I see some talk out there, y'all need to cool your jets. The defense will be below average this year, almost guaranteed. Now is the chance to adjust your expectations . 6-6 with a chance at a bowl would be a win this year.
Lowered expectations played HUGE role in getting UT to where it has been for the last 10 years. First lowered expectations from Fulmer to his players and assistants. Then lowered expectations for Fulmer where "getting there" once in a while was good enough even if he didn't win the big games. The expectations frankly have been too low for every coach since.
The back 7 on D look solid. The DL is an enigma. They have size. They have athleticism. They have no experience. BUT... that's why you spend the money to hire the kind of staff UT now has. If some sort of simple natural progression is all we're supposed to expect then the money paid to Pruitt and his staff is a MASSIVE waste. Hire cheap coaches and let the players learn at what other programs consider a normal curve. If you are bringing in guys like Rocker, Rumph, and Sherrer.... the improvement curves of your front 7 need to be MUCH better than "average".
The O-line is weakest link (again). Notice how Chaney has been working with the O-line almost exclusively? Not good.
How do you know it isn't good? You are basing this off of the open portions the media sees where they run through drills. That's probably 15 or 20 minutes out of a 2 hour practice.
Maybe Chaney simply wanted to increase reps?
Could it also be a "good" sign that they are close enough to knowing what they have that they are splitting the C's and OG's from the OT's? You are reading WAY too much into what reporters are observing for a fraction of practice. I would also say that the QB, RB, WR, and TE coaches have a much smaller task either because of experience, number of players, or simplicity of what they're doing.
As for the OL overall, IMO their problem by the end of last season was almost all physical. It wasn't guys not knowing who to block but rather the fact that 270 lb OG's usually don't handle 310 lb DT's very well. According to earlier reports, the OL's averaged adding 20+ lbs since last season ended. Pruitt stated that they entered August last year with 3 guys who weighed 300 lbs... and this year 11.
We don't know enough to issue definitive statements about whether they'll be better or be the "weakest link" again. But Pruitt thought his OL last year would surprise people before Kennedy and Smith went out. They're in better shape with or without those two this year.
If 6-6 is really good enough for you with this roster... then UT probably should have just given either Dooley or Jones a raise and extension then settled in to being a 3rd tier long term. For me... I have no interest in that scenario.
Pruitt needs at least 5 years to turn this ship around.
The simple answer is no. It is exactly that kind of low expectations that got us to where we are. Pruitt seems to know it. He's in a big hurry to show measurable improvement right away. He knows he has a measure of grace from fans and momentum with players and recruits right now that will dry up if there's no or minimal improvement in the first 3 years.
I'm not exactly sure where this "5 year" thing came from. If a coach isn't recruiting effectively enough when he's the exciting new guy to improve sooner... what on earth makes you think the nations top recruits will be attracted to a coach who hasn't done anything for 4 years?
Two 5-stars last year is great start. Problem I see is if we get embarrassed on prime time ESPN against BYU it could seriously hinder our ability to get more 5-star talent. Thoughts?
BYU is a good program who has beaten good teams lately. They beat Wisconsin and Arizona last year. A loss would be a pretty major setback IMO because it would raise the stakes for winning more of the questionable games later.
As far as two 5-stars goes, UT could end up starting Kennedy a 4*, Wright/Smith/Morris 5*, and then one of several 3/4* players who have had at least 2 years in the program.
The OL was MASSIVELY underdeveloped under Jones. UT has several 4/5* signees with several more 3* with good or, in Tatum's case excellent, offer lists.
If you are the kind of person that tries to set expectations so low that you won't be disappointed... "pump your brakes". You are no more the realist than those talking about 10 wins.
