Is Nico the best first year starter in Tennessee history?

#51
#51
LivinginthePast said:
Speaking statistically and wins? 2616 yards 19 TDs , 5 Ints. 10 wins with wins over Florida and Alabama hated rivals. Play off birth. Curious to see what first year starters did that through a whole season.

Recent memory Peyton started games in 1994 and Casey Clausen in 2000. But nullifies the argument for first year starter. If you compare their sophomore years you have this. Nico can potentially do better than this next year.

Nico Iamaleava Fresh, 2616 yards , 19 TDs, 5 Ints, Played for a chance at a national championship. Lost to Ohio state.

Peyton Manning Sophmore- 2954 yards, 22 TDS, 4 Ints, 11-1 did not play for a chance at a national championship. Florida or Nebraska were gonna win it. Had a chance but Florida never lost again after we got blown out early in season.

Casey Clausen Sophmore- 2969 yards , 22 TDS , 9 Ints, had a chance to play for a national championship but couldn’t beat LSU in SEC championship.

Things are always different through out the years. Heath Shulers last year he passed for 2354, 25 TDs and 8 Ints. I always hear about how he should have own Heisman.

Anyways point is it was Nico’s first year. Yes he overthrew some folks. Other than Thornton nobody got open either in a regular basis. Has their ever been a first year starter in our history this good ?
Click to expand...
Clausen to me in my lifetime had the greatest freshman year. He went undefeated once he came off injury. Nico is a RS-FR who’s had 1.5 years to adjust before taking over. Clausen enrolled early and would have been day 1, if not for his elbow tendinitis.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Alto1
#52
#52
Tee was an above average quarterback with, at best, a mid-50% completion percentage. He (and Tennessee) had a magical season. He went downhill his senior year. His touchdowns dropped dramatically and his interceptions almost doubled. The playcalling was tight because it had to be, much like Nico. Is the difference that the playcalling was tight because of Tee’s ability versus Nico’s options? Tee was an experienced senior and should’ve had total command of the offense.

I don’t know why we can’t constructively criticize Nico without being excited for the future. The fact that we are even talking about him in the same breath as some of the Tennessee greats should tell you that he had a good year. Hopefully he’s like Peyton and gets better every year (Without the Florida thing). He should improve with coaching and working on his mechanics.

Hopefully, we surround him with protection and somebody to throw to. I think that’s as much of an issue as anything. People don’t trust this coaching staff to take the next step.
 
#53
#53
C-south said:
If you’re going to call him a freshman at least be honest and add the redshirt. He was an early enrollee and had the luxury of sitting for a year and a half to learn all he needed to know as far as the offense goes. He might get better but at this point he’s been vastly overhyped.
Click to expand...
Curious to know if Nico has as many over throws on receivers as Milton had?
 
  • Like
Reactions: lexkyvol
#60
#60
LivinginthePast said:
How????

Erik Ainge was not good until 2006 and 2007. 2004 he battled Brent. 2005 he had many issues.

He had 22 tds and 16 Ints in his F and S year with a total of 2189 yards.
Click to expand...
He did that on oxys and quaaludes whereas Nico is straight edge without excuses

ainge was my favorite qb growing up BTW just a joke 😃 his story is inspiring !!!
 
#61
#61
Yes.

I would say Nico is the best freshman quarterback in Vols history.



Disclaimer: *My memory is just so-so*
 
Last edited:
#67
#67
chad954ut said:
Ainge beat Florida, Bama and won at #3 Georgia as a True Freshman
Click to expand...
I wasn't thinking of Ainge.

He's like Peyton...wasn't the starting QB of the first game.

Plus, Rick Clausen replaced him for last several games.

With that said, Erk was an absolute stub. Yes, better than Nico in first season of playing 6-8 games. Surrounded by better talent.
 
#68
#68
JohnnyD123 said:
I was at that game. Fulmer called a last second Hail Mary before the half ended and we lost Ainge for the rest of the year. We should have beat Notre Dame that day. We were far and away the better team. That pissed me off so bad lol. We had some dudes on that team.
Click to expand...
It was one of the dumbest calls I’ve ever seen
 
#69
#69
Schaeffer was a joke. He ran east and west - juked around and might gain 3-4 yards. Hooker and Dobbs would glide upfield and you think they got 5-6 yards and they got 22. Nico has potential to be in the Hooker category- maybe next season. He needs to become a serious student of the game and keep up his strength work.
 
#70
#70
LegionnaireOfTheMiserable said:
All I know is Tee Martin had a great game against a Florida State team loaded with pros and Nico went 13-31 against Ohio State.

Ask yourself honestly, do you think Nico makes those two huge throws to Peerless? Do you think Nico makes a 50+ yard run when we need it against a good Syracuse team? Do you think Nico breaks NCAA records against South Carolina? I don’t.
Click to expand...
One will never know, but we did not have a WR this year playas well as Peerless did in 1998. He got open and he caught the balls thrown to him..
 
#71
#71
LegionnaireOfTheMiserable said:
All I know is Tee Martin had a great game against a Florida State team loaded with pros and Nico went 13-31 against Ohio State.

Ask yourself honestly, do you think Nico makes those two huge throws to Peerless? Do you think Nico makes a 50+ yard run when we need it against a good Syracuse team? Do you think Nico breaks NCAA records against South Carolina? I don’t.
Click to expand...
One will never know, but we did not have a WR this year playas well as Peerless did in 1998. He got open and he caught the balls thrown to him..
Zues1 said:
Andy Kelly
Click to expand...
Andy was very good, but his int against ND, late in the game, at home was a knife in his side.
 
#72
#72
Jax_Vol said:
I wasn't thinking of Ainge.

He's like Peyton...wasn't the starting QB of the first game.

Plus, Rick Clausen replaced him for last several games.

With that said, Erk was an absolute stub. Yes, better than Nico in first season of playing 6-8 games. Surrounded by better talent.
Click to expand...
He played in the first 3 games in 2004 splitting time with Brent Shafer, I actually think Fulmer referred to them as co-starters. The only reason ainge was "replaced" was because of a freak play injury going into halftime against ND. Should've took a knee and Fulmer decided to throw.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jax_Vol
#73
#73
VOLINVONORE said:
One will never know, but we did not have a WR this year playas well as Peerless did in 1998. He got open and he caught the balls thrown to him..

Andy was very good, but his int against ND, late in the game, at home was a knife in his side.
Click to expand...
True. Still the best QB not named Manning
 
  • Like
Reactions: lexkyvol
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top