Unbiased Discussion on State of the Program

[T2P_Priceless]

Let's look at the situation objectively and unbiased, good and bad. If I missed anything or completely wrong I'm sure you'll let me know.

Let's try to stick to mostly facts and informed opinions please. No name calling or completely unhelpful comments like "Pruitt sucks, Pruitt is awesome, our team is a dumpster fire, etc.

If we reach a consensus on any of these that needs to change or be added I'll edit this post.

Bad
Lost to GA State
Lost in OT to BYU after having the game won
Lopsided loss to FL
Regression in QB play
Regression in Pass coverage
Regression in DL pass rush
Missed on some critical 4th down decisions
Red zone offense is below average

Good
Lopsided win vs UTC
Plus in turnovers
Improved OL
Improved run defense
Youth development: Last 2 recruiting classes are taking over playing time
Overall defense rank drastically improved - #43 in nation this year
We retain a large portion of the roster next year
S&C has drastically improved - the #s of speed, size and strength have all improved

Assumptions
Top 16 roster
Great recruiters
Historically great talent developers
Players this staff took over were slow
Players this staff took over were undersized
Staff leaned heavily on JG based on his performance in offseason but he went mental
Players passed over (some transferred) causes toxicity in locker room

Questions
Is it possible to quickly adjust to putting on large amounts of weight in one year?
Did Pruitt slowly institute the defense last year but accelerate it this year causing a learning curve?
Has Pruitt sacrificed the short term to focus on developing for the future?

Added
- Lost an NFL defensive line (all starters are in NFL)
- Number of SEC ready offensive linemen + number of SEC ready defensive linemen (SEC ready means can stand toe to toe with UF, UGA, USC, Missou. Number needs to be 10 minimum. This will make the rest of the team look much better than they are
- Poor QB play makes the entire team struggle
- We have one of the best OC in the country
- We have one of the best DC in the country
- What caused JG's regression? Chaney is widely known to improve QB play. Has there ever been a situation where QB play under him has regressed?
- The team looked very unmotivated and poorly coached in the first game. Lot's of bad alignments, no power, energy, etc.
- Special Teams is excellent, especially the kicking game
- Roster analysis - Roster Analysis: Makeup of Vols' Team After More Transfers | RTI
- Poor culture has plagued the program for years and takes time to change

Good stats to back up good OL play:

 

[T2P_Priceless]

Here's a good article on the state of the roster. All facts.

Roster Analysis: Makeup of Vols' Team After More Transfers | RTI

 

[livefaith]

Really? wooow! That really adds to what the OP is trying to express. Great job with your input! Perhaps, you should write articles for the knox knews.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

The only positive thing going for UT right now is possibly landing some highly rated recruits in this class to build for the future. If the Pruitt experiment does not ultimately work out, my hope is he leaves the cupboard stocked for the next coach avoiding another monumental rebuild. Until we start winning games, that is all I got. So regardless GBO!

 

[volfannbama]

We suck as a team and we have an overpaid underachieving dc trying to act like a head coach. Expect at least one more year of bad football followed by a coaching search. Hopefully the next time the admin will act like they are serious about winning football. If not, this is the cycle and state of the program.

 

[T2P_Priceless]

We suck as a team and we have an overpaid underachieving dc trying to act like a head coach. Expect at least one more year of bad football followed by a coaching search. Hopefully the next time the admin will act like they are serious about winning football. If not, this is the cycle and state of the program.

You obviously didn't read the OP.

 

[IPleadInsanity]

The state of the program = Number of SEC ready offensive linemen + number of SEC ready defensive linemen (SEC ready means can stand toe to toe with UF, UGA, USC, Missou. Number needs to be 10 minimum. This will make the rest of the team look much better than they are. We have 2 or 3 which makes our other players look worse then they actually are.

If 10 SEC ready linemen are not on the roster you can't compete for the east title. Doesn't mean you can't win 6 games and go to a bowl.

 

[OG.V83]

We suck as a team and we have an overpaid underachieving dc trying to act like a head coach. Expect at least one more year of bad football followed by a coaching search. Hopefully the next time the admin will act like they are serious about winning football. If not, this is the cycle and state of the program.

He said unbiased discussion ... basically means for trolls to GTFO

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

Really? wooow! That really adds to what the OP is trying to express. Great job with your input! Perhaps, you should write articles for the knox knews.

Cmon..

The OP is stretching when he claims;

a lopsided win over UTC is indicative of anything meaningful.

A #43 ranking on defense prior to getting into the meat of the schedule is anything meaningful

That somehow JGs issues have zero to do with coaching

That he has knowledge of "passed over" players being toxic..

So it is difficult to take his "objectivity" seriously.

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

The state of the program = Number of SEC ready offensive linemen + number of SEC ready defensive linemen (SEC ready means can stand toe to toe with UF, UGA, USC, Missou. Number needs to be 10 minimum. This will make the rest of the team look much better than they are. We have 2 or 3 which makes our other players look worse then they actually are.

If 10 SEC ready linemen are not on the roster you can't compete for the east title. Doesn't mean you can't win 6 games and go to a bowl.

This is the best summary of what is needed to win, period.

A great Oline makes all the backs and receivers look special.

A great Dline makes the lbers and dbers look special.

 

[onevol74]

We suck as a team and we have an overpaid underachieving dc trying to act like a head coach. Expect at least one more year of bad football followed by a coaching search. Hopefully the next time the admin will act like they are serious about winning football. If not, this is the cycle and state of the program.

I agree. The hope for this program is that somehow we can get a successful coaching search in December 2020.

 

[T2P_Priceless]

Cmon..

The OP is stretching when he claims;

a lopsided win over UTC is indicative of anything meaningful.

A #43 ranking on defense prior to getting into the meat of the schedule is anything meaningful

That somehow JGs issues have zero to do with coaching

That he has knowledge of "passed over" players being toxic..

So it is difficult to take his "objectivity" seriously.

I said if we don't agree (and I shouldn't have said consensus but majority) then I will change these around. The defensive ranking is just a fact but most of these good, bad and otherwise are relative.

 

[hog88]

Get back to us this time next season.

 

[Zues1]

Another thread

 

[Doberman]

The only positive thing going for UT right now is possibly landing some highly rated recruits in this class to build for the future. If the Pruitt experiment does not ultimately work out, my hope is he leaves the cupboard stocked for the next coach avoiding another monumental rebuild. Until we start winning games, that is all I got. So regardless GBO!

But it won’t count because all of the players wouldn’t be the new coaches players.

We’ve all been assured that’s an impossibility hurdle to overcome.

 

[OG.V83]

Let's look at the situation objectively and unbiased, good and bad. If I missed anything or completely wrong I'm sure you'll let me know.

Let's try to stick to mostly facts and informed opinions please. No name calling or completely unhelpful comments like "Pruitt sucks, Pruitt is awesome, our team is a dumpster fire, etc.

If we reach a consensus on any of these that needs to change or be added I'll edit this post.

Bad
Lost to GA State
Lost in OT to BYU after having the game won
Lopsided loss to FL
Regression in QB play
Regression in Pass coverage
Regression in DL pass rush
Missed on some critical 4th down decisions
Red zone offense is below average

Good
Lopsided win vs UTC
Plus in turnovers
Improved OL
Improved run defense
Youth development: Last 2 recruiting classes are taking over playing time
Overall defense rank drastically improved - #43 in nation this year
We retain a large portion of the roster next year

Assumptions
Top 16 roster - Roster Analysis: Makeup of Vols' Team After More Transfers | RTI
Great recruiters
Historically great talent developers
Players this staff took over were slow
Players this staff took over were undersized
Staff leaned heavily on JG based on his performance in offseason but he went mental
Players passed over (some transferred) causes toxicity in locker room

Questions
Is it possible to quickly adjust to putting on large amounts of weight in one year?
Did Pruitt slowly institute the defense last year but accelerate it this year causing a learning curve?
Has Pruitt sacrificed the short term to focus on developing for the future?

Good post. Good questions asked.
It does feel like he has sacrificed the now for the future but it prolly ain't that way for real. I think we can change the narrative this Saturday against Georgia if we come out and hit them in the mouth

 

[90 Vol]

He said unbiased discussion ... basically means for trolls to GTFO

Just so I understand, unbiased means exactly what in this discussion? Does it mean negative comments are not allowed? Comments that hurts someone's feelings? What? I'll hang up and listen...

 

[mickeyvol]

Well, sorry OP this thread is certainly biased. You can't have a thread that does not fit "the agenda".

 

[Billy Ratliff]

This team will improve greatly with better QB and DL play. Our young DL are not elite. Our upperclassmen DL are first year juco or transfers.

Bituli is good, but best DB and LB are mostly FR/Soph. OL is much better and will only lose C. Don’t lose any RB unless Jordan leaves, that’s fine. TEs are meh but not holding this team back IMO.

It’s mainly a QB issue, which is leading to TOs, playing from behind, and general frustration. Penalties and assignment busts should go down, if they don’t that’s a bad sign.

 

[T2P_Priceless]

Good post. Good questions asked.
It does feel like he has sacrificed the now for the future but it prolly ain't that way for real. I think we can change the narrative this Saturday against Georgia if we come out and hit them in the mouth

Yea, the future could be the 2d half of the season or past the bye week. You would think they would improve some after getting a chance to reflect more on past play vs entirely planning for upcoming opp. Just like last year. Also these Freshmen and first time players aren't really Freshmen after a good number of games played.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

But it won’t count because all of the players wouldn’t be the new coaches players.

We’ve all been assured that’s an impossibility hurdle to overcome.

That is just an excuse made to hide the fact that the team sucks. No hiding it right now because UT sucks.

 

[T2P_Priceless]

Well, sorry OP this thread is certainly biased. You can't have a thread that does not fit "the agenda".

Change my mind. I said in the post that I would move or change as required.

 

[mickeyvol]

Change my mind. I said in the post that I would move or change as required.

Guess I was not clear, I was not referring to you, I was talking about the negative replies.

 

[OG.V83]

Just so I understand, unbiased means exactly what in this discussion? Does it mean negative comments are not allowed? Comments that hurts someone's feelings? What? I'll hang up and listen...

U all hung up and listening??
Ok. You acknowledged the word unbiased but disregarded the word discussion. What your bama friend offers is far from that. Your lil homeboy you cheerleading for is a troll period.

 

[T2P_Priceless]

How about this to make it more clear. If you disagree with any item I listed, please reply with it and what it should be instead or that you just don't agree with that item.

Doesn't matter if you think it's relevant or not, just if you disagree.

Also, if I missed something. What is it and what category does it go in?

Finally, I've been adding new comments and thoughts at the bottom of the original post. Please help me categorize them or correct them as well.