McElroy just said.....

[Proud Army Wife]

Disagree. I'd say if we had a better QB, we'd be mid-pack. Pruitts recruits are promisimy.

Promising*

 

[DixieVol]

he said he should not be benched because right not he is the only option do to inexperience, there fixed it for you. I much rather lose to inexperience than incompetence.

....and there is only one way to get somebody experience. So let's give it a go coaches!!

 

[rjd970]

I honestly and truly don't care anymore. He could be right and he could be wrong. There are so many issues across the board with this program I don't think it matters if we have talent or not.

 

[swampfoxfan]

Your opinion, but there is nothing I said that isn't factual. Also, never said Greg M. was a savant but he did play the position in college pretty darn well and had a tenure in the NFL. Danny Kannell his co-host, also collegiate QB at FSU back in the day agreed with Greg sentiments. Do I need to go into how Ryan Leaf saw the game against GA State? When multiple people start noticing the same issues then you must have an issue. Not to mention this is how I and most of the fan base see it as well because we think with our heads and not our heart. I love TN football but I am also honest with myself and can rationalize. Again, the mere fact that you had questioned and assumed my views of McElroy shows me there is a lot of bias and when you have a bias you can't always be objective or rational. I can only assume you didn't hear to what McElroy said on the first team or how he called the game. Lastly, I do believe there is leadership and if you don't believe that then you might want to go and watch that BYU game again. The team for all its faults played hard and it is the first time in years where I saw no quite from finish to end. To have that kind of mentality unless there is leadership somewhere in the locker room. Again rational thinking.

If you believe there is leadership, you might want to go back and watch the GaSt game again, see how that works? I wont argue the point anymore, you're entitled to your opinion, and I am also.

 

[Mccage]

you left out what McElroy said about JG. If you are going to start a thread about what McElroy said than it needs to have context. The question was about benching JG and his thoughts of JG play, his answer was spot on. He pretty much summed up that JG just can't read the defense and is continually late on throws. He also stated that he left points on the board and failed to put the game away.

A lot of quoting to fit agendas on here....

 

[LargeOrange1]

At certain position sure.

As in the QB with the initials of JG?

 

[VolAmerican]

So ga state and BYU have same talent as Ut?

It starts with coaching imo.

At certain positions probably. It does start with coaching, but the coaches cannot get out there and play the game for the players. No matter what they call or what they do, if they have someone not executing what they are taught, this could be the result. I actually thought the OLine and Running Backs played a decent game. Bad decision making in the passing game stalled out drives and missed red zone opportunities. I have very little confidence JG is going to make a good throw on a passing down and cringe at the thought of it.

 

[m1al]

Coaching wise.....yeah

The question of whether they will be successful or not at UT is yet to be answered, IMO. That said , these coaches are talented and to say otherwise is just not true.

 

[DixieVol]

JG's problem isn't talent. The kid is absolutely loaded with talent. JG's problem is being in the first yr of a completely new system that may not match his talent and hesitating because the system isn't 2nd nature yet.

For example, while JG isn't as big of a threat running the ball as Dobbs, he is capable of keeping the ball on a zone read from time to time and going spread on short yardage plays and forcing the D to play 11 on 11.

However, Chaney simply refuses to tweak his plan to utilize player's strengths and tries to ram that square peg into the round hole. So, with the game on the line you end up with a less than dominate OL trying to push guys out of a stacked box while handing the ball to a 190 lb back or a 180 lb wr.

Chaney did this in spades during his first yr at UGA. With a true frosh QB and a decent but not great OL, he forced a kid that came from a high school spread system to play under center in bunch formations. That lead to a team with 4 NFL receivers, a NFL TE, a first round LT an NFL guard and 2 NFL RBs to be a bottom 100 O. Simply put, JG is being asked to run an O he isn't familiar with and may not be suited to run.

I get what your saying. But some things for JG should be second nature for him by now. Like when the ball is snapped (1) throwing a ball in the flat to a rb with some touch or (2) hitting a wr streaking down the field wide open when you have ample protection. These have nothing to do with learning a system but failure to make plays

 

[BraseltonVol]

Our talent level, besides QB, is good enough to beat everyone on our schedule but UGA and Bama.

I really hope you are joking.. Our recruiting has been a joke! We love our 3* players.. And with the way we play on the field what serious talent would want to come to Knoxville?

 

[sjt18]

I may be biased here because I listen to McElroy every morning on ESPNU First team driving into work. He really seems to know his stuff. It might be easy to disregard his comments as a Bammer looking to humiliate Tennessee but McElroy never really has struck me as that type of guy. Truth be told he is a Texan and actually is a Texas fan, he just got picked up by Bama.

All that to say I think he is coming from an honest place and is telling the truth. Other than Jennings we do not really have any SEC type talent. Maybe some of the Freshman could be coached up to that level but have not shown it yet.

Callaway starts AND stars for any other SEC team. UT just doesn’t have a QB that can get him the ball

 

[Teeman]

Our talent level, besides QB, is good enough to beat everyone on our schedule but UGA and Bama.

IDK about that, but it's good enough for 6 or 7 wins. The lack of talent excuse is no excuse. Being out of shape, unmotivated, and undisciplined has nothing to do with talent. Letting a WR behind you on third and long is not about talent. Missing a wide open WR is not about talent. Not being able to line up correctly is not about talent. Making adjustments during the game is not about talent.

 

[sjt18]

Coaching wise.....yeah

That’s pretty dumb. It remains to be seen if Pruitt can turn it around as HC but the staff as a whole is very good. UT has some high end coaches.

There are some thin places. Specifically the DL.

Then you have to consider the QB has left more than enough points on the field to have won both games. The game is still way too fast for him. Being his 4th year it is unlikely he ever gets it

 

[m1al]

Yes we are young but the awesome thing is most fans understand youth and can deal with youth, that is a legitimate reason to not be good. However, when you are an RS Junior, inexperience can no longer be an excuse; at this point it is incompetence. I have nothing against the young man he just doesn't have the intangibles to get it done. If we are to continue down this path of just not being good enough because the talent I would much rather start those young guys that have an upside so that they might get the experience and develop the talent needed to compete.

Quoted this because I couldn’t like it twice. Spot on.

 

[sjt18]

JG's problem isn't talent. The kid is absolutely loaded with talent. JG's problem is being in the first yr of a completely new system that may not match his talent and hesitating because the system isn't 2nd nature yet.

For example, while JG isn't as big of a threat running the ball as Dobbs, he is capable of keeping the ball on a zone read from time to time and going spread on short yardage plays and forcing the D to play 11 on 11.

However, Chaney simply refuses to tweak his plan to utilize player's strengths and tries to ram that square peg into the round hole. So, with the game on the line you end up with a less than dominate OL trying to push guys out of a stacked box while handing the ball to a 190 lb back or a 180 lb wr.

Chaney did this in spades during his first yr at UGA. With a true frosh QB and a decent but not great OL, he forced a kid that came from a high school spread system to play under center in bunch formations. That lead to a team with 4 NFL receivers, a NFL TE, a first round LT an NFL guard and 2 NFL RBs to be a bottom 100 O. Simply put, JG is being asked to run an O he isn't familiar with and may not be suited to run.

BS. UT didn’t bring in a bunch of new routes. What holds him back isn’t the system. He just processes way too slow and always has. This isn’t a new problem. Every OC he’s had has publicly stated they were simplifying things for JG. When they get to a speed he can handle... the O doesn’t move

 

[Gatorsec]

At certain positions probably. It does start with coaching, but the coaches cannot get out there and play the game for the players. No matter what they call or what they do, if they have someone not executing what they are taught, this could be the result. I actually thought the OLine and Running Backs played a decent game. Bad decision making in the passing game stalled out drives and missed red zone opportunities. I have very little confidence JG is going to make a good throw on a passing down and cringe at the thought of it.

There is no way those 2 teams have more talent at any position then ut (maybe qb)
It's not just execution, so they can execute in practice but forget everything during the game?
The coaches just aren't scheming and utilizing the players. They had all summer to figure out the oline but didn't. If you know JG sucks why aren't you prepping the freshman to play?

If you don't think leach would have a better offense if he had all Summer to prepare

 

[LethalGas]

JG's problem isn't talent. The kid is absolutely loaded with talent. JG's problem is being in the first yr of a completely new system that may not match his talent and hesitating because the system isn't 2nd nature yet.

For example, while JG isn't as big of a threat running the ball as Dobbs, he is capable of keeping the ball on a zone read from time to time and going spread on short yardage plays and forcing the D to play 11 on 11.

.

Dude you can't actually believe this ****

 

[VOL_Lyfe]

Week 1 the team wanted to play BYU and Florida. That game is no indictation of talent. We would have beat BYU by 21+ if JG hits some of those wide open Receivers.

So, you are saying its the QB.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Our talent level is near the bottom of the SEC. Agree or not?

We have good players in spots but not enough to compete even with the likes of BYU. OL & DL are below average at best and that is where talent deficiencies show up the most.

 

[VOLnMiami]

Our talent level is near the bottom of the SEC. Agree or not?

In some areas yeah.

 

[Proud Army Wife]

The question of whether they will be successful or not at UT is yet to be answered, IMO. That said , these coaches are talented and to say otherwise is just not true.

Exactly. Everyone is quick to throw leadership under the bus. I get it, we had no business losing those games, but it is obvious what lost us that byu game and it wasnt coaching. How could all these coaches on staff be successful in their previous stops but automatically suck once they got to UT? News flash - they don't. Bottom line, we have an incompetent QB, young mistake prone players and a green HC. Give Pruitt a break and longer than one flipping season to bring in more promising players and turn this thing around. I could go on and on. Some of these fans views are just

 

[Carl Pickens]

Our talent level is near the bottom of the SEC. Agree or not?

Outside of a few players ..... I totally agree

 

[volfannbama]

The question of whether they will be successful or not at UT is yet to be answered, IMO. That said , these coaches are talented and to say otherwise is just not true.

We dont know if the head coach is a talented head coach or not. Yeah he has had successful defenses. He has also been stocked with elite talent and very good to great head coaches. Ive seen nothing this season that say we have a coaching staff worthy of any patience or confidence.

 

[VolAmerican]

There is no way those 2 teams have more talent at any position then ut (maybe qb)
It's not just execution, so they can execute in practice but forget everything during the game?
The coaches just aren't scheming and utilizing the players. They had all summer to figure out the oline but didn't. If you know JG sucks why aren't you prepping the freshman to play?

If you don't think leach would have a better offense if he had all Summer to prepare

True, but they weren't facing a game atmosphere or defense the majority of the time in practice. There have been many practice players who could not put it together in live games. I agree its not just execution, but i believe decision making under pressure is a big part of it. And I assume they have prepped the freshmen, just haven't made a decision to play them yet.

 

[robow]

I care less who McElroy played for, won't mention the team but since becoming an analyst, broadcaster and such I have grown much respect. He is very objective and sees both sides of the coin. Crazy, he doesn't pump that team across the state line either which is surprising. He called the TN and BYU game and he was spot on. His take on our QB situation should raise an eyebrow in the coaching staff especially JP. I am sure Chaney already knows all of this and after seeing JP get into the QB face I like to think he is well aware as well. The problem with some UT fans is they don't want to hear the truth. Heck, even Ryan Leaf saw the same thing McElroy saw but because of some TN fans have a distaste for him they turn a deaf ear.

Not only a deaf ear, they turned over a new Leaf...sorry couldn't resist.