Nico will be an improvement but…

#52
#52
dillyo51 said:
Without a much improved OL, I don’t think we’ll see what fans expect from Nico. Thoughts?
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You act like this OLine is bad? Explain to me how we are the #1 leading rushing team in the SEC and top 10 in FBS with a bad OLine? Explain to me how Milton has been sacked or pressure the 2nd fewest times in the SEC? Only person with less sacks is UGA. Also please explain how our OLine is a semifinalist for best Unit on the country?

My thoughts are that out OLine isn’t as bad as everyone makes it out. There are times Milton is a statue back there and refuses to run the ball when nothing is open. He stands back there and waits till it’s too late to try and take off. I think a smart QB with decent game awareness will be great behind this OLine we have right now.
 
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#54
#54
BruiserVol said:
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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And this is why I think we should have used this year to get Nico experience. We was going to have growing pains this year no matter what and who was QB. We would have been better off going 6-6 with Nico at QB and have him prepared for next year than having to go through back to back years of average play. Even if he doesn’t start, we have had multiple times where he could have gotten real life game experience to gain experience.

But just because you don’t take a snap doesn’t mean you can’t have success. Just look at what Beck is doing at UGA. I don’t remember him taking many snaps over the last 2 years. Prior to this year he had thrown 59 passes for 6 TD’s and 2 int. I think next year team will be better than this years team. And Cooper Mays returns to play with a good QB and up his draft stock.
 
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#55
#55
/www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/nico-iamaleava-earns-redshirt-could-start-final-two-games/ar-AA1kcmwq?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=3155b416cddc43019f01e87c0a2a89f3&ei=16

This explains Nico redshirt
 
#57
#57
The key to this offense is complete all 3 downs and strike fast and quickly ! 3 downs and out have destroyed us the entire year. I am trying to be optimistic that Nico can solve the 3 and out quickly with his own legs, if nothing else. He seems to have natural instincts as to when to take off down the field, especially not necessarily just when the quarterback draw is called !
 
#58
#58
DaddyChad said:
What makes you say that? It’s not like we have people already wanting Heupel fired? 😂

You’re right we have some of the dumbest fans in the country.
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Many are definitely irrational and driven strictly by emotion. Thankfully it seems to be a minority.
 
#61
#61
He's got the build and the skillset to be able to run for his life and still make a play downfield - something we haven't had since Hooker. I also think Milton got the job more from some promise made to him for sticking around than to "protect" Nico this season. But, it is what it is, and I expect we'll be seeing the Nico show relatively soon. GBO!
 
#62
#62
VolunteerVandiver said:
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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It's actually pretty humiliating the way they played our offense. UGA didn't even blitz but a handful of times. They played extremely vanilla, base defense like we'd play UT Martin or somebody. They had no respect for Joe and knew he couldn't beat them if they just didn't give us easy stuff.
 
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#63
#63
dillyo51 said:
Without a much improved OL, I don’t think we’ll see what fans expect from Nico. Thoughts?
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You're right that the line will likely not improve, but my expectation will be that he is more of a dynamic play maker than Joe. When things go bad, he makes a play. You know, doesn't run out of bounds short of the sticks and stuff.
 
#64
#64
Need to hit the portal for oline hard. That and get a WR and a TE.
 
#65
#65
Our line has not played bad overall. Our quarterback makes them look worse than they are. Now I am not saying our line is even good. I think if all were healthy our line would be good. But we need more depth, we are bringing in good talent up front that should help with the depth over the next 2 years. I think a better quarterback that reacts well with great instincts will help our line immensely. GBO
 
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#66
#66
BenGrimm said:
Are any fanbases different? I honestly don’t know but would assume patience is thin all across the country.
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Moreso at top teams. Teams like Duke, Iowa State, etc. don't have impatient fans but they also have a lot less fans. Basically, any team that would be on the radar for Conference Expansion by the B1G or SEC has an impatient fanbase.
 
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#67
#67
A lot on the shoulders of a kid but a solid QB can totally turn a program around. Hendon Hooker almost did that last year.

Cam Newton did that at Auburn and Joe Burrow did it for LSU. Johnny Manziel also had Texas A&M at 11-2. Just find that right QB and you are ready to go.

We actually, record-wise, look a lot like the Kevin Sumlin era at A&M right now.
 
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#68
#68
BruiserVol said:
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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Seriously, college football is full of first-time players doing good.
 
#69
#69
Life is so much better being optimistic

I quit reading when you said you were normally pessimistic
 
#70
#70
VolunteerVandiver said:
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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If he has instinct of hooker and elusiveness of Dobbs sky is the limit
And a arm like bray
 
#71
#71
knox73 said:
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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Thank you for a post full of simple logic. Nico gets another year in the weights and conditioning program. We will hit the portal hard for some O-line and D-line beef. We also have a super stellar recruiting class coming in. Mike Mathews is a starter on day one. Our young linebackers are gonna be studs. I am sick of hearing all of this BS loser mentality one year after we beat Florida, LSU, Alabama and Clemson in one season. I think Nico will be an exciting upgrade from Milton. He just needs his chance to get game experience and we will be fine. Blast Vandy and let's get to the Gator Bowl. Good? GBO!!!
 
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#72
#72
BruiserVol said:
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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Did he say Awesome? He is an assuming an improvement vs. Joe Milton… which should be a sure thing
 
#73
#73
I hate to be this guy, but 2024 is actually looking to be a potential breakout year for Tennessee again...

I think Milton hampered our offensive (including the line) by his slower speed and inability to move fast. I think Nico can over come that and be more like Hooker under center turning our offense into a well-oiled machine. Nico seems like he could be a Bryce Young or Johnny Manziel type player maker that sparks the entire offense. We also have some well-touted WRs in the incoming freshmen class.

I think the defense is picking up faster players and they may have more experience coming out of the fall. Key for defense is having tighter coverage on the 3rd and long plays. If that isn't addressed, we need to look at a change with our defensive staff.

The schedule only has 2 meaningful road games (Georgia and Oklahoma). Both are likely losses but the other two road games should be very manageable: Arkansas and Vandy.

TN gets Alabama and Florida at home. Florida will still be struggling and won't have home environment this time around. They basically did to Tennessee what they did to Utah last year. Alabama seems more vulnerable now although they really upped their game the second half of this season. I am not sure what Alabama will look like next year.

NC State will be tough but Tennessee just has more talent on both sides of the ball and should win it in a tight game.

Survive NC State and Florida (assuming Florida is in September) and this Tennessee team likely takes off and could finish potentially 9-3 against their slate (look it up). 10-2 is even feasible.

I just get this vibe that things will be better next year. A solid QB can really turn around a team (Joe Burrow, Cam Newton, Johnny Manziel, Hendon Hooker are all examples).
 
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