GoVols247’s full crew — Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown, Grant Ramey and Ryan Callahan — went into Fort Rucker Studio to discuss all things Tennessee football toward the tail end of a critical open week in the schedule.

Tennessee’s loss at ninth-ranked Florida last weekend was the Vols’ fourth setback in their first three games, and this week’s open date offers chance to regroup before heading right back into the teeth of the schedule, with home games against third-ranked Georgia and Mississippi State before a trip to Alabama to face the second-ranked Crimson Tide.

Interestingly, though, second-year Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt said this week that he firmly believes his team is “100 times better” than it was this time last year. The first segment of this episode features a length discussion on that comment and it’s believability.

Obviously the quarterback situation remains a hot topic around these parts, and the second segment opens with an update on the situation surrounding Jarrett Guarantano and Brian Maurer moving forward.

The second segment also features a discussion on the trio of players who earlier this week joined the lengthening list of those leaving the program — junior linebackers Will Ignont and Shanon Reid, and sophomore wide receiver Jacquez Jones — and the impact of their departures.

As usual with the Thursday morning podcast, the third and final segment of this episode features answers to questions submitted by GoVols247 subscribers and social-media followers.

The next GoVols247 Podcast episode — a full episode — will be released Monday morning, unless breaking news occurs before that point.