Not that the players he signed worked out that well anyway, on average, but his first two full recruiting classes were rated #5 by Rivals, but then his third (the class that Pruitt is on now) and fourth classes were rated 15th, which is unacceptable in the SEC unless you are a star evaluator and developer. Butch Jones was definitely not that. But somehow he managed to talent, luck and schedule his way to consecutive 9 win seasons starting at that point, although the second one was actually disappointing.
Seems like Pruitt is going in the opposite direction, building up steam in recruiting and coaching up a fundamentally sound football team that can just line up and beat people, no tricks or miracles needed. Even in Jones' two 9 win seasons, most of the wins felt like luck, to be honest. Pruitt's wins seem honest, hard-earned. We outwit people in the 2nd half. We make critical defensive stops. We just played solid football, even with QB problems, the second half of the season last year. It felt so good to see that.
Anyway, just some lunch break thoughts.
Seems like Pruitt is going in the opposite direction, building up steam in recruiting and coaching up a fundamentally sound football team that can just line up and beat people, no tricks or miracles needed. Even in Jones' two 9 win seasons, most of the wins felt like luck, to be honest. Pruitt's wins seem honest, hard-earned. We outwit people in the 2nd half. We make critical defensive stops. We just played solid football, even with QB problems, the second half of the season last year. It felt so good to see that.
Anyway, just some lunch break thoughts.
