Football Vols will go as far as Nico takes them-west

[Remy]

I think Hooker benefited from and Nico suffered our receiver play. Hooker had the luxury of throwing the 50/50 ball up and had hungry receivers go get it battling the whole time. I'm not sure Hooker could have overthrown our receiver core his last year on The Hill. It went up early they'd go get it. Nico's receivers last year were far from that sort of receiver core. Perhaps they were young but hopefully they'll come out hungry and if Nico puts it deep early they go get it no matter what.

 

[Teeman]

If the O line can keep him from getting killed then he'll have more time to look through his reads and make the right play which means better passing and more long throws too.

This gives our HC many more options from a more open playbook.

It really all comes right back to a MUST have a really great protecting O Line!!!

We need to bribe ummm, err, I mean NIL some of the best NOW and get then on the hill getting ready.

VFL...GBO!!!

You had me until NIL. That narrative is getting old. According to 24/7, of the top 150 OL available in the portal, only 1 is uncommitted. Three-star IOL Jack Hasz from UNLV. Unless a team has a coaching change, the portal doesn't open again until April 16. Not to mention UT has a full roster. UT added Moe and Pendleton, and could add more after Spring practice, but it's not happening "NOW".

The same can be said for adding a WR. Of the top 100 WRs in the portal, only 1 is uncommitted. Johntay Cook II from Washington. CJH could add more players after Spring practice, and I expect a few will leave Knoxville, but it's not happening for another 2 months.

From the look of things, I would say the staff is mostly satisfied with the roster they have. Either way, I'll trust them to make those decisions.

 

[UT Hill Man]

He only had 5 Interceptions and 4 turnovers in 13 games. That's pretty solid for a RS FR in his first season as a starter. Especially for a QB who's pass blocking was terrible and allowed 30+ sacks. He obviously needs to start hitting his deep passes better. But the Oline needs to improve pass blocking and the WR's need to start catching the ball instead of all the drops they had. Just a little improvement in those 3 categories will go a long way.

The INT level is fine. I saw where he had something like 9 fumbles, which would be close to leading the FBS in that category.

QB fumbles are worse because they often occur behind the line of scrimage - strip sacks, etc...

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Yes. I hope for our receiver corps to be hungry, fiercely competitive, to have that dawg in them.

 

[KTrain]

He literally threw 5 interceptions all year. If anything he needs to take more chances down field even if it means he throws a few more picks.

This^ & he needs to throw the ball out of bounds to avoid a sack, especially if said sack takes us out of FG range. I did like his toughness on some desperation run's vs OSU about the only positive in that game. I really didn't see him be aggressive like that throughout the season, was it growth or just because it was the last game and threw injury caution to the wind.

 

[MemphisVol77]

was it growth or just because it was the last game and threw injury caution to the wind.

Both

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

We will find out this Fall and if he can't get the job done, we finally have some talent behind him. I am not that worried about it this year.

I think he has less talent around him this year than last year and likely has a worse OL. He is going to have to be much better, and he will have to elevate the guys around him.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

I think Hooker benefited from and Nico suffered our receiver play. Hooker had the luxury of throwing the 50/50 ball up and had hungry receivers go get it battling the whole time. I'm not sure Hooker could have overthrown our receiver core his last year on The Hill. It went up early they'd go get it. Nico's receivers last year were far from that sort of receiver core. Perhaps they were young but hopefully they'll come out hungry and if Nico puts it deep early they go get it no matter what.

A bunch of guys who have never done anything in their careers without Hooker as their QB thrived with Hooker. Conversely, a bunch of guys who have been much better in years past with different quarterbacks had really struggled with Nico. Those inconvenient facts are impossible to overcome.

 

[sami]

No one should be satisfied, until the Vols are serious about competing for championships again. Getting embarrassed and chased off the field in the playoffs doesn't count. Heupel and Nico better use the off-season to go find some mental toughness or things will get ugly next season.

You certainly put in a lot of day to day effort here to live up to that screen name.