Nico Iamaleava should get substantial play time against UGA. He's earned it.

[temptn]

Georgia is not the last game of the year. We still have Vandy and a bowl game. Joe has earned the opportunity to finish his career at UT.

 

[hog88]

Nico is a true freshman, he's earned only what the coaches think he's earned.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

I don't know how wise it is to throw Nico to the wolves by playing him in this game. Let him start Vandy if this game is a dud.

 

[VOLfrombama]

Georgia is not the last game of the year. We still have Vandy and a bowl game. Joe has earned the opportunity to finish his career at UT.

I think this is Heup's mentality too. I also believe that Heup wants to show other Qbs that he has loyalty to hard work and sticking around in spite of the transfer portal.

 

[FloraVol]

We’re going to have to hit the portal hard for the O Line. That is need #1. If we lockdown some major positions of need on the line I think we are a CFP contender. Like you said, we do need some guys to grow up in a hurry too.

Exactly right. Fortunately, there should be lots of talented Texas A&M players looking for a new home, and CJH seems pretty good at working the portal.

 

[CAVPUT]

Unless it’s a UCONN or Virginia beatdown against Vandy and our bowl opponent then we ain’t seeing Nico. Even if is Georgia is winning 41-10 going into the 4th I fully expect Heup will play Milton all the way till the end.

Given what's hit us with injuries this year, would you put Nico in with our backup OL vs UGAs hungery 5 star backups? I wouldn't even want him in with our STARTING Ol vs UGA. Can you imagine the fallout if Nico tears an ACL at this point in a season that's already pretty much a closed book? I think you let him get time with the starters vs Vandy then go to Moore and Shuler with the backups late. You simply do not put Nico at risk at this point.

 

[CAVPUT]

Georgia is not the last game of the year. We still have Vandy and a bowl game. Joe has earned the opportunity to finish his career at UT.

Give Nico some reps with the starting OL against Vandy. Get him a ton of reps in bowl practice then save him for next season.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Last loss was December 2021 to Bama yea it’s been awhile since they have lost. They will have 30 straight wins when play Bama again in two weeks, they still gotta ways to go to break Oklahoma’s 50 plus game win streak in the 50’s but are you going to doubt them right now and who can beat them? Georgia has lost exactly 3 times since the 2020 season they are absolute machine right now and sadly I don’t see many if any weaknesses on that team.

Georgia's biggest adversary right now is boredom.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Exactly right. Fortunately, there should be lots of talented Texas A&M players looking for a new home, and CJH seems pretty good at working the portal.

Unless they make a good hire.

 

[EZE]

The reason I'm excited about next season is our qb Nico. He's already found the game. You know how the game came to Manning early on? The game came to Hooker. The game is finally coming to Dobbs. He finally caught up to it and is playing like he did in college. Nico I think is already there. When a UGA fan (grad) questions why we don't let him play I have to scratch my head. Milton is good but he never obtained that status on a consistent basis.

And how do you know this?

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Last loss was December 2021 to Bama yea it’s been awhile since they have lost. They will have 30 straight wins when play Bama again in two weeks, they still gotta ways to go to break Oklahoma’s 50 plus game win streak in the 50’s but are you going to doubt them right now and who can beat them? Georgia has lost exactly 3 times since the 2020 season.

It’s going to take a perfect storm kind of game to win. I’m thinking South Carolina vs Bama 2009 or whatever season that was. Stephen Garcia played the game of his life. We need Joe to be Stephen Garcia vs Bama on Saturday.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

Will Heupel pull a Saban and start Nico and beat uga? I know Saban made the move at half against uga in Atlanta and won, but it would be similar lines.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Exactly right. Fortunately, there should be lots of talented Texas A&M players looking for a new home, and CJH seems pretty good at working the portal.

Hopefully Ellarbee can get more out of them than what they did at aTm.

 

[Emperor VOLpatine]

I think someone has made this exact thread every week. They're not going to bench the 6th year senior guys. Nico will play next year unless Milton gets hurt

 

[OrangeTsar]

I really feel bad for Nico. Not because of the lack of playing time this season; but for the INSANE amount of expectations for the kid. Heaven help him if he struggles early next season.
He is expected to be the savior of this program and the second coming of Peyton and to lead us seamlessly into the 12 team playoff. Is he even 19 years old yet?
Good gosh people, let the process play out and don’t place too many hopes on the guy. It’s not fair to him

 

[DiderotsGhost]

Yes, let's throw our true Freshmen QB into the river against the toughest team we'll see all year.

Milton is not an elite QB. He's not Dobbs. He's not Hooker. He's not Manning. But he's far from our #1 issue right now. The pass he made to Thornton last week was a thing of beauty.

Errors by the O-line, other offensive players, and the D were much bigger causes for Mizzou killing us.

 

[DarkVolder]

Will Heupel pull a Saban and start Nico and beat uga? I know Saban made the move at half against uga in Atlanta and won, but it would be similar lines.

No he won’t

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Throwing Nico into probably the best D-Line he’ll see all year, is a great way to hinder his confidence, possibly getting beat to death.

 

[OrangeTsar]

Yes, let's throw our true Freshmen QB into the river against the toughest team we'll see all year.

Milton is not an elite QB. He's not Dobbs. He's not Hooker. He's not Manning. But he's far from our #1 issue right now. The pass he made to Thornton last week was a thing of beauty.

Errors by the O-line, other offensive players, and the D were much bigger causes for Mizzou killing us.

Want to see what CAN happen when you put your highly touted freshman QB into a critical game? Rewatch Clemson and Klubnik in last year’s Orange Bowl.

 

[DarkVolder]

We got a great punter though guys!

 

[DaddyChad]

The reason I'm excited about next season is our qb Nico. He's already found the game. You know how the game came to Manning early on? The game came to Hooker. The game is finally coming to Dobbs. He finally caught up to it and is playing like he did in college. Nico I think is already there. When a UGA fan (grad) questions why we don't let him play I have to scratch my head. Milton is good but he never obtained that status on a consistent basis.

How has he earned substantial playing time? We have a small chance in this game and it’s not with Nico as QB. A true freshman will process the defense slower and with a defense like Georgia it’s a good way for him to get hurt. I’m really not sure what’s so hard for people to understand.

 

['Boro-vol]

How has Nico “earned” the starting job exactly?

 

[VolFreakJosh]

How has Nico “earned” the starting job exactly?

By having 5 stars next to his name

 

[Volbrando]

I don't think we see Nico in the Georgia game... HOWEVER... I think they should potentially throw him in there for a series or two to let him get the feel for that type of game.

Whatever gives us the best chance to win first however... then plan next best option

 

[aRmo]

Will Heupel pull a Saban and start Nico and beat uga? I know Saban made the move at half against uga in Atlanta and won, but it would be similar lines.

no