Backups in Spring Practice

[EZE]

Does anyone have any insight into how all of the QBs looked in spring practice?

 

[Franklin_Vol09]

Merk looked good and GMac looked good in limited reps. I have confidence in Merk. He gives us another option that Nico didn’t, with his legs. He might not have the touch and accuracy of Nico right now, but being a running weapon will open up bigger passing lanes IMO.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

Merklinger looked really good and MacIntyre was inconsistent...obviously a freshman getting adjusted and they've been working on his mechanics. Reports made it sound like Merk took a big step and would be ready if needed and Mac has a ways to go physically and mentally before he can contribute.

 

[EZE]

Thanks. How much separation between Nico and the other two?

 

[savannahfan]

Merk looked good and GMac looked good in limited reps. I have confidence in Merk. He gives us another option that Nico didn’t, with his legs. He might not have the touch and accuracy of Nico right now, but being a running weapon will open up bigger passing lanes IMO.

My God!! If he can't throw as good as the guy now gone, the we better start looking really hard for a serviceable QB..

 

[LittleVol]

Merk looked good and GMac looked good in limited reps. I have confidence in Merk. He gives us another option that Nico didn’t, with his legs. He might not have the touch and accuracy of Nico right now, but being a running weapon will open up bigger passing lanes IMO.

You have that backwards.

Nico is much faster straightline.
His accuracy was a problem.

Merklinger is also a good runner but not the level of Nico. How he has better accuracy

 

[Butch s]

Merk looked good and GMac looked good in limited reps. I have confidence in Merk. He gives us another option that Nico didn’t, with his legs. He might not have the touch and accuracy of Nico right now, but being a running weapon will open up bigger passing lanes IMO.

God help us if he doesn’t have the “touch and accuracy “ of nico

 

[BruiserVol]

God help us if he doesn’t have the “touch and accuracy “ of nico

Yeahhh lol. Only time he looked good was against fcs schools.

 

[Franklin_Vol09]

You have that backwards.

Nico is much faster straightline.
His accuracy was a problem.

Merklinger is also a good runner but not the level of Nico. How he has better accuracy

Merk has better wheels. His accuracy was limited because he had to change throwing mechanics. But it also has increased his arm strength. From what has been said, Merk has really improved the accuracy over the past 6-8 months.

 

[Franklin_Vol09]

My God!! If he can't throw as good as the guy now gone, the we better start looking really hard for a serviceable QB..

There is a reason that Nico was a 5*. I think his problem was that he hardly got off option 1 in 11v11

Merk had to change throwing mechanics and grip (from what I heard)

 

[Batman1948]

Merk looked good and GMac looked good in limited reps. I have confidence in Merk. He gives us another option that Nico didn’t, with his legs. He might not have the touch and accuracy of Nico right now, but being a running weapon will open up bigger passing lanes IMO.

Really, you think Nico exhibited touch and accuracy last year. We must have watched different games. I saw neither on a consistent basis

 

[VOLINVONORE]

You have that backwards.

Nico is much faster straightline.
His accuracy was a problem.

Merklinger is also a good runner but not the level of Nico. How he has better accuracy

He is a better runner than Nico, by far.

 

[DaddyChad]

Merk looked good and GMac looked good in limited reps. I have confidence in Merk. He gives us another option that Nico didn’t, with his legs. He might not have the touch and accuracy of Nico right now, but being a running weapon will open up bigger passing lanes IMO.

Really will depend on how well he sees the field as well. Touch and accuracy don’t matter if you can’t see the open receiver like Nico had issues with last year.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Merklinger looked really good and MacIntyre was inconsistent...obviously a freshman getting adjusted and they've been working on his mechanics. Reports made it sound like Merk took a big step and would be ready if needed and Mac has a ways to go physically and mentally before he can contribute.

"Reports made it sound like" Nico was locked in and ready to lead the team on a deep playoff run too, so we have to question the reliability of those reports at this point.

 

[VOLLeeann]

Does anyone have any insight into how all of the QBs looked in spring practice?

Like fluffy, wunnerful shite. It's spring ffs.

 

[SentinelVol]

On a lighter note, did anyone else see the radarious Jackson catch today!?

 

[MemphisVol77]

You have that backwards.

Nico is much faster straightline.
His accuracy was a problem.

Merklinger is also a good runner but not the level of Nico. How he has better accuracy

Faster as in more top end speed? Or faster as in better acceleration?

My only issue with Nico as a runner was other than the OH St game, he didn't seem able to escape the pocket without getting outside the tackles and having open space in the flat. You don't want your QB having to run between the guards & tackles, but Nico didn't seem elusive enough to extend broken plays. Maybe it was more of a spatial awareness or pocket-prescence issue than an acceleration issue.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

"Reports made it sound like" Nico was locked in and ready to lead the team on a deep playoff run too, so we have to question the reliability of those reports at this point.

We're not there and reports were consistent in that regard among media members who viewed practice. WE don't have to question the reliability of the reports, but you're welcome to.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

We're not there and reports were consistent in that regard among media members who viewed practice. WE don't have to question the reliability of the reports, but you're welcome to.

Reports were pretty consistent with Nico being "locked in", etc. College football is notorious for it's happy talk during the off-season, the Vols are not I immune to the phenomenon, after about 50 years of following the sport I take it with a grain of salt that which I do not see with my own eyes. As in other areas of life people are free to absorb the spoon fed narratives willy-nilly though if they choose.

 

[MemphisVol77]

Reports were pretty consistent with Nico being "locked in", etc. College football is notorious for it's happy talk during the off-season, the Vols are not I immune to the phenomenon, after about 50 years of following the sport I take it with a grain of salt that which I do not see with my own eyes. As in other areas of life people are free to absorb the spoon fed narratives willy-nilly though if they choose.

Yeah. We've been pointing out the beat writers contradictions and inconsistencies in Finger's Spring Practice threads for several years.

I've learned not to trust any player updates without a video of them running on a treadmill.

 

[jaguinn5]

They looked fine. I thought Merk looked a bit shaky at times and GM had a better overall day. That being said, have we all forgotten back when I think it was Quinten Dormady had a virtually perfect spring game and everybody thought he was the next Payton Manning and then he was awful? Let's all just wait and see what happens.

 

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

On a lighter note, did anyone else see the radarious Jackson catch today!?

No… please share with the class

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

No… please share with the class

It's in this breakdown. I'm too lazy to give you the time, though. It was a phenomenal catch.

 

[bpalmer28]

No… please share with the class

 

[VOLINVONORE]

"Reports made it sound like" Nico was locked in and ready to lead the team on a deep playoff run too, so we have to question the reliability of those reports at this point.

Not sure he could have done it. He made the decision to not go to practice which, to me, indicates he was no longer a team player. Reports I had received was Merk was tearing it up this Spring.