Losing Gooden, Bituli hampered,and Peterson still no showing where we are thin, and now this with our AA cb has tempered my expectations a little. Mainly continued lb concerns
We have 4 Wins already; Ga St, UAB, BYU, Chattanooga (Did Dooley or Jones make this schedule?). Only need 3 from Miss St, USCjr, Mizzou, Vandy, UK. We have Cheney. Pruitt can focus on Defense.
Have you seen the OL? Two true freshman likely at the tackle spots, who knows about Trey Smith, a guy coming back off ACL surgery.
I dont see BYU as an autowin. They have a big and older OL. We could find ourselves getting shoved around a little where we are least experienced up the middle
The only teams not outright better than UT recently out of that second group are Vanderbilt and UK. Maybe even take Vanderbilt out of it as they're smashed UT two years in a row.
I dont see it as automatic, but I expect us to win that game. I still think 7 is a reasonable expectation and remains my prediction. Were it not for the Gooden injury, Thompson deal, and Bituli being banged up I think 8 or even 9 could have been possible.
I just have to believe we are going to make a big 2nd year jump. Otherwise just fire up the coaching search in December because Pruitt isn't going to work out.
Its a concern until they actually block somebody, but I think Morris and Wright are closer to FR Trey Smith and not Drew Richmond. If not, Pruitt got some massive long term problems. You re not going to confuse UT's OL with the better groups in the country, but there's no reason why they re not better. If not for the simple fact Drew Richmond is no longer on the field.
A veteran group of skill positions led by one of the better OCs in the country A Hawaiian Al Wilson starting at linebacker An infusion of talent on the defensive line due to JUCOs and transfers