Nico looked better after injury

#1
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DowsaTV

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#1
Nico played better after the injury last Saturday, something had changed. I originally thought it was the injury. But now I am wondering if it wasn't the interception. When he went to the sidelines and saw his backup throw a pick, he knew his team needed him. He went back in to help his team win the game.

I think the kid is naturally more comfortable fighting for his team, than fighting to show how good he can play. It showed in his play after the injury.

Whatever the reason, we saw him grow, and it is only up from here.
 
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#2
#2
DowsaTV said:
Nico played better after the injury last Saturday, something had changed. I originally thought it was the injury. But now I am wondering if it wasn't the interception. When he went to the sidelines and saw his backup throw a pick, he knew his team needed him. He went back in to help his team win the game.

I think the kid is naturally more comfortable fighting for his team, than fighting to show how good he can play. It showed in his play after the injury.

Whatever the reason, we saw him grow, and it is only up from here.
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May have to give him the old John Henderson treatment before the game!
 

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#3
#3
He did make better plays in second half but not sure if it was due to hit (which sparks a lot of QBs) or just in game spark. The hope is that it continues from here on and is not a one off type thing.

In the long run, I am more positive that he can grow like Jayden Daniels or Quinn Ewers did from one year to next. He has shown the traits and has great pocket sense. (Or Hooker did from Vtech to Year 1 here)
 
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#5
#5
Cornvol said:
It’s mental for Nico. Grew a lot in 2nd half. Needs that mentality from here on out especially on the road. If his mind is right we out score anyone we play. He’s got to find that game day mentality and keep it.
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We’ve got UK then MSST after this bye week, both at home before heading to Athens. Heat that hearth with a blue flame! 🔥
 
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#8
#8
Cornvol said:
It’s mental for Nico. Grew a lot in 2nd half. Needs that mentality from here on out especially on the road. If his mind is right we out score anyone we play. He’s got to find that game day mentality and keep it.
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That is what I am saying. He was trying to play for dad, family, long beach, Neyland, ESPN, NFL, NIL, girls, etc. Now he is playing for the team. Which is an example of maturing and growing.

Just a theory, but I think our offense starts to click from here.
 
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#10
#10
DowsaTV said:
Nico played better after the injury last Saturday, something had changed. I originally thought it was the injury. But now I am wondering if it wasn't the interception. When he went to the sidelines and saw his backup throw a pick, he knew his team needed him. He went back in to help his team win the game.

I think the kid is naturally more comfortable fighting for his team, than fighting to show how good he can play. It showed in his play after the injury.

Whatever the reason, we saw him grow, and it is only up from here.
Click to expand...
He did. I don't advocate a big hit to settle him down, but it worked this time.
 
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#11
#11
DowsaTV said:
Nico played better after the injury last Saturday, something had changed. I originally thought it was the injury. But now I am wondering if it wasn't the interception. When he went to the sidelines and saw his backup throw a pick, he knew his team needed him. He went back in to help his team win the game.

I think the kid is naturally more comfortable fighting for his team, than fighting to show how good he can play. It showed in his play after the injury.

Whatever the reason, we saw him grow, and it is only up from here.
Click to expand...

Probably need for him to make a couple of runs early in the big games to get hit and settle him down.
 
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#12
#12
DowsaTV said:
Nico played better after the injury last Saturday, something had changed. I originally thought it was the injury. But now I am wondering if it wasn't the interception. When he went to the sidelines and saw his backup throw a pick, he knew his team needed him. He went back in to help his team win the game.

I think the kid is naturally more comfortable fighting for his team, than fighting to show how good he can play. It showed in his play after the injury.

Whatever the reason, we saw him grow, and it is only up from here.
Click to expand...
I think he gets too nervous and plays tight, if he ever learns to relax and lets his talent just flow, our offense can be unstoppable.
 
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#13
#13
I know the passes were overthrown. But the passes as far as quality ball goes is incredible. Kid throws a beautiful ball. I really feel like he’s gonna start improving more each game, maybe each half.
The potential is endless tho
 
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#14
#14
DowsaTV said:
That is what I am saying. He was trying to play for dad, family, long beach, Neyland, ESPN, NFL, NIL, girls, etc. Now he is playing for the team. Which is an example of maturing and growing.

Just a theory, but I think our offense starts to click from here.
Click to expand...
I grew up in Long Beach, so he can keep on playing for me.
 
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#17
#17
farmdogvol said:
I grew up in Long Beach, so he can keep on playing for me.
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I spent time in Long Beach this summer, it was a lot of fun. Watched the entirety of our Omaha baseball run and natty from LB.

With maturity, one can handle all of those things (Dad, family, LB, Neyland fans, etc). Not that he will never "play for LB" again, but that by focusing on his team, he was able to find a lowest common denominator. Now he can bring those things back in on his own terms, and not be overwhelmed, or allow those big things to affect his play.

Same thing as saying he "grew up" in the Alabama game, basically. My theory is that focusing on team is what freed him take the next step. So it may not be the injury, as much as it was the Interception. Just a theory.
 
#18
#18
volsfan24017 said:
He was playing tight. Once he loosens up like Hooker did in '22, watch out!

Confidence is key!
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This is a great point...early in the year he WAS playing with confidence and he was making all the throws without hesitation. Yes competition wasn't great but he was still hitting WRs in stride in small windows and not overthrowing anything. Seemed to be pressing through this three game stretch but hopefully his second half plus this off week he can get his swagger back.
 
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#19
#19
CPVOL said:
I know the passes were overthrown. But the passes as far as quality ball goes is incredible. Kid throws a beautiful ball. I really feel like he’s gonna start improving more each game, maybe each half.
The potential is endless tho
Click to expand...
He hit those passes in the first two games, so he can do it. I know, I know, that was against much worse teams but the receivers were just as open and he completed the passes far down field.
 
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#20
#20
Brave Volunteer said:
I noticed the same thing. When Nico came out of the injury tent and went back on the field, he looked like a different player. I feel like the injury woke him up, somehow.
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You know who else woke up after a big hit? Go back and re-watch that LSU vs UCF bowl game. Burrow throws an INT and while trying to run it down, he gets blindsided. Gruesome hit. Burrow was a different QB after that. Won the Heisman the next year.
 
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#21
#21
DowsaTV said:
Nico played better after the injury last Saturday, something had changed. I originally thought it was the injury. But now I am wondering if it wasn't the interception. When he went to the sidelines and saw his backup throw a pick, he knew his team needed him. He went back in to help his team win the game.

I think the kid is naturally more comfortable fighting for his team, than fighting to show how good he can play. It showed in his play after the injury.

Whatever the reason, we saw him grow, and it is only up from here.
Click to expand...
I think he was afraid of getting hit and once it was over he said "that's it?" and went to work..
 
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#22
#22
aRmo said:
You know who else woke up after a big hit? Go back and re-watch that LSU vs UCF bowl game. Burrow throws an INT and while trying to run it down, he gets blindsided. Gruesome hit. Burrow was a different QB after that. Won the Heisman the next year.
Click to expand...

I suspect that this is a product of the way modern fall camps are run now, where the QB receives zero contact.
 
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#23
#23
I think if Nico can get more comfortable taking off running, we're going to see him really hit the next level. He just seems super rigid and mechanical in the pocket and not hitting that sweet spot timing-wise.

Once he realizes keeping the ball in his hands and picking up 6-7 yards (if not more) is way better forcing a throw that's not all there, we'll see him relax a little more and put all of his skills on display.
 
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#24
#24
I have felt since that game that when Nico went down and he saw Gaston give it up it was a "Flip the switch" moment. As other posters have noted, Nico has the skill set, it was just the mental side that he needed to grow in. Often times people mature greatly under severe stress situations. I honestly believe the sequence of events beginning with the hit and then watching your backup put your team in a terrible position turned on the light he needed to perform at a higher level. He is young and will make mistakes. I think he achieved a major turning point in his young career with that experience. Go Vols!!!
 
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