Doug Mathews talked about the make up of the team heading into spring practice. 10 early enrollees and what improvement has to be made if the team is going to get better.
Doug discussed the coaching staff assignments. He knew that Ansley would be the DC and would eventually make the defensive game calls, but was surprised that Pruitt would turn over play calling to Ansley immediately. He said it was significant because it states how much he thinks of Ansley. They know each other well and how one another thinks and see things.
Mathews said that it is a significant and a good move, because it allows Pruitt to devote himself to everything that a college football head coach needs to be doing in a game and not be distracted from those duties by being the full-time Defensive Coordinator. Mathews did state that Pruitt will still step in and work with the defense. However, he can concentrate on the game itself.
We have 10 assistant coaches. 5 of the assistant coaches have other titles. Jim Chaney is the Offensive Coordinator, Derrick Ansley is the Defensive Coordinator. Chris Rumph is the Co-Defensive Coordinator, Kevin Sherrer is the Special teams Coordinator, and Tee Martin is the Assistant Head Coach and Passing Game Coordinator.
Doug said that only two coaches in Pruitt's staff will be running things in staff meetings - Chaney and Ansley. The titles of the other staff members, mean nothing in regards to their actual roles in staff meetings, on the practice field, and on game day. They are just titles. All are excellent coaches who have experience.
The only titles that mean anything are the Offensive Coordinator and Defensive Coordinator. Doug feels that getting both coaches was big because both are known as being very good coaches.
Staff has gone from being 100% in recruiting mode to being in player development mode. Recruiting is still important, but on the field player development is now of utmost importance. Coaches must teach the players and get them ready to play and discover who can help this team come the fall and who is not going to be in position the help the team this fall.
All of the defensive coaches have worked with Pruitt before and know Pruitt's defense inside and out. Offensively, Pruitt is going to trust and lean on Jim Chaney.
Doug doesn't believe we are done with changes to the coaching staff. We have an imbalanced coaching staff, with 6 staff members on the offensive side of the ball and 4 on the defensive side of the ball.
We have one full-time secondary coach, who is also the Defensive Coordinator, coaching the secondary. The secondary is now about utilizing sub-packages and coaching 5 positions (2 safeties, 2 corners, and nickel), instead of the traditional 4 (2 safeties and 2 corners). You need more than one secondary coach, even with Pruitt and a GA helping coach them.
Mathews expects a move win the staff and for Pruitt is going to have to hire an additional secondary coach, in place of one of the offensive staff members, who will leave.
Mathews said that he has spoken with other coaches, former coaches within the SEC and outside of the SEC, who have spoken highly of the UT staff and what Pruitt has done with the staff. That has left Mathews is impressed with the job that Pruitt has done in putting together this staff and him growing his position as a head coach. Pruitt could not get all of the coaches that he wanted a year ago and is working to get them all know. He made the changes that he wanted to make and get the guys he wanted.
We should bing dividends from these hires. They are great recruiters, but they are also great teaching coaches. They are known for being teachers of technique.
Pruitt now, knows the athletic ability and intelligence of his players, after a year coaching these players. Mathews believes that Pruitt has brought in intelligent football players- on the field and in the class room.Now his the time to improve and develop the talent.
19 scholarships seniors with only about 10-11 who will contribute in the two deep. Defensively we have Bituli, Gooden, Taylor, Kirkland, Warrior and Buchanan. Offensively, we have Fils-Amie, Callaway, Wood-Anderson, Jennings, Kennedy.
Spring Practice e will be different this year.
Linebackers, we have 9 linebackers on the roster, including our edge rushers. Seniors - Bituli, Kirkland, and Taylor. Juniors - Ignont, Allen, and Johnson. Younger guys like Banks, Peterson, Crouch, are explosive players with great potential and talent- all were physical, explosive running backs in high school. What can they learn and what can they do? This will be key for this team come the fall. Then we know what we have coming in this fall with Henry To'oto'o.
Defensive Backs - We had a young and talented secondary last year . The secondary can get a lot better. Early enrollees Fields, McCollough, Burrell are coming in- what can they learn? Thompson, Taylor, Flowers, Theo Jackson were big contributors as freshman and will be sophomores. How will their development turn and how will they improve, will be keys to the 2019 season.
Mathews said that with the experience and athletic ability at linebacker and in the secondary, we could be significantly better on defense than we were in 2018. All are dependent on both units improving.
Offensive Line - Current linemen with game experience, Carvin, Colbert, and Locklear, Lane need to be developed - They have shown flashes and have to improve to contribute this fall. There are big opportunities for any offensive lineament step up and earn playing time, especially with the 5 offensive linemen that Tennessee signed this year ready to compete.
Tight end - We know what Wood-Anderson can do. Chaney likes to use the tight end, not an Hback in his scheme. Physicality at the line of scrimmage.
QB - we have 3, One experienced and 2 young QBs.
RB - Chandler, Jordan, Eric Gray and Fils-Amie.
Defensive Line - problems with depth.
Transfers - Gibbs and Solomon should sit out next season in his opinion. They may appeal and could be eligible next season, but nothing concrete.
