This is EYE opening

[ftsandersvol]

Atlanta metro area.. Walk outside and fall over 4 or 5 5 star guys. Plus they had some success under Richt, won a couple of SEC titles, no big trophies since Herchel but more success in the last twenty years than the Vols. We have everything in place to be successful. Just got to stop getting run out of the stadium by these teams and it would be easier.

Winning does solve a lot of problems, but UGA is nothing special. I can tell you that first hand. The UT campus has 10 times the character of UGA.

 

[Kamara4sixGBO]

This is incorrect. Team composite ranking in 2018 was also 15.

We have 3 more 5 stars, and 2 less 4 stars. There are more 3 stars because we have more scholorship players.

Overall talent score is 842 on 2020 team compared to 825 on 2018 team.

We have more scholarship players? What? Compare it to 2017, no idea why you are looking at 2018?

 

[VolInDayton]

We have more scholarship players? What? Compare it to 2017, no idea why you are looking at 2018?

Jeremy Pruitt first team he took over was 2018. 2017 was Butch's last year. We didn't have a full team Pruitt's first year due to awful attrition under Butch Jones.

 

[Orange Death]

What if...just what if...the star ranking system is flawed because it attempts to quantify an individual based on things that are too dynamic for the system to handle? Maybe it's not that important.

Eff it. Maybe it's right and we're just living in football purgatory forever with random coaching overlords who are decent but never really great rotating in every 3-5 years.

 

[Cartervol]

Winning does solve a lot of problems, but UGA is nothing special. I can tell you that first hand. The UT campus has 10 times the character of UGA.

Kirby doesn't have to work hard for recruits was the point, neither does UF or Bama.. Those are jobs that recruit themselves. I don't claim to know what a 18 year old kid is thinking these days but they've witnessed those teams having far more success than we have recently.

 

[West Vol]

Butch was a star chaser that took four stars with issues other schools passed on. He was also big on guys doing stuff at camps that hasn’t really actually produced on the field.

In my opinion, Pruitt has recruited better football players overall, regardless of what the star ratings say.

 

[ftsandersvol]

Kirby doesn't have to work hard for recruits was the point, neither does UF or Bama.. Those are jobs that recruit themselves. I don't claim to know what a 18 year old kid is thinking these days but they've witnessed those teams having far more success than we have recently.

You've got a good point there.

 

[superdave1984]

Vegas puts 4.5 points on a turnover. Factor that in and also momentum, and you see a different game. Maybe even a different outcome. We were red hot to close the 2nd quarter. Riding on momentum and confidence. Then the ball starts landing on the ground and the rest is history. Bottom line is we need solid QB play. Consistent QB play. Smart QB play. We don't have that. I am not asking a kid to take the team on his shoulders for 60 minutes. I just ask that he at least focus for 60 minutes. Yes UGA has a great defense. Once they got the first turnover, UGA's defense was like a shark with blood in the water. It changed the entire tone of the game.

 

[Kamara4sixGBO]

Id have to look more into this, but what it says to me, is that Pruitt is doing more with less. Imagine if he could get talent at the right spots

He beat two ranked teams with Butch’s kids tho. We HAVE to beat UF this year, I like our chances, they don’t play well in the cold. Otherwise, I don’t think Pruitt has came within 20 of the big 3, we gotta show these recruits something on the field. Looking at Bama, should be able to keep it close. They have no defense and I bet we follow Ga’s model to slow them down.

 

[sjt18]

Pruitt does his own evals. Jones didn't. Pruitt develops players. Jones didn't.

That's not to say that Pruitt won't ultimately fail. But it wasn't the 3 stars that cost UT that game. For much of the game the D held up pretty well. They can't defend a fumble TD. They held up well early in the 2nd half after JG gave UGA short fields.

IIRC, UGA actually started one more 3* on O than UT... and that's where the game was lost.

 

[superdave1984]

He beat two ranked teams with Butch’s kids tho. We HAVE to beat UF this year, I like our chances, they don’t play well in the cold. Otherwise, I don’t think Pruitt has came within 20 of the big 3, we gotta show these recruits something on the field. Looking at Bama, should be able to keep it close. They have no defense and I bet we follow Ga’s model to slow them down.

Maybe Lane will call with some pointers on offense.

 

[TucsonVol]

And goes against everything we ‘hear’. In the Pruitt vs Smart thread, it was said Smart inherited a better roster than Pruitt. I think that’s clear. So, then to feel better I wanted to see how much better Pruitt has recruited since he got here as that is all we hear.

UT on the 247 team talent composite this year, 15th.
UT on the 247 team talent composite when Pruitt was hired? 12th.

The year before Pruitt came we had 37 3-stars, we now have 49 3-stars. Honestly feel it should be the opposite of this number.

We have 13 more in this class.

I believe in Pruitt and he has shown he can find a 3 star gem, but 49 isn’t going to be gems, most are just going to be rocks.

And the answer is...…..JG the choker!!!

 

[Jxn Vol]

We need a QB that doesn’t look like he may crap his girdle every game.

 

[Kamara4sixGBO]

And the answer is...…..JG the choker!!!

If anyone thinks just replacing JG in that game or any game will be the miracle cure all, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Had the OL just held the line, JG doesn’t turn it over at all. ALL 3 turnovers was because of pressure bc the OL stunk up the place. That doesn’t resolve JG, but if he’s not being sacked 5x, then he’s not fumbling.

 

[Proud Army Wife]

TN is going to have to start winning some games they aren't supposed to or at the very least keep them close. I'm not talking about beating an overrated Auburn, A&M, or KY on a good year either. Otherwise, they will continue to pull in #15 classes and remain a mediocre SEC team. UGA and FL are located in the hotbeds of talent. It will take beating them to obtain that talent on the recruiting trail. I think TN currently has the talent and coaching to compete, but missing that dynamic QB to get it done.

 

[Proud Army Wife]

So how do you explain Georgia? Some of their kids' parents weren't even born the last time they won a national championship, plus Smart wasn't even close to a big name hire too.

Georgia arguably has the most talented hs kids outside of FL, CA, and TX. That's why Richt still was mostly successful. UGA is the home-school among that talent and Kirby is a top-notch recruiter.

 

[Otis1105]

Butch was a star chaser that took four stars with issues other schools passed on. He was also big on guys doing stuff at camps that hasn’t really actually produced on the field.



A current highly rated commit says hi...

 

[37620VOL]

I'll say this, our current team at least looks like they belong out there. They look strong enough and fast enough to compete. In the recent past, this has not been so.

It's not a lack of ability, it's a lack of execution. If our RBs, Tackles, and Center hadn't played an "F" game we may have been in a real fight deep into the 4th quarter.

 

[ETCvol4life]

Butch was a star chaser that took four stars with issues other schools passed on. He was also big on guys doing stuff at camps that hasn’t really actually produced on the field.

In my opinion, Pruitt has recruited better football players overall, regardless of what the star ratings say.

That has been my point all along! Some players do not go to all the camps and do not get the extra air time in front of the "Star" recruiting services that are just there to make there money trying to predicted the ability of 14, 15, 16 and 17 year old young men. Pruitt has proven over the years that he knows what talent looks like and what it takes to win. Not just at UT but at places that have produced championships. So I think I will trust him and his staff to pick the players that fit his system over guys who are trying to be arm chair recruiters.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

He beat two ranked teams with Butch’s kids tho. We HAVE to beat UF this year, I like our chances, they don’t play well in the cold. Otherwise, I don’t think Pruitt has came within 20 of the big 3, we gotta show these recruits something on the field. Looking at Bama, should be able to keep it close. They have no defense and I bet we follow Ga’s model to slow them down.

Honest question. What gives you any hope whatsoever that we can beat UF?

 

[SpookyAction]

I would add a couple of bruiser RBs to the list of things we need. There must be a real shortage of those. Madre London was a lot of bologna. Tim Jordan couldn't do school. Banks couldn't carry ... whatever.

 

[05_never_again]

As good as Pruitt has recruited, it needs to be better. By a lot if we want to compete with Bama and GA. It is what it is.

I honestly don't think he's out-recruiting Alabama and Georgia as long as Saban and Kirby are there, respectively. Saban is the greatest CFB coach and recruiter of all time, and the school recruits itself. Georgia has distinct demographic advantages over Tennessee we can't do anything about, and Kirby has proven to be a dynamite recruiter himself. Almost no players they truly want leak out of that state anymore.

It sucks, but in order for Tennessee to be successful we need our rivals (Alabama, Georgia, Florida) to be screwing stuff up. And at the moment, none of them are.

 

[RFlynn]

And goes against everything we ‘hear’. In the Pruitt vs Smart thread, it was said Smart inherited a better roster than Pruitt. I think that’s clear. So, then to feel better I wanted to see how much better Pruitt has recruited since he got here as that is all we hear.

UT on the 247 team talent composite this year, 15th.
UT on the 247 team talent composite when Pruitt was hired? 12th.

The year before Pruitt came we had 37 3-stars, we now have 49 3-stars. Honestly feel it should be the opposite of this number.

We have 13 more in this class.

I believe in Pruitt and he has shown he can find a 3 star gem, but 49 isn’t going to be gems, most are just going to be rocks.

Stay the course my friend. We can't build it in one year this has always been a 3 to 5 year plan. We are in year 3 and are making progress. we have to start winning which we are. Then this year and next we need to pick off one of the big boys. These are what helps recruting when these players see a rising program. we'll get there.

 

[tbones0711]

It will be a struggle the rest of the way if it stays the same. Every team gets film on you, understands how other teams defended you and will try to emulate it.. Some teams will have the personnel to make it work some won't. That's why i'm sticking with my at best case scenario 6-4 record. We're going to be in dogfights and have to lean heavily on our defense if we don't change something.

You know it, I know it, most Vol fans know it now. Every defense is gonna play us the same feeling JG is our #1 major weakness. Therefore the problem is why does our coaching staff not know it and make adjustments? You can put Holiday in the slot and run an end-around and give him the option to pass and several other gadget plays like the current jumbo pkg. Anything to keep defenses off balance and guessing. We don't even have to tip our hand because every opponent knows it's going to be the same 'ole same 'ole.......stop UT's run and you stop UT. We need an innovator on our offensive staff.

 

[tbones0711]

I would add a couple of bruiser RBs to the list of things we need. There must be a real shortage of those. Madre London was a lot of bologna. Tim Jordan couldn't do school. Banks couldn't carry ... whatever.

Cody Brown and Tee Hodge gonna take care of that situation if we can get a full spring practice in next year.