Why is everyone so optimistic about Pruitt and his staff?

#101
#101
Longsufferingvol said:
I am glad the disaster of a coaching search is over like everyone else, but I am not completely sold on Pruitt and the staff. From where I am standing, we will have a head coach who has never been in that role before, an offensive coordinator who did not call plays at his last job, and a defensive coordinator who was a position coach last year. What could possibly go wrong with that combination? :crazy: Does the name Larry Scott or Sal Sunseri ring any bells? I can handle hiring a rookie head coach, but the combination of inexperience at all three of the most important positions of the coaching staff is cause for concern. Butch was criticized for hiring his buddies to his own detriment, so what do you make of these moves by Pruitt? He got his first opportunity to be a head coach and he put the future of Tennessee football in the hands of his inexperienced buddies. He hopes it will all work out, but if it doesnt he can go back to Bama and Tennessee will continue to suck.
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Did you just compare Larry Scott and Sal Sunseri to the current staff? If that is your level of equivalency in your mind then there isn't much discussion. Pruitt would have been hired by another team sooner rather than later and every other hire he has made has come with a track record of success or highly thought of by other coaches for starters. Larry Scott was the tight ends coach on the newly fired Miami staff who had failed his way upwards at UT simply because no one else wanted the job. Sal Sunseri was well respected but he attached his anchor to a sinking ship in Derek Dooley. The two situations aren't comparable. Dooley had no experience as a coordinator at any level so he offered no real guidance other than as a CEO. Scott was beholden to Jones' offensive scheme no matter its flaws. Pruitt has proven to be an excellent defensive coordinator at multiple schools and will be very involved in that side of the ball. Friend had great success as the OC at Colorado State, Helton has been an offensive coordinator in some capacity for the past 4 seasons and studied under June Jones, Neil Calloway, and Jeff Brohm. He may be terrible but there is nothing in his past that suggests he doesn't have the tools to be successful. Nothing in Scotts past suggests that he was going to be successful at UT as an OC.
 
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#102
#102
VolArmy74 said:
But once we tried to go cheap again with Schiano and that crap show happened, bargain basement, unproven staff was what we were going to get.
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That $27 million contract states otherwise. I don't know why people keep saying that it was a 'cheap' move to go with Schiano. You may argue he wasn't worthy of a contract that lucrative, or that we should have gotten a more proven, better coach for that kind of money, but please stop using the word 'cheap.'

Tennessee, in order to avoid litigation, and further scandal, may pay out a seven-figure settlement to make it all go away. Nothing cheap about it.
 
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#103
#103
Longsufferingvol said:
I am glad the disaster of a coaching search is over like everyone else, but I am not completely sold on Pruitt and the staff. From where I am standing, we will have a head coach who has never been in that role before, an offensive coordinator who did not call plays at his last job, and a defensive coordinator who was a position coach last year. What could possibly go wrong with that combination? :crazy: Does the name Larry Scott or Sal Sunseri ring any bells? I can handle hiring a rookie head coach, but the combination of inexperience at all three of the most important positions of the coaching staff is cause for concern. Butch was criticized for hiring his buddies to his own detriment, so what do you make of these moves by Pruitt? He got his first opportunity to be a head coach and he put the future of Tennessee football in the hands of his inexperienced buddies. He hopes it will all work out, but if it doesnt he can go back to Bama and Tennessee will continue to suck.
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You have to understand why the staff moves were made, and you are demonstrating in your argument that you do not understand. Jones hired people that amounted to coaching 'yes men.' No one ever questioned, including most of the people on this board, that Jones controlled and was running his offense at Tennessee. The offensive coordinator was a position, for all intents and purposes, in name only. Jones ran the offense.

Pruitt's staff have coached in a number of places, under a number of different head coaches, and enjoyed success everywhere. That does not mean they will automatically enjoy the same success at Tennessee, but I don't see them as feckless and unable to influence the game plan the way Jones would have demanded.
 
#104
#104
1) Because we're always hopeful when we get a new HC.

2) Pruitt has a good resume.

3) The new staff looks pretty good.

4) We love the Vols no matter what and always look for the silver lining!
 
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#105
#105
Simply put, because we don’t have to deal with Butch and his staff anymore. That alone is a reason for optimism.
 
#107
#107
volfan102455 said:
Exactly. They are very green. We all need to prepare ourselves for possible bad game day decisions like we have never seen before.

Edited to add: I hope I am wrong but this is not high school - this is the SEC. If you don't have experience at the three key coaching positions - that has a higher chance of things not going well. Lots of "on the job training" with this staff.
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I'm not worried about the defense. Pruitt might have a DC who hasn't been a DC before, but this will still be Pruitt's defense. I'm also not really worried about recruiting considering Pruitt's history/pedigree and the staff he's assembled which has a ton of SEC experience.

A (and maybe the) critical factor for Pruitt's success or failure at UT will be how his offensive hires work out. Pruitt has never coached offense or been involved with it as an assistant coach. Always been on the defensive side of the ball. He will need an offensive staff that, especially early on, runs the entire offense for him. He'll need to lean on them heavily. And remember, he's inheriting a terrible offense.

I think there is a wide range of possibilities for his tenure here, and I want to be optimistic because I do think he has a high ceiling. I do think he could win an SEC East title here within 3-4 years. I also think he could be a Will Muschamp type who is a good coordinator and recruiter but is never able to figure out the other side of the ball.
 
#108
#108
The other option being a defeatist from the start is no fun. Pruitt got a small chance to be the next Saban. The first year will tell all. I don’t buy the ball scrubbers lame excuses about years away. Way more talent in the cupboard than jones inherited. I see 3 loses and winning the rest a good possibility with gifted coaching.
 
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#110
#110
Longsufferingvol said:
I am glad the disaster of a coaching search is over like everyone else, but I am not completely sold on Pruitt and the staff. From where I am standing, we will have a head coach who has never been in that role before, an offensive coordinator who did not call plays at his last job, and a defensive coordinator who was a position coach last year. What could possibly go wrong with that combination? :crazy: Does the name Larry Scott or Sal Sunseri ring any bells? I can handle hiring a rookie head coach, but the combination of inexperience at all three of the most important positions of the coaching staff is cause for concern. Butch was criticized for hiring his buddies to his own detriment, so what do you make of these moves by Pruitt? He got his first opportunity to be a head coach and he put the future of Tennessee football in the hands of his inexperienced buddies. He hopes it will all work out, but if it doesnt he can go back to Bama and Tennessee will continue to suck.
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Your part of the problem
 
#112
#112
Because he is not Schiano! I considered that Butch 1.0. I already think Coach Pruitt is bringing in quality assistant coaches, something that Butch didn't comprehend.
 
#113
#113
Longsufferingvol said:
I am glad the disaster of a coaching search is over like everyone else, but I am not completely sold on Pruitt and the staff. From where I am standing, we will have a head coach who has never been in that role before, an offensive coordinator who did not call plays at his last job, and a defensive coordinator who was a position coach last year. What could possibly go wrong with that combination? :crazy: Does the name Larry Scott or Sal Sunseri ring any bells? I can handle hiring a rookie head coach, but the combination of inexperience at all three of the most important positions of the coaching staff is cause for concern. Butch was criticized for hiring his buddies to his own detriment, so what do you make of these moves by Pruitt? He got his first opportunity to be a head coach and he put the future of Tennessee football in the hands of his inexperienced buddies. He hopes it will all work out, but if it doesnt he can go back to Bama and Tennessee will continue to suck.
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I am incapable of optimism. I'm far too much of a realist. But the hire has been made. It's not going to change. So even though I find some of the optimism annoyingly overboard, I don't begrudge those looking for a silver lining. Best thing to do is shelve your concerns and pray Pruitt proves them wrong. We'll see next year.
 
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#115
#115
05_never_again said:
I'm not worried about the defense. Pruitt might have a DC who hasn't been a DC before, but this will still be Pruitt's defense. I'm also not really worried about recruiting considering Pruitt's history/pedigree and the staff he's assembled which has a ton of SEC experience.

A (and maybe the) critical factor for Pruitt's success or failure at UT will be how his offensive hires work out. Pruitt has never coached offense or been involved with it as an assistant coach. Always been on the defensive side of the ball. He will need an offensive staff that, especially early on, runs the entire offense for him. He'll need to lean on them heavily. And remember, he's inheriting a terrible offense.

I think there is a wide range of possibilities for his tenure here, and I want to be optimistic because I do think he has a high ceiling. I do think he could win an SEC East title here within 3-4 years. I also think he could be a Will Muschamp type who is a good coordinator and recruiter but is never able to figure out the other side of the ball.
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Didn't he play quarterback in high school?
 
#117
#117
Well the talent is not what some claim. The stars may be there but many players failed to play up to their rating. If they had we would not finished 4 and 8.
 
#119
#119
VolNavy01 said:
I for one am happy with the fact the guy knows football. It is evident in the way he speaks he knows X’s and O’s. He sounds like a football coach. I never once got that feeling with Butch. So that’s a start.
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He is building a SEC staff....that have coached at a high level...and in HUGE games...championship level games...not MAC level. Plus he’s hired 2 offensive coaches with OC experience.

This ain’t MAC level material and Butch yes men...these are elite level coaches....hard to not be excited.
 
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#120
#120
hexnut said:
Well the talent is not what some claim. The stars may be there but many players failed to play up to their rating. If they had we would not finished 4 and 8.
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You are right that they didn't play up to their rating. But that does not mean they are not talented only that they did not develop. That comes from the coaches.
 
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#121
#121
Longsufferingvol said:
I am glad the disaster of a coaching search is over like everyone else, but I am not completely sold on Pruitt and the staff. From where I am standing, we will have a head coach who has never been in that role before, an offensive coordinator who did not call plays at his last job, and a defensive coordinator who was a position coach last year. What could possibly go wrong with that combination? :crazy: Does the name Larry Scott or Sal Sunseri ring any bells? I can handle hiring a rookie head coach, but the combination of inexperience at all three of the most important positions of the coaching staff is cause for concern. Butch was criticized for hiring his buddies to his own detriment, so what do you make of these moves by Pruitt? He got his first opportunity to be a head coach and he put the future of Tennessee football in the hands of his inexperienced buddies. He hopes it will all work out, but if it doesnt he can go back to Bama and Tennessee will continue to suck.
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Why not?
 
#122
#122
I've always thought that hiring a coordinator as an HC is a bit of a crap shoot. Some perform well, but others can't seem to make that transition. He clearly knows the SEC, and worked for some very good HCs, so for now we should support the hire and give him some time to get his system implemented. If by year 3 if they are not showing progress, then it may be time to re-evaluate.
 
#123
#123
1 in 102 said:
Helton was the OC at Western Kentucky when they were putting up blistering numbers, so he has been in the position before.

We have Pruitt, so I’m not that concerned about the DC’s experience.
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But Brohm was the one calling plays.
 
#124
#124
landscapingvol said:
Did you just compare Larry Scott and Sal Sunseri to the current staff? If that is your level of equivalency in your mind then there isn't much discussion. Pruitt would have been hired by another team sooner rather than later and every other hire he has made has come with a track record of success or highly thought of by other coaches for starters. Larry Scott was the tight ends coach on the newly fired Miami staff who had failed his way upwards at UT simply because no one else wanted the job. Sal Sunseri was well respected but he attached his anchor to a sinking ship in Derek Dooley. The two situations aren't comparable. Dooley had no experience as a coordinator at any level so he offered no real guidance other than as a CEO. Scott was beholden to Jones' offensive scheme no matter its flaws. Pruitt has proven to be an excellent defensive coordinator at multiple schools and will be very involved in that side of the ball. Friend had great success as the OC at Colorado State, Helton has been an offensive coordinator in some capacity for the past 4 seasons and studied under June Jones, Neil Calloway, and Jeff Brohm. He may be terrible but there is nothing in his past that suggests he doesn't have the tools to be successful. Nothing in Scotts past suggests that he was going to be successful at UT as an OC.
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Neither Helton or Friend have called plays before. Bobo was calling the plays at Colorado State and Martin was calling the plays at USC. Also, I recently heard on the radio that Brohm was the one calling plays at Western Kentucky. What good is an oc who has never called plays before? As for Sheerer, he has a little experience being a dc at a small time school, but never in power 5. I just dont see how all of that inexperience is going to succeed in the SEC. We are going to be going up against 2 elite coaching staffs in the East going forward.
 
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