Tennessee’s First Depth Chart Under Jeremy Pruitt A Cause For Concern
A leader makes a decision.
A leader does not leave open numerous possibilities. He does not defer to committees.
A leader’s decision may not be always right, but the more emphatic he is upon making the decision, the more faith and followers he will have.
Unfortunately, the first depth chart released in the Jeremy Pruitt era shows a man saying an awful lot of maybes.
It’s five days before Tennessee’s football team plays West Virginia’s, and Pruitt is publicly only standing by four offensive starters and nine defensive starters by listing multiple players that could start at various positions, including quarterback, running back, and four spots on the offensive line.
The depth chart even lists two possible long snappers and punters.
Reading between the lines, multiple players listed at the top of the depth chart are not necessarily listed in alphabetical order.
Quarterback Jared Guarantano is listed ahead of Keller Chryst as the depth chart reads “Jared Guarantano or Keller Chryst.”
Furthermore, running back Tim Jordan, who has impressed coaches and received multiple first team reps in practices, is listed before Ty Chandler or Michigan State transfer Madre London.
Don’t discount this could mean a backfield of Guarantano and Jordan for the first snap of the season.
Still, if Pruitt doesn’t know who his starters will be at this late date it’s a bad sign for the 2018 Vols. Either the players haven’t stepped up or he’s indecisive.
Are we really to believe that after all this time Pruitt doesn’t know if punter Joe Doyle or Paxton Brooks has the stronger leg? That he hasn’t got a clue between three players at tight end or right tackle?
What kind of confidence does this give the players competing for these positions?
Spare us the excuse it is a motivational tactic. If a depth chart is needed to motivate the Tennessee Volunteers, something is wrong.
There’s the chance Pruitt wishes to use multiple players at various positions. Running back, for instance, has become a committee position in modern football. So it’s entirely possible instead of one back getting 30 carries, three backs will get 10 carries in an attempt to keep them fresh.
Therefore the player who begins the game might have a traditional honor, but it really doesn’t mean that much.
But if Pruitt does know who the starters are and he’s not telling, then he’s being dishonest.
And the fact Pruitt used to work under Nick Saban, known for doing such things, is not a valid excuse. “Everybody does it” never is.
If there is one surprise on the depth chart it’s that Darrin Kirkland Jr. is listed alongside Quart’e Sapp as the starting weak side linebacker. While Kirkland is the first player listed on the list, he’s now an outside, not inside linebacker.
Kirkland was previously thought to be the Vols’ best player on defense. Now he will no longer call the signals and is not even assured of a starting position or full time action.
Suddenly we see why Kirkland was considering transferring this spring.
Last season then-head football coach Butch Jones didn’t officially name Quentin Dormady the starting quarterback of the Vols until kickoff against opening day opponent Georgia Tech.
It created a situation where fans, let alone the players, coaching staff, and media, were never truly sold on Dormady and Guarantano began the season sulking.
The longer Pruitt goes without naming a starting quarterback is not announced, the less confidence all parties concerned will have in their quarterback.
And a two quarterback system will likely only reinforce that lack of confidence and disrupt the Tennessee offense as much if not more than it will confuse defenses.
Tennessee’s depth chart can be found here.
Marky Billson hosts Tri-Cities Sports NOW 12–2 p.m. ET weekdays on 1420 NBC Sports Radio Tri-Cities. Watch his show archived here and here.
