Recruiting Forum Football Talk [RIP 9.3.2019]

[cHiZzLeVOL]

My concern is his hands were so involved last Saturday everyone was confused. Folks running on then off the field. Alignment problems.

Totally confused

I don’t think that was the case. Because at one point Pruitt was standing right next to Ansley and Pruitt was not calling plays it was Ansley.

 

[Kingston Vol]

I've been around him numerous times and IDT it's embarrassment or shame.

Irritation that what he’s doing isn’t working most likely - because it’s worked everywhere else. (With great head coaches backing his every word.)

 

[Smokeytom]

I've been around him numerous times and IDT it's embarrassment or shame.

What would say it is then?

 

[millst987]

6 is our absolute max this year imo after that loss.

 

[LA Vol]

I think his fingers will be all over the defense this Saturday. Doubt he lets anything like that happen again defensive wise.

That would be a good thing except... while our HC is playing DC because he doesn't trust the guy he handpicked to be DC and our OC is up in the booth, who's going to be HC?

 

[ChattaTNVol]

Waiting on the noon presser.

 

[chargervol]

I've been around him numerous times and IDT it's embarrassment or shame.

Whatever title it has, I just know it's completely different than everything I've ever read or seen from him, myself.

 

[tnmarktx]

This is college football. Where you can whoop auburn and 10-win uk and lose to vandy in the same season. There's no transitive property here. Kids are unpredictable in both directions and we saw the worst of it Saturday. Doesnt mean we cant play a whole lot better...

You don't blame this on the kids. If a player is giving poor effort or isn't ready to play, it's on the coaches to play someone else. We would have to do a total 180 to turn this thing around. I just don't see it happening. When we beat auburn and kentucky last year, that was great coaching. At vandy we unbelievably got out-coached. Even though Pruitt wasn't my first choice, I've supported him. That doesn't mean I can't criticize him for giving a worse performance then that of Butch Jones on Saturday.

 

[Devo182]

He and Tee would be near the top of the list to replace Pruitt. I’d guess Fulmer would put himself on that list as well.

Lolwut? Tee (couldn't hold OC job, never been hc) and Chaney (doesn't want to be a hc)?? That's even worse than anything I could imagine.

 

[cHiZzLeVOL]

That would be a good thing except... while our HC is playing DC because he doesn't trust the guy he handpicked to be DC and our OC is up in the booth, who's going to be HC?

They make “headsets” for a reason. All he has to do is radio to Ansley what to call. Doesn’t mean he has to actively put the hand signs in. He can manage the game the same way he normally would by delegation.

 

[McGeesPub]

and i think this may be the worst part about how that game played out.

i think they showed up believing they could roll their helmets out there and win.

the way the game started, the way it played out, the way it ended..............this team, this program for the past few years, has had a VERY difficult time establishing and maintaining any confidence in itself.

Saturday didn't help in that category, and i don't know how you manufacture it in a single week.

what this team needs...badly...is leadership. be it from players or the coaches, someone needs to be leading and holding people accountable from within. someone that can and will put their hand in the dirt and say "i can...i will" and then goes and does it.

if they don't find confidence/leadership soon....BYU is going to have a great time in East Tennessee next weekend.

Why are people so surprised that there is no leadership? Pruitt has been a toxic personality at Florida State and Georgia (where he apparently actively revolted against Richt). The only place he has walked the straight and narrow was the place he loved, Alabama. And it’s not like he was going to usurp Saban.

There are no leaders because we have a toxic team culture, and that’s because we have a toxic coach. This isn’t anything new or surprising if you’ve followed Pruitt’s career.

 

[Catbone]

@LA Vol are you surprised of the very few transfers over the off season? IIRC there was a lot of talk that some guys with effort issues (cancer in the locker room?) and we were expecting quite a few to leave.

 

[cHiZzLeVOL]

Why are people so surprised that there is no leadership? Pruitt has been a toxic personality at Florida State and Georgia (where he apparently actively revolted against Richt). The only place he has walked the straight and narrow was the place he loved, Alabama. And it’s not like he was going to usurp Saban.

There are no leaders because we have a toxic team culture, and that’s because we have a toxic coach. This isn’t anything new or surprising if you’ve followed Pruitt’s career.

Lol a Toxic Coach? Give me a break. Players only say good things about Pruitt. GTFOH. Go back to the Football Forum.

 

[volinbama256]

Totally agree that UT tends to wait too long to make a move. This year's a little different. What we need most from Pruitt is recruiting. If he can do enough to haul in a strong recruiting class, then we'll have a solid foundation to build on. The class is hanging together, but he has to bring in some of these elite guys that are deciding this fall. A bounceback win against BYU is where it starts.

Totally agree but we are headed straight into a danger zone where recruiting is about to drop off a cliff... we have nothing to sell elite talent right now, and if we don't bounce back and put some W's on the board, our recruiting will hit rock bottom like this program is headed. Won't matter how many "Nieds" we have, they won't come when there are too many other places to go...

 

[rocktopper16]

 

[volatil]

I think this is correct.

However, doesn’t do much for next season. This class is what, top 20 at best? And we’ll lose a few guys.

At that point he’s not replenishing the roster like we thought he would.

From a perception standpoint we have to give him enough time. 3-4 more years. Can’t keep doing this. We are 10 years into this crap. Perception for coaches is toxic environment that needs time to change. Who would come here a knowing their future could be derailed after 3 seasons?

Maybe he gets some help from Bailey and he pulls more recruits.

 

[Devo182]

You don't blame this on the kids. If a player is giving poor effort or isn't ready to play, it's on the coaches to play someone else. We would have to do a total 180 to turn this thing around. I just don't see it happening. When we beat auburn and kentucky last year, that was great coaching. At vandy we unbelievably got out-coached. Even though Pruitt wasn't my first choice, I've supported him. That doesn't mean I can't criticize him for giving a worse performance then that of Butch Jones on Saturday.

We played over 60 kids. Nobody but a handful played well. More unproven kids out there doesnt help.

 

[McGeesPub]

Lol a Toxic Coach? Give me a break. Players only say good things about Pruitt. GTFOH. Go back to the Football Forum.

It’s so obvious that they played hard for him on Saturday.

 

[BeecherVol]

I’m 50/50 on this but maybe Kentucky just laid a bigger egg than we did that day? We thought it was masterful coaching but what if the other side just **** the bed?

Given the UT/UK series it's hard to believe it was for the same reasons as this one appeared to be for.

In other words I dont know that UK would have entered that game lethargic and looking forward.
I had just got my K5 diploma the last time UK won in Knoxville.

This team played more inspired football in every game last year including the ones they got run off the field.

I may be grasping but that's all there is to do at this point. Saturday note wont set this right but it may clear up some of it.

 

[appyvol]

Maybe this Saturday with the sacrificial burning of the Vol Navy and the final, most devastating of losses is our last step of this football purgatory and we have finally exited to the land of milk and honey and just don't know it yet.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Totally agree that UT tends to wait too long to make a move. This year's a little different. What we need most from Pruitt is recruiting. If he can do enough to haul in a strong recruiting class, then we'll have a solid foundation to build on. The class is hanging together, but he has to bring in some of these elite guys that are deciding this fall. A bounceback win against BYU is where it starts.

If he's able to hang on to these guys after the year I suspect we are getting ready to have, it will be a miracle. You think other coaches are negative recruiting now, it's gonna go to unfathomable levels. I think by mid season we'll have many of our questions answered and the real decision will be as plain as day. Whether the UT administration cares enough is to be determined.

 

[cHiZzLeVOL]

Let’s talk about this real quick. The QB / RB option play that was killing us. All you can do with that is have your LB / SS whatever go to the pitch guy. You literally only have to do one thing contain the outside and make everything go back inside where your help is.

Both LBs Taylor and Johnson multiple times shot through and immediately went to the QB allowing the RB to get outside of the contain and break it big for yardage. The coaches can’t coach against that. The player just has to make the play. They did not and they never forced it back in to our defensive line who was at the line of scrimmage.

Now the LBs aside our Defensive line never helped either because they were rarely in the backfield. With a team that is running the option like that you have to get off your block and into the backfield to force the QB to make an ill advised pitch or keep it and get stuffed. Our players didn’t do that. I am more disappointed in our players then our coaches. They had no will to fight.

 

[LA Vol]

They make “headsets” for a reason. All he has to do is radio to Ansley what to call. Doesn’t mean he has to actively put the hand signs in. He can manage the game the same way he normally would by delegation.

Yes, and they hire head coaches for a reason. We need one. From Day 1, he's had problems multi-tasking and delegating. Like his players, he needs to focus on HIS job and let other people do their jobs.

He's the HC now. He's not a coordinator. He handpicked the staff he wanted for those jobs-- twice now, money no object. Either he learns to multi-task, manage personnel and delegate effectively or he will not be a good HC at a program like UT.

 

[Kingston Vol]

From a perception standpoint we have to give him enough time. 3-4 more years. Can’t keep doing this. We are 10 years into this crap. Perception for coaches is toxic environment that needs time to change. Who would come here a knowing their future could be derailed after 3 seasons?

Maybe he gets some help from Bailey and he pulls more recruits.

I’m with you. Can’t fire him for anything in the wheelhouse of respectability.

HOWEVER, I can promise you the money guys won’t feel that way if he wins 3 or 4. Doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily get their way, but all bets are off at that point.

 

[InVOLuntary]

I go back and forth on this.
Honestly, I think it's mostly based off Fulmer and that's not really fair because he was ingrained here.

Even Florida gives coaches 3 yrs like we did with Dooley. But they also haven't fired anyone until they start losing games. McElwain and Muschamp both dropped from double digit wins to crap before getting fired. Butch just took longer for the win record to go in reverse.

Those other situations are different than with ours. Both Dooley and Butch wanted out a year earlier. With Dooley, he practically begged Hart to fire him and he wouldn't. Butch was trying to find anyone that would hire him. Neither wanted to be here and simply went through the motions their last year. Which in turn only hurt our program by allowing it to further sink into the abyss.