McElroy Speaks Nico

#2
#2
He is correct. The Nico hype got a little out of control because early in the season, he could do no wrong. He hit EVERY deep ball. He made NFL throws that Aaron Murray said he could never make...and he still holds SEC records. He did nearly everything right, the national media ran with stories about him being a Heisman candidate etc. The truth is he is only a half dozen games into his college career, he is playing behind a struggling Oline that's well documented, and he is still doing a good job. He is just young and inexperienced. Nico is uber talented though. He is gonna be great in time. It doesnt help him that lots of VOLS fans are comparing him at 19yo and 6 games into his college career with Hendon Hooker at 24yo who reset every single UT passing and scoring record that matters in 2022 before heading to the NFL. Nevermind the age difference, years experience as a college starter etc...Hooker had great WR that were drafted into million dollar NFL contracts. Including Hyatt who is THE best college WR to ever play at Tennessee, and the only one to ever win the Belitnikoff Award as the nations best pass catcher.

VOLS fans just need to chill out and watch as Nico develops in front of our eyes. We are VERY lucky to have him. Lucky to have Jake behind him as well. Extremely lucky to already have a commitment from the no1 QB in the nation for 2026!! Small but loud group of people who never played QB in their lives (most of which have never even put on pads and a helmet either) acting like they are experts and crapping on our very talented QB doesn't help anyone. Just chill out and enjoy the ride. Might want to watch some of the excellent film breakdown videos linked here as well...then you would have a better understanding of who and what are really holding our offense back this season. Hint: it isn't the QB...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Woodlawn VOL, apevol, Stoked and 28 others
#3
#3
Many of us have found supporting arguments to reassure our patience in Nico and this offense. I hope we get to see some definitive improvement before we lose another game.

We were never supposed to be a favorite to make the playoffs and a lot of you need to remember that. Maybe your assessment of TN’s playoff chances hinged on the defense, which has exceeded expectations. The problem was that you overestimated the offense, and you need to come to terms that your expectations were unwarranted.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: VolsLFC, KHVol and esarmstrong
#4
#4
It is why ya play the games. People make predictions before the season and sometimes they work out and sometimes they don't. Building up a player and then wanting to tear them down when mistakes are made. It is how our society works. You can tell hype is frustrated with how our offense is executing things. Hopefully as he stated everyone can get on the same page. The Vols will need to play well on offense this saturday vs. Alabama. Hopefully our defense shows up vs the Tide offense. Go Vols!!!
 
#7
#7
adam.vol said:
Many of us have found supporting arguments to reassure our patience in Nico and this offense. I hope we get to see some definitive improvement before we lose another game.

We were never supposed to be a favorite to make the playoffs and a lot of you need to remember that. Maybe your assessment of TN’s playoff chances hinged on the defense, which has exceeded expectations. The problem was that you overestimated the offense, and you need to come to terms that your expectations were unwarranted.
Click to expand...

Expectation is a prison.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kcvols1, BruisedOrange, KHVol and 4 others
#8
#8
I always saw this as a stepping stone year for Nico. The unfortunate thing is that our defense is elite this year, and now the offense is below average. Next year the talent level on defense will be about the same, but we do lose some big pieces from the D-line. Banks could also be somewhere else as a HC.
 
  • Like
Reactions: adam.vol
#10
#10
marcusluvsvols said:
He is correct. The Nico hype got a little out of control because early in the season, he could do no wrong. He hit EVERY deep ball. He made NFL throws that Aaron Murray said he could never make...and he still holds SEC records. He did nearly everything right, the national media ran with stories about him being a Heisman candidate etc. The truth is he is only a half dozen games into his college career, he is playing behind a struggling Oline that's well documented, and he is still doing a good job. He is just young and inexperienced. Nico is uber talented though. He is gonna be great in time. It doesnt help him that lots of VOLS fans are comparing him at 19yo and 6 games into his college career with Hendon Hooker at 24yo who reset every single UT passing and scoring record that matters in 2022 before heading to the NFL. Nevermind the age difference, years experience as a college starter etc...Hooker had great WR that were drafted into million dollar NFL contracts. Including Hyatt who is THE best college WR to ever play at Tennessee, and the only one to ever win the Belitnikoff Award as the nations best pass catcher.

VOLS fans just need to chill out and watch as Nico develops in front of our eyes. We are VERY lucky to have him. Lucky to have Jake behind him as well. Extremely lucky to already have a commitment from the no1 QB in the nation for 2026!! Small but loud group of people who never played QB in their lives (most of which have never even put on pads and a helmet either) acting like they are experts and crapping on our very talented QB doesn't help anyone. Just chill out and enjoy the ride. Might want to watch some of the excellent film breakdown videos linked here as well...then you would have a better understanding of who and what are really holding our offense back this season. Hint: it isn't the QB...
Click to expand...

This is probably the best rebuttal I’ve ever read on Volnation. Bravo. And I agree with you, with wagonloads of hope that you are right in your assessment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kcvols1
#11
#11
marcusluvsvols said:
He is correct. The Nico hype got a little out of control because early in the season, he could do no wrong. He hit EVERY deep ball. He made NFL throws that Aaron Murray said he could never make...and he still holds SEC records. He did nearly everything right, the national media ran with stories about him being a Heisman candidate etc. The truth is he is only a half dozen games into his college career, he is playing behind a struggling Oline that's well documented, and he is still doing a good job. He is just young and inexperienced. Nico is uber talented though. He is gonna be great in time. It doesnt help him that lots of VOLS fans are comparing him at 19yo and 6 games into his college career with Hendon Hooker at 24yo who reset every single UT passing and scoring record that matters in 2022 before heading to the NFL. Nevermind the age difference, years experience as a college starter etc...Hooker had great WR that were drafted into million dollar NFL contracts. Including Hyatt who is THE best college WR to ever play at Tennessee, and the only one to ever win the Belitnikoff Award as the nations best pass catcher.

VOLS fans just need to chill out and watch as Nico develops in front of our eyes. We are VERY lucky to have him. Lucky to have Jake behind him as well. Extremely lucky to already have a commitment from the no1 QB in the nation for 2026!! Small but loud group of people who never played QB in their lives (most of which have never even put on pads and a helmet either) acting like they are experts and crapping on our very talented QB doesn't help anyone. Just chill out and enjoy the ride. Might want to watch some of the excellent film breakdown videos linked here as well...then you would have a better understanding of who and what are really holding our offense back this season. Hint: it isn't the QB...
Click to expand...
Agree with everything you said.... except the last part. Nico does have some footwork, fundamental problems right now. That comes from inconsistent line play and seeing ghosts. At times,he has the opportunity to reset and hit an open receiver but gets caught in scramble mode. He'll get better but it may not be until next year with a new line
 
  • Like
Reactions: volroadwarrior and Teeman
#12
#12
marcusluvsvols said:
He is correct. The Nico hype got a little out of control because early in the season, he could do no wrong. He hit EVERY deep ball. He made NFL throws that Aaron Murray said he could never make...and he still holds SEC records. He did nearly everything right, the national media ran with stories about him being a Heisman candidate etc. The truth is he is only a half dozen games into his college career, he is playing behind a struggling Oline that's well documented, and he is still doing a good job. He is just young and inexperienced. Nico is uber talented though. He is gonna be great in time. It doesnt help him that lots of VOLS fans are comparing him at 19yo and 6 games into his college career with Hendon Hooker at 24yo who reset every single UT passing and scoring record that matters in 2022 before heading to the NFL. Nevermind the age difference, years experience as a college starter etc...Hooker had great WR that were drafted into million dollar NFL contracts. Including Hyatt who is THE best college WR to ever play at Tennessee, and the only one to ever win the Belitnikoff Award as the nations best pass catcher.

VOLS fans just need to chill out and watch as Nico develops in front of our eyes. We are VERY lucky to have him. Lucky to have Jake behind him as well. Extremely lucky to already have a commitment from the no1 QB in the nation for 2026!! Small but loud group of people who never played QB in their lives (most of which have never even put on pads and a helmet either) acting like they are experts and crapping on our very talented QB doesn't help anyone. Just chill out and enjoy the ride. Might want to watch some of the excellent film breakdown videos linked here as well...then you would have a better understanding of who and what are really holding our offense back this season. Hint: it isn't the QB...
Click to expand...
Just wish he would go with the power T's, and not the lower case t's.
 
#13
#13
The light bulb will turn back on for Nico, hopefully this game. Hopefully the Oline will follow suit, routes will be ran correctly and passes caught. Penalties will quit killing us. These things I believe. If it happens we crush Bama.
 
#16
#16
marcusluvsvols said:
He is correct. The Nico hype got a little out of control because early in the season, he could do no wrong. He hit EVERY deep ball. He made NFL throws that Aaron Murray said he could never make...and he still holds SEC records. He did nearly everything right, the national media ran with stories about him being a Heisman candidate etc. The truth is he is only a half dozen games into his college career, he is playing behind a struggling Oline that's well documented, and he is still doing a good job. He is just young and inexperienced. Nico is uber talented though. He is gonna be great in time. It doesnt help him that lots of VOLS fans are comparing him at 19yo and 6 games into his college career with Hendon Hooker at 24yo who reset every single UT passing and scoring record that matters in 2022 before heading to the NFL. Nevermind the age difference, years experience as a college starter etc...Hooker had great WR that were drafted into million dollar NFL contracts. Including Hyatt who is THE best college WR to ever play at Tennessee, and the only one to ever win the Belitnikoff Award as the nations best pass catcher.

VOLS fans just need to chill out and watch as Nico develops in front of our eyes. We are VERY lucky to have him. Lucky to have Jake behind him as well. Extremely lucky to already have a commitment from the no1 QB in the nation for 2026!! Small but loud group of people who never played QB in their lives (most of which have never even put on pads and a helmet either) acting like they are experts and crapping on our very talented QB doesn't help anyone. Just chill out and enjoy the ride. Might want to watch some of the excellent film breakdown videos linked here as well...then you would have a better understanding of who and what are really holding our offense back this season. Hint: it isn't the QB...
Click to expand...
Agree. Im not low on Nico. It's on the coaches to put him in a better position to succeed and they haven't shown a willingness to do that through the past 3 games. It's like Heupel went into a shell. Im hoping he's just been holding out until this week, but if that was the case, you'd think he would have made more effort against the Hogs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SpookyAction
#21
#21
Vol in Buckeye Land said:
He makes articles out of what could essentially be a single tweet.
Click to expand...

I’ve never read anything since he tried to make a big deal of a transfer LB posting a tweet of himself making a play in practice under Pruitt. He pretended the player had committed some great sin by posting it
 
#23
#23
VolForLife83 said:
Agree. Im not low on Nico. It's on the coaches to put him in a better position to succeed and they haven't shown a willingness to do that through the past 3 games. It's like Heupel went into a shell. Im hoping he's just been holding out until this week, but if that was the case, you'd think he would have made more effort against the Hogs.
Click to expand...
Well said.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top