer has the right to go wherever he wants to without being blocked by another school?
The big thing when it comes to guys that are grad transfers if they've shown the maturity to do what it takes to get their degree -- obviously, I don't think they would be leaving a situation where they felt like they could continue to have success. If they've earned their degree, in my opinion, they've earned the right to choose where they want to go, by maturity and the things that they've accomplished.
We've had some guys that elected to leave here. That's their decision and we've supported them. The way I look at it is, who am I to determine where somebody is going to go to school. They've earned the opportunity to pick where they want to go.
Which coach has had the biggest impact on you?
I've had an opportunity to be around a lot of really good head coaches and you've mentioned all of them there. At the same time, I've been around lots of assistant coaches who have helped influence me and I've learned a lot from them. I also played for Boots Donnelly, so I've been very blessed with the men I've been around in this game.
There was a story that Lance Thompson told Nick Saban to hire you as a full time assistant. Were you aware of that story?
I wasn't aware of that story, but I've had an opportunity to work under Lance and I've had an opportunity to work with him, and coach against him, and he's a fantastic recruiter. He does a really good job on the field. He kinda gets the entire defense into position. So, he's a fantastic coach and yes he's a friend of mine and he's helped me along the way.
Alabama has a high percentage of their five-stars drafted in the first round, does that show the importance of player development?
I think there's possibly two reasons for that. The first thing is the recruiting evaluations. Knowing what you're looking for in a player, knowing what the critical factors that they must possess to have success as a player. Then once you get them on campus, obviously, having an opportunity to develop them as players. But I think there's two parts to that.
Talk about the process of putting together your recruiting board.
Number one, you have to understand what you're looking for, and it goes back to each individual position. You have a size and speed category. You've got the football characteristics -- do they have toughness, are they a leader, are they a competitor, how do they perform when things aren't going their way.
Then you have the critical factors for each position. If it's a wide receiver, number one, how well does he catch the ball? Does he catch it in his hands? Can he high point the ball? Can he adjust to it? Is he great with the ball in his hands or after the catch? Is he a difference maker? Is he hard to guard?
Defensive back... Can he play man-to-man? Can he play the ball in the deep part of the field? Can he open-field tackle? There's lots of thing for each individual position but you have critical factors and if the recruits don't meet the critical factors that you are looking for then you probably shouldn't be recruiting them.
How long does it take to change the culture of a program?
I think a lot of it has to do with -- each program is probably a little bit different. Some of it's probably got to do with leadership. And when you change the culture I don't think sometimes it's measured in wins and losses. It's the buy in factor. It's people trying to do it the way you want it done.
If you kinda look over the history of the guys taking jobs, it seems like lots of times you can look from year one to year two and you see a big jump, and I think that's part of guys having an opportunity to change the culture.
If players quit during the spring, could they quit during a game, or during workouts, or practice, or in the classroom? Does that attitude bother you?
Well, one thing that doesn't take any ability is the effort that you give. Effort and toughness has nothing to do with ability and I think it's the habits that you create. Sure, it obviously bothered me. But at the same time, it's a learning lesson and I would rather teach the lesson in April than have to learn it the hard way in September and October.
Is that a part of changing the culture?
Well, to me, I think it's a really good measurement of who you are. Who you are as a competitor. When things don't go your way, how you're going to respond.
It's easy to play at your best when the sun is shining and everyone is cheering for you, but sometimes it gets a lot tougher when you're on the road or things are not going your way and you gotta find a way to kinda change the momentum.
Is there a danger to presenting a recruiting method, like LSU, who sells players on turning pro in three years?
I don't know what the proper way is, I just know how we're going to do it. We're going to recruit guys to come to Tennessee to, number one, get their degree. That's far and away the most important thing that they'll do at this university, or any university.
Nobody is going to play football forever. You can look at the staff that we have here at Tennessee.
You've got Chris Weinke who won the Heisman Trophy, was a first round pick. He doesn't play anymore.
Terry Fair. All-American. First round pick. Doesn't play.
Tracey Rocker won the Outland, Lombardi.
I think you can just look at our staff and realize football is not going to be forever.
Is legalized gambling a concern for you?
You know what? I know as much about that as I would about predicting the weather. So, I don't know much about that.
What about redshirts being allowed to play up to four games and still redshirt? Is that something you would be in favor of?
That's probably a good rule. You get an opportunity for guys to get some experience and would motivate them throughout the fall.
Are you still looking at possibly adding another grad transfer?
We really can't talk about that. We can only talk about the guys that have signed with us. So, that' really where we'll have to leave that.
What does the rest of the summer hold for you and the players?
Right now we are in the minimester and I think we have 33 guys here on campus attending class or rehabbing, so that's pretty good number. We'll have our whole team back in here on the 30th of May to start summer school, and they'll start class and start they're summer conditioning, so we're excited about that.
Jeremy Pruitt (5.16.18) - Sports Talk - Omny.fm
