If making a bowl is big for next year

#26
#26
chambers1517 said:
That's true but on the other side of things there is no way I would come to UT if they had a starter in front of me because your not going to see the field.
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As I joked in another thread, shouldn't we start Merklinger, the newly signed freshman, next year against Chattanooga "to get him game experience?"

Folks wanted true freshman Nico to get experience, why not Merk? Shouldn't he get in games ASAP? Aren't you concerned about winning bowls and championships in 2026? The sooner he gets up to speed in the SEC, the better!

When does it end with you guys?
 
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#27
#27
Golfprovol said:
2 things to think about and I am not trying to be a prick. First, playing well in the bowl game last year did exactly what for Milton this year? So playing well in this years bowl game would probably have zero bearing on Nico next year. And second, 3 of our 4 loses are to top 10 teams. The UF loss was terrible but the other three are not. Most of the ranked team would stand a really good chance of losing all three of those games.
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It would have been nice if our losses to the top 10 teams were close. Let’s face it we didn’t beat a good team all year, unless you think Ky or A&M were good.lets home next year is better
 
#28
#28
DuckInAPen said:
If Iamaleava can't lead us to six wins next year because he didn't start the Citrus Bowl, the problem won't be that he didn't start the Citrus Bowl.
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Agree...expectation moving forward isn't a bowl game...new baseline pecking order for successful season is to be ranked in top 12 teams for playoffs.

I think non-playoff Bowl games will be more and more inconsequential exhibition games where more opt out and more RS Frosh get experience. Depends what JH goals are for the bowl...you'd think that if we play a solid game on offense and defense then the main thing which would impact us winning would be turnovers. Milton doesn't turn the ball over much, and is probably more of a risk w/ Nico. On other hand, if Nico plays and has an awesome game, that's pretty good PR for additional portal guys we may be chasing for 2024.
 
#29
#29
Dansky said:
It would have been nice if our losses to the top 10 teams were close. Let’s face it we didn’t beat a good team all year, unless you think Ky or A&M were good.lets home next year is better
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Definitely the way we lost to top 10 teams was horrible. That being said, we're in the thick of alot of teams that are "meh"...but we did manage to win those TaM, SC, KY games, where in preseason, I thought we'd probably lose one or two of those, where other teams did not get those wins. I thought 8 wins was a stretch and certainly the probable ceiling this year.
 
#30
#30
chambers1517 said:
Everyone always talks about making a bowl being important for the extra practices for next year but if we play Milton instead of Nico that seems counter productive.
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The early enrollee player get to practice with the team and some of the younger guys get more “ live game” action. I think that’s the biggest upside.
 
#32
#32
chambers1517 said:
How does playing Milton figure in to that?
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how does not playing him figure into that?

Whether or not Nico is good enough for us to win 6 games next year is not going to be changed positively by whether or not he starts against Iowa. A game that won't count for those 6. However, he could get injured against them which very well could. If the guy is who we think he is holding a healthy Milton out of the game does not change that in any positive way.

If I'm the coach I'm not giving my QB of the future his first start against that defense.
 
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#33
#33
Nico has been in the system for 12 months now. He will get every opportunity to lead this team through the Spring, Summer and Fall drills. His time is around the corner, and he'll get all the reps he can handle. Same as Merck.
 
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#35
#35
For the life of me I can't understand all this drama over playing a QB who will be playing his last game as a Vol if he chooses to.

For all the people bellyaching about how college football is changing, and yet some of the same people are questioning Milton playing when in the past that would have never even been a question.
 
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#38
#38
Vols1891 said:
I would hope winning 6 games and making a bowl would not be an issue next year, and I don’t think it will be. Regardless, not really sure how Milton figures into that, as he won’t be here next year. Are you saying that you think Nico should get the majority of the playing time in our bowl game this year in order to better prepare him for next season? I personally think Nico will get a decent amount of playing time in the bowl, but I fully expect Milton to start. I highly doubt Heupel would pull Milton as the starter in his final game with UT when he’s playing close to where he grew up, and his family and friends are in attendance to see him play for the Vols one last time. My guess is we will see Milton taking about 2/3 of the snaps and Nico the other 1/3.
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The standard moving forward is finish in the top 12 and make the playoffs! No more excuses now. We have to be and remain a top 12 program.
 
#40
#40
movinonup said:
Using same logic - should any senior not coming back next year play. Screw those kids that have stuck it out and had a good year. They don't need no stinkin reward of playing in bowl game - we have used them up so let them just go away and make way for the new crop. Geez
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My thoughts as well.

I get wanting to get a head start on next year but actually winning the game and letting the seniors potentially go out with a bang should still count for something IMO.

This whole Iamaleava vs Milton thing has been talked to death on here. The horse has been beaten into powder at this point.

I've gotten as frustrated as anyone with Milton this season but complaining about Nico not getting starts or reps is pointless with one game to go in the season.
 
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#41
#41
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
As I joked in another thread, shouldn't we start Merklinger, the newly signed freshman, next year against Chattanooga "to get him game experience?"

Folks wanted true freshman Nico to get experience, why not Merk? Shouldn't he get in games ASAP? Aren't you concerned about winning bowls and championships in 2026? The sooner he gets up to speed in the SEC, the better!

When does it end with you guys?
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You don't have to worry about that. The starter plays even if the starter is Milton and the backup is Hooker.
 
#42
#42
chambers1517 said:
That's true but on the other side of things there is no way I would come to UT if they had a starter in front of me because your not going to see the field.
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Well that’s a problem with every team. But that probably depends on the position and the realistic expectations of the recruit.

Nico knew Joe was in front of him.
 
#43
#43
chambers1517 said:
That's true but on the other side of things there is no way I would come to UT if they had a starter in front of me because your not going to see the field.
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And people wonder why so many of the younger kids are so entitled. Want to just be handed a starting role even though you've never truly studied the playbook, haven't worked out with the team, haven't been a part of scouting, etc.
 
#45
#45
This same tired old question.
So I'll just continue to ask what I asked in other threads.
How often does the season starting QB that doesn't opt out or injured get benched in a non playoff bowl so that the next year QB get reps.
Guess we'll bench all the seniors that don't opt out so we can play the lower classman...you know so they'll be ready for next season...
Ridiculous
 
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#47
#47
Vols1891 said:
I would hope winning 6 games and making a bowl would not be an issue next year, and I don’t think it will be. Regardless, not really sure how Milton figures into that, as he won’t be here next year. Are you saying that you think Nico should get the majority of the playing time in our bowl game this year in order to better prepare him for next season? I personally think Nico will get a decent amount of playing time in the bowl, but I fully expect Milton to start. I highly doubt Heupel would pull Milton as the starter in his final game with UT when he’s playing close to where he grew up, and his family and friends are in attendance to see him play for the Vols one last time. My guess is we will see Milton taking about 2/3 of the snaps and Nico the other 1/3.
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I am afraid we won't see Nico at all, as I think it will be a close game. I am afraid we will have trouble scoring.
 
#48
#48
Golfprovol said:
2 things to think about and I am not trying to be a prick. First, playing well in the bowl game last year did exactly what for Milton this year? So playing well in this years bowl game would probably have zero bearing on Nico next year. And second, 3 of our 4 loses are to top 10 teams. The UF loss was terrible but the other three are not. Most of the ranked team would stand a really good chance of losing all three of those games.
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It would be beneficial because Nico hasn't gotten any meaningful snaps with the 1s and next year's schedule is brutal. Nico is a freshman who hasn't gotten any chances really. He needs to get snaps
 
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#49
#49
Longsufferingvol said:
It would be beneficial because Nico hasn't gotten any meaningful snaps with the 1s and next year's schedule is brutal. Nico is a freshman who hasn't gotten any chances really. He needs to get snaps
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Don’t worry. The same one’s saying Joe has to play now will be the same one’s saying we can’t judge Nico next Fall because he lacks experience. It’s all about keeping the target moving as long as possible.
 
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