Milton will be HUGE for UT in 2023

[RockVol56]

i thought he looked great in coming in during garbage time this year and really hoped he had turned the corner. it is concerning that as soon as he gets a start, he looks just like he did last year. i have a hard time blaming it on the weather because he obviously didn't have any issue handling the bar (based off of the rockets he was throwing) and i don't remember anybody dropping balls. i really want the guy to put it together but the vandy game is a little bit of a red flag. what will your opinion be if he comes out and completes 50-55% of his passes against clemson? that will be very concerning to me heading into the offseason. i think he has to complete 60%+ for us to win that game

Not saying the Vandy game was a great game for hm by any stretch, just that the weather and lack of 2 of our 3 star wideouts usually dictates a game plan that is run focused....and with us popping off long runs left and right, really wasnt a need for him to throw a bunch. ....As for Clemson, if Bru/Cedric/Hyatt or 2 out of those 3 play, absolutely he will need to be above 60% for us to win....I also wont be mad if he only throws for 150yrds, if he breaks off about 75-100 yrds rushing and 2 TDs either

 

[Jeff Clark]

 

[KKruzVFL]

If we go 9-3 or better with Milton next year it’s a win for the season. The coaches need to have him throwing slants and posts down the middle of the field. He is more accurate with those type of plays. He just needs to keep the programs momentum going.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Since you have said anyone 'dying on the "same old Milton" hill are just ignorant or willfully dishonest', let me ask you : Did you watch the Vanderbilt game or end of USC game ? Milton still has accuracy issues, still does not have touch on the ball. In USC game he missed receivers on 10 yard passes by a lot. You can try to blame 'wet ball' for Vandy but how do you overthrow 15 yards ? He is a hit and miss. Makes some amazing throws but can't ,ake short 10-15 yard balls due to high velocity and misses a lot of deep ones. Seems like you are the one being ' just ignorant or willfully dishonest' here.

I will trust Heupel, he knows more than me or you about the situation. Let’s see how Milton plays on the Orange Bowl. GBO

 

[Orangeglasses90]

Saving my judgement until after the bowl game. Hope he balls out and has confidence going into next season but another part of me says let’s be in talks with a couple portal QB’s just in case.

 

[ITSGR82BATNVOL]

So glad the Vols have Milton. For all the people bitching about Milton, he does so much more for the offense. The opens up the running game, because of his ability to throw the ball so deep (yes he'll have overthrows, so did Hooker). He also has the ability to absolutely truck folks if he runs just a bit.

The overthrow Joe comments and all the negative comments about how he can't play are just really coming from people that don't truly understand the sport. He will connect on a lot of the deep balls. He didn't have anymore overthrows last night (in a cool driving rain) than Hooker would typically have in a game.

I hope the coaches don't screw with his arm and throwing motion during camp next year. If anything he needs to hold the ball a half second longer and/or put a little more air under the ball.

I am really looking forward to Milton leading the Vols next season, no matter how the bowl game goes. The extra practices and game, gives next year's offense a big advantage.

He was pretty efficient last night. NO TURNOVERS was the best thing about his performance last night and the threat alone of the deep ball really had the defense on their heels, which opened up the run game like the Red Sea.

People can obviously have their opinions and say what they want, but if you're gonna spend the next several months hating on Joe Milton, go pick up a hobby....

You're delusional (but that's ok). JM is what he is...a big physical guy with a big arm. That does not equate to being a great, or even above average QB in the SEC, which he isn't and never will be. NI will be the best QB on UT's roster the second he steps on the practice field. All you have to do is watch tape (as much or as little as you choose), of every QB on the roster to see who is best. NI is clearly the best at making all the throws, TJ is next best, and your boy is third at best. Let me be very clear. I have absolutely nothing against JM. He seems to be a great teammate and all that. I'd be thrilled if he proved me wrong, led us to an undefeated season in 2023 and won the heisman, but I know none of that is going to happen. Film doesn't lie, no matter how badly you may wish otherwise.

 

[RavinDave]

Throws a great short ball. Throws a very accurate intermediate ball. Runs through his progressions. Makes plays with his feet. Doesn’t turn the ball over. But he struggles with the deep ball. But so does a lot of college QBs.

If he would learn to put a little more air under the ball on those long throws and let the WR run to it, that would be awesome!

 

[Wezcoast]

Imagine Milton having a guy like Calvin Johnson to throw to that could run up under some of those overthrown bombs . Would be a crazy sight.

 

[Orange koolaid]

You're delusional (but that's ok). JM is what he is...a big physical guy with a big arm. That does not equate to being a great, or even above average QB in the SEC, which he isn't and never will be. NI will be the best QB on UT's roster the second he steps on the practice field. All you have to do is watch tape (as much or as little as you choose), of every QB on the roster to see who is best. NI is clearly the best at making all the throws, TJ is next best, and your boy is third at best. Let me be very clear. I have absolutely nothing against JM. He seems to be a great teammate and all that. I'd be thrilled if he proved me wrong, led us to an undefeated season in 2023 and won the heisman, but I know none of that is going to happen. Film doesn't lie, no matter how badly you may wish otherwise.

Nico may well be the man but Jackson is not the answer in what little he played. I trust Heupel will figure it out he is an excellent Quarterback developer . A lot of it is the scheme not the Quarterback.

 

[Iam4utalways]

You're delusional (but that's ok). JM is what he is...a big physical guy with a big arm. That does not equate to being a great, or even above average QB in the SEC, which he isn't and never will be. NI will be the best QB on UT's roster the second he steps on the practice field. All you have to do is watch tape (as much or as little as you choose), of every QB on the roster to see who is best. NI is clearly the best at making all the throws, TJ is next best, and your boy is third at best. Let me be very clear. I have absolutely nothing against JM. He seems to be a great teammate and all that. I'd be thrilled if he proved me wrong, led us to an undefeated season in 2023 and won the heisman, but I know none of that is going to happen. Film doesn't lie, no matter how badly you may wish otherwise.

Troll job

 

[EZE]

Nico may well be the man but Jackson is not the answer in what little he played. I trust Heupel will figure it out he is an excellent Quarterback developer . A lot of it is the scheme not the Quarterback.

There are some decent players in the portal. The staff’s response to that will be telling.

QBs (and WRs) should be killing to play here.

And none of that reflects on Nico.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Milton's problem is passing accuracy and that's still there.

Here's a sample of Vandy scoring. Navy Shuler could have handed the ball off and got the same result against Vandy.

• Dee Williams 73 Yd Punt Return
• Jabari Small 52 Yd Run
• Jaylen Wright 50 Yd Run
• Jaylen Wright 83 Yd Run
• Dylan Sampson 80 Yd Run

Agree that everyone elevated their game, and they broke Vandy's back early and often. But Vandy realized they weren't going to a bowl after the first quarter and pretty much threw in the towel. Vandy game shouldn't be a barometer of what is to come.

Can you show us the actual numbers of Milton’s bad accuracy this year besides the Vandy game?

 

[hatingbamaisawayoflife]

hopefully CJH can fix what needs to be fixed

 

[EastTNVol423]

Not saying the Vandy game was a great game for hm by any stretch, just that the weather and lack of 2 of our 3 star wideouts usually dictates a game plan that is run focused....and with us popping off long runs left and right, really wasnt a need for him to throw a bunch. ....As for Clemson, if Bru/Cedric/Hyatt or 2 out of those 3 play, absolutely he will need to be above 60% for us to win....I also wont be mad if he only throws for 150yrds, if he breaks off about 75-100 yrds rushing and 2 TDs either

weather and who played the vandy game doesn't really matter. my concern was his completion % was my concern. the guys were running behind the secondary on several plays and he didn't give them a chance to throw. i definitely agree that we didn't need him to throw a bunch in that game.

i don't think his yardage in the bowl game will be a deal breaker (again i think its his completion %) but i do think it will take more than 150 yds passing. i'm not sure they let him run a ton because he is the only available scholarship qb. i'm curious to see what our run game can do against a stout defensive front. they will score points and we are going to have to find enough offense to keep pace.

 

[EastTNVol6240]

A whopping 100 some yards. 60 on one play. Against vandy………. No thanks.

 

[ptcarter]

Can you show us the actual numbers of Milton’s bad accuracy this year besides the Vandy game?

I don't know if they have a "number" for an overthrown pass, so no. I was sitting in the stands watching though. Don't misunderstand - every qb has bad games. Hooker was missing a lot against South Carolina. I guess we are spoiled by the way Hooker played early on - against Bama and LSU. He definitely was throwing accurate and catchable balls. I'm not a Milton hater- I just think he's not as consistently accurate as he should be at this stage. His passes to Squirrel White this year were spectacular. Hopefully the bowl, and spring practice, and good coaching will correct this for next season.

 

[lifeisdeep]

There have been some dumb threads posted on here but this one takes the cake. One would think that by now, the whole notion that a coach is infallible in his judgment just because he's the coach, at the very least would not be trotted out here, of all places. This board was bludgeoned with said notion while Derek Dooley was coach, as it was when Butch Jones was coach, as it was when Jeremy Pruitt was coach...

Said notion was also trotted out when Milton was chosen as the starter in fall 2021.

I wonder if the OP, and those on this thread taking potshots at anyone who dares question his logic, have any remote idea how foolish you sound?

We all want Milton to succeed. I want to be a billionaire and six inches taller - but wishing until I'm blue in the face won't make it happen. If you can't see that if he were ever going to figure out the accuracy issue he probably would have by now, you might not know as much about the sport of football as you think you do.

 

[Delmar]

You obviously didn't read my post. I acknowledged that he may not be great, but pointed out the improvements. You pointed out the improvements but refuse to give him credit. If I had said "Milton has been perfect and no one is willing to admit it", you may have a point, but that's not what I said, is it?

Are you making my points?



For one example, see 21:42. A beautiful 10 yarder for a great pickup. Of note, it was followed by an overthrow dnd a perfect pass from the 7 into the endzone.

24:16 was a perfectly thrown ball over the middle (~20ish yards) that went for a TD.



Get your BVDs twisted all you want. It is what it is.

After watching (and posting) his 2022 highlights, his long and intermediate balls had touch and timing.

Now, my point has been that we have a segment here that completely ignores/denies that so that they can make the case based on Vandy that he's the same old Milton and incapable of improvement (when he's SHOWN improvement all year).

Do you know who else had some REALLY UGLY games where they looked terrible? Hendon Hooker.



Do you know who else misses a lot of deep throws? Pretty much every QB.

So, to clearly state my points:

Milton still has a lot to prove in the long run, but has shown improvement this year. Anyone not willing to admit that is either ignorant or lying.

Deal with it. It's true.

Yes, he has made some improvement but we have not seen him against even a mid level SEC defense. Even if Clemson has some opt outs, we’ll know more after the Bowl game. It will be the best talent he’s gone against and he’ll have to step it up.

 

[TWilson]

Called it right. Open competition for QB next year. Won't be shocked if Overthrow Joe sits again aside from injury problems.

 

[Godfatha]

Called it right. Open competition for QB next year. Won't be shocked if Overthrow Joe sits again aside from injury problems.

Called it right. Open competition for QB next year. Won't be shocked if Overthrow Joe sits again aside from injury problems.

I hope you're wrong.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

You're delusional (but that's ok). JM is what he is...a big physical guy with a big arm. That does not equate to being a great, or even above average QB in the SEC, which he isn't and never will be. NI will be the best QB on UT's roster the second he steps on the practice field. All you have to do is watch tape (as much or as little as you choose), of every QB on the roster to see who is best. NI is clearly the best at making all the throws, TJ is next best, and your boy is third at best. Let me be very clear. I have absolutely nothing against JM. He seems to be a great teammate and all that. I'd be thrilled if he proved me wrong, led us to an undefeated season in 2023 and won the heisman, but I know none of that is going to happen. Film doesn't lie, no matter how badly you may wish otherwise.

Why don’t you notify Coach Josh Heupel immediately of your expertise. I am sure he will immediately declare you a unfounded coaching commodity and insert you into the program immediately to unravel it all! GBO!!!!!

 

[Flipdaddy]

Honestly at his age and previous chances to be the man, if he ain’t got it by now (which he doesn’t) I don’t think he ever will. I hope I’m wrong but it’s just like baseball, some people just don’t have the talent to be pitchers no matter how hard they can throw.

 

[TWilson]

I hope you're wrong.

A lot of people agree that Milton hasn't learned control of his cannon. We'll know come spring practice. If he's still overthrowing, he might as well hit the portal come April if he's wanting to play in something other than garbage/injury time. Great kid, but he's just not learned to harness what he's got.

 

[TWilson]

Why don’t you notify Coach Josh Heupel immediately of your expertise. I am sure he will immediately declare you a unfounded coaching commodity and insert you into the program immediately to unravel it all! GBO!!!!!

Awfully salty about someone being critical of a guy that has a history of overthrows. He lost his job partially because of them, he never regained the job because of them, and when he HAD to step in due to Hooker's injury, he showed he STILL overthrows. Don't have to be a f***ing douche about someone calling out his obvious flaws that HAVEN'T CHANGED IN 2 YEARS. A third won't change anything.

 

[TAF]

Awfully salty about someone being critical of a guy that has a history of overthrows. He lost his job partially because of them, he never regained the job because of them, and when he HAD to step in due to Hooker's injury, he showed he STILL overthrows. Don't have to be a f***ing douche about someone calling out his obvious flaws that HAVEN'T CHANGED IN 2 YEARS. A third won't change anything.

Hey...Junior...Cool your jets...