Reasons for Pessimism in 2020

[unfrozencvmanvol]

In year 3 he should have a lot of upper clansmen playing and most issues on depth negated.

Upper clansmen??? Things are worse than I thought.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

View attachment 230673

Tyrion foreshadowing the end of the series.

 

[HearForGrumors]

I got your comment.

However, there are numerous comments stating that change cannot happen until Pruitt (or basically anyone) recruits and lands a bunch of “their” players.

To win, Tennessee doesn’t need any new recruit......not even one. Sure it would help and make winning easier. However if Tennessee has shown they “can” do it, then it can be replicated.......it just isn’t.

I understand the sentiment. Here's my issue with it: Everyone is talking like Pruitt doesn't agree. Who says that he doesn't think he can win with these kids? His comment has been that he needs kids that want to do it the right way. They could be recruited by any coach, on any team, at any time. He just needs the kids that are here to do the right thing, at the right time (practice, weight room, film room, meeting room, game time).

He's operating with 18 less scholarship players than almost every other team. That's a usual recruiting class. So, there's two issues (1) having kids that want to do it the right way and (2) having enough of those kids to fill a two deep with scholarship worthy athletes. That's not making excuses - that's looking at the landscape and making observations of fact. He's a good coach. It's a good staff. They need to have a full roster, regardless of who recruited them. And, his statement is that he needs a full roster of kids that are willing to put the work in to do things the right way.

 

[JoAllan]

I understand the sentiment. Here's my issue with it: Everyone is talking like Pruitt doesn't agree. Who says that he doesn't think he can win with these kids? His comment has been that he needs kids that want to do it the right way. They could be recruited by any coach, on any team, at any time. He just needs the kids that are here to do the right thing, at the right time (practice, weight room, film room, meeting room, game time).

He's operating with 18 less scholarship players than almost every other team. That's a usual recruiting class. So, there's two issues (1) having kids that want to do it the right way and (2) having enough of those kids to fill a two deep with scholarship worthy athletes. That's not making excuses - that's looking at the landscape and making observations of fact. He's a good coach. It's a good staff. They need to have a full roster, regardless of who recruited them. And, his statement is that he needs a full roster of kids that are willing to put the work in to do things the right way.

Seriously agree

They certainly need more players. They also certainly need better players.

This team is down on its roster which does hurt; however filling the roster......even with good players doesn’t necessarily fix many of the problems I’ve seen.

Fixing the roster should lead to wins, which could help motivation (lack of...which Tennessee has had at times)....but that shouldn’t even matter. As motivation should be a non issue (lack of discipline at times is the same thing here).

Tennessee has also been woefully inconsistent over these past two seasons. I think the coaches have to change that culture......even before there is a “change in roster” (to get the most out of new, more and better talent).

This past week was a good start, but it has to continue. The way Tennessee’s D played should give us all reasonable hope.

 

[Volador]

Am afraid that we lose too many strong recruits. We're on a treadmill not going anywhere soon.

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

#1 reason for pessimism?

 

[JohnD13]

#1 reason for pessimism?

View attachment 231315

Fans like you are #1 reason

 

[JohnD13]

Well, there is a thread on optimism for 2020 so I might as well post the pessimism one.

The biggest concern I have for 2020 is we are not getting any better in few key positions to be better than 6-6 or 7-5.


a) Wide Receiver Playmakers: We will be losing a lot of starters and depth on WR. With starters Juan Jennings and Callaway gone and depth guys Byrd and Jordan Murphy (transfer) gone too we will primarily rely on Josh Palmer, Brandon Johnson, Remmel Keyton and Cedric Tillman. Now, Palmer is good to get open but drops a lot of passes. He has atleast dropped two easy TDs this season already. Keyton hasn't done much and Brandon Johnson has been quiet last year and last year. Deangilo Gibbs is a converted WR and Cedric Tillman is a project. Tennessee currently does not have immediate contributor kind of recruit committed for 2020. Passing game will be a big worry.

b) ILB Depth: With Bituli graduating and 3 ILBs leaving team (Ignot, Reid and Banks), depth at ILB will become a deep concern in 2020. So far we only have Henry T as a contributor at that position for 2020. May be Crouch will slide into inside position but that still leaves us with two guys. Aaron Beasly is new and unproven, Salon Page was overtaken by unproven Aaron Beasly so there we go. JJ Petersen is yet to show up and has been underachiever so far. To add to misery Tennessee does not have a highly touted commit for that position. Sewell Smalls is gone and Noah Swell is unlikely to come. We will have two good starting ILBs in Henry T and Crouch but with no depth we will be susceptible and suck in late games.

c) OLB/DE Playmakers : We already are really horrible at pass rush and will lose WGWTFA Taylor. Roman Harrison looks promising but behind that its almost no one of impact. Kevon Bennet and Deandre Johnson have been mostly average.. filler materials but nothing so far shown to rush QBs. Now, few good commits here with BJ Obijulari and some good targets (Hardy etc) but how ready they will be as freshman in SEC. We really do not have any pass rush and do not see it improving soon.

d) DL Quality: This could go either way. We have some good talent there on paper. With Solomon potentially coming back and all the guys from this year getting SEC experience we may get better but again just one injury to Gooden and we look lost this year. My guess is we will be a middle of the pack SEC team in terms of DL play. Not elite but much better than this year.

e) QB concerns: Now the best situation for us is Brian Maurer keeps his job, balls out and does good behind an improved O-line and rushing attack. However, what if Brian Maurer isn't the guy ? We just have small sample size. We could be looking at a new QB with bunch of new WRs in place with second game of the season against Oklahoma. Remember, JG was supposed to take that next step (or so was the team) but how badly that went for us ? What if Harrison Bailey bails out on us or what if he is not ready ? Again, Maurer can take make us middle of the pack (6-6 or 7-5) but nothing shown yet that he can be elite (I did love some flashes from him against GA though).

Few Goods:

O-line will definitely improve (or should atleast in theory) with such talent and not losing much. I expect running game to be better with Gray as sophomore and Chandler most likely returning behind a better line.
I expect secondary to be better and play like veterans. Some depth concerns but will be better next year over all.

Given all this, do you really expect us to do more than Bowling (7-5) in Jeremy Pruitt's third year ? Do you expect us to be competitive against rivals Georgia, Florida and Bama ?(atleast we consider them rivals but given how we have lost to Candy 6 out of 8 tries may be we should change the level) ..

Here is my bottom line:

2020 is a rebuild regardless of who is at helm. Would you be comfortable with a guy who is rebuilding again in year 3 or a new guy ?

Well heck let's just quit now

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

Fans like you are #1 reason

Not everyone can achieve Vol Nation Superfan status such as yourself.

It's a lofty goal. Congratulations.

 

[Crimson Empire]

Well, there is a thread on optimism for 2020 so I might as well post the pessimism one.

The biggest concern I have for 2020 is we are not getting any better in few key positions to be better than 6-6 or 7-5.


a) Wide Receiver Playmakers: We will be losing a lot of starters and depth on WR. With starters Juan Jennings and Callaway gone and depth guys Byrd and Jordan Murphy (transfer) gone too we will primarily rely on Josh Palmer, Brandon Johnson, Remmel Keyton and Cedric Tillman. Now, Palmer is good to get open but drops a lot of passes. He has atleast dropped two easy TDs this season already. Keyton hasn't done much and Brandon Johnson has been quiet last year and last year. Deangilo Gibbs is a converted WR and Cedric Tillman is a project. Tennessee currently does not have immediate contributor kind of recruit committed for 2020. Passing game will be a big worry.

b) ILB Depth: With Bituli graduating and 3 ILBs leaving team (Ignot, Reid and Banks), depth at ILB will become a deep concern in 2020. So far we only have Henry T as a contributor at that position for 2020. May be Crouch will slide into inside position but that still leaves us with two guys. Aaron Beasly is new and unproven, Salon Page was overtaken by unproven Aaron Beasly so there we go. JJ Petersen is yet to show up and has been underachiever so far. To add to misery Tennessee does not have a highly touted commit for that position. Sewell Smalls is gone and Noah Swell is unlikely to come. We will have two good starting ILBs in Henry T and Crouch but with no depth we will be susceptible and suck in late games.

c) OLB/DE Playmakers : We already are really horrible at pass rush and will lose WGWTFA Taylor. Roman Harrison looks promising but behind that its almost no one of impact. Kevon Bennet and Deandre Johnson have been mostly average.. filler materials but nothing so far shown to rush QBs. Now, few good commits here with BJ Obijulari and some good targets (Hardy etc) but how ready they will be as freshman in SEC. We really do not have any pass rush and do not see it improving soon.

d) DL Quality: This could go either way. We have some good talent there on paper. With Solomon potentially coming back and all the guys from this year getting SEC experience we may get better but again just one injury to Gooden and we look lost this year. My guess is we will be a middle of the pack SEC team in terms of DL play. Not elite but much better than this year.

e) QB concerns: Now the best situation for us is Brian Maurer keeps his job, balls out and does good behind an improved O-line and rushing attack. However, what if Brian Maurer isn't the guy ? We just have small sample size. We could be looking at a new QB with bunch of new WRs in place with second game of the season against Oklahoma. Remember, JG was supposed to take that next step (or so was the team) but how badly that went for us ? What if Harrison Bailey bails out on us or what if he is not ready ? Again, Maurer can take make us middle of the pack (6-6 or 7-5) but nothing shown yet that he can be elite (I did love some flashes from him against GA though).

Few Goods:

O-line will definitely improve (or should atleast in theory) with such talent and not losing much. I expect running game to be better with Gray as sophomore and Chandler most likely returning behind a better line.
I expect secondary to be better and play like veterans. Some depth concerns but will be better next year over all.

Given all this, do you really expect us to do more than Bowling (7-5) in Jeremy Pruitt's third year ? Do you expect us to be competitive against rivals Georgia, Florida and Bama ?(atleast we consider them rivals but given how we have lost to Candy 6 out of 8 tries may be we should change the level) ..

Here is my bottom line:

2020 is a rebuild regardless of who is at helm. Would you be comfortable with a guy who is rebuilding again in year 3 or a new guy ?

If this is even half accurate, we will stretch the streak to 14. Yea, this year is #13.

 

[TNnative]

Neither sounds entertaining and fun to us fans. Fulmer said this would be a 4-5 year rebuild but I think we have all had hopes he was too pessimistic.

If Fulmer said it, that doesn't mean I am accepting it.