Questions about this recruiting class

#1
ConantheVolbarian

ConantheVolbarian

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#1
Pruitt and his staff are definitely starting to gain some momentum in terms of recruiting. Some major prospects are starting to say we are their favorites, but one thing concerns me. I noticed that most of the high profile guys we are recruiting play defense. Now, its great to have talent on defense, but what about offense? We just had a historically bad year in terms of offense. So, here are my questions:
#1- What's the deal? Is there just a lack of offensive talent in this class?
-or-
#2- Does Pruitt and staff feel good enough about our existing players on offense to focus almost exclusively on recruiting defensive players?

If it is the latter, I am somewhat concerned.
 
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#2
#2
You're always concerned and suffering, LOL!

Relax, we still have over a month to recruit and the dead period isn't even over yet.

The recruiting plan is finished, all coaches know exactly who they're going after and what they're going to do the very minute it's legal to go after recruits again.

Bags are packed, planes are fueled and ready to go, pilots on alert and CJP had it all under control.

Right now the O and the D staffs are watching film and working on getting the playbooks ready to go so that as soon as CJP and our other coaches get on the hill it can all get reviewed, changes made and the playbooks gotten out to the players.

It's all under control and solid work is getting done.

VFL...GBO!!!
 
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#3
#3
Already a WR, QB, TE, and RB in this class and also 3 offensive linemen with only 14 signees. Seems to be balanced to me and expect it will continue to be so as we get at least 11 or more players in this class.
 
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#4
#4
80C6DEA7-F0F5-44B5-B5E9-6DDB9128851E.jpg
Add Jahmir to this list and you have 9 out of 14 current commits on offense. Add in a kicker and that’s only 4 current defensive commitments.

I’m glad CJP is focusing on defense. It’s how you win games!
 
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#5
#5
The focus needs to be on defense first. UT hasn't stopped anyone in years. The next focus is offensive line. If they'd actually block someone occasionally UT could probably move the ball a bit consistently.
 
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#6
#6
We added Shrout, Anderson, Banks, Carvin, Johnson, and Taylor on offense during the early signing period. I think we did alright.
 
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#7
#7
we've got more offensive players than you think...check out the commitments we have plus who we're in on...Coach Pruitt and staff working their championship butts off...and

GO VOLS!
 
#8
#8
Let me correct myself,
I meant where are the quality skill players in this class? All we got is a 3 star qb, a walkon qb,a tightend, and Alontae Taylor. I am not talking about linemen. We need guys who can score tds.
Everybody wants to blame the defense for 2017, but they outplayed the offense. Need I remind all of you that our offense went a whole month without scoring an offensive touchdown? Is that the defense's fault?
Please tell me we have some 4 or 5 star receivers or rbs on the radar. If not, we are in deep doo-doo. The players already on the roster could not find the endzone last year. Why would that be different this year?
 
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#9
#9
We need a lot of players on D with some DOG in them... We have not intimated any offense in long long time
 
#11
#11
Longsufferingvol said:
Let me correct myself,
I meant where are the quality skill players in this class? All we got is a 3 star qb, a walkon qb,a tightend, and Alontae Taylor. I am not talking about linemen. We need guys who can score tds.
Everybody wants to blame the defense for 2017, but they outplayed the offense. Need I remind all of you that our offense went a whole month without scoring an offensive touchdown? Is that the defense's fault?
Please tell me we have some 4 or 5 star receivers or rbs on the radar. If not, we are in deep doo-doo. The players already on the roster could not find the endzone last year. Why would that be different this year?
Click to expand...

Banks. Watch some film.
 
#12
#12
CRG has done an amazing job of coaching up our running back squad. He can take an average back and make them into quality SEC running backs. The Oline has to block a lot better as a group. If they do that then the stable of backs we have should tear up the competition next season. We need some guys like OU and Dawgs had in the Rose Bowl those were some massive holes and our running backs would have a field day with that much room. I think we need a helluva WR coach though. We have some talent there, they are just not developed to the standards we are used to. Imagine if coach Kippy was still here with these guys they could be beasts.
 
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#13
#13
VOLS_642 said:
CRG has done an amazing job of coaching up our running back squad. He can take an average back and make them into quality SEC running backs. The Oline has to block a lot better as a group. If they do that then the stable of backs we have should tear up the competition next season. We need some guys like OU and Dawgs had in the Rose Bowl those were some massive holes and our running backs would have a field day with that much room. I think we need a helluva WR coach though. We have some talent there, they are just not developed to the standards we are used to. Imagine if coach Kippy was still here with these guys they could be beasts.
Click to expand...

Running backs coach’s job is to recruit studs.

You don’t coach Kamara and Hurd into being awesome. They are awesome from birth. Same with Jamal, Cheese, Reggie, Chuck Webb and every other stud who has toted the rock for the Vols.
 
#14
#14
Longsufferingvol said:
Let me correct myself,
I meant where are the quality skill players in this class? All we got is a 3 star qb, a walkon qb,a tightend, and Alontae Taylor. I am not talking about linemen. We need guys who can score tds.
Everybody wants to blame the defense for 2017, but they outplayed the offense. Need I remind all of you that our offense went a whole month without scoring an offensive touchdown? Is that the defense's fault?
Please tell me we have some 4 or 5 star receivers or rbs on the radar. If not, we are in deep doo-doo. The players already on the roster could not find the endzone last year. Why would that be different this year?
Click to expand...
depends on how you view the ratings and stars.....

Shrout is considered one of the best pro prospects in the country...by NFL scouts that have seen him camps.

he's not rated that high because he simply doesn't have a ton of experience, having only started his SR year in HS. but from a measurable standpoint, he has everything he needs to be a very good QB. kid could be a giant steal in this class.

the TE (i'm assuming you're talking about the Juco) is a monster 4* that we signed over Bama. this guy could be great here. i'm excited to see him play.

Taylor is legit, and should compete for PT from day 1.

Banks is that big bodied RB that can move. he's tall, thick and quick. honestly, he reminds me of Derrick Henry. (that's not to say he'll be as good as him....)

and we're in the mix this cycle for several potential play makers offensively....including Copeland who is probably a starter day 1.

and everyone already knows the work they put in in trying to shore up the OL with the Jucos, Carvin, anitouli, etc, and they're still trying to get a couple more.

i don't know that this class will solve every problem immediately. but when you flip to the defense, and you see the DL prospects already signed, the 2-3 big time linebackers they're in on in Walker and Anderson, the DB's they're going after in Griffith and Stuart........

yeah, i think we're at least heading in the right direction.

we won't get all these kids. but we'll get some of them. and i think we're going to like what we see when they get here. it'll take a couple cycles. but i'm excited about what the future holds, talent wise.
 
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#15
#15
Think a lot of it will be actually coaching players we already have. Biggest problem, they haven't been previously. Some, not all will bloom under better coaching!
 
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#16
#16
jakez4ut said:
depends on how you view the ratings and stars.....

Shrout is considered one of the best pro prospects in the country...by NFL scouts that have seen him camps.

he's not rated that high because he simply doesn't have a ton of experience, having only started his SR year in HS. but from a measurable standpoint, he has everything he needs to be a very good QB. kid could be a giant steal in this class.

the TE (i'm assuming you're talking about the Juco) is a monster 4* that we signed over Bama. this guy could be great here. i'm excited to see him play.

Taylor is legit, and should compete for PT from day 1.

Banks is that big bodied RB that can move. he's tall, thick and quick. honestly, he reminds me of Derrick Henry. (that's not to say he'll be as good as him....)

and we're in the mix this cycle for several potential play makers offensively....including Copeland who is probably a starter day 1.

and everyone already knows the work they put in in trying to shore up the OL with the Jucos, Carvin, anitouli, etc, and they're still trying to get a couple more.

i don't know that this class will solve every problem immediately. but when you flip to the defense, and you see the DL prospects already signed, the 2-3 big time linebackers they're in on in Walker and Anderson, the DB's they're going after in Griffith and Stuart........

yeah, i think we're at least heading in the right direction.

we won't get all these kids. but we'll get some of them. and i think we're going to like what we see when they get here. it'll take a couple cycles. but i'm excited about what the future holds, talent wise.
Click to expand...

This, with the players we have stored up, and the new coaching talent to point them in the right direction... I like the prospects of the 2018 Vols much more than I did two months ago ! ! !

Go CJP Go VOLS

:pepper:
 
#17
#17
Championship programs are built on defense and today that means having big and fast athletes in the front seven. DL from 6'3"/6'8" 310/325LBS. LBs 6'2"/6'4" 225/240LBS. Size matters.
 
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#18
#18
Longsufferingvol said:
Let me correct myself,
I meant where are the quality skill players in this class? All we got is a 3 star qb, a walkon qb,a tightend, and Alontae Taylor. I am not talking about linemen. We need guys who can score tds.
Everybody wants to blame the defense for 2017, but they outplayed the offense. Need I remind all of you that our offense went a whole month without scoring an offensive touchdown? Is that the defense's fault?
Please tell me we have some 4 or 5 star receivers or rbs on the radar. If not, we are in deep doo-doo. The players already on the roster could not find the endzone last year. Why would that be different this year?
Click to expand...

We got a top notch RB in Banks
We got an elite WR in Taylor
Anderson is an elite TE. Has the potential to be the best we've had here since Witten.
 
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#19
#19
carpbc said:
This, with the players we have stored up, and the new coaching talent to point them in the right direction... I like the prospects of the 2018 Vols much more than I did two months ago ! ! !

Go CJP Go VOLS

:pepper:
Click to expand...

i'm lukewarm on 2018. it's a lot to ask for a brand new staff, implement new schemes on both sides of the ball, figure out the roster, rely on new recruits, get the s&c installed, functioning and to the point where it starts benefiting the program that quickly....

as good as UGA has been this year, don't forget, last year, this team was 8-5. very average, and Kirby had to learn a few lessons coaching wise...it doesn't get talked about a lot, but he made some sideline decisions last year, that were questionable...i think it's probably fair to say this staff at TN will go thru some of that as well.

long story short, i think this 2018 team might surprise in a game, or two, but i think realistically, just get to a bowl....build some momentum sign a great class in 2019, and see where that gets you in year 2....rinse, repeat (hopefully with a bigger/better finish), and hit year 3 with some fairly big, and realistic, expectations.
 
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#20
#20
What he /\ said. To me just to come in and possibly finish with atop 15 class will be amazing. 2019 will be the start of what is to come.
 
#21
#21
Longsufferingvol said:
Pruitt and his staff are definitely starting to gain some momentum in terms of recruiting. Some major prospects are starting to say we are their favorites, but one thing concerns me. I noticed that most of the high profile guys we are recruiting play defense. Now, its great to have talent on defense, but what about offense? We just had a historically bad year in terms of offense. So, here are my questions:
#1- What's the deal? Is there just a lack of offensive talent in this class?
-or-
#2- Does Pruitt and staff feel good enough about our existing players on offense to focus almost exclusively on recruiting defensive players?

If it is the latter, I am somewhat concerned.
Click to expand...

Look Defense win's championship's ask Oklahoma, where would they be with a average defense.
 
#22
#22
BigZiti09 said:
Running backs coach’s job is to recruit studs.

You don’t coach Kamara and Hurd into being awesome. They are awesome from birth. Same with Jamal, Cheese, Reggie, Chuck Webb and every other stud who has toted the rock for the Vols.
Click to expand...

I get what you are saying. I was more focused on the 3 star backs like Kelly and Banks coming in. When Hurd left and Kamara went down fans were worried about fall off. Kelly came in and did an amazing job. That was due to CRG recruiting and his work with these guys. Overall the RB's he has recruited have been the foundation to this team Ibelieve, yet under used by what there skill sets were or are by Jones offensive scheme. Ex: Hurd vs Northwestern we saw what he could really do if the oline blocked like in a pro style game. Our offense looked like we could have won against anybody that day.
 
#23
#23
Players take the on the persona of their coach.. Jones was not a tough guy, nothing about him was intimidating.. Most Country dudes like Pruitt will throw down in a drop of hat if needed
 
#24
#24
jakez4ut said:
i'm lukewarm on 2018. it's a lot to ask for a brand new staff, implement new schemes on both sides of the ball, figure out the roster, rely on new recruits, get the s&c installed, functioning and to the point where it starts benefiting the program that quickly....

as good as UGA has been this year, don't forget, last year, this team was 8-5. very average, and Kirby had to learn a few lessons coaching wise...it doesn't get talked about a lot, but he made some sideline decisions last year, that were questionable...i think it's probably fair to say this staff at TN will go thru some of that as well.

long story short, i think this 2018 team might surprise in a game, or two, but i think realistically, just get to a bowl....build some momentum sign a great class in 2019, and see where that gets you in year 2....rinse, repeat (hopefully with a bigger/better finish), and hit year 3 with some fairly big, and realistic, expectations.
Click to expand...
I think it will be very similar to 09. If the coaching staff is as good on the field as they are on paper we should see some significant improvement at most positions. . I don't think it'll be enough to put us among the elite right away, but I do think a 7-5/8-4 type of season is doable. By year 2 we could very well look like a top 10 team again.
 
#25
#25
MyBloodRunnethOrange said:
I think it will be very similar to 09. If the coaching staff is as good on the field as they are on paper we should see some significant improvement at most positions. . I don't think it'll be enough to put us among the elite right away, but I do think a 7-5/8-4 type of season is doable. By year 2 we could very well look like a top 10 team again.
Click to expand...

yep, good comparison. you'll see enough to be able to say good things about the future....i believe that.

and the best thing is, i think this staff is recruiting, and will recruit, at a level we haven't seen since the mid 90's. Kiffin's class was full of names and stars, but not a lot of substance. i don't see that being the case with this staff.
 
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