Did switching offenses and defenses become an overnight process? No. Last year, Coach Pruitt switched from Butch's 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense that requires a good run stuffer. We had one in Emmitt Gooden, but he's injured. Our defensive line is just not very good. It's going to take time to build it up.
We also switched from a spread to a pro style attack on offense. How many coordinators and qb coaches has JG had since he's been here? Butch's offensive line was not built for a pro style system. They were lighter and made for a spread offense. We have some hosses brought in this last class such as Darnell Wright, Wanya Morris, and Chris Akporoghene, but they have exactly one games worth of experience at the college level. How much do you expect out of them? I see them getting better as the season goes on after they get more games under their belts. We didn't have Trey Smith nearly all of last season either which hurt our offense as much as not having Gooden seems to be hurting the defense this year. I'm hoping that young man stays healthy. He'll be back to his old self as the season goes on if he can. It's going to take time to shake the cobwebs of not playing though.
Has anyone thought about the two teams in Kentucky and Auburn that we upset last year? Two things both had in common is their offenses were one-dimensional. Auburn was a better passing team than a running team, while Kentucky was a better running team than a passing threat. The two dimensional offenses caused us all sorts of problems. There's only so much you can do with limited talent. Every explosive two dimensional team from West Virginia to Missouri caused problems for us. Vanderbilt had a good, experienced quarterback, a very talented running back, and very solid receivers. Plain and simple, it was not a good match for our defense. Some of you seem to forget that Missouri went to Gainesville and beat Dan Mullen and Florida 38-17. Any way you slice it, Coach Pruitt was regarded as one of the top defensive coordinators in the country. You could say "it was Nick Saban running the defense", but explain his time at Florida State and Georgia. UGA's defense vastly improved during his time there. He stopped not only one dimensional offenses but also those who could run and throw the ball. Things he had at those stops that he doesn't have here are...
1) several players specifically recruited for his defense
2) speed across the board
3) players who have been coached and developed in a stable program
Is there something in the water in Knoxville that suddenly causes coaches to forget how to coach? His staff of assistants have proven themselves everywhere they've been just as our strength and conditioning coach has.
The 3 things needed right now are...
1) our fans and the media to shut their mouths
2) patience
3) time
We also switched from a spread to a pro style attack on offense. How many coordinators and qb coaches has JG had since he's been here? Butch's offensive line was not built for a pro style system. They were lighter and made for a spread offense. We have some hosses brought in this last class such as Darnell Wright, Wanya Morris, and Chris Akporoghene, but they have exactly one games worth of experience at the college level. How much do you expect out of them? I see them getting better as the season goes on after they get more games under their belts. We didn't have Trey Smith nearly all of last season either which hurt our offense as much as not having Gooden seems to be hurting the defense this year. I'm hoping that young man stays healthy. He'll be back to his old self as the season goes on if he can. It's going to take time to shake the cobwebs of not playing though.
Has anyone thought about the two teams in Kentucky and Auburn that we upset last year? Two things both had in common is their offenses were one-dimensional. Auburn was a better passing team than a running team, while Kentucky was a better running team than a passing threat. The two dimensional offenses caused us all sorts of problems. There's only so much you can do with limited talent. Every explosive two dimensional team from West Virginia to Missouri caused problems for us. Vanderbilt had a good, experienced quarterback, a very talented running back, and very solid receivers. Plain and simple, it was not a good match for our defense. Some of you seem to forget that Missouri went to Gainesville and beat Dan Mullen and Florida 38-17. Any way you slice it, Coach Pruitt was regarded as one of the top defensive coordinators in the country. You could say "it was Nick Saban running the defense", but explain his time at Florida State and Georgia. UGA's defense vastly improved during his time there. He stopped not only one dimensional offenses but also those who could run and throw the ball. Things he had at those stops that he doesn't have here are...
1) several players specifically recruited for his defense
2) speed across the board
3) players who have been coached and developed in a stable program
Is there something in the water in Knoxville that suddenly causes coaches to forget how to coach? His staff of assistants have proven themselves everywhere they've been just as our strength and conditioning coach has.
The 3 things needed right now are...
1) our fans and the media to shut their mouths
2) patience
3) time
