Nico is not ready

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

If the leaders of a team aren't going to take too many risks, then why should other players take risks either? Why should anyone give everything they've got? Just give enough to get by most of the time. If winning isn't as important as not getting hurt, then players will never put it all on the line to win.

What was it Nick Saban always used to say? "You go out their and make their asses quit." Or something like that. If teams have players playing not to get hurt, they aren't going to make anyone quit. I don't think any program, Tennessee included, can climb the mountain if that's happening.

It's a matter of business.

If I'm driving what is essentially an exhibition race and I'm an F1 driver, I'm not pushing my luck like I would in an F1 race.

College isn't the NFL. Guys with a future know this.

Why DO guys sit out bowl games and why DID Alabama pay to have Bryce Young heavily insured to play in a bowl?

Because college isn't THAT important in comparison.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Clearly, you didn’t read the post.

I said I’m sure he goes to the NFL. I’m saying there’s no reason to bench the guy.

The main point was he hasn’t shown anything, to this point, to be able to make business decisions.

right?

Of course he has. You're sure he's going to the NFL. He's sure too.

He's doesn't HAVE to show you crap at this point because you've already seen enough to know he's NFL material.

After that, his job is to preserve his body for the combine, workouts, and interviews.

 

[StuckInBamaVol]

Of course he has. You're sure he's going to the NFL. He's sure too.

He's doesn't HAVE to show you crap at this point because you've already seen enough to know he's NFL material.

After that, his job is to preserve his body for the combine, workouts, and interviews.

That’s stupid as hell.

You still have to prove yourself.

Im implying BY THE TIME he’s had a few years in. He will have shown.

He hasn’t shown crap to show he’s going to the nfl, at this point.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

That’s stupid as hell.

You still have to prove yourself.

Im implying BY THE TIME he’s had a few years in. He will have shown.

He hasn’t shown crap to show he’s going to the nfl, at this point.

Nico may very well declare after this season particularly if he feels he's not going to have a decent O Line in front of him.

It'll lower his draft number considerably but again it's a business decision whether playing somewhere that can't let him showcase his talent is worth waiting to declare. Or, like someone like Bo Nix and numerous other previously reasonably successful college QBs these days, transfer somewhere you feel WILL showcase your talent....... again with the ultimate goal being to get to the next level.

It's business. You do what you need to do to make your career better and you don't take unnecessary risks in getting where you want to go.

 

[StuckInBamaVol]

Nico may very well declare after this season particularly if he feels he's not going to have a decent O Line in front of him.

It'll lower his draft number considerably but again it's a business decision whether playing somewhere that can't let him showcase his talent is worth waiting to declare. Or, like someone like Bo Nix and numerous other previously reasonably successful college QBs these days, transfer somewhere you feel WILL showcase your talent....... again with the ultimate goal being to get to the next level.

It's business. You do what you need to do to make your career better and you don't take unnecessary risks in getting where you want to go.

Rofl, a redshirt freshman going to the draft based on quality play.

You can’t go to the next level with no game winning film.

Absolutely insane take.

 

[Voltopia]

It's a matter of business.

If I'm driving what is essentially an exhibition race and I'm an F1 driver, I'm not pushing my luck like I would in an F1 race.

College isn't the NFL. Guys with a future know this.

Why DO guys sit out bowl games and why DID Alabama pay to have Bryce Young heavily insured to play in a bowl?

Because college isn't THAT important in comparison.

Then why did Peyton Manning come back for his senior year, play through it with bursitis in one of his knees, go to the hospital after the SECCG to have it surgically corrected, contract an infection after the operation, and still come back to play most of the bowl game against Nebraska? He had to have his knee drained before and after the Orange Bowl. If college football is a glorified exhibition, why would he do that?

Just try telling all the people around SEC football that their games are exhibition races. If players now don't want to actually race the race, then this whole thing is a joke. Competitive sports, at the end of the day, are about who wants something more. If the SEC is an exhibition league then this is all one big joke.

 

[IMALLVOL22]

I'm Agreeing with this all. I'm hurting just like y'all. Go Vols! Our team will pull together and they will be back mad as hell! I have confidence in our Coaches and Players. We fixing too kick the Gators ass Bad. Come on Volnation put this game behind us. And Let's Go Vols!!!!!!!!!!!!. Loud like no other in Neyland like no other game. This Saturday night. Give your all too the Vols! I'm fired up for Florida and I'm going too the game pissed off VFL!

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Then why did Peyton Manning come back for his senior year, play through it with bursitis in one of his knees, go to the hospital after the SECCG to have it surgically corrected, contract an infection after the operation, and still come back to play most of the bowl game against Nebraska? If it's a glorified exhibition, why would he do that?

Just try telling all the people around SEC football that their games are exhibition races. If players now don't want to actually race the race, then this whole thing is a joke.

Completely different era. Completely.

And MANY thought Manning was nuts then.

To illustrate, how long do you think Arch stays at TX? I predict Ewers declares, pretty safe bet, and Arch starts next year. If Arch lights it up, as he probably will, why stay? Only graduation will keep him in school, not football.

I'll bet he graduates early and moves on without a thought of "good ol Texas and my school" like Peyton.

 

[StickMan]

I think it's a business decision, in part. He watched Hendon Hooker who ran extremely well for us and opened up the offense a lot by doing it...... and nearly got his NFL chances ruined doing it.

With Nico's future, being a really aggressive runner in college could shorten his real career in the NFL. We may not want to see that but whatever we're paying him isn't close to his earning potential at the next level.

The man needs to look out for himself. JMO

You're probably right to a large extent. It's the world we now live in, and I sorta get it. But I also really miss the days of giving your all for the team first.

 

[StickMan]

You CAN sit them, and oddly last year it was "why are we sitting Nico, paying him all that money, and playing Joe?" VN is never happy.

Bench Nico now and he'll never take another snap at UT and we'll be rolling the dice on another redshirt freshman, Merk, next year or a true freshman or someone Heupel finds in the portal or...... has Navy got another year?

Maybe and maybe not. Alabama benched Milroe for a game last year, then he came back and has absolutely lit it up ever since.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Rofl, a redshirt freshman going to the draft based on quality play.

You can’t go to the next level with no game winning film.

Absolutely insane take.

What's worse for Nico: staying at UT behind a swiss cheese O Line next year (please check our losses after this year) or getting a shot at the next level with his body intact.

It's just how it is, IMO. I'd bet on the portal over the NFL for him if we can't protect him, but I'm sure he'd see how he grades out, talk to people, get opinions about his chances in the league too.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Maybe and maybe not. Alabama benched Milroe for a game last year, then he came back and has absolutely lit it up ever since.

I think that was partially play and partially attitude adjustment for the team. Nick might've heard some grumbling that "this guy isn't it....." in the locker room and be just enough of an arrogant coach to say, "I'll show you who isn't the guy......."

 

[Voltopia]

Completely different era. Completely.

And MANY thought Manning was nuts then.

To illustrate, how long do you think Arch stays at TX? I predict Ewers declares, pretty safe bet, and Arch starts next year. If Arch lights it up, as he probably will, why stay? Only graduation will keep him in school, not football.

I'll bet he graduates early and moves on without a thought of "good ol Texas and my school" like Peyton.

I don't care what Arch Manning does at Texas. Nor am I interested in making fun of Peyton Manning or calling him nuts for thinking about "good ol' Tennessee" and coming back.

If Nico or other guys out there are worried more about being intact for the NFL than competing and winning the games in front of them, then Tennessee isn't going going to sniff a national championship. If that's their priority, UT will never get to the top of the mountain.

 

[StickMan]

I think that was partially play and partially attitude adjustment for the team. Nick might've heard some grumbling that "this guy isn't it....." in the locker room and be just enough of an arrogant coach to say, "I'll show you who isn't the guy......."

Could be. And, I'm not in favor of benching Nico. I'm sure he gives us the best chance to win. I think the team is behind him. I am concerned from what I've seen that this is going to be a fairly pedestrian offense. I hope Heup can figure some things out.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Could be. And, I'm not in favor of benching Nico. I'm sure he gives us the best chance to win. I think the team is behind him. I am concerned from what I've seen that this is going to be a fairly pedestrian offense. I hope Heup can figure some things out.

Agree. I'm more concerned about Heupel than Nico. QBs come and go and if Nico DOES decide to leave after this year, we're looking at Merk, with little experience, taking over with a weaker O Line than we have now.

Heupel has work to do, for sure.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

I don't care what Arch Manning does at Texas. Nor am I interested in making fun of Peyton Manning or calling him nuts for thinking about "good ol' Tennessee" and coming back.

If Nico or other guys out there are worried more about being intact for the NFL than competing and winning the games in front of them, then Tennessee isn't going going to sniff a national championship. If that's their priority, UT will never get to the top of the mountain.

Okay, so you don't care how the game works now?

To give his all for Texas, Quinn Ewers would stay and Arch would wait another year or two.

But it's not 1997, it's 2024, and a college career has been devalued since then. You can either live in reality or live in the past. Your call.

 

[Voltopia]

Okay, so you don't care how the game works now?

To give his all for Texas, Quinn Ewers would stay and Arch would wait another year or two.

But it's not 1997, it's 2024, and a college career has been devalued since then. You can either live in reality or live in the past. Your call.

People leave early. I'm not talking about them staying all four years. I'm talking about being out there, on the field, and competing against the eleven guys on the other team. If there are guys out there who are more worried about being injury free than they are beating those other eleven guys, then their teams aren't going to win championships. I don't see why this is controversial. If winning isn't the highest priority, then there'll be games you don't win because you wanted to be safe before you wanted to win. That seems pretty logical to me. I'm not saying they cut their legs off or break their arms. But it's a competitive sport, and if there's a reason you won't compete - and the other guy will - then the other guy will have chances beat you. The other guy will fight harder, and you will ease up. "The other team wanted it more." Sports analysts say that all the time. If that's Tennessee's players intend to play, then I suppose at that point we should just prepare ourselves to never see UT achieve at the highest level.

And I'm fully aware of how the sport operates now. I'm calling it, to some degree, a joke. The marketing for college football has done a great job keeping people distracted, but if the Big 10 and the SEC are all just glorified exhibition games now then a lot of this rah-rah stuff seems terribly silly - and hollow.

 

[LWSVOL]

He enrolled early. RS last year. How much more time does he need for crying out loud? I wonder how much Diego Pavia is getting paid? He just led an offense that beat Bama.

he needed SEC game reps last year. These last two games was his first look at SEC speed. We see how he has performed. You can't replace SEC reps in games with practice and sitting. How much money he makes doesn't make him better only SEC game reps will. Pavia is a senior which is a massive difference. Can't really compare the two.

Peyton struggled in 1994 his first year starting in the SEC.

 

[Voltopia]

he needed SEC game reps last year. These last two games was his first look at SEC speed. We see how he has performed. You can't replace SEC reps in games with practice and sitting. How much money he makes doesn't make him better only SEC game reps will. Pavia is a senior which is a massive difference. Can't really compare the two.

Peyton struggled in 1994 his first year starting in the SEC.

Yeah, there's a lot of people talking about him not looking like Hooker or Burrow or similar - all guys with four or more years of experience. Peyton had freshman moments too.

I'm willing to wager Iamaleava will look a hell of a lot better by the end of this year, and next year, than he does right now. And his ceiling is considerable.

 

[StuckInBamaVol]

What's worse for Nico: staying at UT behind a swiss cheese O Line next year (please check our losses after this year) or getting a shot at the next level with his body intact.

It's just how it is, IMO. I'd bet on the portal over the NFL for him if we can't protect him, but I'm sure he'd see how he grades out, talk to people, get opinions about his chances in the league too.

Zero chances in the league. No one is going to want to develop someone that much in a NFL environment, no one. He will never get enough experience in that environment. I don’t think one person in this insane forum will agree with what you said.

Now as far as the portal, could absolutely be a possibility. Just depends on how his contract was structured as well.

Long story short…he stays, develops and plays.

 

[Cartervol]

They're going to have too roll him out more. He's not seeing whatever it is he needs to see.

Yeah, there's a lot of people talking about him not looking like Hooker or Burrow or similar - all guys with four or more years of experience. Peyton had freshman moments too.

I'm willing to wager Iamaleava will look a hell of a lot better by the end of this year, and next year, than he does right now. And his ceiling is considerable.

He's learning on the job. My main problem with it is the calls are already like he knows everything. It's as if Josh sees something different in practice than what is happening on gameday. That something is probably the pass rush coming at him. They're going to have to make some sort of adjustment there. Didn't see any last night. I think Josh thought we'd finally hit a big or two and we should of if it weren't overthrown. Team really seemed flat. They do that it seems about once or twice a year under Heupel.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

People leave early. I'm not talking about them staying all four years. I'm talking about being out there, on the field, and competing against the eleven guys on the other team. If there are guys out there who are more worried about being injury free than they are beating those other eleven guys, then their teams aren't going to win championships. I don't see why this is controversial. If winning isn't the highest priority, then there'll be games you don't win because you wanted to be safe before you wanted to win. That seems pretty logical to me. I'm not saying they cut their legs off or break their arms. But it's a competitive sport, and if there's a reason you won't compete - and the other guy will - then the other guy will have chances beat you. The other guy will fight harder, and you will ease up. "The other team wanted it more." Sports analysts say that all the time.

I'm fully aware of how the sport operates now. I'm calling it, to some degree, a joke. The marketing for college football has done a great job keeping people distracted, but if the Big 10 and the SEC are all just glorified exhibition games now then a lot of this rah-rah stuff seems terribly silly - and totally hollow.

We agree a lot in your last paragraph. The B1G and SEC honestly need to get the schools away from the pro ball. C'mon, it's not about school in any way at that level. Yeah, yeah, many graduate and most never play NFL ball, but money has been changing hands a LONG time and NIL money coming from the schools is going to kill the rest of college ball if the big boys don't separate.

As for the first part, UT hasn't won it all in about 25 years and I think it'd been 30+ for GA until recently. Both programs still drew eyeballs, made big money for the athletic departments, had good attendance at games, helped the local economy, etc, etc.

Winning it all isn't necessary for the program to be successful. Fans love it but here we are after 25 years without it. Tennessee is one of the most lucrative college programs. We stayed through lousy admins, lousy ADs, lousy coaches, and mediocre seasons. Winning is obviously not that crucial...... so taking care of your knees isn't that big of a deal.

 

[driscokid]

It was completely shocking the way we looked coming off a bye week.

Historically the Vols always drop a terd on the field after by weeks

 

[Volnuck]

It was completely shocking the way we looked coming off a bye week.

That was the saddest part to me. 2 weeks off and looked like they had no game plan to speak of. What game plan there was, the team could not complete it. SOOOOOOOOOO SADDDDDDDDD

 

[cgrish]

Nico is not ready, not all his fault, the play calling was also bad, but he missed an easy pass at the end I think to the TE, he also has no urgency about him wasting time at the start of drives, not running looking down field WAY too long... Gaston Moore needs to start, he might not make some of the big plays Nico does but he will make the little ones consistently. I'm not giving up on Nico, but he needs to sit and watch Gaston run the show and learnI

I wonder if him not running down the field as much as he did is by design by the coaching staff? I still believe Nico is good enough. We just have to open up the offense, and let him get into the flow of the game. Pass more on 1st down and not be too predictable.