I feel like Nico has shown improvement

#28
#28
Nico has played really well for a RS-Fr iyam. Could he execute better and play more consistently? Absolutely he can. But to expect a first year starter to run up Heisman-like numbers is silly. He has played exactly like I would imagine a RS-Fr/first year starter would play.

Nico needs to work on his touch in the offseason. Throwing too high or too long without putting touch on the ball is his biggest issue rn. I expect that will be fixed in the offseason. Heup's O relies on deep ***** and unfortunately that aspect of the O has been limited by Nico and to a lesser degree the WRs this year.

SO IF the OL can improve as a unit, another year in the system will help Nico and the offense to become more consistent and maybe even operate faster. Then they can actually score 35-40 ppg like we have seen before in Heups system.

We are really gonna see what this coaching staff can do next year. They will have nothing but their recruits and transfers in place. Can they take the next step? It's really gonna come down to the OL and how it comes together by next fall. I think the D will continue to improve overall, despite losing some key DL in the middle. Can they get more depth in the backend of the D? That was a glaring weakness in Athens. Lbers and Secondary were exposed and I think that's why the DL didn't have a great game. That's why Banks chose to sit back and try to generate pressure with 4. I would have preferred more pressure, but they didn't ask me.
 
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#30
#30
I think everyone forgets Nico did not play a lot of football before his junior year in HS and he def did not play in a high level school. I mean he basically started playing his junior year if I remember correctly.
 
#32
#32

Peyton​


2,954 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and 244 of 380 passing.​

​

 Nico​

Stats
2024

CMPATTCMP%YDSAVGTDINTLNGRTG
16425464.62,0468.111473143.4
 
#33
#33
Before the late fumble (which was due more to the OL than anything) Nico hadn't turned the ball over in over 13 quarters. Considering how careless he was with the ball early in the season, this is a big improvement. He looked very poised vs a tough UGA defense on the road. Some drops earlier in the game definitely cost us some points. And have got to be better disciplined. We are 118th in penalties per game. It's make it really hard to win games vs elite opponents when you are giving them an extra 70-80 yards a game between the offense and the defense
 
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#34
#34
Sea Ray said:
He should not be handed the job next year. Competition is good
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I agree competition is healthy. BUT, someone is going to have to go slap the eff off this offseason to take the Qb job from him.

I don't see Merk doing that. He has some talent, but not near Nico physically imo. MacIntyre will be a true freshman and need to learn the playbook and how to compete in the SEC. Heup has already proven he prefers experience over talent (ex. Milton vs Nico last year).

There's not a Qb in the TP or planning to transfer that would consider coming here just to sit on the bench.

The job is Nico's to lose.
 
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#36
#36
Georgia game is what we should expect for next 4 yrs.

They recruit better than any other team in the country and have better coaches than UT.
How is it logical that you can expect to win when those two variables never change?

We may slip in and beat them every 10th year at our home stadium but don't expect more.

10-2 every year is a good record. That's the max with this coaching staff. Be happy.
 
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#37
#37
Berry4Heisman14 said:
I guess what worries me is the future of our OL. They say Elarbee doesn’t recruit well, it also seems like the development hasn’t been there on the OL like why is a walk on still getting playing time on the OL? The starter has bad knees. We’ve failed overall at OL. David sanders will be a true freshman so hopefully he doesn’t play next season. Im more worried about Nico running for his life next season than anything else
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In this day and age we can go get the best OL that money can buy. I feel like if you're paying a QB what we are then they'll know to protect that asset
 
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#38
#38
OldandStillaVol said:
Agree. I don't remember any of the 'experts' who write about college football having us making the playoffs preseason. I'll be happy if we finish 10-2 even if we miss the playoffs.

I don't worry about Nico next year except if he gets injured. Need someone to step forward as the number 2. Much more concerned about OL - it's time for the younger players to step up. Don't think the portal is the best place to look for OL - portal is more suited for positions like WR and DB in my opinion.
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I really like your post, my only quibble being, I kinda feel better about Nico being backed up by 2nd yr Merk and frosh GMac, than Gaston and frosh Merk. That is assuming GMac is here this Spring to start learning the O, and start putting on a few lbs of muscle. Not disrespecting Gaston, am glad he has been here.
 
#39
#39
Clad in Big Orange said:
I do agree that it’s now “playoffs or failure” in the minds of most (me too). Might be a good discussion topic on what are realistic expectations going forward. Playoffs 50% of the time, more or less?
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Yes the whole playoffs or failure mentality is the one downside of the playoffs. 10-2 potentially 11-2 with wins over Florida and Bama would be a fantastic year pre-playoffs. And Vol fans would likely enjoy a trip to a Florida bowl game. Have to wonder now how many folks will even care about a bowl game if not in the playoffs. Also, likely to see more and more players opt out of any bowl game if not in the playoffs. I admit to being old but I can remember when folks were happy when the Vols played in the Bluebonnet Bowl!
 
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#40
#40
ButchPlz said:
10-2 is a great season, if we can finish there. Especially since most people on this board I think had us between 7-5 and 9-3.

The bad part of this expanded playoffs is that we're all going to be looking at a season through the lens of making the playoff, and that knocks all the shine off of an otherwise great season.
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I'll admit that I felt this was an 8 win team. Having said that, the major frustration for me was yet another golden opportunity, admittedly unexpected, was once again wasted by UT. What a coup it would have been to ruin UGAs season and make the playoffs in that one game. Not sure you could quantify the impact on recruiting either. We always seem to stumble and face plant right at the door. We never seem to be able to burst through that door for some reason. So frustrating and disappointing.
 
#41
#41
VolonTyne said:
Yes the whole playoffs or failure mentality is the one downside of the playoffs. 10-2 potentially 11-2 with wins over Florida and Bama would be a fantastic year pre-playoffs. And Vol fans would likely enjoy a trip to a Florida bowl game. Have to wonder now how many folks will even care about a bowl game if not in the playoffs. Also, likely to see more and more players opt out of any bowl game if not in the playoffs. I admit to being old but I can remember when folks were happy when the Vols played in the Bluebonnet Bowl!
Click to expand...
Loved the blue bonnet bowl!
 
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#42
#42
VolonTyne said:
Yes the whole playoffs or failure mentality is the one downside of the playoffs. 10-2 potentially 11-2 with wins over Florida and Bama would be a fantastic year pre-playoffs. And Vol fans would likely enjoy a trip to a Florida bowl game. Have to wonder now how many folks will even care about a bowl game if not in the playoffs. Also, likely to see more and more players opt out of any bowl game if not in the playoffs. I admit to being old but I can remember when folks were happy when the Vols played in the Bluebonnet Bowl!
Click to expand...
I liked your first 3 sentences, but not your last 3. 🤷😁
 
#43
#43
The QB's need to work their asses off in the off season building chemistry. CJH should demand X hours of "voluntary" workouts moving forward. Nico has a LONG way to go with his processing and finding the right matchup. There are SO many TD's left on the field simply because he doesn't (or maybe can't) process quick enough. He may not trust his OL enough to make all 3 reads. I couldn't blame him for that. Our OL sucks and will only be worse next year as long as Ellerbe is coaching.
 
#44
#44
VolForLife83 said:

Peyton​


2,954 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and 244 of 380 passing.​

​

 Nico​

Stats
2024

CMPATTCMP%YDSAVGTDINTLNGRTG
16425464.62,0468.111473143.4
Click to expand...

Why are you comparing Peyton's second year as Tennessee's starter, with Nico's first year as Tennessee's starter? What is that supposed to prove?
 
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#46
#46
Berry4Heisman14 said:
I’ve seen some people saying Nico only played okay against Georgia. I actually think he played quite good. He’s still missing the deep balls but the improvement from the Arkansas game and now is very noticeable. He’s a redshirt freshman, you can tell the pressure doesn’t get to him. If we go 10-2, 10 wins with a redshirt freshman starting for an entire season for the first time is impressive. He’s improved dramatically since earlier this season, next season it’ll be an even bigger jump. We should be thrilled to have him.
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Yes he did show improvements. He hit them right in the hands. Can't do anything about receivers with stone hands and butterfingers (except Bru, he's great)
 
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#47
#47
I think Nico has improved . . . But it’s hard to know how much behind this line. We are not that talented in the oline . . . And against good SEC teams . . . He has been under a ton of pressure. Pressure makes great QBs look pedestrian.
 
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#48
#48
Doug Matthews said Sunday Nico is playing better as a freshman than any other freshman quarterback at UT and he was impressed with his play at Georgia despite being sacked 5 times which he blamed on the offensive line. He has been critical of this area all year, says more players should be developed to play offensive line and has relied too much on transfers instead of recruit, develop and play.
 
#49
#49
VolonTyne said:
Yes the whole playoffs or failure mentality is the one downside of the playoffs. 10-2 potentially 11-2 with wins over Florida and Bama would be a fantastic year pre-playoffs. And Vol fans would likely enjoy a trip to a Florida bowl game. Have to wonder now how many folks will even care about a bowl game if not in the playoffs. Also, likely to see more and more players opt out of any bowl game if not in the playoffs. I admit to being old but I can remember when folks were happy when the Vols played in the Bluebonnet Bowl!
Click to expand...
Bet almost no one remembers the Bluebonnet bowl
 
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