Last Year vs This Year

[TennGentry]

I know I’m going to sound like a total homer, but I honestly think this team will surprise some folks. If we stay healthy, with this staff...Pruitt is going to be getting a lot of positive coverage at the seasons end. This team has substantial talent in the two deep. Special teams and CB’s are young, but I still think we make some noise. I think all position groups will see improvement....especially Oline and QB (what do you know, an actual QB coach). A S&C program, discipline, fundamentals and decent play calling will be impactful. Last years team was better than 0-8, but were completely failed by the staff.

 

[RockyTopTexas]

It’s gonna help if we don’t lose half our team on the practice field

 

[TennGentry]

It’s gonna help if we don’t lose half our team on the practice field

Well it probably helps when you actually have to work out on a daily basis and follow a conditioning regime instead of showing up to lift what you want when you want.

 

[sjt18]

Well it probably helps when you actually have to work out on a daily basis and follow a conditioning regime instead of showing up to lift what you want when you want.

You know though it is weird. The same thing was said when Jones took over for Dooley. I suspect that guys lost discipline after they knew the coach was going to be gone.... but IMHO Jones' prescription for S&C was to his scheme... and a big part of why his scheme didn't work. I do not think that all of the guys who worked as coaches or S&C for Jones were bad at their jobs. IMO, his way of doing things made them bad.

 

[BowlBrother85]

For whatever reason, the team never responded to Bob Shoop's coaching. Injuries played a part but that defense was atrocious the 2nd half of 2016 as well. I don't expect much on offense in the first year. We just don't have the playmakers.. but I will be disappointed if our defense isn't much better.

 

[Bubbs]

I agree. Shoop made the defense too complicated. Team gave up on Jones last season. I don't blame them. How do you believe in a guy whose running read option fakes with Dormady at QB? I stand by it. This team has a ton of talent and the defense is going to be lights out.

 

[felloffthetrain]

For whatever reason, the team never responded to Bob Shoop's coaching. Injuries played a part but that defense was atrocious the 2nd half of 2016 as well. I don't expect much on offense in the first year. We just don't have the playmakers.. but I will be disappointed if our defense isn't much better.

It's been said there was some in-fighting amongst the coaches on Butch's staff

 

[Rudy123]

I know I’m going to sound like a total homer, but I honestly think this team will surprise some folks. If we stay healthy, with this staff...Pruitt is going to be getting a lot of positive coverage at the seasons end. This team has substantial talent in the two deep. Special teams and CB’s are young, but I still think we make some noise. I think all position groups will see improvement....especially Oline and QB (what do you know, an actual QB coach). A S&C program, discipline, fundamentals and decent play calling will be impactful. Last years team was better than 0-8, but were completely failed by the staff.

Take last years schedule & roster and insert this years coaching staff and we would have beaten Vandy, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri & South Carolina.
Now, our roster has changed from last year. Our schedule has changed from last year and our opponents are better than they were last year.
Play on the field should be noticeably better, but we still end up with a 5 - 7 record.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

Well it probably helps when you actually have to work out on a daily basis and follow a conditioning regime instead of showing up to lift what you want when you want.

Going to practice to hear jambs.

 

[OrangeByBirth]

Botch Jones was familiar with using lesser athletes to try to "out quick" bigger and better athletes. He never comprehended that SEC bigger and better are just as quick as his quick guys. They got beaten up regularly.

Pruitt knows how to compete in the SEC and is setting out to do it.

GO BIG ORANGE!

 

[KBVol]

I know I’m going to sound like a total homer, but I honestly think this team will surprise some folks. If we stay healthy, with this staff...Pruitt is going to be getting a lot of positive coverage at the seasons end. This team has substantial talent in the two deep. Special teams and CB’s are young, but I still think we make some noise. I think all position groups will see improvement....especially Oline and QB (what do you know, an actual QB coach). A S&C program, discipline, fundamentals and decent play calling will be impactful. Last years team was better than 0-8, but were completely failed by the staff.

You sound like a total homer.

 

[RollerVol]

oh, the sweet dreams of preseason...actually, I'm a homer too...

GO VOLS!

 

[VolFreakJosh]

I agree. Shoop made the defense too complicated. Team gave up on Jones last season. I don't blame them. How do you believe in a guy whose running read option fakes with Dormady at QB? I stand by it. This team has a ton of talent and the defense is going to be lights out.

To be fair, I think Shoop was held on a tight leash.

No way a DC who had major success at a big time program comes in and automatically starts sucking.

I’m willing to bet Shoop regrets working for Butch to this very day.

 

[TennGentry]

For whatever reason, the team never responded to Bob Shoop's coaching. Injuries played a part but that defense was atrocious the 2nd half of 2016 as well. I don't expect much on offense in the first year. We just don't have the playmakers.. but I will be disappointed if our defense isn't much better.

It will be substantially. Honestly, I think Shoop was a bit overrated and Butch prob had his hands in the game planning enough to make him even more inaffective. I was watching SEC Nation yesterday and one of those dudes was talking about what a wonderful hire Shoop was for MSU. Yeah good luck on that.

 

[TennGentry]

I agree. Shoop made the defense too complicated. Team gave up on Jones last season. I don't blame them. How do you believe in a guy whose running read option fakes with Dormady at QB? I stand by it. This team has a ton of talent and the defense is going to be lights out.

That was his problem. He was always trying to be some kind of innovator, but did clown things. Whether it was the stupid read options with the slowest dude on the field, not lining up under center on short yardage, passing from the 2, music at practice, “the chart”, conditioning at your convenience or f****** juice bars.....complete moron.

 

[jakez4ut]

You know though it is weird. The same thing was said when Jones took over for Dooley. I suspect that guys lost discipline after they knew the coach was going to be gone.... but IMHO Jones' prescription for S&C was to his scheme... and a big part of why his scheme didn't work. I do not think that all of the guys who worked as coaches or S&C for Jones were bad at their jobs. IMO, his way of doing things made them bad.

yep. they were taught what he wanted taught. and it just didn't work in this league. you can't be finesse here. especially up front. may be fine for the MAC or Big East. but not here.

 

[livefaith]

To be fair, I think Shoop was held on a tight leash.

No way a DC who had major success at a big time program comes in and automatically starts sucking.

I’m willing to bet Shoop regrets working for Butch to this very day.

Maybe. But Penn State's D didn't miss a single lick when Shoop left. They just got better. Makes me wonder.

 

[superdave1984]

I think this year's team beats last year's team by 10.

 

[VolsnRavens]

A different S & C coach every year under CBJ, he didn't have history with most of the assistant coaches he brought in and intimated that being mediocre was ok. You can definitely see the difference in Pruitt and the coaches he brought in. The way practice is. (No music, black stripes). No dancing with the players. It really seems like a no nonsense approach all the way around. I have battered Vol Syndrome myself, but the optimist in me sees that we really do have talent. A great S&C coach in Fitz and intangibles we just haven't seen in a while. And as much as this makes some people salty, I like having PF as AD. He knows what continuity in the administration looks like and how that affects the football program. So from top to bottom, IMHO, we are better off. Will be beat WVM? I can't say. But I do believe that all the talking heads who only look at our record last year and take us as that program, will be in for a surprise. I sure as heck hope WV is looking at us like that. Because their fans sure are.

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

I think this year's team beats last year's team by 10.

Just 10?

 

[volfan51128]

The major difference from last season and this season is we have a Coach. Jones was a used car salesman, not a true coach. I was at the UMASS game last year and saw the utter confusion with Jones, it was pathetic. I told my wife at that point that it was going to be a horrible season. With Coach Pruitt, we have a real coach. Not sure how he will do this season, but I am absolutely sure he will be better at coaching. I don't know what the season holds, but will say that I do feel a lot better having a real coach taking the lead. Lets face it, Kiffin was a child and went for his "dream" job at a horrible time due to recruiting, Dooley was way out of his league and Jones was nothing but a slick used car sales guy nothing more/nothing less. Pruitt and his staff will coach them up and not play favorites. Not sure how I feel about this season, but confident in our coaches abilities for the future.

 

[sjt18]

A great S&C coach in Fitz and intangibles we just haven't seen in a while.

I don't think it was the S&C coaches Jones had as much as it was his direction for what he wanted done with the players. Pruitt came in and immediately looked around and said... "Why are guys at this position so small and weak... why are guys at this position too heavy and so slow?" It is the difference between an HC who has coached winners in the SEC and a guy thinking he could revolutionize the SEC with his system (developed while being pretty mediocre in the MAC and BE). The HC sets direction and determines the culture of a program. That is where UT has been failing. Not raw talent. Not assistants doing their own thing and letting the HC down.

And as much as this makes some people salty, I like having PF as AD. He knows what continuity in the administration looks like and how that affects the football program. .

Fulmer is political. I think he is MUCH more suited to be an AD as a HC. And he had significant success of course as a HC.

 

[sjt18]

Maybe. But Penn State's D didn't miss a single lick when Shoop left. They just got better. Makes me wonder.

If he was doing his job developing players and assistants... it shouldn't have missed a lick.

The best test of the effectiveness of a coach or manager is often how the team performs immediately after he leaves. Someone else has to sustain it eventually but he built it up from bad and left it fully functioning. My bet is that Shoop's time at UT will be an anomaly on his resume. Jones' time... is just who he is as a coach and leader.

 

[TN_Transplant]

It's been said there was some in-fighting amongst the coaches on Butch's staff

Saban likes to hire former head coaches, and it works for him. But people that were Head Coaches usually have prominent personalities. It takes a real leader to manage and control a staff like that. Butch was not that type of leader.

 

[KBVol]

Maybe. But Penn State's D didn't miss a single lick when Shoop left. They just got better. Makes me wonder.

It is curious, either way you look at it. For example, while Penn State’s defense performed well after Shoop left and came to Tennessee, you can also easily go back and see that it was the defenses led by Shoop for Franklin at both Vandy and Penn State that led to virtually all of Frankin’s success at both those schools.