The Official #8 Tennessee vs. Florida Game Thread, 7:00 PM ET, ESPN

[BigALWiLson]

These morons are top notch. Nico’s completion rate is 67%. That would be third the the NFL, behind Burrow and Brees. Start Gaston!

I think Nico will be fine if they can ever put a decent OL around him. He is just rattled and nothing is consistent. He is playing like he is about to get blasted because he does. The OL is not doing there job. Sure he misses some throws but most of that is mechanics because he is pressing. Sampson is the best player we have right now. I also think a lot of our fans get caught up in Nico being paid. Fact is yes he is paid, however he has played very little football at this level. Routes on air at practice is not the same as live bullets in the conference

 

[KeyVol14]

These morons are top notch. Nico’s completion rate is 67%. That would be third the the NFL, behind Burrow and Brees. Start Gaston!

I realize he's a freshman but he missed two wide open TD passes to Nimrod and squirrel today.

 

[Proud Army Wife]

Wait, am I seeing this correctly? UGA gave up 31 to State?

 

[BigALWiLson]

Agree on Heard as he appears to be a big NIL miss and Campbell can be counted on for 2-3 backbreaking penalties a game. I think the line overall would look ok with competent qb play.

Nico needs time to grow up. He is our guy barring injury. He is learning on the job and he is gonna take some lumps. Coaching staff has to do better in all aspects of the game. Staff changes need to be made as well as a replacement for Heard. His effort is piss poor.

 

[GrizzlyVol]

Watch the game again. Knowing the result may help. If you can’t see the positives in Nico’s finish - you just want to be upset. We beat Florida - enjoy it!!

I'm very happy we won, I don't see any

I just grabbed another Sam Adams October Fest - what are you drinking?

Jack

 

[Hank Bukowski]

That is my fear. Does Heupel's painful experience being blamed and pushed out as OC at Oklahoma make him too loyal for his own good here ?
I would have let Martinez go after last year and Joey Hazle is not the answer at OC. Too conservative. I thought Elerbee was pretty good until now, but the O-line has been awful, our weak link.

I’ve thought the same things, especially about Martinez. He would have been gone after year two if it was up to me. And I’m still not sure who is actually calling plays but, to me, that remains a huge area of concern.

 

[Volhoops]

Way.
If Nico keeps showing such impressive weekly improvement, we should be good from here on out.

Go have a beer and enjoy the freakin' win.

He is regressing and not showing improvement. You cannot beat Alabama or GA with 17 points and you will not make it to overtime.

 

[wmcovol]

Can’t go by that alone. Nico attracted other high caliber players to UT

Nico is far from the highest paid college QB.

 

[CPVOL]

Doubt it. He’s lost.

I felt the same. And it’s not a crutch, but he is a Freshman….albeit an $8M Freshman. His ceiling is there but these play calls aren’t helping him at all.
The in and out of rhythm and constant 3rd and long kills any momentum and eventually he’s pressing.
But the biggest concern I have and have only thought it to myself …. was the Ok game. Proud Army Wife posted tonight the same thing which was he’s not been the same since the Ok game.
Something has changed and I don’t think anyone can put their finger on it. The first two games, he could knock the dust off a gnats ass and now his accuracy is just gone. His decision making has changed and his runs are hard to watch.

 

[GrizzlyVol]

He is regressing and not showing improvement. You cannot beat Alabama or GA with 17 points and you will not make it to overtime.

From the Iowa game to now... totally different player, he's definitely regressed

 

[luthervol]

He is regressing and not showing improvement. You cannot beat Alabama or GA with 17 points and you will not make it to overtime.

Luckily for Vol fans everywhere................you are completely wrong.

 

[give_him 6]

Nico is just not processing things quick enough. This is just my opinion, but I felt at that time that blowing out all of those teams and Nico getting pulled early in the beginning of the season could hurt him for SEC play.

 

[farmdogvol]

Wait, am I seeing this correctly? UGA gave up 31 to State?
View attachment 686535

Miss St is not a good team. How in the world did their offense put up 31 points. Their QB may be the worst in the Conference.

 

[Vol737]

Unable to watch where I am but just watched the highlights on YouTube. Looks like Nico is better rolling out, gives him more time to process. In the pocket with this OL, he’s a turnover waiting to happen. Secondary gave up huge chunks and looks porous, but holding FLA to 17, highlights may not tell the whole story. Does look like we have a lot of guys out of position, though. Offensively, we still just look bad, like we’re running in quicksand. 10 pts against this FLA team going late into the 4th qtr. Jeeez, Heupel, wtf are we working on in practice??? Glad we pulled out a win. Better than the other option.

 

[FanDude]

Watching this game was hard, with that old familiar feeling of Florida games lost in years past. Haply, Tennessee won on this night, and I'm so glad.

We won! Our players stayed in the game, and they won.

 

[luthervol]

He is regressing and not showing improvement. You cannot beat Alabama or GA with 17 points and you will not make it to overtime.

lol.........bama gave up 40 to vandy and ga gave up 31 to Miss St.

I think we'll be okay....especially considering Nico's weekly rate of improvement.

 

[Volhoops]

These morons are top notch. Nico’s completion rate is 67%. That would be third the the NFL, behind Burrow and Brees. Start Gaston!

Sounds like the same comment that used to be on here with JG at QB. He was stats champion and could not run the offense or score points.

 

[207 others]

Being there was magical guys

 

[SmashMouth]

Nico looked great in OT. 1-0 vs Florida.
Peyton 0-4.

Ha! Hell yeah.....I was gonna make a post and tell the truth (probably get banned again), but I like yours instead. Go Vols.

 

[luthervol]

Sounds like the same comment that used to be on here with JG at QB. He was stats champion and could not run the offense or score points.

What's Nico's record as a starter?
What's his record against ranked opponents?
What's his record at home?

 

[volfannga]

Wait, am I seeing this correctly? UGA gave up 31 to State?
View attachment 686535

Kept seeing MS St creep on up. At Athens too. Sure wish our O was playing with more confidence. Would give me hope.

 

[Sandman 423]

lol....Bama escaped at home today to an unranked team......following a loss to vandy.

We beat bama by 20+

As usual, we disagree, but I hope you are finally right

 

[GiveHim6InSC]

What's Nico's record as a starter?
What's his record against ranked opponents?
What's his record at home?

6-1 (Bowl game + this season)
3-0 (Iowa, NC State, Oklahoma)
3-0?

 

[Volhoops]

Luckily for Vol fans everywhere................you are completely wrong.

Prove it. Sheep it up but he is not the stud QB advertised and he is not a fit for this offense. This offense needs a QB that can and will run. Nico is hesitant to run when he needs to. Hinton worked so well because of his legs as well as his arm. Nico right now looks like JG 2.0 standing in the pocket holding on to the ball too long and turn overs.

 

[Vol737]

I just grabbed another Sam Adams October Fest - what are you drinking?

One of my favorites. Hard to beat.