Realistic QB situation

[ThreatLevelOrange]

Milton is 4-0 with no turnovers since taking over. But the offensive production is down, especially on 3rd down. In a those games we are converting less than 25% vs Clemson and 3 overmatched opponents. I don’t see Milton all of a sudden completing a great % of downfield throws. Do we just live with that?

Nico isn’t physically ready, especially with an OL that is struggling to protect the QB. When do we throw him out there anyway (like Bray or Dobbs)?

Moore is a walk-on but likely able to make some throws Milton is misfiring on.

This 3 way decision may be Heupel’s biggest so far.

 

[Voltopia]

3 way? Three way what?

... wait ... are you ... wait ... are you suggesting .. ... that Gaston Moore is somehow a part of the starting QB conversation right now?

 

[bigdaddy]

We need our WRs to catch balls that hit them in the hands. Joe wasn’t bad yesterday. He had a few overthrows but I counted 6 balls the Wrs flat out dropped.

 

[CNCVol88]

You don't pull a QB while we are winning games. That's just asking for a divided locker room, a nervous backup now turned starter who worries he'll lose the job if he's winning but not winning good enough. Milton is the guy until he's not. The WRs have to do their job too. Hooker didn't always look great but the WRs caught the balls.

 

[GrayWaterCanine]

Should look at Navy. He is from App State. They almost beat NC who beat SC. Clearly, that is the best choice.

 

[madbamahater]

Please correct me if I'm wrong. Is Milton undefeated at UT while starting a game and finishing a game? I believe Vols would've ended up beating Pitt in Knoxville 2 seasons ago if Milton wasn't pulled for Hendon Hooker.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

I do think Moore figures in if Milton struggles and Nico isn’t ready. If the offense is stagnant next week in the swamp, I’d rather see Moore try to provide a spark than Nico at this point. Later in the season is a different story.

 

[Vol524]

At this point, there is no decision to be made. The ENTIRE offense was flat yesterday. Sure Milton missed some throws. But, the O line missed blocks and the receivers dropped way too many passes. If the receiver is able to touch the ball, he has a chance to catch the ball. They touched a lot of passes yesterday and caught a few of them. When things go right the QB looks like a PRO. When the offense struggles most of the blame is on the QB. Right or wrong that is the way it is. Sometimes the QB gets way too much credit and sometimes he gets way too much blame. This is cause for concern but to start talking about benching Joe after a couple of bad quarters is crazy. To be honest, CJH knows what he is doing with QB's. We need to trust his opinion and let him do the job he is getting paid to do!!!! GO VOLS!

 

[Fullfillmer]

We need our WRs to catch balls that hit them in the hands. Joe wasn’t bad yesterday. He had a few overthrows but I counted 6 balls the Wrs flat out dropped.

Joe was bad at the start - started out 1 of 7 or 1 of 8. A few overthrows and few thrown behind - maybe 1 that was flat out dropped that wasn't behind the receiver where a trailing defender could impact the catch.

 

[barney]

I really want to see them run Milton more, either through designed runs or improvisation. I know they want to keep him healthy, but I think having him tuck it is going to open up this offense and help him build some confidence.

 

[bigdaddy]

Joe was bad at the start - started out 1 of 7 or 1 of 8. A few overthrows and few thrown behind - maybe 1 that was flat out dropped that wasn't behind the receiver where a trailing defender could impact the catch.

He hit them in the hands bro. They have to catch those. Two were overthrows. Behind or not they should have caught them. Hendon was god awful in his second game last season. But you do yip and hate all you want and call for Nico

 

[butchna]

Please correct me if I'm wrong. Is Milton undefeated at UT while starting a game and finishing a game? I believe Vols would've ended up beating Pitt in Knoxville 2 seasons ago if Milton wasn't pulled for Hendon Hooker.

They didn’t show a pulse until Hooker entered the game.

 

[butchna]

Too drastic and won’t happen, but if they started another QB and brought Milton in every game? They’d be undefeated. His mindset’s always better off the bench. As a starter he gets into his own head and plays less naturally.

 

[Voltopia]

Too drastic and won’t happen, but if they started another QB and brought Milton in every game? They’d be undefeated. His mindset’s always better off the bench. As a starter he gets into his own head and plays less naturally.

I mean, it also helped his mindset that he came in during fourth quarters with the games decided. No pressure, opposing team deflated and tired from chasing people all afternoon, and so on.

 

[TheVolsFrog]

You don't pull a QB while we are winning games. That's just asking for a divided locker room, a nervous backup now turned starter who worries he'll lose the job if he's winning but not winning good enough. Milton is the guy until he's not. The WRs have to do their job too. Hooker didn't always look great but the WRs caught the balls.

Good way to get commits to decommit.
I don't care how we win as long as we win
GBO

 

[CNCVol88]

Good way to get commits to decommit.
I don't care how we win as long as we win
GBO

Commits aren't going to decommit because a player they'll never play with isn't playing to the standard of random message board posters.

 

[RockyTopTexas]

Nico should start next week vs Florida

 

[butchna]

I mean, it also helped his mindset that he came in during fourth quarters with the games decided. No pressure, opposing team deflated and tired from chasing people all afternoon, and so on.

Meh. Doesn’t change that when he lets it flow and doesn’t overthink it, he plays better.

 

[TheVolsFrog]

I really want to see them run Milton more, either through designed runs or improvisation. I know they want to keep him healthy, but I think having him tuck it is going to open up this offense and help him build some confidence.

Yeah I get the feeling they're not wanting him to run. Yesterday I felt he should've pulled the ball down and ran it instead of looking to make a pass.

 

[Voltopia]

Meh. Doesn’t change that when he lets it flow and doesn’t overthink it, he plays better.

Fair enough, you're not wrong. A lot of the symptoms point to overthinking it, both before and after the snap.

 

[TheVolsFrog]

Commits aren't going to decommit because a player they'll never play with isn't playing to the standard of random message board posters.

I'm talking about if coach was dumb enough to sit a player that's winning thinking if he'll do that to that guy, he'd do it to me

 

[CNCVol88]

Nico should start next week vs Florida

It's way too early for you to be drinking.

 

[CNCVol88]

I'm talking about if coach was dumb enough to sit a player that's winning thinking if he'll do that to that guy, he'd do it to me

Agreed. Sorry there's a whole bunch of people on here wanting to just throw Nico to the wolves.

 

[JoeMiltonsAgent]

I really want to see them run Milton more, either through designed runs or improvisation. I know they want to keep him healthy, but I think having him tuck it is going to open up this offense and help him build some confidence.

I agree but wish he would run more like a guy that is 6'5 235 lbs.

Turned down a couple opportunities to run yesterday and doesn't seem inclined to tuck and run much on improvised plays or seek out contact.

 

[sami]

Milton is 4-0 with no turnovers since taking over. But the offensive production is down, especially on 3rd down. In a those games we are converting less than 25% vs Clemson and 3 overmatched opponents. I don’t see Milton all of a sudden completing a great % of downfield throws. Do we just live with that?

Nico isn’t physically ready, especially with an OL that is struggling to protect the QB. When do we throw him out there anyway (like Bray or Dobbs)?

Moore is a walk-on but likely able to make some throws Milton is misfiring on.

This 3 way decision may be Heupel’s biggest so far.

I hate to break it to you, but there is no decision to be made at this point, and hopefully not this season.

If Heupel is forced to go to Nico this season, it is a clear sign we are playing for next year. Anyone rooting for that is a fool.