All ive heard all year is that Nico would of made us go 10-2

[Clad in Big Orange]

If Nico was "as good as advertised" he would have taken the job from average Joe. I think people are expecting too much and next year he could be wildly up and down. That doesn't project well for 9+ wins against that schedule.

 

[birdie74]

f Nico is even 1/2 as good as we all seem to think he can and should be, with the o-linemen that are coming back, I’m confident that 9-3 should be our floor, especially with the schedule we have for next year.

….. remind me again why we “all” think Nico is going to be all that. We really have no clue at this point.

 

[Berry4Heisman14]

You really think our ability to backfill the DB purge would not become problematic if you change those two guys out? A lot of HS and portal success is based on relationships and bet CJH has expressed confidence in WM in lots of living rooms and phone calls. Bet he is calculating impact on signing needed DBs and has more facts than the rest of us on their mindset. Your uninformed lack of faith is NOT concerning at all.

Banks and Martinez are the common denominators. They’ve both been awful their time here.

 

[Rocky Top T]

I have no faith in Tim banks or Martinez. 8-4 losses to Florida Bama Georgia and Oklahoma

Agree, I've never had no faith in Banks

 

[Berry4Heisman14]

Agree, I've never had no faith in Banks

I think Martinez may be a even bigger issue than banks although banks has been anything but impressive

 

[orangemadam]

Nico lovers - Don't expect him to get more than 2-3 series at best.

Low scoring game, Milton stays in as long as he wants.

 

[Vol423]

If Nico fails to live up to the hype many fans will
be on suicide watch.

He doesn’t need to be great next year to represent a huge improvement over Milton, and I think the rest of our team will be better in 2024.

 

[cgrish]

If Nico doesn't throw for 450/4/0 in the Citrus Bowl, then we gotta open the 24 season with Merklinger at QB1. Why keep your best QB on the bench?

Is Nico starting the Citrus Bowl game?

 

[lastlapuncle]

If most of the "negas" are worried about how badly the Vols play on the road,I guess they didn't watch us beat down LSU at red stick ,LA. in 22.Just saying.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Jake Merklinger needs to play or we’ll lose him to the portal.

Too soon or do we need to let Nico play first?

Prove your statement about Merklinger

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

Castles and Warren weren't very good...just saying

A TE is only as good as his QB. Both were good blockers.

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

Prove your statement about Merklinger

It was obvious sarcasm

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

If Nico doesn't throw for 450/4/0 in the Citrus Bowl, then we gotta open the 24 season with Merklinger at QB1. Why keep your best QB on the bench?

This is beyond dumb

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

It was obvious sarcasm

You sure?

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

You sure?

Yes.

 

[Majors]

Prove your statement about Merklinger

 

[FollowTheLeader]

Yep that’s exactly what I’m thinking as well. I can’t believe Heupel is gonna bring back Willie and Banks next season. We better hope the offense gets going is better than than this previous year because the defense will be worse. And with that schedule 7-5 wouldn’t shock me either.

Heupel is bringing back the defensive staff because there has been a drastic improvement on defense. This is not based on fan bias or armchair coaching or triggering of emotions......it's based on facts.

I don't understand why some of y’all want to create a narrative that defense is and was terrible the last three years.

Seems like as fans of this program, you'd want people to see UT football in a positive light. We have no idea who's watching these boards and if I'm a parent of a recruit and I see all the Banks and Martinez bashing, I'm not encouraging my kid to come here.

Some of y'all are worse than the negative recruiting we get from Georgia or Alabama.

Do better! Stop spilling your personal bias and childhood trauma all over this board.

 

[volsack]

Now most (not all) those same people seemed convinced we’re going 8-4 or worse next year because of everything we’ve lost??? I ask Where?

From top to bottom we lost:
Joe Milton
Jaylen wright and Probably Jabari Small
A Okay WR2 (Keyton)
2 serviceable TEs (Warren, Castles)
4 Rotational O-linemen (Lane, Lampley, Nichols, and Crawford)
1 Developmental O-Linemen (Clippers)
1 rotational D-Lineman (Garland)
Tyler Baron and Roman Harrison
Aaron Beasley
9 members from a Below average secondary Group ( Hadden, Turnage, Slaughter, McCollogh, Burrell, Walker, McDonald, Rucker, and Luttrell)
Dee Williams

This is assuming guys like Bru, Davis, Spraggins, GJL and Simmons all Return(Willing to bet 4/5 if not all do)

Don’t get me Wrong we need to get some depth for the Oline and Secondary but besides Wright, Small, Baron, Beasley and Experience what Talent are we losing that is worrisome?

As For Wright, small, Baron and Beasley. Yes it sucks losing them but if we had to Rate our 3 Deepest Position groups Edge, LB, and RB would all be Top 3 imo.

Just my opinion. Let me know if I’m missing someone but I just don’t see where all the doom and gloom is coming from for some of y’all

I'll bet anyone on here a bbq dinner of their choice that the team wins less than 9 games next year

 

[volsack]

Heupel is bringing back the defensive staff because there has been a drastic improvement on defense. This is not based on fan bias or armchair coaching or triggering of emotions......it's based on facts.

I don't understand why some of y’all want to create a narrative that defense is and was terrible the last three years.

Seems like as fans of this program, you'd want people to see UT football in a positive light. We have no idea who's watching these boards and if I'm a parent of a recruit and I see all the Banks and Martinez bashing, I'm not encouraging my kid to come here.

Some of y'all are worse than the negative recruiting we get from Georgia or Alabama.

Do better! Stop spilling your personal bias and childhood trauma all over this board.

Jfc this is an incredibly bad take. There is nothing being said on these boards that isn't being said already on the recruiting trail so, don't act like anyone of any importance gives a damn about what is posted here. In the age of social media, this place is the equivalent of a newspaper; obsolete the moment you hit "post." So stop being an old and rage post like everyone else on here, not turn this into a propoganda site

 

[jasonvol18]

If Nico was "as good as advertised" he would have taken the job from average Joe. I think people are expecting too much and next year he could be wildly up and down. That doesn't project well for 9+ wins against that schedule.

Simply not true. Hooker couldn't even beat out Milton, it took an injury for that to happen
. For some reason, Heupel has a hard on for Milton. We have no clue if Nico is or isn't better, he never got the chance to show out. Heupel was NEVER going to bench or replace Milton, especially after being proven wrong the first time he picked him as the starter. So no, your theory is as incorrect as I've seen on this board!

 

[jasonvol18]

Now most (not all) those same people seemed convinced we’re going 8-4 or worse next year because of everything we’ve lost??? I ask Where?

From top to bottom we lost:
Joe Milton
Jaylen wright and Probably Jabari Small
A Okay WR2 (Keyton)
2 serviceable TEs (Warren, Castles)
4 Rotational O-linemen (Lane, Lampley, Nichols, and Crawford)
1 Developmental O-Linemen (Clippers)
1 rotational D-Lineman (Garland)
Tyler Baron and Roman Harrison
Aaron Beasley
9 members from a Below average secondary Group ( Hadden, Turnage, Slaughter, McCollogh, Burrell, Walker, McDonald, Rucker, and Luttrell)
Dee Williams

This is assuming guys like Bru, Davis, Spraggins, GJL and Simmons all Return(Willing to bet 4/5 if not all do)

Don’t get me Wrong we need to get some depth for the Oline and Secondary but besides Wright, Small, Baron, Beasley and Experience what Talent are we losing that is worrisome?

As For Wright, small, Baron and Beasley. Yes it sucks losing them but if we had to Rate our 3 Deepest Position groups Edge, LB, and RB would all be Top 3 imo.

Just my opinion. Let me know if I’m missing someone but I just don’t see where all the doom and gloom is coming from for some of y’all

Nobody has a clue what we will have on the roster by start of next season. Nor do we know what Nico can actually do, he was never going to start over Milton. Also, we don't know what other guys may come back and transfer in. 8-4 is very reachable next season and should be better. GA will probably be a loss and possibly Ala, but it is at home. Outside of that, the rest are definitely winnable. Not saying we win the others, but none are for sure losses. We should be 4-0 in Non conf.. Should beat Vandy, KY, Arky, Miss St. . I'd put Okla and Fla as toss up's. I'd say a better shot at losing to OU, but they are losing Gabriel and numerous others. I put Fla as a toss up simply because of our luck against them, but there's no excuse to lose to them at home. We don't play Mizzou nor S. Carol.. 9-3 is definitely doable. With better QB and Secondary play it could reach DOuble Digits. Again, not saying we will win that many, but some breaks and upgraded play at a few positions, then who knows.

But I definitely agree with you, I don't get the gloom and doom either. I'd put Sampson as every bit the RB Wright is with better pass catching. Small was gonna be passed by Sampson anyway and really already had. None of the secondary losses concern me, we were trash with those guys. If we can land the Tulane WR and get Bru to return, along with what we have and coming in at WR, we should be better. We need to add a few Oline bodies. A few in the Secondary and upgrade over Martinez, then we should be better there too. I fully expect Nico to be an upgrade over Milton and we go back to seeing our offense run like it did under Hooker.

Hate to see Baron leave, but we should be fine on the DLine. Obviously LB play needs to improve to go along with improved QB, WR and Secondary play. But definitely no reason to think we will be worse than 8-4 next year.

 

[jasonvol18]

Yep that’s exactly what I’m thinking as well. I can’t believe Heupel is gonna bring back Willie and Banks next season. We better hope the offense gets going is better than than this previous year because the defense will be worse. And with that schedule 7-5 wouldn’t shock me either.

Willie Martinez will NOT be back next season. His contract will expire after the early signing period and the bowl game. He won't be at TN next season. Our schedule isn't bad at all. Where do you see 5 losses? Ga, Ala and maybe OU. Who after those 3?? We will be 4-0 in OOC games. Should beat Vandy, KY, Fla, Arky and Miss St. That's 9-3 and not sure we lose to OU with what they are losing. 8-4 would be the absolute floor next year with 10-2 or 11-1 being the ceiling. But realistically I see 9-3 as long as our Offense gets going under Nico and upgrades in the Secondary and upgrading Martinez.

 

[jasonvol18]

Nico lovers - Don't expect him to get more than 2-3 series at best.

Low scoring game, Milton stays in as long as he wants.

Wouldn't count on that. Would expect Nico to get more reps in this game than he has combined the entire year. There's no guarantee Milton even plays. I don't think he sits it out, but you never know. Nico will play early and often. Nico is going to get lots of reps in practice with the ones in bowl practice to Jumpstart his development for next season. Nico gets 6+ series!.

Milton knows this game doesn't help or hurt his NFL stock. It will be the Combines, Interviews and Senior Bowl that will determine if or when he gets drafted. Still doubt he goes before the 6th round, but obviously the combine will dictate that.

 

[DougVol]

f Nico is even 1/2 as good as we all seem to think he can and should be, with the o-linemen that are coming back, I’m confident that 9-3 should be our floor, especially with the schedule we have for next year.

If Nico was that good, he would have started. Coaches don’t let super talent hang out on the bench.

 

[Checker_the_Shire]

If Nico was that good, he would have started. Coaches don’t let super talent hang out on the bench.

We went 8-4 this year with the same o-line behind a decent QB. Take away the screwup that was Florida, and we’re 9-3. I don’t think Nico would have done much better, so your point is mute.