Judging Elliott's potential as HC because Pruitt was an idiot doesn't seem unfair to you?
I think it's natural for people to compare them because of their resumes prior to being a HC. I think it's a roll of the dice when it comes to HC hires, particularly coordinators, and a lot of hires that seem destined for greatness wind up being epic failures (i.e. Tennessee, Texas and Nebraska). Then again, great coaches have to come from somewhere. It's not like great HCs just become that way overnight. But is Tennessee the program to test that out at?
I think in the end a lot of it comes down to the staff they bring in. A lot of people were excited about Pruitt because of the staff he got, which amounted to nothing.