The QB doesn’t matter against UGA, the OL does

#52
#52
GVF said:
Not being on scholly was his call I believe. Pretty sure he turned down the scholly and told them he didn't need it and use it on someone that did. It was either him or Brooks. Or both. Moore is the one who has helped other teammates manage their NIL ventures and money and helped others set up to get NIL, etc., while the collective was getting its footing. He's a student mastermind at it. That was news during his first season or two here with CJH. Players would go to him for the help.

As to your point #2, how many Walk-on senior QB's are good enough to be sitting at #2 in the pecking order on an SEC team, especially knowing #3 is Mecklinger.
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I've no doubt Moore is a competent QB and none of us doubt Merk has a much higher ceiling but Merk isn't Caleb Williams and ready to take over for Nico like Williams did for Rattler, apparently.

One could take the opinion of how good is Merk really as a freshman if he can't take #2 from Moore? I don't see it that way. I see UT as lucky to have Moore so Merk wouldn't be tossed to the wolves as a first time starter, true freshman in Athens.

I'm very glad Moore has stayed at UT -IF- he felt he could start at a decent D1 school and doubly so if he turned down a scholarship. I just can't go with the narrative of: We'll be fine with Moore against GA. That seems very unlikely.
 
#54
#54
BigALWiLson said:
I love you all but Gaston isn't beating Georgia. He is serviceable but he can not put the ball in the windows needed to beat UGA. Nico can...
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If we hold them to 10 points like Ole Miss did, we can.

If we hold them to 13 points like Kentucky did, we can.

Unfortunately, those were road games for UGA. They haven't scored fewer than 30 at home, but they haven't faced the Vols yet either.

If Gaston can put together three drives resulting in 13-17 points and we get a turnover on Georgia's side of the field resulting in a touchdown, that's 20-24 points and that could very well be enough to win.
 
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#55
#55
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
I've no doubt Moore is a competent QB and none of us doubt Merk has a much higher ceiling but Merk isn't Caleb Williams and ready to take over for Nico like Williams did for Rattler, apparently.

One could take the opinion of how good is Merk really as a freshman if he can't take #2 from Moore? I don't see it that way. I see UT as lucky to have Moore so Merk wouldn't be tossed to the wolves as a first time starter, true freshman in Athens.

I'm very glad Moore has stayed at UT -IF- he felt he could start at a decent D1 school and doubly so if he turned down a scholarship. I just can't go with the narrative of: We'll be fine with Moore against GA. That seems very unlikely.
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Exactly. And in time they will likely have to have packages for Merck to try and keep him here. They needed his red-shirt to put eligibility separation between him and Nico.

I agree with all your post, except I have a more positive feeling about Moore verses UGA. THIS YEARS UGA to be exact. Not a normal UGA product. Beck is a head case now whatever happened to him, and their DB's are off, a well as the O-Line. And Beck's issues could be a locker room issue because of him, but that'll never come out clearly. It's an anomally there this season and they have escaped paying for it. Unless they came to Jesus this week, it is no where near the team that beat Texas. They only truly dominated Clemson and Auburn. I don't consider 14 points on the current UF program and 10 points on State to be impressive at all. And UK was only 1 point. All 3 of those games were close enough to end in disaster for UGA if a few things had fell the other way.

The unknown is whether or not Kirby is upping Stockton's reps this week for a possible switch, or platooning if necessary. Then, I'd get concerned. Kid probably should have already been promoted and he is a really good, and mobile, QB. Huge HS stats passing and running, and good mop up duty action.

And maybe Moore is just a loyal CJH kinda player. I'm sure he could have started at plenty of FCS, and a decent selction of G% places.
 
#56
#56
UneducatedGuess said:
Nico’s biggest weakness this year has been holding the ball a touch too long. He has unmatched precision and intent with his throws however. The game seemed to be slowing. He seemed to realize he has legs.

Gaston has a weaker arm but seems to be more decisive (a bit heroic and optimistic at times)

But none of these attributes will matter if we can’t handle the pressure. Georgia will press us and force us to prove that we can handle the blitz.

I hope we are rolling pockets to help move our QBs. Georgias defense is still a bunch of dudes that can absolutely fly. We can’t expect to just hand it off.

We have to pass to run in this game.

We got absolutely out coached last time we were in Athens, hopefully we learn from it.

I don’t think our O Line can win straight up. We need scheme help
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True, and that's just the first year starting in him. I have noticed that as well.
 
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#57
#57
BigALWiLson said:
Do you see pro potential in Moore ? Big difference
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Pro potential not a requirement to be a good or serviceable college QB. Or even successfull. Honestly, I don't see pro potential in Vandy's QB, but he has certainly elevated their offensive play quite a bit for Vandy.
 
#59
#59
NO SIR EEE said:
Ole Miss laid the blueprint. Heup and company are surely studying that film in order to continue to exploit UGA.
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The difference is UGA O Line was hesitant the crowd noise got to them @ OM, UGA looked a lot like UT Line in 2022 at UGA. I’m just saying you’ll see a different UGA in Athens than on the road. JMO If we were at home we would win with the stadium noise. UGA is different this year from the last 4 years, they are vulnerable.
 
#60
#60
BigALWiLson said:
Because Georgia is going to key on Sampson and load the box. Moore will not be able to fit the ball in the windows of Georgia's defense. And if he does I will eat all kinds of crow raw. Guy I have hope but it isn't blind.
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I'm not going on blind hope, but I'm very confident having to go to Moore is not a death sentence. I think he will show he is very capable, just as he did last week. In limited play at UT, his QBR is quite decent by the way. And he certainly looked to be the cool cat. I don't see him being intimidated. He had good passes on roll outs. He was very close on deep shots for someone who has very limited play. I'm also not blind that Nico is the second coming yet. We don't have good stats this year for a Heup offense. If it weren't for our 20 point defense, we'd be tanked this year already. And yes Nico is a freshman QB, but I'd think we'd have seen him pick it up more than he has this point in the season. The State game was the first game he showed sign of lighting it up. not all has been on him. WR corp as a whole has not helped him out at all for what should be the top WR corp in the country as a group. Having said that, I don't think we have schemed Kitz as well as we could have either.
 
#62
#62
sechamp2012 said:
The difference is UGA O Line was hesitant the crowd noise got to them @ OM, UGA looked a lot like UT Line in 2022 at UGA. I’m just saying you’ll see a different UGA in Athens than on the road. JMO If we were at home we would win with the stadium noise. UGA is different this year from the last 4 years, they are vulnerable.
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The fact we are playing at UGA after a UGA whipping wasn't going to aid Nico either. Saving grace is whatever is wrong with UGA this year cannot be fixed in one week. If they beat us at home, as they should, it'll be on a one week high. Their concerns going into the game should be larger than ours regardless of location though.
 
#63
#63
If Moore does have to start, best possible game plan is to come out first series slinging guns and let them know we aren't going into a shell casue of a back-up. Rattle them early. First defensive series, we need to be all over Beck and take his head out of the game on an ugly 3 and out. He will be easy to rattle if we get him hard and early. his head ain't right at all.
 
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#65
#65
UneducatedGuess said:
Nico’s biggest weakness this year has been holding the ball a touch too long. He has unmatched precision and intent with his throws however. The game seemed to be slowing. He seemed to realize he has legs.

Gaston has a weaker arm but seems to be more decisive (a bit heroic and optimistic at times)

But none of these attributes will matter if we can’t handle the pressure. Georgia will press us and force us to prove that we can handle the blitz.

I hope we are rolling pockets to help move our QBs. Georgias defense is still a bunch of dudes that can absolutely fly. We can’t expect to just hand it off.

We have to pass to run in this game.

We got absolutely out coached last time we were in Athens, hopefully we learn from it.

I don’t think our O Line can win straight up. We need scheme help
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Actually the QB matters. So does the OLine. It’s a team sport.
 
#67
#67
Shite post is shite

QB is the most important position on the field.

And now vs UGA, it is massive. You either have top QB play or you don't beat UGA.
 
#68
#68
UneducatedGuess said:
Nico’s biggest weakness this year has been holding the ball a touch too long. He has unmatched precision and intent with his throws however. The game seemed to be slowing. He seemed to realize he has legs.

Gaston has a weaker arm but seems to be more decisive (a bit heroic and optimistic at times)

But none of these attributes will matter if we can’t handle the pressure. Georgia will press us and force us to prove that we can handle the blitz.

I hope we are rolling pockets to help move our QBs. Georgias defense is still a bunch of dudes that can absolutely fly. We can’t expect to just hand it off.

We have to pass to run in this game.

We got absolutely out coached last time we were in Athens, hopefully we learn from it.

I don’t think our O Line can win straight up. We need scheme help
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Disagree..Ga struggles with mobile QB's. We aren't beating them with Moore, just isn't happening. Doubt it happens with Nico, but atleast we have a shot with Nico. The Oline definitely needs to step up too. But QB is a huge determining factor.
 
#69
#69
Daniel_Lincolns_Foot said:
I've noticed, but it's not holding on to the ball too long more than it is not realizing that he needs to take off and run.

Hooker was a master at *quick read* *quick read* *run*

I think Nico lets the play take too long to develop, and Heupel's offense really can't work that way. If the read isn't there, you run and get the yards you can.
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I agree with you. But, Hooker was a fifth year and sixth year player under Heupel. Let's hope Nico can play as good or better than Hooker his second or third year. Assuming he is around that long. He has a ton of talent. But, I am not sure he has it between the ears like Hooker did. Let's hope he does! If so, the sky is the limit for Nico and UT on offense!
 
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#70
#70
titansvolsfaninga said:
Why not? If he protects the ball and manages the game we'll, he definitely can beat UGA. You guys view UGA as some 85 Bears 2000's Ravens defense. They're not that this year. The hunger and leadership is gone.
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We really can't, not with Moore. You beat GA with a mobile QB, Moore is not that. I honestly think this is the 1st game we give up 20+. Not to mention our Rd record under Heupel isn't great. We couldn't even beat Ark on the road and holding them to 19 pts. We struggled with Fla and KY. I hope I'm wrong, but I see us losing by 17+.
 
#71
#71
titansvolsfaninga said:
What do you think the other teams do? It's no secret that we run the ball. We execute, we win individual assignments in the run game, hit a pass or two, and we win. Have you not watched the games? We will still run or use short passes.
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Teams don't load the box every play with Nico. Maybe half the time, if that. Ga will load it 99% of the time if Moore starts.
 
#72
#72
UneducatedGuess said:
Nico’s biggest weakness this year has been holding the ball a touch too long. He has unmatched precision and intent with his throws however. The game seemed to be slowing. He seemed to realize he has legs.

Gaston has a weaker arm but seems to be more decisive (a bit heroic and optimistic at times)

But none of these attributes will matter if we can’t handle the pressure. Georgia will press us and force us to prove that we can handle the blitz.

I hope we are rolling pockets to help move our QBs. Georgias defense is still a bunch of dudes that can absolutely fly. We can’t expect to just hand it off.

We have to pass to run in this game.

We got absolutely out coached last time we were in Athens, hopefully we learn from it.

I don’t think our O Line can win straight up. We need scheme help
Click to expand...
 
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