This season confuses me

[a vol n tears]

I've had different thoughts on this year, players, and coaching. At one time had convinced myself the players were not trying, and later convinced it was the coaching. The past 2 weeks after watching games and listening to CJP I have settled on what I think has/is going on this season. I think Pruitt knew what he had and he basically decided to start over and employ his system no matter the players abilities. He was going to play the youngest players he could, instill his coaching, style, and personality. Winning was not his top priority (I know most think this is crazy). Fulmer also knows thats what is best and has his buy in. Some basis for my thinking. Why have they continued to run the ball despite no results. How many SRs are playing and where they are playing, is there a younger player available who they are not going to redshirt? Very very few. I bet we begin to see many of the redshirts start playing these last few games instead of the upperclassmen who miss assignments or don't look to the sidelines for alignment. OL had no options so they played who they had and saved some redshirts. DL had few options so they played almost everyone available except a couple redshirts. KC and London were never going to get playing time. I believe he thought he had better talent at LB than he had but I think the LBs try and are meeting his effort requirements. I don't think a 6th win is even a goal for these last few games. Get looks at frosh in games, more practice and plays for JRs and lower class players, end the season and get on the recruiting trail. I think maybe 1 of the O Linemen starting the past 4 or 5 games will start next year. Next year will probably be the youngest starting team in the country and there may well be players leave after this season although this doesn't help with the new 25 max rule now instated.

 

[Chilmonty]

I know how you feel!!

 

[Jax_Vol]

On Defense, most of the front 7 are Seniors or have been around for 3-4 years...Kongbo, Tuttle, Phillips, Kirkland, Sapp, Bain, Johnson, etc.

That is an extremely experienced bunch.

 

[LosingFaithVol]

Or he could just stink at being a head coach? Nah! It is all part of Pruitt's elaborate master scheme that will turn the Vols into a dynasty that would even make Saban green with envy.

Posi-Vol enough?

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

I dont think Pruitt had any idea of the crap he inherited until his first team meeting. In which afterwards he was shocked at how small we were. It seems the upoerclassmen on this team are not really producing like he thought they would. Just look at the secondary. The best players are true FR.

I dont know if we will see any of the young RS guys play in these last games. Maybe they will. Of course who knows, maybe those guys could give us a spark we need. Not likely but possible. This season really isnt that confusing. You have a rookie HC, DC and OC. Different schemes on both sides on the ball. An OL that had 1 SEC guy and now that guy is gone. No quality depth on either lines. Dropped passes, bad throws and bad coaching decisions. But none of this should really be any surprise.

 

[a vol n tears]

On Defense, most of the front 7 are Seniors or have been around for 3-4 years...Kongbo, Tuttle, Phillips, Kirkland, Sapp, Bain, Johnson, etc.

That is an extremely experienced bunch.

Who else could he play? A few signees that were too small. Although I think they get some playing time these last 3 games. He needed at least 2 deep at those 7 positions so not much more than 14 players were available.

 

[Chad F]

It's a wild ride of a season. That is true. However, it probably isn't that confusing. We just aren't that good talent-wise at some very important positions and there has been a chronic under-development issue that is well documented by many others on VolNation who are far more eloquent than me. I posted the other day that we could easily lose the Charlotte game - and was questioned as if it was an outrageous notion. The close score showed that it wasn't . . . and the rest of the year has shown that there is a LOT of work ahead for Coach Pruitt.

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

Well he has a good young core of DBs, RBs and probably WRs coming back next year.
Should have 3 good QBs as well with JG, Strout and Maher.
TEs will get better sized and learn blocking better too.
LBs should be fine too with Bituli, Peterson and Ignont/Sapp/incoming recruits. Deandre Johnson is getting those valuable reps now that Kongbo is injured and that will be very important next year.
OL, there will be a 2-3 emerge as viable starters after another year in the system and S&C. If Kennedy comes back healthy they will be significantly better (they have to right?)
Barring high quality JUCO or Grad Transfer, DL will be very young but there are some good sized guys such Gooden and Emerson and they are getting in valuable reps now.
Special teams should be set with Doyle and Cimaglia returning. Unless they get recruited over which means we are getting someone special.

One big plus would be if we can get those extra 15 bowl practices.

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

I've had different thoughts on this year, players, and coaching. At one time had convinced myself the players were not trying, and later convinced it was the coaching. The past 2 weeks after watching games and listening to CJP I have settled on what I think has/is going on this season. I think Pruitt knew what he had and he basically decided to start over and employ his system no matter the players abilities. He was going to play the youngest players he could, instill his coaching, style, and personality. Winning was not his top priority (I know most think this is crazy). Fulmer also knows thats what is best and has his buy in. Some basis for my thinking. Why have they continued to run the ball despite no results. How many SRs are playing and where they are playing, is there a younger player available who they are not going to redshirt? Very very few. I bet we begin to see many of the redshirts start playing these last few games instead of the upperclassmen who miss assignments or don't look to the sidelines for alignment. OL had no options so they played who they had and saved some redshirts. DL had few options so they played almost everyone available except a couple redshirts. KC and London were never going to get playing time. I believe he thought he had better talent at LB than he had but I think the LBs try and are meeting his effort requirements. I don't think a 6th win is even a goal for these last few games. Get looks at frosh in games, more practice and plays for JRs and lower class players, end the season and get on the recruiting trail. I think maybe 1 of the O Linemen starting the past 4 or 5 games will start next year. Next year will probably be the youngest starting team in the country and there may well be players leave after this season although this doesn't help with the new 25 max rule now instated.

Sorry, but I want no part of a coach that isn't trying to win games.

 

[Doberman]

I dont think Pruitt had any idea of the crap he inherited until his first team meeting. In which afterwards he was shocked at how small we were. It seems the upoerclassmen on this team are not really producing like he thought they would. Just look at the secondary. The best players are true FR.

I dont know if we will see any of the young RS guys play in these last games. Maybe they will. Of course who knows, maybe those guys could give us a spark we need. Not likely but possible. This season really isnt that confusing. You have a rookie HC, DC and OC. Different schemes on both sides on the ball. An OL that had 1 SEC guy and now that guy is gone. No quality depth on either lines. Dropped passes, bad throws and bad coaching decisions. But none of this should really be any surprise.

Could he not see how small and pathetic were were the last several years he was whipping our asses from the other sideline?

I don’t buy that line, and I’ve heard it numerous times.

He knew. And he also knew how well it paid to take on the challenge. He’s no dummy.

 

[njvols]

Could he not see how small and pathetic were were the last several years he was whipping our asses from the other sideline?

I don’t buy that line, and I’ve heard it numerous times.

He knew. And he also knew how well it paid to take on the challenge. He’s no dummy.

He definitely knew. He may not have known how hard it would be to change culture and effort...effort that lasts an entire game, and not just for part of the game. After all, he's always been at schools where it's been plug and play...one 5 star goes down or moves on to NFL, plug in the next 4-5 star in waiting. Coaches look alot smarter when they've got the players.

 

[TJSVOLS]

Or he could just stink at being a head coach? Nah! It is all part of Pruitt's elaborate master scheme that will turn the Vols into a dynasty that would even make Saban green with envy.

Posi-Vol enough?

Dumb!

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Could he not see how small and pathetic were were the last several years he was whipping our asses from the other sideline?

I don’t buy that line, and I’ve heard it numerous times.

He knew. And he also knew how well it paid to take on the challenge. He’s no dummy.

Pruitt said in February that we have a small football team. He MAY have known. But I dont think he expected us to be this small. Football uniforms make you look bigger than you really are.

 

[Doberman]

Pruitt said in February that we have a small football team. He MAY have known. But I dont think he expected us to be this small. Football uniforms make you look bigger than you really are.

Pretty relative when his huge guys are also wearing pads. Still much bigger.

Hell, we can all see it on our TV screens. I’m sure he was aware, watching his defense toss our midgets around like rag dolls.

If not, we need to have his IQ checked.

 

[wmcovol]

Bama beat Tennessee last yr 45-7. Vols were fortunate to score. Pruitt knew more about Tennessee than you people think. That’s why he got a 6 yr deal.

 

[BanditVol]

I've had different thoughts on this year, players, and coaching. At one time had convinced myself the players were not trying, and later convinced it was the coaching. The past 2 weeks after watching games and listening to CJP I have settled on what I think has/is going on this season. I think Pruitt knew what he had and he basically decided to start over and employ his system no matter the players abilities. He was going to play the youngest players he could, instill his coaching, style, and personality. Winning was not his top priority (I know most think this is crazy). Fulmer also knows thats what is best and has his buy in. Some basis for my thinking. Why have they continued to run the ball despite no results. How many SRs are playing and where they are playing, is there a younger player available who they are not going to redshirt? Very very few. I bet we begin to see many of the redshirts start playing these last few games instead of the upperclassmen who miss assignments or don't look to the sidelines for alignment. OL had no options so they played who they had and saved some redshirts. DL had few options so they played almost everyone available except a couple redshirts. KC and London were never going to get playing time. I believe he thought he had better talent at LB than he had but I think the LBs try and are meeting his effort requirements. I don't think a 6th win is even a goal for these last few games. Get looks at frosh in games, more practice and plays for JRs and lower class players, end the season and get on the recruiting trail. I think maybe 1 of the O Linemen starting the past 4 or 5 games will start next year. Next year will probably be the youngest starting team in the country and there may well be players leave after this season although this doesn't help with the new 25 max rule now instated.

I've been thinking similar thoughts. Given that Chandler and Jordan got few touches plus Trey was out, and we STILL tried to run the ball down the throat of what is in spite of being a Cusa team, a very good run D, I have speculated myself that he treated this game as a practice.

He did not do so against Auburn. He will do so at his own peril the next three games. Most if not all Vol fans still care about winning, even in a season that has started 4-5.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Pretty relative when his huge guys are also wearing pads. Still much bigger.

Hell, we can all see it on our TV screens. I’m sure he was aware, watching his defense toss our midgets around like rag dolls.

If not, we need to have his IQ checked.

I think he knew we were smaller than Bama. I just think he was shocked at just how small we really were when he viewed the whole team without pads.

 

[ShoalCreekVol]

The title for this season's commemorative DVD will be "2018: Maddeningly Inconsistent"

 

[GulfCoasterVol]

confusing season ... No $hit

 

[KeyVol14]

I've had different thoughts on this year, players, and coaching. At one time had convinced myself the players were not trying, and later convinced it was the coaching. The past 2 weeks after watching games and listening to CJP I have settled on what I think has/is going on this season. I think Pruitt knew what he had and he basically decided to start over and employ his system no matter the players abilities. He was going to play the youngest players he could, instill his coaching, style, and personality. Winning was not his top priority (I know most think this is crazy). Fulmer also knows thats what is best and has his buy in. Some basis for my thinking. Why have they continued to run the ball despite no results. How many SRs are playing and where they are playing, is there a younger player available who they are not going to redshirt? Very very few. I bet we begin to see many of the redshirts start playing these last few games instead of the upperclassmen who miss assignments or don't look to the sidelines for alignment. OL had no options so they played who they had and saved some redshirts. DL had few options so they played almost everyone available except a couple redshirts. KC and London were never going to get playing time. I believe he thought he had better talent at LB than he had but I think the LBs try and are meeting his effort requirements. I don't think a 6th win is even a goal for these last few games. Get looks at frosh in games, more practice and plays for JRs and lower class players, end the season and get on the recruiting trail. I think maybe 1 of the O Linemen starting the past 4 or 5 games will start next year. Next year will probably be the youngest starting team in the country and there may well be players leave after this season although this doesn't help with the new 25 max rule now instated.

I’ve actually wondered this myself. We’re just not that good or physically equipped as of yet. This years class is setting up nicely tho and I can’t stress enough how important it is to get the guys that don’t want be here out of the program. It’s just like having a bad coworker; laziness and com placement rubs off on others and the ones that are doing there job feel helpless hence what I think Pruitt has been trying to convey. I’ve stated before as well when I was at the vol walk prior to the Etsu game my first thought of the team was that they were not physically imposing except for Trey Smith and Bituli

 

[PulaskiVolFan]

Well he has a good young core of DBs, RBs and probably WRs coming back next year.
Should have 3 good QBs as well with JG, Strout and Maher.
TEs will get better sized and learn blocking better too.
LBs should be fine too with Bituli, Peterson and Ignont/Sapp/incoming recruits. Deandre Johnson is getting those valuable reps now that Kongbo is injured and that will be very important next year.
OL, there will be a 2-3 emerge as viable starters after another year in the system and S&C. If Kennedy comes back healthy they will be significantly better (they have to right?)
Barring high quality JUCO or Grad Transfer, DL will be very young but there are some good sized guys such Gooden and Emerson and they are getting in valuable reps now.
Special teams should be set with Doyle and Cimaglia returning. Unless they get recruited over which means we are getting someone special.

One big plus would be if we can get those extra 15 bowl practices.

Spot on here. Add a couple of graduate transfers alongside several new Fr to the current mix and next season with a full year of development looks promising!

 

[Carl Pickens]

What's confusing is if Chandler and Jennings were injured..... why did they get in the game?..... and if they were healthy enough to play.... why didn't they go to them more?

 

[photovol]

Could he not see how small and pathetic were were the last several years he was whipping our asses from the other sideline?

I don’t buy that line, and I’ve heard it numerous times.

He knew. And he also knew how well it paid to take on the challenge. He’s no dummy.

Always follow the money, Pruitt knew what he was getting into and the money offset the puny players he was inheriting

 

[Behr]

Or he could just stink at being a head coach? Nah! It is all part of Pruitt's elaborate master scheme that will turn the Vols into a dynasty that would even make Saban green with envy.

Posi-Vol enough?

The nega/posi stuff is old and childish.

I know I know, "they started it".

 

[VFL-82-JP]

So if I read the OP right, as the season played out, you've worked through these three theories, but you're still feeling confused:
* players are not trying
* it's the coaching
* CJP running his system regardless of player fit

What those three iterations have in common is this: they all assume there's A problem causing us to lose games.

But there's not A problem. There are a host of problems, all mixed together. They go something like this:
-- some of our lads aren't bought in; they're not giving it their all
-- some are giving it their best, but don't have the mental acuity to pick up the new schemes and playbook very quickly
-- some are giving it their all, but aren't quite SEC caliber physically
-- some would be SEC caliber physically if they'd been working hard the past 2, 3, 4 years, but they didn't
-- some are all in, physically and mentally competitive....but together, they're too few to give our team quality depth-- as a result, we're very thin in several places
-- our coaches are new at these jobs; they're gonna make rookie mistakes, from head coach on down
-- our current roster doesn't really fit the 3-4 defense well
-- our current roster doesn't necessarily fit the pro style offense well (this mis-fit isn't as bad as the D)
-- our fan base (including boosters, who sometimes think their thoughts ought to be listened to) are impatient, contributing to a cacophony of background dissonance the coaches and players have to work through/around
-- UT faculty and leadership remain divided between Haslamites and others...and only some of the others care about championship caliber sports programs (the Haslamites do want that, but they have really bad ideas about how to get there)
-- probably several other elements I missed

See? You're never going to be able to put your finger on The Thing that's the problem, when in reality there are so many things.

The good news is, CJP & Co. have the power to fix the vast majority of those issues over the next couple of years. Too early to tell if he will fix them, but he'll have the opportunity. What's going on at the university leadership level is beyond his control, and annoying parts of the fan base will continue to irritate, but the rest he can correct with time.