If Pruitt is the guy, I believe we will know without a doubt in 2021. Now obviously we could know whether he is or isn't the answer well before that. An incredible overachieving (or flub) next year or a lackluster finish to this season (losing to this year's version of Mizzou would be pretty lackluster IMO) and the writing will pretty much be on the wall, for better or worse. 2020 I see four teams on our 2020 schedule that, fairly safe to say, will be better than us. OU, UF, UGA, Bama. The seniors we lose after this season will hurt. I think 8-4 probably keeps me believing in his chances. 9-3 and I'm probably pretty damn excited. If he's for real, losses to the likes of SC and Mizzou have to be a thing of the past. UK and Vandy shouldn't even be worthy of discussion at this stage. 2021 This is the year, if Pruitt is the guy, that we're back in actual contention. Bowling Green, Pitt, South Alabama, and probably another cupcake that hasn't been scheduled yet in the non conference. No excuse to lose any of those. Our flexed in SECw opponent is Ole Miss. No LSU, Auburn, or A&M. No excuse for a UT coach to lose to Ole Miss in Year 4...ever. At this point, an elite coach has recruited and developed players well enough to, at the VERY least, start giving us a real chance against the "Big 3" that we play every year. I'll say a win over UF or UGA is a must and beating both should be pretty damn realistic here. If we have the right guy, we should win the East in 2021. Just thinking out loud...
I've given a similar look at things, yont sum iss?. 2021 will be very tough considering the 2020 seniors but I trust Pruitt's recruiting.
I'm tired of looking two or three years in the future every year and picking out "the year". Not saying this is wrong, I'm just tired of it.
I think people are going to be surprised next year at how good the defense is going to be. Tennessee loses Taylor but gains Gooden, Bituli will be a loss, but To'oto'o is right there, too.
By my calculations, Pruitt’ll be fired after 2022 season. Next guy will do alright but won’t get to Atlanta until his 4th year, but won’t win it, then he’ll be fired 2 years later after the 2028 season. But guy after that will get it rollin’ and I could see us winning the SEC in his 3rd year or 4th year. So, 2032, we’re comin’.
Honestly, I could see next year being a really good year. Both OL and DL return a lot of starters and major contributors, our secondary should be pretty stout, we return all of our RB's, should have good QB competition... In my opinion, we will have a pretty strong team next year and should compete for the east.
Gooden Middleton Bumphus Blakely Butler Williams Mincey (he may redshirt, though) That's just off the top of my head
Virtually every top tier team has common aspects. One is a D line that can penetrate/disrupt the backfield alone with no help from LB'ers or DB's.
