Obviously we aren't going to be the 98 Vols but we will absolutely be better. How could we not.
With Missouri running through our 1.2 million dollar DC like swiss cheese dropping a 50 piece on us to Vanderbilt laying down 42 in Neyland Stadium on SR night we all know it won't be that bad.
Shoop's incompetency was unlike anything I have ever seen in my life as Vol fan. At least Sunseri didn't have a track record. Shoop did which made it that much more baffling. High robbery him making that type of money for the production he gave us with a talented defensive roster.
Pruitt has obviously produced at the highest level at many different places. He has a system that allows the most talented players to get on the field and play fast. Something Butch/Shoop NEVER COULD DO.
There will be growing pains as our roster transitions to a 3-4 but we will be better. Here is my case for that.
DL
Kongbo- fits best in a 3-4. He is not going to be an explosive pass rusher but I think he can do a solid job in what is asked of a strong side 3-4 lineman.
Phillips- this allows him to play bigger at around 270 plus and having seen him recently he looks to be in the best shape he has been in.
Shy- healthy he is a game changer in any system.
Eric Crosby- DT space eater and he has really taken to the new S&C program. Could be solid for us.
Matthew Butler- weighing about 275 and looks like a Bama player.
LBs- deepest group on the team is about to be coached by Rumph and Sherrar (yes please)
Daniel Bituli, Will Ignont, JJ Peterson, Darrin Kirkland Jr. That gets it done in the SEC with Pruitt's system of unleashing players to play to their talent.
OLBs- Darrell Taylor, Jordan Allen and Austin Smith. I think that is 3 talented big guys who a lot of schools wanted. Rumph who has produced many draft picks will get these guys right and let them use that talent.
S- Nigel Warrior is an all SEC player for Pruitt and Charles Kelly. Pruitt is probably the best DB coach in America.
TK Jr- hopefully healthy after his knees hurting him the last couple years hopefully allows his athleticism to return.
Abernathy- doubt he factors much
To me we are solid everywhere with the players coach by the new coaching staff but CB. I like Terry Fair and Pruitt coaching these guys up. You hope that Shamburger, Theo Jackson, Buchannon, Byrd can emerge. Maybe a grad transfer.
Potential newcomers who may be able to help (again Pruitt understands how to get people ready and for them to play fast)
Greg Emerson, Emmitt Gooden and maybe even a Brant Lawless.
But in no world is Jeremy Pruitt, Kevin Sherrer, Tracy Rocker, Charles Kelly, Terry Fair and Scott Fitzgerald getting ramrodded against Vandy, Kentucky, Missouri and to an extent UGA and Bama. Our defense was as soft as any talented team I have ever seen. Just absolutely zero resistance. No more.
With Missouri running through our 1.2 million dollar DC like swiss cheese dropping a 50 piece on us to Vanderbilt laying down 42 in Neyland Stadium on SR night we all know it won't be that bad.
Shoop's incompetency was unlike anything I have ever seen in my life as Vol fan. At least Sunseri didn't have a track record. Shoop did which made it that much more baffling. High robbery him making that type of money for the production he gave us with a talented defensive roster.
Pruitt has obviously produced at the highest level at many different places. He has a system that allows the most talented players to get on the field and play fast. Something Butch/Shoop NEVER COULD DO.
There will be growing pains as our roster transitions to a 3-4 but we will be better. Here is my case for that.
DL
Kongbo- fits best in a 3-4. He is not going to be an explosive pass rusher but I think he can do a solid job in what is asked of a strong side 3-4 lineman.
Phillips- this allows him to play bigger at around 270 plus and having seen him recently he looks to be in the best shape he has been in.
Shy- healthy he is a game changer in any system.
Eric Crosby- DT space eater and he has really taken to the new S&C program. Could be solid for us.
Matthew Butler- weighing about 275 and looks like a Bama player.
LBs- deepest group on the team is about to be coached by Rumph and Sherrar (yes please)
Daniel Bituli, Will Ignont, JJ Peterson, Darrin Kirkland Jr. That gets it done in the SEC with Pruitt's system of unleashing players to play to their talent.
OLBs- Darrell Taylor, Jordan Allen and Austin Smith. I think that is 3 talented big guys who a lot of schools wanted. Rumph who has produced many draft picks will get these guys right and let them use that talent.
S- Nigel Warrior is an all SEC player for Pruitt and Charles Kelly. Pruitt is probably the best DB coach in America.
TK Jr- hopefully healthy after his knees hurting him the last couple years hopefully allows his athleticism to return.
Abernathy- doubt he factors much
To me we are solid everywhere with the players coach by the new coaching staff but CB. I like Terry Fair and Pruitt coaching these guys up. You hope that Shamburger, Theo Jackson, Buchannon, Byrd can emerge. Maybe a grad transfer.
Potential newcomers who may be able to help (again Pruitt understands how to get people ready and for them to play fast)
Greg Emerson, Emmitt Gooden and maybe even a Brant Lawless.
But in no world is Jeremy Pruitt, Kevin Sherrer, Tracy Rocker, Charles Kelly, Terry Fair and Scott Fitzgerald getting ramrodded against Vandy, Kentucky, Missouri and to an extent UGA and Bama. Our defense was as soft as any talented team I have ever seen. Just absolutely zero resistance. No more.
