If old Joe Milton shows up again—how long should Heupel leave him in the game for?

[KTrain]

Milton is a better QB than Tee was

Yep maybe, Tee had a team around him like Stetson did last year at UGA. Tee was a solid QB had a slow start to the 98 season but just got better and better had a 23 of 23 game I believe vs USCe was a great game managing QB with NFL talent everywhere on the team and will always be high on the QB list because the team won a Natty. Milton could end up better that's still to be determined but I believe Miltons completion% is higher so far and I know with no interceptions that's a no brainer. So far Milton has made good decisions.

 

[jmcarr33]

so lets just say those drops where catches.. you think the momentum stays the same or gets better?

I would have to say better only because the most Important thing I’ve seen so far is that JM needs to get into a rhythm. Heupel did a good job the first game to get him back into a rhythm when he got out of sync. I didn’t see any rhythm whatsoever in game 2. Outside of that, your point basically applies to any QB or team. It’s always better for momentum to catch passes than to drop them.

 

[Manchester Vol]

Barring an injury, Milton will be the QB in every game through the bowl game. Nico will get time in games that are blown away into the late 3rd or 4th quarter... but we will hear this throughout the season, play Nico.

This is the plan. Our coach will have Milton play every game this year unless he is injured because this year is not the championship year. Next year is probably not the championship year and the following year Nico will be ready. Our additions will have experience we will take the Natty and we will all have orange T-shirts that say so.

 

[volsforever27]

The only way Nico plays is injury or we're up big. Theres plenty of blame to go around, but Joe missed plenty of throws either high or behind the wr. Just like he has before, and that's the concern.

If he hits those throws we win big Saturday . If not, we'll see the same game plan ... lots of screens and running game. Probably a close score like 20-17.

Edit: Also Nico may be coming off a wrist injury.

 

[LordVOLdemort]

Heupel also played Milton over Hooker in 2021, and barring Milton getting injured, would have kept playing him, in spite of Hooker clearly being the better QB.

Heupel is not infallible in his judgement as a coach.

But did he put Joe back in once he got healthy? Point is moot

 

[Chippo]

You mean the same Joe that has won us 4 straight games with zero turnovers? That Joe? And please give ANY evidence that Joe is akin to JG.

Milton has some issues but thank goodness
He is no JG.

 

[LittleVol]

How many drops did he have? You give him back 4 of the 7-8 drops and he’s 25/33 and over 300 yards.

And I don’t want to hear the 90mph ball crap. These receivers practice on Jugs that throw the ball just as hard or harder than Joe ever could. Yes, he had some inaccurate balls but to compare him to JG is disrespectful.

Putting in a true freshman will not solve the problem. So over these stupid a* threads and fans.

Joe apologized to the team because of his play.
Doesn't really jive with you're trying to say.

I say we trust Joe's judgment on this, and hope he breaks out of his limitations.

 

[FLVOL_79]

Hope he balls out, but honestly—it seemed Guarantano-esque. We have too much momentum as a program to allow poor QB play to regress us back to the DoojonesPru era.

Bro..thats low..even for internet standards.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Meh.

When I grew up, the phrase went, "If it hits the receiver in the hands, it's on him to catch it."

When we talk about precise ball placement (leading the receiver...back shoulder pass...tight window), we're talking about the next level of the art. It is the equivalent of a billiard player putting just the right amount of energy into his shot that he not only puts the ball in the pocket, but also lines up the NEXT shot.

That's ball placement. It's about allowing the receiver to do more with the ball AFTER the catch. Keep running in stride, or shield the ball from the defender with his body, or whatever. It's always about what comes NEXT.

But catching the ball, well, that's on the receiver. If it hits him in his hands, and many balls did last Saturday, first he's gotta catch it.



Anywhere in the large circle should be a catch. The small circle is precision to allow the receiver to catch in stride and get more YAC.

The vast majority of Joe's throws on Saturday were inside the big circle. Some were caught, some were dropped. That's on the receivers.

Several of Joe's throws were NOT at precisely the right spot. A couple were a bit high, several were a little behind the perfect spot. But they were almost all inside the big circle.

As others have said in this thread already, a lot of our offensive woes last weekend aren't actually on Joe. The receivers had a bad day more than most.

Go Vols!

 

[Behr]

My husband and I had this very conversation Sunday.

Did you come up with the reason why he keeps playing Joe? If you all think keeping Joe in the game and not putting, or someone else in, is a mistake, what is the reason and what would y'all do?

 

[Behr]

Joe apologized to the team because of his play.
Doesn't really jive with you're trying to say.

I say we trust Joe's judgment on this, and hope he breaks out of his limitations.

That's what leaders do. If any of the receivers had any integrity they apologized for their play as well.

 

[bigdaddy]

That's what leaders do. If any of the receivers had any integrity they apologized for their play as well.

Bingo

 

[whodeycin85]

Do you really believe that? You actually watched the game and thought Joe played well? Wow. That’s amazing

Do you know what a catch radius is and why it's important???? Those throws while off target were catchable and with in the Wr catch radius...and that is using a 2 handed radius not a 1 handed like the NFL......those drops are on tje receivers...now if you wanna complain about lack of downfield thrown...direct your ire to the play calling. Not the QB...

 

[Behr]

Lots of “cope” going on with Milton.

It wasn’t the receivers, it’s Milton. He kills the rhythm of the offense, if he can get it started in the first place. Last night, there never was a rhythm.

Can he get it together? Sure. Will he? I wouldn’t bet on it.

That gut level feeling is there, we all know what it is, though some will lie to themselves and everyone else. But they know ….

I'm not saying you're wrong about the "feeling", I agree 100% that everyone probably has an uncomfortable feeling.

Fact is we're 2-0. And the reason we have that feeling is on the receivers too, not just Joe.

We are also missing a crucial piece on our on-line that no doubt contributed to Joe's inability to "get in rythem".

Also have a new OC.

Anyway, I'm sure I'm just sounding like I'm making excuses to most of you, but to me there seems to be an awful lot of whining for there not to even be a loss.

Jmo.

 

[Sara Clark]

Did you come up with the reason why he keeps playing Joe? If you all think keeping Joe in the game and not putting, or someone else in, is a mistake, what is the reason and what would y'all do?

Assuming the QB roster is "healthy," Milton would start the game against Florida. If he shows that he is partly the cause of being in a bind and a loss is looming, another QB would go in. If no improvement, the 3rd stringer would go in. My goal would be to find out who turns on when the lights are on.

The O line did him no favors whatsoever. But sometimes, you have a more cohesive unit with a certain QB. Chemistry is as important as skill and ability. Which QB brings the chemistry? Well, who knows.

Both my husband and I go back to J. Dobbs. He was notorious for having a bad practice, yet coming alive game time. You gotta find out who might be that person. Milton seems to be the opposite, he comes on during practice, struggles often during games.

The other thing that can't be ignored, Milton is a Heupel recruit. Would Hooker have saw the game time that he had if not for a Milton injury? If being intellectually honest, I think that most people would say no, at least not at that point in the season....

Coach is human, just because he's the coach, it doesn't make him immune from making bad decisions based on biases. He desperately wants to see "his" recruit succeed, heck, we all do.

I've not totally given my opinion on Milton, because it pulls in harsh criticism from both sides of the argument. I don't think the "old" Joe ever left the building as many of our friends eluded to. I think what you see is what you get. Of course, on occasion he's going to have a good game, he's going to throw a pass right on the money. I just think that's going to be the exception not the rule. When you have a person who can throw a 90 yard pass with what appears to be very little effort, we have a tendency to hold on too long on that ability. Strength is really nothing without the ability to have accuracy. I would take accuracy every day of the week over a 90 yard pass. JMO, Behr. I only put my opinion out there because you flat out asked and I like you.
Go Vols!

 

[Behr]

Assuming the QB roster is "healthy," Milton would start the game against Florida.

I asked you because I knew I'd get an honest answer with no BS. Thanks, I appreciate the part that I deleted and didn't disagree with much, but the part I left is the most important part.

Without going into it, I believe until we lose that's what's going to happen whether any of us agree or disagree it's what should happen.

 

[Sara Clark]

I asked you because I knew I'd get an honest answer with no BS. Thanks, I appreciate the part that I deleted and didn't disagree with much, but the part I left is the most important part.

Without going into it, I believe until we lose that's what's going to happen whether any of us agree or disagree it's what should happen.

Hope you have a good day, Behr!!

 

[Behr]

Hope you have a good day, Behr!!

You too Sareey. Lulz.

 

[BigALWiLson]

Do you really believe that? You actually watched the game and thought Joe played well? Wow. That’s amazing

Wow do you really believe it's a one man game ? That truly is amazing considering it's an 11 man game that all parts have to work together. This BS about it only being Milton is old, tired and frankly worn the fk out. Fact is not one single receiver he has work with so far this can Scratch Tillman or Hyatts back side in play making ability. I don't think some of you comprehend just how good Hyatt was. Especially considering all of the Squirrel threads in the off season talking like he was gonna break Hyatt's record this year. Getting Cooper back should help. However we do not have the receivers currently anywhere close to that level. Kinks will be worked out until we get into the 5th game or so.

 

[Flipdaddy]

Saban didn’t pull milroe and was regretting it Sunday morning.

 

[hUTch2002]

Joe wasn’t good then and he isn’t good now. He cost us that Pitt game because he was terrible. If all we had was Milton the last two years we would be in really bad shape

I know you don’t like Milton but saying he cost us the 2021 Pitt game is factually incorrect. He had 1 turnover and that was on the play that knocked him out of the game. Prior to that sack fumble he led us to scores on 3 of 4 drives. Pitt took a 17-13 lead after his fumble. From there, Pitt scored 24 more points, Hooker turned it over twice, our short yardage offense was atrocious and we lost by 7. In no way does that translate to Milton costing us the Pitt game.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Lots of “cope” going on with Milton.

It wasn’t the receivers, it’s Milton. He kills the rhythm of the offense, if he can get it started in the first place. Last night, there never was a rhythm.

Can he get it together? Sure. Will he? I wouldn’t bet on it.

That gut level feeling is there, we all know what it is, though some will lie to themselves and everyone else. But they know ….

So it’s Joes fault the WRs dropped passes? Just stop with the BS. Did Joe make some bad throws? Sure. But even AP, Hubbs and Cain said the WRs have to play better. Fred White and Jonathan Crompton both said if the ball hits you in the hands a WR should catch it. Bottom line is the same passes that have been dropped this year by likely we’re caugh last year.

Factor in true drops as catches and Milton’s stats are great. You and others who give zero blame to WRs are just wrong.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Do you really believe that? You actually watched the game and thought Joe played well? Wow. That’s amazing

How did he play bad?

 

[hUTch2002]

Disagree.

Look at Texas under Quinn Ewers. If a kid has the skills, let him cook. We know what Milton’s ceiling is. Nico needs the reps. Sends a signal to recruits too that the future Qb is in place.

That would come with major flops this year like Ewers had last year. If we started Nico Saturday and lost by 3 scores do you really think people would be patient or would they say why didn’t we play Milton? Of course it would be the latter and you know that’s true.

 

[Vol$_Deep_11_9]

Hope he balls out, but honestly—it seemed Guarantano-esque. We have too much momentum as a program to allow poor QB play to regress us back to the DoojonesPru era.

This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve read on here in a long time