Pruitt full Friday transcript - JG has had six really good days, HB really kind of shined

#51
#51
He’s pretty blunt. So I could see it. He’s also learning to take some heat off his fastball when talking about his players...head coach thing.
I like how Pruitt is much more likely to praise team effort over how individuals look. I think he's becoming a player's coach who is still capable of being stern with his players. I like the head coach he's becoming.
 
#52
#52
Don’t think anyone thinks JG has been the QB we all hoped he would be. Doesn’t mean mean he can’t improve this year, and I’m pulling hard for him to have a turnaround season against an all SEC schedule. For all the negatives that can and have been brought against him, ad nauseam, you can’t dispute his physical toughness after the beatings he’s endured as well as a mental toughness that eludes 99% of his generation. After him going rogue vs Bama last year, I thought he was done, fully expecting him to be benched and never see the field again. To his credit, he owned his mistake to his coaches and teammates, and without him, we don’t have the 6 games winning streak and bowl victory that has given our recruiting this year an added bump.

JG, here’s hoping you can put together a final season that leads our beloved Vols back to a level of success and prominence on a national level. But if that happens, don’t be surprised when some “fans” still find something to complain about. Those people are the ones who would have argued with Jesus when he walked this earth.
 
#53
#53
Don’t think anyone thinks JG has been the QB we all hoped he would be. Doesn’t mean mean he can’t improve this year, and I’m pulling hard for him to have a turnaround season against an all SEC schedule. For all the negatives that can and have been brought against him, ad nauseam, you can’t dispute his physical toughness after the beatings he’s endured as well as a mental toughness that eludes 99% of his generation. After him going rogue vs Bama last year, I thought he was done, fully expecting him to be benched and never see the field again. To his credit, he owned his mistake to his coaches and teammates, and without him, we don’t have the 6 games winning streak and bowl victory that has given our recruiting this year an added bump.

JG, here’s hoping you can put together a final season that leads our beloved Vols back to a level of success and prominence on a national level. But if that happens, don’t be surprised when some “fans” still find something to complain about. Those people are the ones who would have argued with Jesus when he walked this earth.
I think fans are coming around and I'm sure he's feeling the pressure to do well. Whether he does or not I think we're going to be ok at the QB position. I'm more curious to see how our running game holds up vs an All-SEC schedule.
 
#54
#54
I’m glad to hear good things about Shrout so far. Supposedly he’s had the arm talent just not the experience to put it all together, but sounds like it may be starting to come together for him. It just scares me to need HB to perform as a true Fr. without having the spring practices. The running game is what I believe is going to take a big step forward, and will help take the pressure off the passing game. Barring injuries to the OL, I think our run game becomes dominant this year.
 
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#55
#55
I’m glad to hear good things about Shrout so far. Supposedly he’s had the arm talent just not the experience to put it all together, but sounds like it may be starting to come together for him. It just scares me to need HB to perform as a true Fr. without having the spring practices. The running game is what I believe is going to take a big step forward, and will help take the pressure off the passing game. Barring injuries to the OL, I think our run game becomes dominant this year.
We desperately need the running game to improve, I'm hopeful as well. Chandler and Gray have the tools but both struggle some between the tackles, I'm hoping Coach Graham helps us in this area.
 
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#56
#56
JG is a VFL, but so are the other 99 players that give their blood sweat and maybe tears to the program. No difference at all. Probably 40 of them work just as hard and never get into the games. He also is no tougher than anybody else. You don’t get to D1 being soft and not being able to take a hit. I want him to do great but if he doesn’t he isn’t less of a VOL.
 
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#57
#57
Just my opinion,the other 99 haven’t had the public scrutiny and derision leveled at them as JG has. Don’t know that every D1 player would still be at UT if they experienced what he has. I agree, his success on the field doesn’t determine his status as VFL. I just appreciate the fact he is still working and trying to get better.
 
#58
#58
Just my opinion,the other 99 haven’t had the public scrutiny and derision leveled at them as JG has. Don’t know that every D1 player would still be at UT if they experienced what he has. I agree, his success on the field doesn’t determine his status as VFL. I just appreciate the fact he is still working and trying to get better.

The tough reality of D1 football, is that most other teams would have already moved on from JG by now.

So far in the a Pruitt era, we've yet to have a true starting QB, or a viable backup. If that situation continues through this season, Pruitt's going to feel the heat going into 2021.
 
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#59
#59
The tough reality of D1 football, is that most other teams would have already moved on from JG by now.

So far in the a Pruitt era, we've yet to have a true starting QB, or a viable backup. If that situation continues through this season, Pruitt's going to feel the heat going into 2021.
Lol, who is Pruitt gonna feel the heat from, the neverJG fan club?
 
#61
#61
The tough reality of D1 football, is that most other teams would have already moved on from JG by now.

So far in the a Pruitt era, we've yet to have a true starting QB, or a viable backup. If that situation continues through this season, Pruitt's going to feel the heat going into 2021.

What you say could be true, most other teams might have moved on. That still doesn’t mean JG can’t turn it all around THIS YEAR. If he doesn’t, then yes, Pruitt will have to make a decision on when to pull the plug and start working on the next starting QB. I’m hoping JG steps up and that decision doesn’t have to be made until next year. Just don’t understand the mentality that some display that they will be disappointed if that were to happen.
 
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#62
#62
What you say could be true, most other teams might have moved on. That still doesn’t mean JG can’t turn it all around THIS YEAR. If he doesn’t, then yes, Pruitt will have to make a decision on when to pull the plug and start working on the next starting QB. I’m hoping JG steps up and that decision doesn’t have to be made until next year. Just don’t understand the mentality that some display that they will be disappointed if that were to happen.

Possibilities vs probabilities. Most of JG's issues seem to be the speed of the game, and his timing and accuracy. At this point in his career, those are are not likely to change unfortunatley. History is a pretty good indicator, and he's not progressed much in those areas since his high school days.

It's a lot more likely that he has hit his capacity at this point, than it is that he has a wellspring of untapped potential that was hindered because he had different OCs which seems to be the going excuse these days.
 
#64
#64
Possibilities vs probabilities. Most of JG's issues seem to be the speed of the game, and his timing and accuracy. At this point in his career, those are are not likely to change unfortunatley. History is a pretty good indicator, and he's not progressed much in those areas since his high school days.

It's a lot more likely that he has hit his capacity at this point, than it is that he has a wellspring of untapped potential that was hindered because he had different OCs which seems to be the going excuse these days.


Do you think playing behind some historically bad OLs for three years in any way contributes to the deficiencies you list? I have to believe his sense of timing was affected by those first three years and could affect his “speed of the game” processing. I will concede his accuracy has been frustrating, but I guess I’m the type that never wants to say he can’t improve. I’m not expecting P Manning performances, but I still believe he can improve to the point we are competitive in all of our games this year.

I will say, depending on Pruitt’s confidence in the backups, I believe JG will be on a short leash. If he shows more of the same, they will be forced to move on rather quickly, and deservedly so.
 
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#65
#65
Do you think playing behind some historically bad OLs for three years in any way contributes to the deficiencies you list? I have to believe his sense of timing was affected by those first three years and could affect his “speed of the game” processing. I will concede his accuracy has been frustrating, but I guess I’m the type that never wants to say he can’t improve. I’m not expecting P Manning performances, but I still believe he can improve to the point we are competitive in all of our games this year.

I will say, depending on Pruitt’s confidence in the backups, I believe JG will be on a short leash. If he shows more of the same, they will be forced to move on rather quickly, and deservedly so.

I think to some degree sure, but even as far back in 2017, behind a terrible oline, we saw Dormady play behind it as well, and still not eat near the number of sacks that JG did, so you can't place it all on oline play, especially given that the oline started to improve significantly in the back half of 2018, and JG's issues continued on into 2019, behind a much better offensive line.

PFF's breakdown of his 2018 season, showed that the majority of his interceptions and sacks were coming from his holding the ball too long:

Last season, Guarantano was sacked six times, per PFF, in under 2.5 seconds. That’s about in line with the other four guys, all of whom were sacked four times in the same scenario. Guarantano’s “average time to throw” was 2.35 seconds. Fromm’s was 2.38 seconds, a feat he’s repeated exactly to the second the last two seasons

Since he was a freshman, Guarantano has had bouts where he holds on the ball too long. Of his 22 sacks last season, 16 came on plays where he was in the pocket for longer than 2.5 seconds. Two of his three interceptions came on such throws, too.


The problem with continuing to play him at this point, is that he's hampering the development of the entire QB room with his inability to get off the field. In 2018, he had to play every snap possible, even against cupcakes because he needed every snap to try and improve. That inability to get off the field and give some of the other QBs viable in-game snaps, is contributing to us not having a viable backup QB.

Last season he became a liability and was benched, but because Pruitt made the decision to anoint him starter, and give him the lion's share of first-team snaps, our options were an unprepared true freshman, and an unprepared sophomore with zero playing time under his belt.

With the weapons we have on offense this year in the running game, and an actual SEC-level oline, JG will hold the rest of the offense back if he has not improved, and with out Callaway and Jennings, I don't think his "passing efficiency" will be enough to keep him in a starting role if he starts the season the way he ended 2019.
 
#66
#66
I think to some degree sure, but even as far back in 2017, behind a terrible oline, we saw Dormady play behind it as well, and still not eat near the number of sacks that JG did, so you can't place it all on oline play, especially given that the oline started to improve significantly in the back half of 2018, and JG's issues continued on into 2019, behind a much better offensive line.

PFF's breakdown of his 2018 season, showed that the majority of his interceptions and sacks were coming from his holding the ball too long:

Last season, Guarantano was sacked six times, per PFF, in under 2.5 seconds. That’s about in line with the other four guys, all of whom were sacked four times in the same scenario. Guarantano’s “average time to throw” was 2.35 seconds. Fromm’s was 2.38 seconds, a feat he’s repeated exactly to the second the last two seasons

Since he was a freshman, Guarantano has had bouts where he holds on the ball too long. Of his 22 sacks last season, 16 came on plays where he was in the pocket for longer than 2.5 seconds. Two of his three interceptions came on such throws, too.

The problem with continuing to play him at this point, is that he's hampering the development of the entire QB room with his inability to get off the field. In 2018, he had to play every snap possible, even against cupcakes because he needed every snap to try and improve. That inability to get off the field and give some of the other QBs viable in-game snaps, is contributing to us not having a viable backup QB.

Last season he became a liability and was benched, but because Pruitt made the decision to anoint him starter, and give him the lion's share of first-team snaps, our options were an unprepared true freshman, and an unprepared sophomore with zero playing time under his belt.

With the weapons we have on offense this year in the running game, and an actual SEC-level oline, JG will hold the rest of the offense back if he has not improved, and with out Callaway and Jennings, I don't think his "passing efficiency" will be enough to keep him in a starting role if he starts the season the way he ended 2019.

To quote Marissa Tomei:

“Dead on balls accurate”
 
#67
#67
Year four of a six year contract champ.

He's going to want a raise and an extension, and being able to put develop an SEC-level QB room is somewhat important, you know, for an SEC head coach.
You're delusional if you think there is any chance Pruitt is on the hot seat next year, you can put all the if statements you want out there as it's not going to happen next year. He's probably only behind Saban and O from being on the hot seat.
 
#68
#68
You're delusional if you think there is any chance Pruitt is on the hot seat next year, you can put all the if statements you want out there as it's not going to happen next year. He's probably only behind Saban and O from being on the hot seat.


Like it is for every coach approaching a negotiation year, it's going to depend on how the season plays out, and his coaching decisions contribute to the outcome.

You're delusional if you think that he's already coached himself into an automatic extension at this point.
 
#69
#69
Everbody gets a pass this year, Pruitt included. I think D. Mason might even buy a pass. JG is on the hotseat, if he wants his 6th or 7th year!!!
 
#70
#70
I get all of the JG hate but his knowledge of the playbook will be the reason he’s safest to start. The people disregarding BM’s awful interceptions confuse me. I think JG will show improvement this year as he should... two years in the same OC - finally.
If JG can improve his confidence and follow the script, he could be very good this year. We do have to best offensive talent we have had in a number of years. I think if HB had been able to go through a normal Spring practice, he would have been able to put some real pressure on JG during this Fall's practice and be prepared to get some experience this year and preserve his red-shirt. If he plays a lot this year, the play book will be conservative. We will need the whole playbook to win 7 or more games.
 
#71
#71
We play 5 top 25 teams this year...JG vs top 25 last year...not great....excelled vs defenses ranked 40 and below.....so best is a 5-5 season. But we will probably drop at least 1 we should win...
 
#72
#72
I think fans are coming around and I'm sure he's feeling the pressure to do well. Whether he does or not I think we're going to be ok at the QB position. I'm more curious to see how our running game holds up vs an All-SEC schedule.

The game of football has changed so much. People always like to use Tom Osbourne and his Nebraska Cornhuskers as the standard of how to run the football at will. Those teams...great Cornhuskers teams wouldn't even win 10 games in this era. They legally cannot block the way they did for so many years.
In THIS era, the run game is opened up by the passing game. Unless your'e Kentucky and are just running wildcat every play, which still is dependant on the QB possibly throwing it. The defense needs to hesitate for a half second more because of the threat of the pass.
We should be able to provide that this year. Our run game should be pretty good this year. Our offense period
 
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#73
#73
The game of football has changed so much. People always like to use Tom Osbourne and his Nebraska Cornhuskers as the standard of how to run the football at will. Those teams...great Cornhuskers teams wouldn't even win 10 games in this era. They legally cannot block the way they did for so many years.
In THIS era, the run game is opened up by the passing game. Unless your'e Kentucky and are just running wildcat every play, which still is dependant on the QB possibly throwing it. The defense needs to hesitate for a half second more because of the threat of the pass.
We should be able to provide that this year. Our run game should be pretty good this year. Our offense period
Not being able to convert 3rd and 1 vs the likes of Ga St and continuing to be in 2nd or 3rd and long because we can't control the running game has been an issue the last 2 years. Our offensive philosophy is likely to remain conservative under Pruitt, if we can't run the football we can't win championships. It's a big reason I've never been sold on FL winning the east this year as their run game may be worse than ours
 
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#74
#74
“Harrison didn’t practice for the first couple of days, but at our last practice I thought he had a period there where he really kind of shined, taking care of the football, getting the ball out of his hands. He’s just like any freshman, he needs tons of reps. He needs it at the speed that the game is in college and the more reps he gets the better he’ll get, just like any other young player, so he’s just got to continue to get opportunities.”

Just warms the Cockles
 
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#75
#75
JG has all the tools. Just got to up the mental game. Two years ago he was getting smashed on every play. Last year he showed signs but played with PTSD most of the year from being smashed a year before. This year, lets up the mental game and who knows, kid honestly could have a special year. If he throws balls on time, they wont be yards behind the receiver and we have more speed this year. If anyone can get it out of him, it's Chaney. Man, that would be awesome. Obviously awesome for us, but awesome for him. I hope he breaks out of this slump.
 
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