Vols Practice Thread #11

[jakez4ut]

Many people have mentioned how Pruitt keeps a tighter grip on information coming from practices than Butch, but it's also interesting to consider that the information that does come out could be quite confusing to opposing teams. Pruitt has moved a lot of guys around position-wise, so opposing coaches reading the practice notes don't even necessarily know where a guy like Trey Smith is going to line up on the O-line.

I don't know if this is deliberate gamesmanship or not (Saban was certainly capable of it), but think about being a West Virginia D-lineman and you have know idea if you're going to win the lining-up-across-from-Trey-Smith lottery.

honestly i think he's really trying to find the best spots for some of these guys. and if that presents a challenge to the opponent in preparation, then let's just call that a happy little accident....

 

[orange parmejohn]

honestly i think he's really trying to find the best spots for some of these guys. and if that presents a challenge to the opponent in preparation, then let's just call that a happy little accident....

I agree. Pruitt doesn't seem the sneaky type. Just trying to get his best on the field.

 

[westennvol]

Did anyone else notice we did not get a QB report today? Wonder if that was by design?

 

[jakez4ut]

Did anyone else notice we did not get a QB report today? Wonder if that was by design?

yeah, there was one, they were doing mesh point drills with the RB's and routes out of the backfield. WR's were doing ball placement drills.

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

Going to be disappointed if TE play is not a strength this year with all the Wood-Anderson talk. If he is half as good as the build up he has generated without a playing a snap yet, we should have a nice weapon.

I agree but keep in mind behind Anderson and Wolf, theres basically no one. We might be in trouble if one of those guys gets hurt.

 

[jakez4ut]

i think that's why they're giving some other guys looks at TE....depth is an issue. hopefully it won't bite us. but i gotta be honest, if TE depth was the only depth issue we had, i wouldn't be worried....lol.

 

[Pacer92]

Jordan Murphy...

 

[spyfish007]

They know what he can do at two spots and extrapolate that he’s the best at every position on the line...sometimes film is just what it looks like. They just don’t know how well the other candidates can handle what other spots are open.

There is also the idea of about how does he work with the linemen beside him and what is the combination? How is the communication?

 

[WestGaVol]

They know what he can do at two spots and extrapolate that he’s the best at every position on the line...sometimes film is just what it looks like. They just don’t know how well the other candidates can handle what other spots are open.

Or it could be because he played left in high school and Richmond played right, maybe we actually have a staff that realizes both were great in those positions

 

[The Original Fade]

Many people have mentioned how Pruitt keeps a tighter grip on information coming from practices than Butch, but it's also interesting to consider that the information that does come out could be quite confusing to opposing teams. Pruitt has moved a lot of guys around position-wise, so opposing coaches reading the practice notes don't even necessarily know where a guy like Trey Smith is going to line up on the O-line.

I don't know if this is deliberate gamesmanship or not (Saban was certainly capable of it), but think about being a West Virginia D-lineman and you have know idea if you're going to win the lining-up-across-from-Trey-Smith lottery.

I have a hard time believing a first year coach, with all that he needs to accomplish with getting his team ready, has the time to worry if his 4-8 team’s practices are being scouted by the competition.

 

[Ertel]

I agree but keep in mind behind Anderson and Wolf, theres basically no one. We might be in trouble if one of those guys gets hurt.

I think Pope will be serviceable and Fant is back there now too. Seems like we have 1000 TEs, somebody has to be capable.

 

[Ertel]

Or it could be because he played left in high school and Richmond played right, maybe we actually have a staff that realizes both were great in those positions

Personally, seeing them both at tackle concerns me on the Chance Hall front. If hes going to be healthy and can play near 100% by WV id think hed have one of those tackle spots locked up. But the optimist in me wants to think that maybe the other two have been so good that even if Chance IS healthy then hes going to be a guard to shore up the interior and first backup at tackle.

 

[fossilfiction]

I agree but keep in mind behind Anderson and Wolf, theres basically no one. We might be in trouble if one of those guys gets hurt.

That is really a concern at every position it seems, other than safety and nose tackle. For this year to be good we need the opposite of last year's injuries.

 

[05_never_again]

That is really a concern at every position it seems, other than safety and nose tackle. For this year to be good we need the opposite of last year's injuries.

Hell, the last two years. Butch's teams were always pretty thin to begin with. Talented starters, but big drop off after that. A thin team combined with a ton of injuries is just asking for trouble.

 

[cHiZzLeVOL]

Jordan Murphy...

@greazy1722 you were right about this. Any other information on anything going on?

 

[orange parmejohn]

Personally, seeing them both at tackle concerns me on the Chance Hall front. If hes going to be healthy and can play near 100% by WV id think hed have one of those tackle spots locked up. But the optimist in me wants to think that maybe the other two have been so good that even if Chance IS healthy then hes going to be a guard to shore up the interior and first backup at tackle.

They are trying to get everybody ready to plug into multiple positions to alwats keep the best players on the field.

 

[DiderotsGhost]

I have a hard time believing a first year coach, with all that he needs to accomplish with getting his team ready, has the time to worry if his 4-8 team’s practices are being scouted by the competition.

Yes, it's extraordinarily difficult to imagine a good football coach trying to hide information about his team from competitors. That's so completely far-fetched and out-there. No coach has ever used uncertainty at position groups to give his team an information edge before.

I think you guys are being a bit naive here.

Saban had fake headsets created at LSU so that the opposing team would have a more difficult time knowing who their signal callers were. Harbaugh won't ever release his starting lineup to the media. Coaches go to pretty great lengths to hide almost-insignificantly small details of their football team.

I'm not saying Pruitt is doing this purposefully; I'm merely saying that it's a nice-little advantage whether it's deliberate or not. Not knowing with certainty where Trey Smith is lining up is a bigger pain for the opposing defense.

.....

(Speaking of which, Butch Jones was completely horrible at deception. Opposing defenses knew the offensive plays before they were run, because he made no efforts to disguise his plays. From what I've heard, that was actually one of his biggest weaknesses and why our offense seemed to get worse over time.)

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Pruitt has stated many times he like to move guys around up front in case you have to later. Still time to nail down the starting unit. GBO!!!!!

 

[MSME Vol]

Personally, seeing them both at tackle concerns me on the Chance Hall front. If hes going to be healthy and can play near 100% by WV id think hed have one of those tackle spots locked up. But the optimist in me wants to think that maybe the other two have been so good that even if Chance IS healthy then hes going to be a guard to shore up the interior and first backup at tackle.

After everything Hall has gone through, getting game time out of him by Florida would be a major victory.

 

[The Original Fade]

Yes, it's extraordinarily difficult to imagine a good football coach trying to hide information about his team from competitors. That's so completely far-fetched and out-there. No coach has ever used uncertainty at position groups to give his team an information edge before.

I think you guys are being a bit naive here.

Saban had fake headsets created at LSU so that the opposing team would have a more difficult time knowing who their signal callers were. Harbaugh won't ever release his starting lineup to the media. Coaches go to pretty great lengths to hide almost-insignificantly small details of their football team.

I'm not saying Pruitt is doing this purposefully; I'm merely saying that it's a nice-little advantage whether it's deliberate or not. Not knowing with certainty where Trey Smith is lining up is a bigger pain for the opposing defense.

.....

(Speaking of which, Butch Jones was completely horrible at deception. Opposing defenses knew the offensive plays before they were run, because he made no efforts to disguise his plays. From what I've heard, that was actually one of his biggest weaknesses and why our offense seemed to get worse over time.)

Good strawman argument. I never said gamesmanship didn’t or shouldn’t happen in college football at any time. I’m simply saying Pruitt has much bigger fish to fry RIGHT NOW than trying to confuse coaches that don’t consider Tennessee much of a threat

 

[butchna]

Good strawman argument. I never said gamesmanship didn’t or shouldn’t happen in college football at any time. I’m simply saying Pruitt has much bigger fish to fry RIGHT NOW than trying to confuse coaches that don’t consider Tennessee much of a threat

It’s not an either/or thing. You can fry that fish AND try to keep the other cooks from knowing how hot you set the fryer.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

Jordan Murphy was consistently making one-handed catches

Maybe Murphy needs to go exclusively to the one-handed catch.

 

[Evergrenevol]

I agree but keep in mind behind Anderson and Wolf, theres basically no one. We might be in trouble if one of those guys gets hurt.

Pope and Blakey will be playing FB / H Back and TE depending on formations. I think we’re good here. Pope started a couple of games at TE last year.

 

[Dudleys87]

If by some strike of luck Richmond is an AC at RT we’ll be in good shape up front

 

[Ten_Titans]

Good strawman argument. I never said gamesmanship didn’t or shouldn’t happen in college football at any time. I’m simply saying Pruitt has much bigger fish to fry RIGHT NOW than trying to confuse coaches that don’t consider Tennessee much of a threat

I highly doubt WV is scouting any specific players on our team outside of MAYBE the QBs.

I understand due diligence and everything, but I very strongly doubt that Dana H is losing sleep over whether Shamberger is a safety or a nickel corner.