Recent 1st Year Vol Coaches

#1
Glocker_Alum_2005

Glocker_Alum_2005

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#1
Looking back at 2009, 2010, 2013, and forward to 2018, what's Volnation's opinion on which team had/has the most talent. Also which coach had/will have the most relative success in his first year given the talent while taking into consideration the strength of schedule.
 
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#2
#2
I don’t know which one I would say had the most talent.

Butch was dealt a dumpster fire of a roster though. Kiffin probably had the most success with the roster he had.

I would probably honestly lean toward Pruitt inheriting the best roster out of the 4.
 
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#3
#3
Pruitt and Lane probably had pretty equal talent upon their arrival and will probably perform about the same
 
#4
#4
I'd say Pruitt has the best roster, but also one of the toughest schedules.

As I suggested in one of my earlier threads, I really don't know whether to be optimistic or have muted expectations. First year transitions are historically difficult, particularly when you're totally changing philosophies on both sides of the ball. But I think our talent is severely underrated right now, because of how badly our last coaching staff underperformed. Overall, I could see this season being similar to 2009.
 
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#5
#5
I think Pruitt likely has the most talent out of the four.

Kiffen was the last coach we had that I truly believed we could beat anyone we played, especially after taking Bama to the wire in their house with walk-ons on the offensive line. Plus we absolutely curb-stomped Georgia that season.
 
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#7
#7
In 2009, we Played 2 #1 ranked teams (FL and Bama) and a #21 S. Carolina. This year GA, Bama, Auburn are top 10 teams, with WV and Cocky rounding out top 25. 2018 seems a steeper climb. A 7-5 regular season will be monumental accomplishment.
 
#9
#9
Glocker_Alum_2005 said:
In 2009, we Played 2 #1 ranked teams (FL and Bama) and a #21 S. Carolina. This year GA, Bama, Auburn are top 10 teams, with WV and Cocky rounding out top 25. 2018 seems a steeper climb. A 7-5 regular season will be monumental accomplishment.
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West Virginia and South Carolina are not top 25 caliber teams
 
#10
#10
MyBloodRunnethOrange said:
Who outside of Berry would you say was proven going into the season?
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Gerald Jones, Denarius Moore, and Hardesty all made significant contributions in 2008 and all did very well for Kiffin. You could say the same for Rico McCoy and Dennis Rogan on defense, not to mention Berry. Jennings is really the only proven play on offense for Pruitt, Chandler maybe?
 
#12
#12
Lets go back further;)

Phil Fulmer 3-0 in 1992

Johnny Majors 4-7 in 1977

Bill Battle 11-1 in 1970

Doug Dickey 4-5-1 in 1964

Jim McDonald 5-5 in 1963

Bowdon Wyatt 6-3-1 in 1955

John Barnhill 9-1-1 in 1942

Bill Britton 4-5 in 1935

General Neyland 8-1 in 1926
 
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#13
#13
The Original Fade said:
Gerald Jones, Denarius Moore, and Hardesty all made significant contributions in 2008 and all did very well for Kiffin. You could say the same for Rico McCoy and Dennis Rogan on defense, not to mention Berry. Jennings is really the only proven play on offense for Pruitt, Chandler maybe?
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Callaway I would add. On defense I'd say Bituli, Kirkland, and Warrior.
 
#16
#16
The Original Fade said:
Kiffin had more proven talent than Pruitt, and it’s not really close
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Kiffin also took a head case quarterback in Jonathon Crompton and turned him into a fairly competent player. He was highly rated coming in but proved to not be very good on Gamedays (supposedly was the greatest practice QB to play the game though...) before Kiffin arrived. If he could have coached kickers equally as well, we would have beat Bama that year!
 
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#18
#18
TN Outlaw said:
Pruitt and Lane probably had pretty equal talent upon their arrival and will probably perform about the same
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Lest ye forget Kiffin had to start two walkons on his OL and his QB spent the entire off season in counseling for confidence issues. Pruitt has a team of All Americans on hand compared to what Kiffin had.
 
#19
#19
zeppelin128 said:
I think Pruitt likely has the most talent out of the four.

Kiffen was the last coach we had that I truly believed we could beat anyone we played, especially after taking Bama to the wire in their house with walk-ons on the offensive line. Plus we absolutely curb-stomped Georgia that season.
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We also had some NFL players on that OL to go with those walk ons
 
#20
#20
2009 had some talent but also had some thin spots. This roster may not be quite as thin as 2009, but we don’t have an Eric Berry either.

If Pruitt can pull an ‘09 Georgia out of his hat (beat down a rival) and get us to a bowl game and win (7 total) I’d take it right now.
 
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#21
#21
K-town Vol Fan said:
We also had some NFL players on that OL to go with those walk ons
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Also true. I'm just ready to get that swagger and confidence back that has been missing since 2009. Lost in the Swamp by 10 to the #1 Gators, lost by 2 to #1 Bama in the devil's lair thanks to "Mount Cody", and beat the hell out of Georgia.
 
#22
#22
General Jack said:
2009 had some talent but also had some thin spots. This roster may not be quite as thin as 2009, but we don’t have an Eric Berry either.

If Pruitt can pull an ‘09 Georgia out of his hat (beat down a rival) and get us to a bowl game and win (7 total) I’d take it right now.
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We don't have an Eric Berry but we do have a Trey Smith. To the point earlier of 5 starting OL slots Kiffin had to start two walk ons. Nowhere will you find Pruitt having to come close to remotely doing that on this years team to start the year.
 
#24
#24
The Original Fade said:
Gerald Jones, Denarius Moore, and Hardesty all made significant contributions in 2008 and all did very well for Kiffin. You could say the same for Rico McCoy and Dennis Rogan on defense, not to mention Berry. Jennings is really the only proven play on offense for Pruitt, Chandler maybe?
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Warrior, Tuttle, Bituli, Trey Smith. Same caliber as the guys you mentioned minus Berry.

You can make an argument one way or the other, but it is definitely close.
 
#25
#25
OleRockyTop said:
If roid rage Grier stays healthy then WV is absolutely going to be a top 25 team, without him (like their last couple games last year) then I'd agree with you that they're not
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WV barely beat anyone that mattered last year. They will not be a "Top 25" team by the end of week 3. Especially not after we beat them in Game 1.
 
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