Nico will be an improvement but…

#2
#2
Why do we expect a kid getting his first playing time against anyone other than three or four mop up plays to be so awesome next year lol? Next year will be major growing pains and we will be set back again.
 
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#3
#3
It always takes 11 pulling together in football.

The OL doesn't have to be improved, necessarily. They were abysmal against Mizzou (as were most of the position groups), but actually protected Joe and gave him time pretty well yesterday against UGa. And opened lanes for runs about half the time.

So next year's OL doesn't really have to be tons better. But they do need to avoid taking a step back, which some people foresee given the seniors we're about to lose. We'll have to wait and see. Sometimes you get addition by subtraction.

But the big thing I'm hoping Nico brings is a hunger to win. A fierce competitive spirit, unwillingness to be beaten, that he can infect the rest of the offense, and the rest of the team, with. We're missing that kind of driven leadership this year.

If he does that, he can raise the quality of all his teammates' game as well.

Go Vols!
 
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#6
#6
VFL-82-JP said:
It always takes 11 pulling together in football.

The OL doesn't have to be improved, necessarily. They were abysmal against Mizzou (as were most of the position groups), but actually protected Joe and gave him time pretty well yesterday against UGa. And opened lanes for runs about half the time.

So next year's OL doesn't really have to be tons better. But they do need to avoid taking a step back, which some people foresee given the seniors we're about to lose. We'll have to wait and see. Sometimes you get addition by subtraction.

But the big thing I'm hoping Nico brings is a hunger to win. A fierce competitive spirit, unwillingness to be beaten, that he can infect the rest of the offense, and the rest of the team, with. We're missing that kind of driven leadership this year.

If he does that, he can raise the quality of all his teammates' game as well.

Go Vols!
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Very well said
 
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#9
#9
dillyo51 said:
Without a much improved OL, I don’t think we’ll see what fans expect from Nico. Thoughts?
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Joe had 4 and 5 seconds in the pocket at times yesterday. He also had the opportunity to tuck it and run for 7 easy yards. He just has no awareness. Nico looks to have the same hyper awareness that Hooker and Dobbs have.

We will see significantly improved QB play next year.
 
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#11
#11
This is exactly what I think. Improving the O line is critical for next year.

No QB or skill position player is going to look very good with a porous O line in front of them.

After yesterday, I thinks it's time to move past the '23 season and keep an eye to 2024 and the O line situation looks very bad.

Sure....beat Vandy and hopefully win a Mid Tier Bowl against some Big 10 team or whoever but the incessant debates over Milton can be put to bed.
 
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#12
#12
JMO....But next year we might be hoping for a 8-4 record....Green QB that we really have no idea about....OL issues....defensive issue....and losing a lot of players....playing a lot of inexperienced players.
 
#13
#13
Take away Wrights opening run that took a few seconds....By my shaky math the rest of the game we only had 55 yards for a 2.3 per carry.
 
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#14
#14
Nico will be 20 years old when the 2024 season begins so as a redshirt freshman, he will be more mature than his class. I am sure there will be offensive line imports and some of the current younger players can step up. If the rising sophomores and junior linemen all are busts - that is a serious indictment on talent evaluation. I think there is playing time to sell as well as NIL backing so do not be surprised if Vols pull in some major transfer portal talent. Nico will be fun to watch and more fun to see teammates develop around him into an offensive machine.
 
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#15
#15
TNVOLnTX said:
Mark my words. If Nico struggles at any point in his 1st season, at least 10% of this fanbase will say "bust" and call for the backup OB. We have the emotional maturity of toddlers amongst us.
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Agree, and most of the fans think he was ready this year. Joe ain't very good, but I'm glad he stayed. Nico needs to add weight and strength
 
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#16
#16
These field goal attempts from 55 yards when down 17 points against a team that is headed for 35 points seems non competitive and indicates a lack of desire to be competitive for some reason, ball needs to go toward the end zone and attack, attack, attack, missed the meaningless late field goal against Missouri missed another meaningless shot against Georgia.
 
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#19
#19
Berry4Heisman14 said:
The expectations for next year need to be pretty low. We are losing a lot of players after this season, if we don’t hit a homerun with the portal we are in trouble.
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First of all we don't know yet who's coming and who is staying. Not to mention, look at the basketball team; they ran a few people off and has looked pretty good so far.
 
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#20
#20
I expect same results like we had with Hooker. 9-3 10-2 . Offense scores in 1 minute and our defense had enough time to wipe the sweat off their forehead then back on the field . When they all get injured don’t wonder why.
 
#21
#21
dillyo51 said:
Without a much improved OL, I don’t think we’ll see what fans expect from Nico. Thoughts?
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I mentioned this in another post when people were discussing Nico and other incoming players, but what about the offensive line?
Of course that was met with, we'll get some from the portal.
That's not usually how linemen develops and become studs.
It's normally a slow process from fat highschool players to dominate sophomore/ Junior linemen.
Players that need to be on your radar and committed by their junior highschool year.
JS.
Now if cjh can reach into the portal and grab a dominate offensive line I'll be happy as a duck in water. While he's there I hope he snags a dominate defensive backfield.
 
#22
#22
Even if he's the Next Peyton Manning you still need a backup plan in case he gets hurt... They need a portal guy this year.
 
#23
#23
Berry4Heisman14 said:
The expectations for next year need to be pretty low. We are losing a lot of players after this season, if we don’t hit a homerun with the portal we are in trouble.
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That should be an indictment on development then. The last 2 classes were top 12-15 in most of the services. The 2022 guys will be RS So and Jr’s. If they’re not ready to go and aren’t up to snuff then they were misses in recruiting or over-ranked or not developed. None of which are valid excuses going into year 4.
 
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#24
#24
The kid out of GA hasnt played anyone. Similar to Manning in LA. We won't really know what we got til the Polynesian bowl practices.

Shuler and Gaston Moore's last year. They will be serviceable in a pinch.

Would be nice to see another portal addition but prospects are limited right now.
 
#25
#25
dillyo51 said:
Without a much improved OL, I don’t think we’ll see what fans expect from Nico. Thoughts?
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By improvement do you mean a QB that can look past the first read ? A QB that doesn't stair down his first read before he throws only to the first read ? A QB that can hopefully extend plays and make throws out of the pocket ? If Nicco can do any of this he has improved the QB play by 100%. It's time he prove he is the $8million dollar man. I'm pretty sure he didn't reject the money until he could become the starter.
 
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