Work on Us

[Johnnyreb#VFL]

1. “We have to work on us”
Notice this has been a common theme throughout the season. CJP has mentioned it several times. We are not good enough to look past anyone. Get UTEP on the brain. We have to fix ourselves before we expect to compete with SEC, brothers. And this is most apparent again with the O line. It’s again a revolving door but coaches are honest about it. Coach Doug Matthews said don’t expect to see vast improvement from that unit over the course of the season. You can only get stronger in the off season. When asked if he had ever had a shotty OL early in the season that developed into an elite unit later in the season, Johnny Majors simply said “No.” Don’t expect MAJOR improvement from that group, esp against SEC foe.

2.
I’m thinking about other dominant SEC teams. It’s in the front lines where teams find dominance. That allows so much freedom for skill players. Common knowledge I know. But our past recruiters didn’t. CJP does. CPF did. Not just one or two here or there. But DEPTH. I would argue our skill and playmakers at least offensively are tops in the SEC. But without that line, it’s semi useless.

3.
One last point (maybe) I thought was funny: can’t confirm but have heard from reports in Knoxville that CJP has told reporters the broken confidence is the hardest battle for staff so far. Reports say coach has even brought his team in, and shown them film of former Alabama defensive studs who have been beaten or have made bad mistakes, just to let his players know it happens. It is in how you respond that makes you great. Can’t imagine that but hey, know the enemy, beat the best to be the best etc. Tommy likey. Tommy want wingy.

4.
CJP believes in a dog house and I like it. No sweat Thursdays is a thing of the past. Don’t bust it in practice, don’t see the field on Saturday.

5.
GBO

Enjoy your 3rd weekend nation.

 

[VOL 4 Life 83]

Unfortunately, our previous administration's did not recruit OL's or teach our players how to win. Even worse, these are two of the most important parts of winning in the SEC.....I suspect it will take a couple recruiting cycles to remedy this.

 

[Johnnyreb#VFL]

Unfortunately, our previous administration's did not recruit OL's or teach our players how to win. Even worse, these are two of the most important parts of winning in the SEC.....I suspect it will take a couple recruiting cycles to remedy this.

A couple recruiting cycles so like 2020? We should be winning at a high level again?

 

[VOL 4 Life 83]

A couple recruiting cycles so like 2020? We should be winning at a high level again?

Let me ask you in all honesty, do you expect a high level of winning much sooner?

 

[sjt18]

1. “We have to work on us”
Notice this has been a common theme throughout the season. CJP has mentioned it several times. We are not good enough to look past anyone. Get UTEP on the brain. We have to fix ourselves before we expect to compete with SEC, brothers. And this is most apparent again with the O line. It’s again a revolving door but coaches are honest about it. Coach Doug Matthews said don’t expect to see vast improvement from that unit over the course of the season. You can only get stronger in the off season. When asked if he had ever had a shotty OL early in the season that developed into an elite unit later in the season, Johnny Majors simply said “No.” Don’t expect MAJOR improvement from that group, esp against SEC foe.

Working on us keeps the focus on execution regardless of who's in front of them. Good approach no matter what the roster looks like.

The OL can improve. They're getting physically whipped at times but most of their problems have been missed assignments. They look good at OT but the middle needs work. I would personally like to see Hall nail down one of the OG positions. They obviously believe Jahmir Johnson can improve. Ryan Johnson has to improve. Carvin seems to be having a lot of trouble unlearning what the last staff taught him.

 

[RavinDave]

Let me ask you in all honesty, do you expect a high level of winning much sooner?

I think the question is, whether two years is long enough.

 

[VOL 4 Life 83]

I think the question is, whether two years is long enough.

I think if you consider 8-9+ wins a high level of winning, by 2020 we should start to see that happen

 

[sjt18]

Let me ask you in all honesty, do you expect a high level of winning much sooner?

Yes. If you recruit well then you can win with young OL's. UGA is currently starting 4 Sophs and one Sr. Two Fr, a Soph, and a Sr make up their back ups.

UT had much less to work with in 09 and didn't "suck".

Pruitt has been pretty professional about it... but they're having to "unteach" a lot of bad habits developed under Jones.

 

[VOL 4 Life 83]

Yes. If you recruit well then you can win with young OL's. UGA is currently starting 4 Sophs and one Sr. Two Fr, a Soph, and a Sr make up their back ups.

UT had much less to work with in 09 and didn't "suck".

Pruitt has been pretty professional about it... but they're having to "unteach" a lot of bad habits developed under Jones.

Which is what my point is. The fact that Pruitt and staff have to "unteach" AND recruit means it will probably take a couple years (AKA recruiting cycles) to start winning on a consistent basis

 

[sjt18]

I think the question is, whether two years is long enough.

Easily... and it better be.

I know people think that you can give a coach 4 or 5 years before they start showing something on the field but you can't. Cade Mayes played well for UGA last Saturday. A true Fr that made most of us sick when he turned his back on UT. But he went to a winner. The best players will choose the winners... unless you can show that you can do more with less. You do that by winning more than you should, earlier than you should.

Pruitt himself said that to compete with Bama and UGA you had to compete for the same players. If he wins avg's 7 or less wins in his first 3 years... that won't happen.

 

[sjt18]

Which is what my point is. The fact that Pruitt and staff have to "unteach" AND recruit means it will probably take a couple years (AKA recruiting cycles) to start winning on a consistent basis

The problem is that it can't. Recruits will believe "promises" for a year or two but like we saw with Jones... by year 3 you better be winning all the ones you should and some of the ones you shouldn't. It isn't personal. I like Pruitt. But this notion that you can take 4 or 5 years before doing something significant... just isn't reality.

 

[Johnnyreb#VFL]

Let me ask you in all honesty, do you expect a high level of winning much sooner?

I expect beating the likes of everyone in the east not named Georgia by then

 

[RavinDave]

I expect beating the likes of everyone in the east not named Georgia by then

This should happen or Pruitt ain’t the real deal.

 

[VOL 4 Life 83]

The problem is that it can't. Recruits will believe "promises" for a year or two but like we saw with Jones... by year 3 you better be winning all the ones you should and some of the ones you shouldn't. It isn't personal. I like Pruitt. But this notion that you can take 4 or 5 years before doing something significant... just isn't reality.

I never said it would take 4 or 5 years. I think by 2020 we should be consistently winning, which means games we should, and some we shouldn't. Pruitt is a football coach.... Jones was a glorified car salesman.

 

[sjt18]

I never said it would take 4 or 5 years. I think by 2020 we should be consistently winning, which means games we should, and some we shouldn't. Pruitt is a football coach.... Jones was a glorified car salesman.

Wasn't really responding to you personally. More the idea some seem to resurrect every time there's a new coach that they should get 5 years before being expected to win. The places where that can happen (to an extent) are places that don't expect to win like UK. A coach that "competes" can get time there. But even then are they realistically a championship contender? Will they ever be?

 

[RollerVol]

starting over...again...

GO VOLS!

 

[ATLVols]

It’s not you...it’s me.

 

[Johnnyreb#VFL]

It’s not you...it’s me.

Hehe I just have to work on myself

 

[VolDave53]

Habits developed under Jones must be fixed and a new discipline learned.

 

[Volfan2012]

I think a 10 win season is now the mark of being awesome. Bama, Georgia, Auburn, Florida, and others are going to be good every year. 6 and 2 in the SEC will be a tremendous season for here and forever that the SEC plays football. Even with Bamas awesome talent ranked 1st almost every year they usually lose at least one SEC game and hopefully in the future they will lose to us in Knoxville.

 

[VFFL@THE BEACH]

Easily... and it better be.

I know people think that you can give a coach 4 or 5 years before they start showing something on the field but you can't. Cade Mayes played well for UGA last Saturday. A true Fr that made most of us sick when he turned his back on UT. But he went to a winner. The best players will choose the winners... unless you can show that you can do more with less. You do that by winning more than you should, earlier than you should.

Pruitt himself said that to compete with Bama and UGA you had to compete for the same players. If he wins avg's 7 or less wins in his first 3 years... that won't happen.

18yr old teenager's that are big time D1 prospects for the most part are going to specific colleges for one reason $money$. NFL money that is. They will pick a school with a staff that has had the most success preparing guys like them for the NFL. CJP could recruit guys that don't give a rip about Tennessee but legitimately wanna go to the NFL and win at a high level.

Enter Cade Mayes, yeah his daddy went to Tennessee but this wasn't his Daddy's Tennessee. What coach on bj's staff would have prepped him for the NFL???lol
It is much easier for him to be successful at Ga when there are established guys around him. It is not him finding his own success but following the path laid out by coaches and teammates.
Tennessee doesn't have this culture or system, yet.
GBO

 

[savannahfan]

Unfortunately, our previous administration's did not recruit OL's or teach our players how to win. Even worse, these are two of the most important parts of winning in the SEC.....I suspect it will take a couple recruiting cycles to remedy this.

Yea two cycles will get most of Butch's guys outta here. Not saying the were less than capable, but mentally they became tainted. As stated above, this is the hardest thing to change. Young, mentally impressed guys coming in while these "tainted" guys are still here, must be watched all the time "bad habits are easily learned". Say all things go as hoped, I think it's more like 3 years before the lines (both, bye the way) become the equal with the most of those in the SEC.

 

[savannahfan]

Easily... and it better be.

I know people think that you can give a coach 4 or 5 years before they start showing something on the field but you can't. Cade Mayes played well for UGA last Saturday. A true Fr that made most of us sick when he turned his back on UT. But he went to a winner. The best players will choose the winners... unless you can show that you can do more with less. You do that by winning more than you should, earlier than you should.

Pruitt himself said that to compete with Bama and UGA you had to compete for the same players. If he wins avg's 7 or less wins in his first 3 years... that won't happen.

To avg 7 or so wins this and two more years would be fine with me!! Just think, if the first year (this year, it ant year 0) we make it to only 5-6 wins (which seems likely) they must win, what, 8-9 in year 2-3? Gonna be tough.

 

[FLVOL_79]

Unfortunately, our previous administration's did not recruit OL's or teach our players how to win. Even worse, these are two of the most important parts of winning in the SEC.....I suspect it will take a couple recruiting cycles to remedy this.

Is there a cheat code or something they forgot to enter?..

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

Working on us keeps the focus on execution regardless of who's in front of them. Good approach no matter what the roster looks like.

The OL can improve. They're getting physically whipped at times but most of their problems have been missed assignments. They look good at OT but the middle needs work. I would personally like to see Hall nail down one of the OG positions. They obviously believe Jahmir Johnson can improve. Ryan Johnson has to improve. Carvin seems to be having a lot of trouble unlearning what the last staff taught him.

Maybe you meant to name a different player? Carvin is a true freshman. I agree on them being able to improve. If they can stay healthy and settle on five starters, then that group can get better just from a communication and assignment standpoint.