Joey Halzle is not the answer

[LittleVol]

George Macyntire is still supposed to be in HS. He was the better of the two QB yesterday.
Honestly he looked about the way he was supposed to look.

Jake Merklinger be it nerves or the sudden change in environment and expectations or going against the 1st team defense - he did not "look" like the guy we recruited.
- Hesitant
- holding the ball to long
- not throwing the checkdown like he did all through HS.
(SOUNDS FAMILIAR???? JOE MILTON, NICO, now Merklinger)

He looked like Nico during Nicos second spring game. 2024 spring game True freshman Jake Merklinger looked better than Nico. And then we went on to see Nico play a whole season of average caliber football.

Here we are Spring 2025 and the George Macyntire outperformed the RS Freshman that's been getting over a year more of personal coaching from JOEY HALZLE.

I see a few differences put in by Litrell but it's not enough..We need a QB from the portal and for Heaven's sake Heupel, gracefully tell Joey to move on

 

[EZE]

Lulz.

 

[17Vols]

Here we go…

 

[VolFreakJosh]

 

[Other_Guy]

Let's hope Peyton Lewis turns into Dylan Sampson

 

[OrangeInKy]

I also love making massive conclusions after a spring scrimmage. I also love that you see changes and automatically think it’s Littrell.

 

[patrick]

George Macyntire is still supposed to be in HS. He was the better of the two QB yesterday.
Honestly he looked about the way he was supposed to look.

Jake Merklinger be it nerves or the sudden change in environment and expectations or going against the 1st team defense - he did not "look" like the guy we recruited.
- Hesitant
- holding the ball to long
- not throwing the checkdown like he did all through HS.
(SOUNDS FAMILIAR???? JOE MILTON, NICO, now Merklinger)
I
He looked like Nico during Nicos second spring game. 2024 spring game True freshman Jake Merklinger looked better than Nico. And then we went on to see Nico play a whole season of average caliber football.

Here we are Spring 2025 and the George Macyntire outperformed the RS Freshman that's been getting over a year more of personal coaching from JOEY HALZLE.

I see a few differences put in by Litrell but it's not enough..We need a QB from the portal and for Heaven's sake Heupel, gracefully tell Joey to move on

Im not impressed with JH nor Elarbee however neither are going anywhere unless they were to get hired away which is unlikely.

Probably should be kept in mind that TN went 10-2 in regular season with a pedestrian QB and average wide receivers. Now a very good defense and pretty good running game shouldered most of the weight of those 10 wins.

Point is that it doesn’t take top QB play to win in the SEC.

 

[barney]

George Macyntire is still supposed to be in HS. He was the better of the two QB yesterday.
Honestly he looked about the way he was supposed to look.

Jake Merklinger be it nerves or the sudden change in environment and expectations or going against the 1st team defense - he did not "look" like the guy we recruited.
- Hesitant
- holding the ball to long
- not throwing the checkdown like he did all through HS.
(SOUNDS FAMILIAR???? JOE MILTON, NICO, now Merklinger)

He looked like Nico during Nicos second spring game. 2024 spring game True freshman Jake Merklinger looked better than Nico. And then we went on to see Nico play a whole season of average caliber football.

Here we are Spring 2025 and the George Macyntire outperformed the RS Freshman that's been getting over a year more of personal coaching from JOEY HALZLE.

I see a few differences put in by Litrell but it's not enough..We need a QB from the portal and for Heaven's sake Heupel, gracefully tell Joey to move on

Gmac looked really really good and I'm excited about his future. Merk got thrust into the QB1 role and was taking QB1 reps in front of 20,000 fans in under 12 hours so its hard to be too critical of him in some grainy youtube clips.

I think the qb play issues last 3 seasons is more scheme than any one player. We rely too much on 4-wide sets with wide splits and like 4 go routes lol. We should try to mix up our formations more and not force the QB to read the whole field. I've been critical of Joey Halzle and I thought this was a make or break year for him, but now not so sure. Scheme needs to evolve thought and I didn't see many signs of that yesterday with the obvious caveat that it was a spring game lol.

 

[livefaith]

One thing I've learned in many years of close study. Whatever happens in the spring game is a dead lock on what the future holds for each player.

 

[gunner]

Agreed, he should go at take the OL and WR coaches with him.

 

[#1HomeGrownUTVOL]

If I’m not mistaken, wasn’t GMAC rated higher than Merklinger? Could just be God-given talent.

 

[IUGradVol]

Spring game isn’t exactly the best evaluation of anyone. I don’t necessarily disagree with the premise of this thread. Just saying…

 

[LWSVOL]

George Macyntire is still supposed to be in HS. He was the better of the two QB yesterday.
Honestly he looked about the way he was supposed to look.

Jake Merklinger be it nerves or the sudden change in environment and expectations or going against the 1st team defense - he did not "look" like the guy we recruited.
- Hesitant
- holding the ball to long
- not throwing the checkdown like he did all through HS.
(SOUNDS FAMILIAR???? JOE MILTON, NICO, now Merklinger)

He looked like Nico during Nicos second spring game. 2024 spring game True freshman Jake Merklinger looked better than Nico. And then we went on to see Nico play a whole season of average caliber football.

Here we are Spring 2025 and the George Macyntire outperformed the RS Freshman that's been getting over a year more of personal coaching from JOEY HALZLE.

I see a few differences put in by Litrell but it's not enough..We need a QB from the portal and for Heaven's sake Heupel, gracefully tell Joey to move on

was not close to being the first team defense and the practice Saturday was just that, a practice.

 

[KTrain]

One thing I've learned in many years of close study. Whatever happens in the spring game is a dead lock on what the future holds for each player.

It's funny ppl are taking this spring game serious. Laughable this is just a showcase now and some teams don't even bother. It's just a shout out to the fans nothing to glean from an Orange & White game. PPL wasting their time.

 

[VolsFan-TX]

Gmac looked really really good and I'm excited about his future. Merk got thrust into the QB1 role and was taking QB1 reps in front of 20,000 fans in under 12 hours so its hard to be too critical of him in some grainy youtube clips.

I think the qb play issues last 3 seasons is more scheme than any one player. We rely too much on 4-wide sets with wide splits and like 4 go routes lol. We should try to mix up our formations more and not force the QB to read the whole field. I've been critical of Joey Halzle and I thought this was a make or break year for him, but now not so sure. Scheme needs to evolve thought and I didn't see many signs of that yesterday with the obvious caveat that it was a spring game lol.

CJH’s offense does not always require reading the entire field. In the first two seasons, it was well-documented that the QB identified the half of field to be used and then read through the progressions on that side. We do not run 4 go routes as we use a mix of crossing patterns and other traditional routes as well. WRs must get separation, the OL must protect, and the QB must identify open receivers. One of the major differences between those years and the latter years is the play of the QB, WR S, and the heavier reliance upon rushing the ball. 2024 saw the lowest yards/game and passing yards/game, and the second lowest offensive touchdowns/game and total points/game. The QB must be able to complete pre-reads, after-snap reads, and release the ball quickly. When we have OL issues, WR issues, and lack of quick decision making by the QB, the CJH offense will obviously be impacted. If you think back to the 2022 season, it is hard to believe that the same system is in place. So much is dependent upon the available talent, but I assume the coaches were ready to roll with someone else at this point.

Year​	Off TDs​	Pass/G​	Rush/G​	Yds/G​	Scoring/G​
2021​	67​	257.1​	217.8​	474.9​	39.3​
2022​	79​	326.1​	199.5​	525.5​	46.1​
2023​	51​	243.2​	204.8​	448.1​	31.8​
2024​	57​	221.2​	226.3​	447.5​	35.7​

 

[901 Orange]

One thing I've learned in many years of close study. Whatever happens in the spring game is a dead lock on what the future holds for each player.

IIRC Milton beat out Hooker in the spring. We saw how that turned out

 

[901 Orange]

CJH’s offense does not always require reading the entire field. In the first two seasons, it was well-documented that the QB identified the half of field to be used and then read through the progressions on that side. We do not run 4 go routes as we use a mix of crossing patterns and other traditional routes as well. WRs must get separation, the OL must protect, and the QB must identify open receivers. One of the major differences between those years and the latter years is the play of the QB, WR S, and the heavier reliance upon rushing the ball. 2024 saw the lowest yards/game and passing yards/game, and the second lowest offensive touchdowns/game and total points/game. The QB must be able to complete pre-reads, after-snap reads, and release the ball quickly. When we have OL issues, WR issues, and lack of quick decision making by the QB, the CJH offense will obviously be impacted. If you think back to the 2022 season, it is hard to believe that the same system is in place. So much is dependent upon the available talent, but I assume the coaches were ready to roll with someone else at this point.

Year​	Off TDs​	Pass/G​	Rush/G​	Yds/G​	Scoring/G​
2021​	67​	257.1​	217.8​	474.9​	39.3​
2022​	79​	326.1​	199.5​	525.5​	46.1​
2023​	51​	243.2​	204.8​	448.1​	31.8​
2024​	57​	221.2​	226.3​	447.5​	35.7​

Wow if u exclude 2022 the best offense was year 1 with a depleted roster

 

[Smokymtnbullet]

Not trying to be that guy but Heupel sometimes misses on QB’s.

 

[Volle]

Gmac is so athletic he could play WR, has huge upside as a dual-threat QB… saw a clip of him going up and making a one-handed catch of a ball probably 10’ over his head. I think he’ll start by mid-year if not before unless we get a portal upgrade.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

Quinten Dormady looked like a Heisman winner in the 2017 Spring game... we all know how that season went...

 

[VolForLife83]

George Macyntire is still supposed to be in HS. He was the better of the two QB yesterday.
Honestly he looked about the way he was supposed to look.

Jake Merklinger be it nerves or the sudden change in environment and expectations or going against the 1st team defense - he did not "look" like the guy we recruited.
- Hesitant
- holding the ball to long
- not throwing the checkdown like he did all through HS.
(SOUNDS FAMILIAR???? JOE MILTON, NICO, now Merklinger)

He looked like Nico during Nicos second spring game. 2024 spring game True freshman Jake Merklinger looked better than Nico. And then we went on to see Nico play a whole season of average caliber football.

Here we are Spring 2025 and the George Macyntire outperformed the RS Freshman that's been getting over a year more of personal coaching from JOEY HALZLE.

I see a few differences put in by Litrell but it's not enough..We need a QB from the portal and for Heaven's sake Heupel, gracefully tell Joey to move on

I remember how bad Hooker looked that first spring game. When Milton got hurt against Pitt, I had a sinking feeling that our season was over..

I get it.... Merk dosen't look to be qb1, but we really don't know yet. I believe we'll target a portal guy though Be nice to find a Baker Mayfield guy this year...

 

[lukeneyland]

None of us know anything at this point. Support the guys that we have now they could use it

 

[tennrich1]

Gmac is so athletic he could play WR, has huge upside as a dual-threat QB… saw a clip of him going up and making a one-handed catch of a ball probably 10’ over his head. I think he’ll start by mid-year if not before unless we get a portal upgrade.

He is definitely an outstanding athlete. And very smart as well. I know we've said it may times here about others....but Gmac DEFINITELY could use about 30 more pounds (20 lbs being muscle). But some of the most athletic successful people appear lean and thin. For Gmac's sake...I hope he has some time to mature before needing him....JMO.

 

[tennrich1]

None of us know anything at this point. Support the guys that we have now they could use it

I agree. It's amusing to see all the 'insiders info" and each outlet with the scoop. Josh is a "keep close to the vest" kinda guy.

 

[Pride85]

We truly have some extremely reactionary fans that put very little thought or logic into the things they post on this site. I am so very glad they do not have any actual credibility with anyone involved in the athletic department.