Last UT QB who stared down his WRs through the whole route??

[Tenacjim]

It was a pound the rock offense because they didn't trust the QBs yet. Same offense the next year and the numbers were significantly better. As for barely playing, it was an almost 50/50 split between him and Brandon Stewart. The starters that year were Jerry Colquitt and Todd Helton. Neither played much nor were effective. BTW, that was the same number of games that Nico has played. You want to cherry pick? The only difference is that Nico got to practice last year. He attempted 26 passes the entire regular season last year, all in complete garbage time. He completed 16 of those. The bowl game is included in the stats listed above. If you want to work that hard to bash a player, I truly feel sorry for you.

I didn’t bash Nico at all. I never even mentioned him. I provided context to PM’s freshman season. I didn’t “cherry pick” I just pointed out additional context. You stated Manning’s record as 8-4. He didn’t start every game that year. He had one series against UCLA (didn’t throw a pass), 2 series against FL (threw 5 passes). That’s “hardly playing”. Both games were losses. He did play a lot against Miss St (the other loss) after Helton got hurt, but he didn’t start. I also shorted him a win. He was 7-1 as a starter (including the bowl game). Yes, Nico has better numbers (other than W-L). Manning’s first 7 games included 5 SEC teams and the 17th ranked Washington St. No Chattanooga or Kent St “stat padding games”.

Again, apples & oranges. I want Nico to do well. I would LOVE for him to match or better Manning’s career. Call it “cherry picking” or “facts”. PM went 39-6 as a starter. He lost to Alabama, Florida 3x (those teams went 34-4, all finished in the top 4 and won a NC. Not last night’s FL team), Memphis and Nebraska. The only team out of those that didn’t finish the year ranked in the top 5, was Memphis. 3 of them went 12–1, one went 13-0 and one went 10-2. 2 won at least a share of the NC.

PM went 18-2 as a starter in his first 20 games. There’s the bar if you want to keep comparing the two.

 

[PowerWookie]

IMO

He’s overthinking

If he can just get back to playing ball more instinctually things will click

 

[VolRage]

I don't know, let's dig deeper. Some of your ilk have commented that some of Nico's numbers have come against cupcakes. Okay, I'll bite. In those cupcake games, his numbers came in less than one half of football. Even NC State saw him peacefully resting on the bench while the backups did mop up work.

The juggernaut of Arch Manning you tout so well, is very good and has even better genes, but you are being hypocritical. His stats, as impressive as they are came against the following defensive giants;
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO
LOUISINANA-MONROE
MISSISSIPPI STATE (the worst team in the SEC)
Hmm mommy, sheds a different light in my humble opinion.
You fan your way, I will fan mine.

Next year will be the best chance to compare the two. Ewers is back so Arch won’t see the field much for the remainder of the year. Tejas is about to enter into the meat of their schedule.

I was just making the point that you can’t compare a true freshman QB (Peyton) to a redshirt freshman (Nico) that’s had far more preparation.

I truly hope Nico becomes the QB the “experts” think he is but so far I’m not seeing it. He either learns quickly and excels if he’s truly the QB he’s touted to be (a leader, a generational QB) or he folds like a blanket.

 

[Raiford62]

I am a UT fan just like everybody else. My comments may offend many people but this is how I truly feel about this team. I approach every game now with caution. The defense is winning these games for TN. We better start getting some offense or that is about to end. After the Iowa game last year I was truly impressed by Nico. Not so much anymore. I get it that he is a redshirt freshman but I don't care what year he is, he is missing receivers constantly. A talented QB will make good throws no matter what his age is. I feel the play calling is pathetic. I hope I eat my words but TN is going to lose games because of the above. The defense can only do so much. Playing not to lose is going to eventually bite TN a few times.

 

[Tenacjim]

I wonder why CPF was not able to develop another quarterback to the level of PM again?

Coach Cut developed PM. His brother came pretty close under Cut. Then again, genes had more to do with it than coaching more than likely….

 

[Orangeslice13]

Coach Cut developed PM. His brother came pretty close under Cut. Then again, genes had more to do with it than coaching more than likely….

So what you’re saying is natural ability, genetics and attitude make a difference in the level each athlete can achieve?

No, I don’t buy it. Clearly it’s CJHs fault that Milton didn’t play as good as Hooker


I’m assuming there’s enough smart azz in this post to not need blue font

 

[Tenacjim]

So what you’re saying is natural ability, genetics and attitude make a difference in the level each athlete can achieve?

No, I don’t buy it. Clearly it’s CJHs fault that Milton didn’t play as good as Hooker


I’m assuming there’s enough smart azz in this post to not need blue font

Well, when you have 3 generations of the same family playing college QB at a high level, it’s hard to dispute “all of the above” even more than coaching.

 

[VolTom1]

The kid is freshman with a bad o-line so kind of hard to judge him at this point but we are seeing now why there were several of us on here wanting a portal QB last year.

No its not, hard to judge him. He is not playing well enough that he should be starting. He is underthrowing balls into the dirt, over throwing balls on deep shots, staring down his targets, turning the ball over, and taking to long in the pocket before he starts to scramble. Yeah the O Line is not playing well but these other things are HUGE red flags for a kid that has had two years to be ready and getting paid millions to play the position.

 

[leebo556]

Tyler Bray would have hung 50 on them last night.

Yep, I said it.

Bray da boss.

 

[robbymoore94]

Nico has been groomed for YEARS. He’s been to the elite camps, 7 on 7s, etc. This isn’t his first year. He’s competed against elite talent but now he has the deer in the headlights look. Maybe some of it is coaching but he’s definitely screwing up and panicking plenty on his own. Hopefully he gets it together sooner than later.

You can only do so much on air. It’s a lot different when someone with 75+ pounds on you is running after you maybe not at the same speed, but pretty close.

 

[iuvol]

The kid is freshman with a bad o-line so kind of hard to judge him at this point but we are seeing now why there were several of us on here wanting a portal QB last year.

He came within a few inches on a couple of throws of blowing UF out. He will get better, he will start hitting those receivers, I just hope it is soon lke next Saturday.

 

[djohnnyg]

If you're gonna be an elite contender you don't have time to wait for a guy to learn and progress slowly. You're either good or you're not...like right away. UT is in a position where we can contend for a natty right now...and we need our qb to play really good right away or we're left behind. Are we going for the championship in 2 or 3 years? Is that enough time for our Qb to be up to speed? Nico needs to be great right now. That's just the nature of the business, unless you're happy w just being ranked and "respectable" which I assume more than some of you are.

 

[GVol1966]

Hate may be the most accurate word your post contains. Nico IS an amateur. Some of you Vols player haters really should root for another team. I don't think you belong here.

I wish I was an amateur.
Hear it pays really good

 

[DaddyChad]

Tyler Bray would have hung 50 on them last night.

Yep, I said it.

Remind me again how many times did he beat Florida? Did he ever hang fifty on them in his career even though he was behind a much better Oline?

 

[cgrish]

Y'all remember last year when over half the fans wanted him to start??? Not me, knew he wasn't ready last year, still got a ways to go.

I wanted him to start, and still think he should have about mid season. Because Milton was not playing well, and I also knew it takes game experience to reach your potential

 

[NEO]

Remind me again how many times did he beat Florida? Did he ever hang fifty on them in his career even though he was behind a much better Oline?

Do you remember our defense?

Guy would put up 48 points and lose.

Our defense was God awful.

 

[Pride85]

Next year will be the best chance to compare the two. Ewers is back so Arch won’t see the field much for the remainder of the year. Tejas is about to enter into the meat of their schedule.

I was just making the point that you can’t compare a true freshman QB (Peyton) to a redshirt freshman (Nico) that’s had far more preparation.

I truly hope Nico becomes the QB the “experts” think he is but so far I’m not seeing it. He either learns quickly and excels if he’s truly the QB he’s touted to be (a leader, a generational QB) or he folds like a blanket.

Your answer still looks like you will be piling on the criticism no matter what, so I will just agree to disagree. You fan your way, I will fan mine.

 

[Pride85]

I didn’t bash Nico at all. I never even mentioned him. I provided context to PM’s freshman season. I didn’t “cherry pick” I just pointed out additional context. You stated Manning’s record as 8-4. He didn’t start every game that year. He had one series against UCLA (didn’t throw a pass), 2 series against FL (threw 5 passes). That’s “hardly playing”. Both games were losses. He did play a lot against Miss St (the other loss) after Helton got hurt, but he didn’t start. I also shorted him a win. He was 7-1 as a starter (including the bowl game). Yes, Nico has better numbers (other than W-L). Manning’s first 7 games included 5 SEC teams and the 17th ranked Washington St. No Chattanooga or Kent St “stat padding games”.

Again, apples & oranges. I want Nico to do well. I would LOVE for him to match or better Manning’s career. Call it “cherry picking” or “facts”. PM went 39-6 as a starter. He lost to Alabama, Florida 3x (those teams went 34-4, all finished in the top 4 and won a NC. Not last night’s FL team), Memphis and Nebraska. The only team out of those that didn’t finish the year ranked in the top 5, was Memphis. 3 of them went 12–1, one went 13-0 and one went 10-2. 2 won at least a share of the NC.

PM went 18-2 as a starter in his first 20 games. There’s the bar if you want to keep comparing the two.

Again, you don't get the point I am making. If this was 1994 and Peyton Manning was the freshman QB that struggled, you would have been furious that Brandon Stewart didn't get the start. You would have been criticizing every tic, every miss read, every overthrown pass and would have been ready to run him out of town back to Ole Miss where he belonged. Whether Nico has the full career Peyton did is still up in the air. That is not the comparison being made. He just deserves the same benefit of the doubt that he will. Not calling him a bust halfway through his first starting year. Continue to bash the players if it makes your life better. I will continue as I have. I will support and defend any player on the field until they are not. If it is the NIL money that is driving your critiques, then you are a perfect example of why I hate NIL and the portal. You fan your way; I will fan mine. Have a blessed day.
Fini.

 

[farmdogvol]

Sorry 5'9 180 QBs will not make it in the NFL. Should've never been the #1 pick.

He looks like a high school freshmen standing next to Andy Dalton on the sidelines.

 

[HiltonHeadVol]

100%. These guys must only watch UT football and no one else. How many times have we seen Georgia (even when they won national championships) win a close one against a really bad team? Or look at Georgia and Bama this week alone.

Now hold on there ..... most of us concerned about going forward are not speaking of ONE game. We see a bad trend with no easy fix on hand. Suddenly, very few "expected wins" remain on our schedule. Now, even Vandy looks like a worthwhile and potentially dangerous opponent. So lets not be overly critical about real and difficult issues on this team please.

 

[JGS III]

I like Nico, but he plays scared and I think the team sees that. He wants to be a leader but he’s not there yet not even close.

 

[farmdogvol]

Not sure how he goes from Citrus Bowl MVP to the circumstances he finds himself consumed with today,

I'm not sure how competitive the San Gabriel Valley league was where he played high school football, it wasn't Mater Dei where Bru McCoy honed his skills or St. John Bosco, nor one of those 6A programs in Texas, Florida or Georgia, such that it may be an ongoing work in progress to see if he can manage the speed of the game and the defenders he is facing, he certainly has the characteristics of one of the great ones, but so did Joe Milton, Jonathan Crompton, Eric Ainge, etc.

They are 2 levels below Bosco and Mater Dei, one level below LB Poly, who sends a lot of players to USC and Oregon. LB Poly also Alma mater for Snoop dog and Cameron Diaz.. My senior year we beat both Bosco and LB Poly in the playoffs but that was over 45 years ago.

 

[Pride85]

I was in favor of paying Heupel and that doesn't preclude being critical of him afterward. Just because you think someone deserves to be paid doesn't mean you can't expect performance.

We'd disagree about athletes getting paid. Assuming you're a musician, there's a reason elite classical musicians make pretty good money. They have skills very, very, very few people possess and those talents and that practice ethic and that sacrifice to attain the mastery of their instrument is valuable to many people.

With Nico, he's left some yardage on the field by missing receivers and missing the open man. Agreed about 12 personnel but I'm not sure we're doing enough with it to help.

As for Arky, we were a 2 TD favorite going in and taking them lightly to some extent would be expected for the players. Not adjusting at halftime, not being able to dominate once we woke up, not executing is not very excusable at the SEC level for coaches.

Again, you're 2 TD favorites. Like we look at Alabama and say Vandy???? Really, Vandy? You couldn't come back and beat Vandy? I look at Arky and say, "You're going to get outcoached by Pittman? Pittman? And not just a little, quite a bit."

Even if Heupel was making AAC money again, it's Pittman. He's not a good football coach.

(Sorry to those who weren't on a trend that triggered this old man. Long Read, just ignore and go on.)

We will just have to agree to disagree on just about everything you said. Interesting you bring up musicians. Being a former Pride member, I can relate to a degree. Outside of entertainment, what do they provide to the general public? Do they feed the hungry? Most of those who might enjoy to hear their music can't afford it. I hear the argument that elite athletes deserve the extremely high pay they get is because they work hard and their careers are short. Ok, the average career is 4 years for a running back, around 8 years for a QB, etc. The average length of time that an everyday Joe has to work is around 50 years. In case you didn't know it, the median salary is just a tick over $80,000 per year. So, on average, the people paying the salary for these athletes earn around $4,000,000 after 50 years of, in a lot of cases, hard physical work. Some will move up in careers, but the mean stays the same. These are the people buying the tickets and absorbing the increased prices for products advertised during those games. I am conservative by nature, but there is a vast disconnect. A lot of these people whose only contribution to society is entertainment make more than that in one year. Some of the higher priced athletes make more than that in a handful of games. DO NOT throw bogus arguments about the worth of entertainment, when the argument that they should get paid a lot because their careers are short. They definitely don't deserve more than those who actually contribute to economy/society.

But overall. You fan your way; I will fan mine. Have a blessed day.
Fini.

 

[Tenacjim]

Again, you don't get the point I am making. If this was 1994 and Peyton Manning was the freshman QB that struggled, you would have been furious that Brandon Stewart didn't get the start. You would have been criticizing every tic, every miss read, every overthrown pass and would have been ready to run him out of town back to Ole Miss where he belonged. Whether Nico has the full career Peyton did is still up in the air. That is not the comparison being made. He just deserves the same benefit of the doubt that he will. Not calling him a bust halfway through his first starting year. Continue to bash the players if it makes your life better. I will continue as I have. I will support and defend any player on the field until they are not. If it is the NIL money that is driving your critiques, then you are a perfect example of why I hate NIL and the portal. You fan your way; I will fan mine. Have a blessed day.
Fini.

I fully get your point! I even said in my post that many (not me) WERE calling for Branndon Stewart to play. This isn’t new. Find one post where I “bash” Nico. You won’t because there aren’t any. I have never called for him to be pulled and he is our QB no matter what happens and I fully support him. All I did was correct your errors (around PM) in proving your point in comparing Nico to PM. Mostly about tying the entire W/L record to PM.

Then also saying it’s not a 1:1 comparison. Redshirt rules are different. Back then you couldn’t play half a season and retain a redshirt. That whole extra year makes a difference. If Peyton had been here a whole year before being made the starter, he likely would have performed better. But we‘ll never know. If “pumping up Peyton” translates into “bashing Nico” in your mind, then maybe you shouldn’t open the door by comparing him to a HOF. That’s not fair to Nico. I “get” the full careers are yet to play out but like I said, that’s a HUGE hill to climb.

PM is my favorite Vol of all time. I get annoyed when people say crap like “he went 0-4” against FL.“. No, he only started 3 games and those FL teams were all top 4 or better. ”Tee is better because he won a NC”. How many would PM have won with THAT defense? “Peyton went 8-4 his freshman year”. No, the TEAM did. He went, 7-1 and basically “righted the ship”.

Don’t presume to tell me what I would have done with PM because I supported him through every snap of his entire career. Don’t tell me to continue to bash our players because I don’t bash our players. Like I said in my post, I would LOVE for Nico to have or exceed the career PM did. The jury is definitely out and let’s just let Nico be Nico without bringing PM into the discussion…..

 

[WoodsmanVol]

I wish I was an amateur.
Hear it pays really good

You got your wish, amateur.
So were a good number of combat inexperienced officers thrust into commanding units during battle. You see, your narrow view of "amateur" is based on dollars they get. Mine is based on their direct experience with what they are tasked to do. Ask any real soldier how many of their "privileged" officers in command due to their affluence were worth a dayum. But never mind, some people are too egocentric to see beyond their own nose. On account, it's held up so high, only the sky is visible.