Let’s Discuss Inevitable QB Competition

#1
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UT97Vol

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#1
I’m kind of a QB savant. Joking but I do have some skills to evaluate. Watching the drills today before the spring game started I don’t see a lot of daylight between Merk and Mac from a skillet perspective. Obviously I have no idea on their respective mental acuities within the offense, but I think I saw enough to see there is going to be a stiff competition going into the fall. What say you?
 
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#7
#7
butchna said:
Both need to be ready. Whomever loses the starting nod is one bad tackle from being the guy.
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That's what really bothers me. Mac is a great young man, great family, with football background as well. However nobody lost more ball games heading up a Brentwood Academy team and season as QB than did Mac. Lots of factors involved in that, new coach, 10 other players on the field, yada yada yada. But The Big Tuna always said, "You are what your numbers say you are." Heupel and others recruiting young Mac must have seen talent there or would not have pursued him. But I'll have my doubts about his ability to play SEC caliber ball at the QB position until he removes them.
 
#10
#10
Remy said:
That's what really bothers me. Mac is a great young man, great family, with football background as well. However nobody lost more ball games heading up a Brentwood Academy team and season as QB than did Mac. Lots of factors involved in that, new coach, 10 other players on the field, yada yada yada. But The Big Tuna always said, "You are what your numbers say you are." Heupel and others recruiting young Mac must have seen talent there or would not have pursued him. But I'll have my doubts about his ability to play SEC caliber ball at the QB position until he removes them.
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I’m sure they viewed him as a developmental work in progress with the cushion of two players in front of him. Trial by fire.
 
#12
#12
Remy said:
That's what really bothers me. Mac is a great young man, great family, with football background as well. However nobody lost more ball games heading up a Brentwood Academy team and season as QB than did Mac. Lots of factors involved in that, new coach, 10 other players on the field, yada yada yada. But The Big Tuna always said, "You are what your numbers say you are." Heupel and others recruiting young Mac must have seen talent there or would not have pursued him. But I'll have my doubts about his ability to play SEC caliber ball at the QB position until he removes them.
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My guess is, CJH saw what every other coach saw and what the recruiting services saw. Mac, is a top 5 high school QB.
 
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#16
#16
99gator said:
I think as long as Heupel is the head coach the offense will be pretty good.

I have a feeling this will not be that big of a deal at the end of all this.

JMO
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It wasn't so great this year. We had a stout defense and great running game, but it wasn't the Heupel offense he's known for. I think DCs have figure him out and it really isn't going to change with the QB. I think that's why we're moving toward the pistol offense.
 
#17
#17
Rocky Top T said:
We will get a QB from the portal. Then let it work itself out.
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If we do take a QB from the portal, he will likely be 3rd string/emergency QB. There just aren't good QBs in the portal right now. All the good QBs are on teams getting ready to play ball here in a few months. Not to mention the time it takes to learn the plays and the offense. QB1 is 100% Merklinger's to lose imo. I would be totally shocked if JH puts a true freshman out there week 1.
 
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#18
#18
OrangeBeachVol said:
Merk has a much better understanding of the offense than a portal QB would unless they get Gaston Moore to come back. I don't see a portal guy coming in and taking the job by storm. Tough call for Hype.
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You may be right, but in the time we saw Moore, he wasn’t exactly impressive. Decent, steadied the ship, but I don’t think he’s the guy that takes the team on his shoulders and leads them to the promised land.

Of course, same could be said about unproven freshmen. But a real, true QB competition would be the best case scenario and could pay dividends come time to kick off the season.
 
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#19
#19
Here's my two cents...
I think the situation with the QB that shall not be named was a good thing for CJH.
It's my opinion that it worked out to get Heupel out of his own way and not become "married" to that QB like Pruitt with JG or even Heupel early on with Milton.

I believe the QB competition moving forward will be much, much better and we end up with a QB more better matched to CJHs system.

Last thing...if you place stock in conjecture and what not, it seems that both Merk and Mac are already more well received by players and leaders on the team.
 
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#20
#20
UT97Vol said:
I’m kind of a QB savant. Joking but I do have some skills to evaluate. Watching the drills today before the spring game started I don’t see a lot of daylight between Merk and Mac from a skillet perspective. Obviously I have no idea on their respective mental acuities within the offense, but I think I saw enough to see there is going to be a stiff competition going into the fall. What say you?
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I am not sure GMAC can be physically ready for full time duty by this fall. Training table and weight room till next fall is the path I see for him.
 
#21
#21
I don’t know what the remaining two looked like through the spring.
But I do know that CJH was very quick to pull the plug on Nico. And we refused to up the NIL money.

So, whatever it was, I’m wondering how much separation Nico showed from his competition.

In a perfect world, one of those two guys has already started gaining respect in the locker room and can take the job and run with it.
 
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#22
#22
EZE said:
I don’t know what the remaining two looked like through the spring.
But I do know that CJH was very quick to pull the plug on Nico. And we refused to up the NIL money.

So, whatever it was, I’m wondering how much separation Nico showed from his competition.

In a perfect world, one of those two guys has already started gaining respect in the locker room and can take the job and run with it.
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Merk
 
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#23
#23
I expect it will be Merk. And I have no problem with him.

Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised by what little bit I saw from GMac today. He looked smooth, fluid, natural, side-stepping the pass rush. I know, I know, they had muzzled the dogs, and it wasn't a full SEC pass rush. But he also looked quick and decisive in taking off and running. Yes, I know that's easier to do when you know your teammates are not gonna Mack-truck you. And of course he needs to add another 10-15 lbs of muscle asap. Still, I saw rays of hope there.
 
#24
#24
EZE said:
I don’t know what the remaining two looked like through the spring.
But I do know that CJH was very quick to pull the plug on Nico. And we refused to up the NIL money.

So, whatever it was, I’m wondering how much separation Nico showed from his competition.

In a perfect world, one of those two guys has already started gaining respect in the locker room and can take the job and run with it.
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This was something I said when rumblings first started. I said Nico's team don't know what Hype knows. About half on here defended Nico at every turn with he doesn't have Oline no receivers etc. and then some said he is just not impressive. A good to middling SEC QB (you are what your stats say) that any of us would take for our own abilities, but the numbers don't lie. He is a middle of the road SEC QB that was going thru his 4th Spring practice counting EE. I said Josh knows his limitations and I think his dad has way more grand illusions. That can happen if everybody around you is raving about your boy and any time, he does something wrong excusing it with he needs more ppl around him, or the offense has gone vanilla. I think Josh toned down the O because of the QB he had a slow processor and when he heard they were wanting 4 million he said Hey he's just not worth it. I like the guy, but he is just not a generational QB not close. In fact its close between him and QB2. We need to move on this is tearing up the team. As Clint Eastwood said "A man's got to know his limitations"
 
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