'18 Recruiting Forum: Official South Carolina Pre-Game/Game Thread

[Florida Orange]

They lived together and were darn near brothers

They’ve spoken of being brothers for years. When these 2 play ball together, they are great. Always have been. That’s how they got to TN. I wish they were better utilized up there. I’ve been waiting 3 years for that play!

 

[pierce60]

The defensive PI was a terrible call, but it was called for what it looked like not what it was. IMO it looked like Buchanan was trying to grab his jersey and slap his arms, but he missed and the ref called it anyway. Regardless, it was a ridiculously bad call!!

 

[Glocker_Alum_2005]

Feel bad for Chryst. Was a captain today didn’t play a snap...

Don't worry, he will play 3 qtrs this week. JG will get a week off to rest. But its apparent CJP is going to sink or swim with JG.

 

[I4Jay]

The refs were terrible. But finding ways to lose is UT's identity. No matter who's HC, Tennessee just beats itself. JJ's stupid penalty kickstarted SCAR's comeback. That was the "Here we go..." moment.

I don’t agree. We came out and scored immediately after half. Basically negating South Carolina’s TD before half.
We have a lot of superbly talented guys, it’s just most of them aren’t good football players.
The tools are there, just have to put them all together.
Alontae Taylor can be special but he makes so many bad situational football plays.

 

[nashvol1]

I fail to I see how bad this is being out coached but okay

And it was the difference in the game. Let’s not forget how terrible the defense was too. That’s his side. If we blast Helton for the O, then Pruitt and company deserve the same an abysmal performance.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

I don’t agree. We came out and scored immediately after half. Basically negating South Carolina’s TD before half.
We have a lot of superbly talented guys, it’s just most of them aren’t good football players.
The tools are there, just have to put them all together.
Alontae Taylor can be special but he makes so many bad situational football plays.

What "superb" talents do they have? I agree that we have a couple of really talented, but football dumb corners...outside of them it is a bunch of meh talent.

 

[nashvol1]

Wide receivers are pretty talented because butch recruited about 6 per year so a few were bound to be good. Who cares about line of scrimmage was his motto.

Chandler is really good

 

[volsagain]

Don't worry, he will play 3 qtrs this week. JG will get a week off to rest. But its apparent CJP is going to sink or swim with JG.

JG played well for 3quarters reverted back in the 4th. Just don't have pocket present. Shame he has most of the tools.

 

[jakez4ut]

To many penalities on the o line.

We didn't stop the run.

Liked the effort all the way around.

Just didn't finish

 

[buffaloblue]

If we rest JG next week. Could we give Shrout some time?

 

[theutvolunteers]

Still feel bad about this one.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

The defensive PI was a terrible call, but it was called for what it looked like not what it was. IMO it looked like Buchanan was trying to grab his jersey and slap his arms, but he missed and the ref called it anyway. Regardless, it was a ridiculously bad call!!

I agree. It was like the ref flagged him for what his intent was rather than for what he actually did, but it is up to UT to play better so that bad calls can't have any impact on the game.

For some reason, JG had trouble connecting with Palmer, who was continuously open all night on screens, quick outs, and wide outs. I counted 5 passes where JG threw it well over his head even though he was not under pressure. Very uncharacteristic of JG, and were drive killers on 2-3 3rd downs.

Way too many false starts. I will give the OL somewhat of a pass in a loud stadium with yet another reshuffled OL, but they were killers by putting us in 1st and 15s, or turning 3rd and 2s into 3rd and 7s. Every week.

Jennings balled again last night but the unsportsmanlike penalty was also a game changer. His TD put us up 14-3 late in the 1st half and we had SC on their heels and UT had all the momentum, but that penalty allowed them to start their final drive of the half at their 40 and gave them life.

SC used that 12 personnel grouping last night, something they had not used all season, and put both TEs on the same side of the ball a lot, one behind the other,. The defense was obviously not prepared for it, and struggled to adjust to it.

The OL played much better than expected most of the night and created holes for the RBs.

Helton called an excellent game. It is obvious he is beginning to feel more and more confident in what his guys can do.

This team is night and day better than they were on Sept. 1st. They just need to stop shooting themselves in the foot.

 

[I4Jay]

What "superb" talents do they have? I agree that we have a couple of really talented, but football dumb corners...outside of them it is a bunch of meh talent.

I didn’t say corners.
There are talented guys all over the field. Very few good football players. That’s why we don’t see the Ws. Guys don’t understand ddown and distance, try to be heroes, attack with the wrong shoulder, fail to high point passes, missing cut back lanes, missing blocks, missing assignments.

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

And it was the difference in the game. Let’s not forget how terrible the defense was too. That’s his side. If we blast Helton for the O, then Pruitt and company deserve the same an abysmal performance.

If the guys are in position to make plays but don’t tackle or get blown off the ball that isn’t Pruitt’s fault. He has schemed them correctly.

Helton has been criticized for play calling. That’s a big difference. It’s not Pruitt’s fault that DK is our best linebacker right now, and unfortunately due to his injuries he is just too slow to run people down.

Are you trolling here? These are some ridiculous takes

 

[VolGee4]

O line penalties.

Didn't stop the run

There was one false start where it looked like Neihaus just readjusted. I didn’t think he flinched. I thought that was allowed.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

It goes back further. It was going on when I was at UT in the early '90's. Maybe it's always been going on. At some point, you think they'd address a way to get it out of the ref's hands, or at the very least, actually admonish refs for poor officiating. Instead they try to cover it up, downplay it, or simply make half-ass excuses.

Actually they do. If they botch calls they don't get to ref the bigger games and get relegated to reffing meaningless games (as far as SEC championship contenders) such as the UT-SC game.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

There was one false start where it looked like Neihaus just readjusted. I didn’t think he flinched. I thought that was allowed.

Things that are allowed for players of other teams does not pertain to Tennessee players.

 

[bignewt]

As long as the game is not in JGs hands at the end, we have a real shot to win 3 of 4.
We can beat mizzou and vandy...im going to the kentucky game but i fear snell and that mobile qb will run right through us if we play like last nightn

 

[volinbama256]

Okay- no one said we would win this one. We weren't supposed to win this one. We basically won this one, but the refs and our stupid ass penalties kept it from being official.

Besides the 5 false start penalties, I thought our O line did well, considering what we have to work with.

Our D was not good (mainly in the second half), especially our secondary... we definitely took a step back there. Alonte was out of position multiple times along with TKjr, and it cost us easily 14 points alone. TKjr has given his all for UT over the years, but he has no business being out there.

Helton called a better, balanced offense, but we failed to execute several times.

JG.................. Ugh. The kid has a huge heart and gives 100%, but is just too inconsistent throughout a game to get it done. He is just SO SLOW with progressions and changing sides of the field, like he is in molasses. He overthrew wide open WR's without any pressure on him at least 6-7 times, which cost us. He did do a lot of things right though, like selling the run and made some good throws.

People forget that Pruitt is a first time head coach working with minimal talent and trying to switch kids around, out of natural position, to get the best athletes on the field. If we were in this same game position a year from now, he will be much more seasoned and we probably get out with a win. Another year in his system, with his culture, minimizes the stupid penalties and undisciplined play. Five years of Butch doesn't completely wash off in only 6 games.

I think we have a chance to win all of our remaining games, but this team has to play smart, disciplined football, and believe they can win. I don't know what to say about the QB play, if staying with JG gets it done.

I've never blamed a loss completely on officiating, but this is about as close as it gets to being criminal. I couldn't believe how lopsided and obvious it was and it gave them 7 points and we lost by 3... do the math. Pruitt is a first year coach and acts like he doesn't care what people think, so I think he needs to send in the tape and hold that officiating staff accountable and not care about any negative fallout from doing so. F them.

 

[LA Vol]

I don’t agree. We came out and scored immediately after half. Basically negating South Carolina’s TD before half.
We have a lot of superbly talented guys, it’s just most of them aren’t good football players.
The tools are there, just have to put them all together.
Alontae Taylor can be special but he makes so many bad situational football plays.

You don't agree that UT beats itself and continually finds ways to lose? Okay. You're welcome to that opinion.

 

[Weezer]

Actually they do. If they botch calls they don't get to ref the bigger games and get relegated to reffing meaningless games (as far as SEC championship contenders) such as the UT-SC game.

Not really much of a punishment, IMO. They still get an assignment and bring home a paycheck. How exactly is that punishment? "You suck at your job so we're going to continue to let you suck, just at lower profile games."

 

[Weezer]

You don't agree that UT beats itself and continually finds ways to lose? Okay. You're welcome to that opinion.

I agree that is our history, but I think we're seeing improvement under Pruitt. Did we make mistakes last night? Absolutely, but point to me a team that doesn't. I think we could have overcome our mistakes in that game. We weren't able to overcome the mistakes of the refs.

 

[nashvol1]

If the guys are in position to make plays but don’t tackle or get blown off the ball that isn’t Pruitt’s fault. He has schemed them correctly.

Helton has been criticized for play calling. That’s a big difference. It’s not Pruitt’s fault that DK is our best linebacker right now, and unfortunately due to his injuries he is just too slow to run people down.

Are you trolling here? These are some ridiculous takes

There is a lot of “gray” in the players versus coach argument. This reminds me of the early Butch and Dooley apologists. I do think he deserves 4 years

Ultimately he is a defensive coach and the defense was terrible. Get them lined up to play. Could argue Sapp or Bituli are best LB.

Helton is responsible for ensuring the silent count is executed which it was not. Play calling was creative around our deficiencies. Credit for positives and negatives.

Pruitt cant be creative and take the good and bad criticism on defense?

How do we explain coming out flat in all games except yesterday? Is this on coaching or players?

So many people taking up for Pruitt but he is not feeling sorry for himself. He knows the job it to win the game.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

You don't agree that UT beats itself and continually finds ways to lose? Okay. You're welcome to that opinion.

Does Auburn not count as a time we didn’t find a way to beat ourselves? So Pruitt is 1-1 in those situations.

 

[SaguaroVols]

Does Auburn not count as a time we didn’t find a way to beat ourselves? So Pruitt is 1-1 in those situations.

We beat ourselves against UF. That was on the players more than Pruitt because of the turnovers. Last night was both on Pruitt and the players. Silly mistakes and stupid penalties.