The rebuild will be in 3 stages

#101
#101
OneVolNation said:
Some underestimated W. Virginia before last season despite urges not to and next season it's BYU in that spot we need to have an answer for.
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We matchup much better with them.
I have every confidence that we beat them.
 
#105
#105
LittleVol said:
We match up much better with them.
I have every confidence that we beat them.
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I'm not saying we don't, but they return 7 starters on both sides of the ball and their returning quarterback set a bowl record with his performance: 18 for 18 completions for 317 yds and 4 TDs. They won 49-18.

I think we'll prepare and rise to meet the challenge head-on, too. With most of their starters returning next season from their winning team,
they don't look like the walk in the park they used to be though.
 
#106
#106
ThreatLevelOrange said:
1. Simply get to a minimum of 6 wins a year while being competitive in most every game. This was the level Dooley had problems attaining. Jones needed the Miracle at Columbia to get there in Year 2. Many Vol fans deny this 1st level is part of the rebuild.
2. Get to 8-9 wins a year, with almost no losses to teams below us to teams in the recruiting rankings. We are competitive in all but 1-2 games a year, and beat Florida on a regular basis. We’ve only been at this level once since 2007. 2016 was a mirage where we were lucky to win 8 regular season games.
3. Get to 10+ regular season games and routinely stomp teams that have had the upper hand of late. At this level, we beat Georgia or Alabama from time to time and compete for division or conference championships.

As we climb to the next level, the level of recruits and ability to flip becomes much easier. A lot of fans are bummed we couldn’t grab someone that Bama or Georgia had committed but we are just not there yet. It’s actually a good sign we held onto our commits through ESD.
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When could we beat Flordia on a regular basis?
 
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#107
#107
Brave Volunteer said:
If we cant get to 8 wins next season with that schedule, I will seriously doubt that Pruitt is the guy.
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We realistically could win 9 of those, but if we go 7-5 or even 6-6, look more competitive in the major games, JG and co and D hit full stride toward the end of the year, I will feel pretty good about the next year. If we basically repeat this year by getting squashed and don’t look like a better team at the end of the year that could have won some games we played earlier that year then I will have to agree with you.
 
#108
#108
titansvolsfaninga said:
The rebuild will start with a dominant D and offensive line...which we see with this class.....and offense will be last. I'm enjoying this ride.
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I hope you are right, but while we have guys who many believe can fill this year’s senior’s shoes, there will once again be a lack of depth there for the first half of the season at least.
 
#109
#109
volfannbama said:
When could we beat Flordia on a regular basis?
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It’s a relative concept. Somewhere between every year and once every 15 years. I think most fans would consider Florida above SC/Mizz but below Georgia. Beating them with. More frequency would help recruiting.
 
#113
#113
volfannbama said:
Op said "beat florida on a regular basis. Weve only been this level once since..." im asking for any period of time where we could beat florida on a regular basis?
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Ahh the brief moment of brilliance where we beat fla 3 times in 4 years. Since then, not so much. But getting to a point where we were winning our share would be a sign we are reestablishing ourselves.
 
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#116
#116
ThreatLevelOrange said:
1. Simply get to a minimum of 6 wins a year while being competitive in most every game. This was the level Dooley had problems attaining. Jones needed the Miracle at Columbia to get there in Year 2. Many Vol fans deny this 1st level is part of the rebuild.
2. Get to 8-9 wins a year, with almost no losses to teams below us to teams in the recruiting rankings. We are competitive in all but 1-2 games a year, and beat Florida on a regular basis. We’ve only been at this level once since 2007. 2016 was a mirage where we were lucky to win 8 regular season games.
3. Get to 10+ regular season games and routinely stomp teams that have had the upper hand of late. At this level, we beat Georgia or Alabama from time to time and compete for division or conference championships.

As we climb to the next level, the level of recruits and ability to flip becomes much easier. A lot of fans are bummed we couldn’t grab someone that Bama or Georgia had committed but we are just not there yet. It’s actually a good sign we held onto our commits through ESD.
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You could be absolutely correct about this theoretical model... and it likely wouldn't work in the real world.

In the real world, fans will get antsy if UT continues to lose to less talented teams. Color that any way you like... but it shouldn't continue to happen and UT has more talent than some of the opponents they've lost to.

But the biggest factor is recruiting. Recruits will buy into "come here, play early, help us rebuild". That pitch works at most for the first 3 classes. By then... you'd better be able to point to WINS.

In year three, Jones won 9 games. It was rightly viewed as an underachievement. He made excuses. The media droned on about how Vol fans were wrong not to be satisfied. Recruits.... were rightly convinced that the guy just can't coach at the SEC level. By year 4, there was no doubts. I don't think the guy CAN coach... but if he had somehow pulled off a couple more wins in either of those seasons then he likely would have gotten better recruits. He probably would have still been the HC and wouldn't have suffered the 4 win season. But he lost recruiting momentum and lacks the talent as a HC to find SEC quality "diamonds in the rough"... much less develop them.

Pruitt has to start winning in the first 3 years. He has to show he can coach what he's got and impress some people... fans, media, and especially recruits. If he can't do that then he won't succeed even if you give him 10 years to complete that 3 stage process.
 
#117
#117
ThreatLevelOrange said:
To clarify, i didn’t mean every year. But maybe half the time. Florida is not at Georgia’s level, but clearly a more stable program than we are at this point. The 2nd level is at least challenging for a New Years Bowl game and battling for #2 in the East.
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It just jumped out at me... Guess I was looking to be an obstinate as-. However Fla. has been such a throne in our side for so long, I just think of them as near the Bama level.
 
#118
#118
savannahfan said:
It just jumped out at me... Guess I was looking to be an obstinate as-. However Fla. has been such a throne in our side for so long, I just think of them as near the Bama level.
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For UT, it’s Kryptonite. They’ve tossed in a couple of 4-win seasons but still beat us. Vanquishing then may be a lagging indicator to getting our crap together.
 
#120
#120
Devo182 said:
I have a similar theory of "inflection points" that could lead to better recruiting (or worse). But 6 wins is not one of them. It's winning big national games when they present themselves, making a ny6 bowl, and getting to Atlanta.

Remember, next year is likely the last time we can use the "new coach recruiting bump", ie selling lots of playing time and building something. After that, we have to sell winning. Which means 2020 is the first major inflection point. Hey, look, it's the same as Butch's - year 3 vs Oklahoma. Gotta win that big national game and hopefully win the East. 1 of 2 might be enough.

The next inflection point is either winning the East or making a NY6 bowl by year 4. This is another CBJ inflection point he FAILED.

CBJ lost to ou in year 3, failed to win the east, and failed to make a ny6 bowl. Due to failed inflection points, recruiting dropped off in a big way and led to where we are now. If CJP can win these inflection points, recruiting will go up.
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I never had a problem with Butch's 2015 performance' since we finally made it up to 8 wins that season' played in and won the Outback Bowl to get win #9 and a Top 25 finish.

Now 2016 was where the wheels started coming off again. Had either South Carolina or the Vandy game one or both turned out differently, a 9-3 or 10-2 would have guaranteed us nothing less then the Citrus bowl, a shot at a 10 or 11 win season, and a Top 20 finish.
 
#122
#122
volfannbama said:
I a when we could beat florida on a constant basis.....not when we could have....
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Ohhhh, okay , I understand now. You want to know when we could, not could have. We could very soon. Maybe next year or the next. Or, it could be a long time. I don't know for sure, do you? When could we? Could you answer this in a timely manner, or could it be a while. I could go to lunch instead of waiting. I could have already had lunch, but I haven't.
 
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#124
#124
Stage 1. Beat bad teams (non bowl teams/cupcakes)/ Beat evenly matched teams at home.

Stage 2. Blow out bad teams/Beat evenly matched teams on the road.

Stage 3. Win at home regardless of opponent. Be competitive regardless of opponent

Stage 4. Beat highly ranked teams wherever/whenver.

Stage 5. Beat Florida every once in a while.
 
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#125
#125
As most of us die hard Vol fans, we have hope for better things to come! Most probably don't remember that Saban went 6-6 in his 1st regular season at Bama including an ugly loss to La Monroe, and Saban already had a National Championship in his back pocket. Give Pruitt a couple years to "mature" as a head coach and all that goes with being the head man and the skies the limit. He knows talent and how to get it. We just need to give him time like we gave Majors and Fulmer when they 1st took over struggling programs.
 
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