Things to keep an eye on the spring

[sjt18]

Everyone around Milton, especially Hooker, praised the work he put in long before Nico showed up. Heupel alluded to his work on deep ball delivery multiple times. I don't think Nico was the "magic pill" that enabled Milton to figure out how to throw the change up.

 

[GVF]

Everyone around Milton, especially Hooker, praised the work he put in long before Nico showed up. Heupel alluded to his work on deep ball delivery multiple times. I don't think Nico was the "magic pill" that enabled Milton to figure out how to throw the change up.

Yeah, but his change-up is still everyone else's fast ball. That clip of him tossing that orange 100 yards at the practice field is not of this world.

 

[lifeisdeep]

Thanks for the write up. Outside of Nico, Seldon may be the jewell of the class. 6'2", 220 pound slot receiver that runs a legit 4.3. I've read somewhere that he benches 370 pound...............wow!

That's freak-level measurables.

 

[sjt18]

Yeah, but his change-up is still everyone else's fast ball. That clip of him tossing that orange 100 yards at the practice field is not of this world.

Remember a Heath Shuler story along the same lines. A family member I believe it was claimed that he threw a ball the length of the indoor practice facility and hit the opposite wall about 10-15 feet up without hitting the ceiling.

Both of Milton's deep balls were fun to watch. He just flicked his wrist on that throw to White. Effortless.

 

[NighthawkVol]

We just finished 11-2 and have a lot of experience and talent coming back! 2023 can be 9-3 to 15-0 imo.
But...I want to spotlight something that can swing the pendulum more towards one way or the other.

- Running Back: with 900 yards and 11 Tds as a sophomore Jaylen Wright is RB1. It took him 18 months to catch and surpass Jabari Small (who is still a starting caliber RB). But now, he has to sit out the spring for his body to recover. Cool BUT....lol
You have a 6'2 220 lbs RB/WR Cameron Seldon that is for real 4.3 speed coming in while he's healing. Wright had a fumbling issue (wrist issue?). That got way better as the season went along. However, what DIDN'T get better is his effectiveness in catching passes out of the backfield. Is there any doubt Cam Seldon will NOT have that issue?? And we've all seen Dylan Sampson do pretty well there. Even lined up in the slot too. Oh and Sampson is that other guy eating all the carries this spring.
So Wright can go from being RB1 right now from a legit Running back competition with 5 guys this fall.
Or...
He can work his tail off to become a complete back after he heals. Observe Sampson and Seldon , and be humble and learn how they catch football so naturally. He wouldn't be the only veteran on the squad that has done that (more on that later)

- EDGE: Josephs and Pearce were both swimming as true freshman, but their talent is undeniable. Can they take the next step??
Well... right behind them are Caleb Herring 6'5 210 and Chandavian Bailey 6'4 225 coming in and both are just as explosive as the previous mentioned 2. How will they respond? My bet is that they take it to the next level. And give us a pass rush we've not had in a while!

- QB: Joe Milton has been here for 2 years. 3 years at Michigan before that. Beat out Hendon Hooker before the start of last season. He had moments of good play as a back up. Hendon made it impossible to get that job back. Cool... he knew still he had his one season (2023). Then comes Vandy game where he goes 1 of 8 on throws for 30 yards or more. SAME OL JOE. Right?? He truly did not have a good game in his 3 total starts until...the Orange Bowl. The Orange Bowl against a top 10 team with a top 10 defense. No Jalin Hyatt of Tillman. Yet he absolutely dominated. Not Bowling Green or Vandy. Clemson!
What CHANGED in his environment from the end of Vandy game to the Orange Bowl?
Answer: Nico Iamaleava. A 6'6 200 lbs athletic QB that was probably the best player in the class of 2023.
In my opinion. Joe had never competed with someone that was AS talented as him, much less that person be 4 years younger than him. It's a reality check! Joe is more talented physically than any QB he's ever competed with yet he would always lose his starting spot anyway. First McNamara at UM and then Hooker at UT.
As Joe has been taking him under his wing. I absolutely believe he has paid attention to Nico's also effortless throwing ability but also the touch that comes with it. Joe has had to humble himself these past 2 years because of watching someone he beat out...take that spot and never let it go. While also becoming brothers with that same player. He paid attention and internalized this experience from Hendon becoming a star...as he is now paying attention Nico while bringing Nico up to speed.
That QB we saw against Clemson can be the best QB in the SEC in 2023. And yes I think him seeing how good and WHY Nico is so good in that 3 weeks of practice has made Joe adapt his ways. Because Joe has the talent to adapt. He had 1 overthrow against Clemson. Now we have 8 month of interaction between Nico and Joe, and Tayven before 2023 season. Either Joe Milton explodes into a phenomenal QB or Nico will be the most ready freshman we've ever had start. Either way, we're still a SEC contender next year....

Great post and discussion starter. This is the kind of stuff I pay you for.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

We just finished 11-2 and have a lot of experience and talent coming back! 2023 can be 9-3 to 15-0 imo.
But...I want to spotlight something that can swing the pendulum more towards one way or the other.

- Running Back: with 900 yards and 11 Tds as a sophomore Jaylen Wright is RB1. It took him 18 months to catch and surpass Jabari Small (who is still a starting caliber RB). But now, he has to sit out the spring for his body to recover. Cool BUT....lol
You have a 6'2 220 lbs RB/WR Cameron Seldon that is for real 4.3 speed coming in while he's healing. Wright had a fumbling issue (wrist issue?). That got way better as the season went along. However, what DIDN'T get better is his effectiveness in catching passes out of the backfield. Is there any doubt Cam Seldon will NOT have that issue?? And we've all seen Dylan Sampson do pretty well there. Even lined up in the slot too. Oh and Sampson is that other guy eating all the carries this spring.
So Wright can go from being RB1 right now from a legit Running back competition with 5 guys this fall.
Or...
He can work his tail off to become a complete back after he heals. Observe Sampson and Seldon , and be humble and learn how they catch football so naturally. He wouldn't be the only veteran on the squad that has done that (more on that later)

- EDGE: Josephs and Pearce were both swimming as true freshman, but their talent is undeniable. Can they take the next step??
Well... right behind them are Caleb Herring 6'5 210 and Chandavian Bailey 6'4 225 coming in and both are just as explosive as the previous mentioned 2. How will they respond? My bet is that they take it to the next level. And give us a pass rush we've not had in a while!

- QB: Joe Milton has been here for 2 years. 3 years at Michigan before that. Beat out Hendon Hooker before the start of last season. He had moments of good play as a back up. Hendon made it impossible to get that job back. Cool... he knew still he had his one season (2023). Then comes Vandy game where he goes 1 of 8 on throws for 30 yards or more. SAME OL JOE. Right?? He truly did not have a good game in his 3 total starts until...the Orange Bowl. The Orange Bowl against a top 10 team with a top 10 defense. No Jalin Hyatt of Tillman. Yet he absolutely dominated. Not Bowling Green or Vandy. Clemson!
What CHANGED in his environment from the end of Vandy game to the Orange Bowl?
Answer: Nico Iamaleava. A 6'6 200 lbs athletic QB that was probably the best player in the class of 2023.
In my opinion. Joe had never competed with someone that was AS talented as him, much less that person be 4 years younger than him. It's a reality check! Joe is more talented physically than any QB he's ever competed with yet he would always lose his starting spot anyway. First McNamara at UM and then Hooker at UT.
As Joe has been taking him under his wing. I absolutely believe he has paid attention to Nico's also effortless throwing ability but also the touch that comes with it. Joe has had to humble himself these past 2 years because of watching someone he beat out...take that spot and never let it go. While also becoming brothers with that same player. He paid attention and internalized this experience from Hendon becoming a star...as he is now paying attention Nico while bringing Nico up to speed.
That QB we saw against Clemson can be the best QB in the SEC in 2023. And yes I think him seeing how good and WHY Nico is so good in that 3 weeks of practice has made Joe adapt his ways. Because Joe has the talent to adapt. He had 1 overthrow against Clemson. Now we have 8 month of interaction between Nico and Joe, and Tayven before 2023 season. Either Joe Milton explodes into a phenomenal QB or Nico will be the most ready freshman we've ever had start. Either way, we're still a SEC contender next year....

Joe has improved because of hard work and getting good coaching. His performance in a freakin downpour against Vandy wasn’t terrible. We ran the ball well and scored 56 against a pretty good Vanderbilt defense. He also never threw a interception this entire year with 157 throws. I am sure having Nico coming in will push him but he has been learning and getting better way before Nico got here. Coaching and Joe working hard on his game are the reasons he will succeed. His development over the year goes a lot further back than 3 weeks with Nico. GBO

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Biggest difference I saw in Milton after Hooker was his willingness to lower his shoulder on a run and deliver a blow verses scampering out of bounds. Saw it a couple of times in the Clemson game. That takes a complete mindset shift.

Dang, I get tired of these URBAN MYTH references that he went out of bounds before being knocked out of bounds. So one more time here is the screenshot of him avoiding contact........

 

[JoAllan]

Caramel

If you take your eyes off for just a second………it will burn.

 

[Golfprovol]

Wtf are you talking about???
It's facts not insanity lol.

Look at his stats and competition from those 3 starts before Clemson.

Taking away from his stuggles BY NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THEM, is not fair to HIS GROWTH.

Including his starts in 2021 is insane as well. He had 3 weeks to learn the system.

His Vandy #'s are comparable to Hookers. His Clemson #'s are almost exactly what Hooker was averaging.

Milton - 251 - 3TD
Hooker 283 - 2.5 TD

 

[Golfprovol]

It's all a theory, right?
But there's a stark contrast to what he did statistically against a top 10 defense
(maybe top 20 with their opt outs?)
and what he had been doing as a starter.

It's mostly evidence by his deep ball. He showed a touch consistently that he had never shown before.
Hurt against Pitt but he was 0-5 for 30 yard passes before that..
BG he was 1-6.
Vandy 1-8.

One thing Nico needs ZERO coaching in is how delivers his deep ball. It's always in stide in the bread basket. No high pointing or diving for it.

Yes everything you said is also true, BUT form personal experience I've seen what im suggesting. Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers is another example.

You can believe it or not, but everyone saw a different QB against Clemson. And Nico being added to the team is the one major change to his environment. It's at a possibility at the very least

How did a true freshman QB with little to no experience against an SEC defense work out for Clemson? And our defense is bottom partof the SEC, imaging that dude against a good SEC defense.

 

[SN-A-C Orange]

Patience is a virtue and speculation is a recipe for disappointment.
A player can go from first string to bench with an injury (Hooker) ... or 5th string to starter (K Bell) ... with improvement, injuries, transfers, and grade or life issues!
Let's be happy we have 4/5 QBs and hope they all stay healthy and improve a lot between now and September.
For those who are only counting to 3 ... here is my current take on the peeking order as of Jan 3rd...

1. Milton
2. Jackson/Moore
3. Jackson/Moore
4. Iamaleava
5. Schuler

Not an insider, so you should view this an iteration. (and for those with a limited vocabulary: iteration is the repetition of a mathematical or computational procedure applied to the result of a previous application, typically as a means of obtaining successively closer approximations to the solution of a problem ... or in simply English ... an edumacated guess.)
Enjoy the off season ... we are now on to basketball (tonight at home against Miss State) and a little further down the pike ... baseball.

 

[NCFisher]

Wtf are you talking about???
It's facts not insanity lol.

Look at his stats and competition from those 3 starts before Clemson.

Taking away from his stuggles BY NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THEM, is not fair to HIS GROWTH.

It's not fair to his growth to characterize him as a lazy bum who only decided to work when Nico was recruited. He has shown improvement throughout the year and had several weeks to work as 1st team QB. His growth comes from continued work on his part and coaching.

Your theory is he didn't care about being a starter - for five years - but now does because Nico...what?

 

[Bloodrunsorange27]

I am curious about the OL. Who takes Carvin's place? Dayne Davis or maybe Addison Nichols? Does Ollie Lane still have eligibility?

I assume the starting lineup is: Mincey, Davis/Nichols, Mays, Spraggins, and Crawford

Who gets in the rotation? Addison Nichols is my pick for 6th man up. Who is #7, #8?

Who is the backup Center? Nichols maybe? Jackson Lampley? Was Lampley really that fragile or was Heup pulling a Lame Kiffin and having him go down every other extra point to buy the D some more rest?

Could be the transfer OL from Texas. Not sure if he will play OT or Guard

 

[GVF]

Remember a Heath Shuler story along the same lines. A family member I believe it was claimed that he threw a ball the length of the indoor practice facility and hit the opposite wall about 10-15 feet up without hitting the ceiling.

Both of Milton's deep balls were fun to watch. He just flicked his wrist on that throw to White. Effortless.

THe announcers were all over those throws, putting it 60 yards down field with literally just the flick of his wrist. It was obvious he was not in full arm motion. I've read where Milton can launch it a good 70-80 yards air time, but never seen clips of it. THat would put him in Jamarcus Russell's world where maybe only those two live. Plus a HS QB I saw a clip of a few weeks ago. To be fair, Russell did it from his knees.

Shuler had a cannon in his own right. Nothing to be ashamed of. I'm sure little Shuler can sling it pretty good too, but he's in company in this QB room that will keep him on the practice squad. Got a good view of him in the QB sideline circle at the OB, and he looks to be a dead ringer for daddy. Would be pretty cool if he were able to get a series on the field before he graduates (in a blowout), for legacy sake.

 

[GVF]

Dang, I get tired of these URBAN MYTH references that he went out of bounds before being knocked out of bounds. So one more time here is the screenshot of him avoiding contact........

View attachment 528886

That clip plainly shows he did not have his shoulder lowered trying to get to the end zone. Big boy like that should have been able to drag that player in there with him.

 

[sjt18]

THe announcers were all over those throws, putting it 60 yards down field with literally just the flick of his wrist. It was obvious he was not in full arm motion. I've read where Milton can launch it a good 70-80 yards air time, but never seen clips of it. THat would put him in Jamarcus Russell's world where maybe only those two live. Plus a HS QB I saw a clip of a few weeks ago. To be fair, Russell did it from his knees.

Shuler had a cannon in his own right. Nothing to be ashamed of. I'm sure little Shuler can sling it pretty good too, but he's in company in this QB room that will keep him on the practice squad. Got a good view of him in the QB sideline circle at the OB, and he looks to be a dead ringer for daddy. Would be pretty cool if he were able to get a series on the field before he graduates (in a blowout), for legacy sake.

Yeah. He's smaller but looks like him.

The guys with that kind of arm strength are rare. Those who actually become "great" QBs are even rarer especially at the NFL level. Wasn't Jeff George talked about in those terms years ago?

Heath was a guy born out of season. He would have thrived in the kinds of O's they run today.

 

[GVF]

Yeah. He's smaller but looks like him.

The guys with that kind of arm strength are rare. Those who actually become "great" QBs are even rarer especially at the NFL level. Wasn't Jeff George talked about in those terms years ago?

Heath was a guy born out of season. He would have thrived in the kinds of O's they run today.

Yes, Jeff George was also one of those rare arms. He made some amazingly deep throws. What set those rare QB arms like George, Russell, Milton apart is how quickly they can get it 75+ yards down field to an open receiver in stride before a DB can get over the top. George had a good career, but the teams that he played for kept him from being great. And I don't think Washington really knew what to do with Shuler. He was a fish out of water at the time. QB's just didn't move out of pocket, and they didn't have the vision to create that around him and be innovative. Shuler would have been better suited out to the left in one of those West Cost schemes that were all the rage, and largely ignored east of the Sierra Nevada's. However, Washington did sink him and bury him from ever being a productive pro QB. THat draft destination was the worst thing that could have happened to him back then.

I'm 57 and seen some arms, whether they led to good careers or quick busts. There are few arms in this company. Several that can stroke 70, like Rogers, Allen, Mahomes, and a few others. But, to push 80 or better it gets thin.

This is the Cali HS kid Matt Morin, that threw a TD 77 yards. Originally signed with San Diego St as a QB, but ended up going to AZ as a tight end. He should have graduated maybe 2 years ago. So, this throw was around 2013ish.

 

[Vol524]

I think some of the improvement we saw in the Orange Bowl from Joe has to do with his trying to coach and help Nico. Sometimes when you are training someone new the trainer will become better because he is more focused on what he is doing and his mechanics. Just for an example of what I mean. When you are teaching the new guy to put an arch on the ball and allow the receiver to go get the ball, the teacher works on his skills as well. Leading by example will make everyone improve.

 

[McDad]

Yeah. He's smaller but looks like him.

The guys with that kind of arm strength are rare. Those who actually become "great" QBs are even rarer especially at the NFL level. Wasn't Jeff George talked about in those terms years ago?

Heath was a guy born out of season. He would have thrived in the kinds of O's they run today.

Good memory. Jeff George was that caliber. The knock on him was his attitude If I remember correctly.

I am in awe of Milton's wrist flick pass going 50 yards with ease. It simply doesn't look possible. If he really wound up and put everything he had on it, I wouldn't be surprised to see it go 80+ yards.

I calculated his pass in the missouri game at 69 yards.

 

[sjt18]

Good memory. Jeff George was that caliber. The knock on him was his attitude If I remember correctly.

I am in awe of Milton's wrist flick pass going 50 yards with ease. It simply doesn't look possible. If he really wound up and put everything he had on it, I wouldn't be surprised to see it go 80+ yards.

I calculated his pass in the missouri game at 69 yards.

It amazes me just as much that guys are catching those deep throws. That isn't as easy as they're making it look.

 

[McDad]

It amazes me just as much that guys are catching those deep throws. That isn't as easy as they're making it look.

If, and I know it is a big "if", Milton can consistently play up to his potential and not make a lot of mistakes, it is possible our offense can be even more explosive and efficient. It boggles my mind to contemplate.

 

[BACKDOC]

Are you smokin' crack? At Vandy, in pouring rain, his offense score 50+ points. His numbers are on the same level as Hookers. He isnt as flashy, maybe that is what you want, but to say he didnt have a good game is insane. It kinda shows your desire for Nico to start which isnt gonna happen.

Allow the true freshman to learn for a season. Everyone saw what a true freahman QB again a SEC defense, not a great one at that, looks like during the Clemson game.

...........not to mention Keyton dropped a long, one just like Hyatt did last year vs Pitt.

 

[mtvols]

We just finished 11-2 and have a lot of experience and talent coming back! 2023 can be 9-3 to 15-0 imo.
But...I want to spotlight something that can swing the pendulum more towards one way or the other.

- Running Back: with 900 yards and 11 Tds as a sophomore Jaylen Wright is RB1. It took him 18 months to catch and surpass Jabari Small (who is still a starting caliber RB). But now, he has to sit out the spring for his body to recover. Cool BUT....lol
You have a 6'2 220 lbs RB/WR Cameron Seldon that is for real 4.3 speed coming in while he's healing. Wright had a fumbling issue (wrist issue?). That got way better as the season went along. However, what DIDN'T get better is his effectiveness in catching passes out of the backfield. Is there any doubt Cam Seldon will NOT have that issue?? And we've all seen Dylan Sampson do pretty well there. Even lined up in the slot too. Oh and Sampson is that other guy eating all the carries this spring.
So Wright can go from being RB1 right now from a legit Running back competition with 5 guys this fall.
Or...
He can work his tail off to become a complete back after he heals. Observe Sampson and Seldon , and be humble and learn how they catch football so naturally. He wouldn't be the only veteran on the squad that has done that (more on that later)

- EDGE: Josephs and Pearce were both swimming as true freshman, but their talent is undeniable. Can they take the next step??
Well... right behind them are Caleb Herring 6'5 210 and Chandavian Bailey 6'4 225 coming in and both are just as explosive as the previous mentioned 2. How will they respond? My bet is that they take it to the next level. And give us a pass rush we've not had in a while!

- QB: Joe Milton has been here for 2 years. 3 years at Michigan before that. Beat out Hendon Hooker before the start of last season. He had moments of good play as a back up. Hendon made it impossible to get that job back. Cool... he knew still he had his one season (2023). Then comes Vandy game where he goes 1 of 8 on throws for 30 yards or more. SAME OL JOE. Right?? He truly did not have a good game in his 3 total starts until...the Orange Bowl. The Orange Bowl against a top 10 team with a top 10 defense. No Jalin Hyatt of Tillman. Yet he absolutely dominated. Not Bowling Green or Vandy. Clemson!
What CHANGED in his environment from the end of Vandy game to the Orange Bowl?
Answer: Nico Iamaleava. A 6'6 200 lbs athletic QB that was probably the best player in the class of 2023.
In my opinion. Joe had never competed with someone that was AS talented as him, much less that person be 4 years younger than him. It's a reality check! Joe is more talented physically than any QB he's ever competed with yet he would always lose his starting spot anyway. First McNamara at UM and then Hooker at UT.
As Joe has been taking him under his wing. I absolutely believe he has paid attention to Nico's also effortless throwing ability but also the touch that comes with it. Joe has had to humble himself these past 2 years because of watching someone he beat out...take that spot and never let it go. While also becoming brothers with that same player. He paid attention and internalized this experience from Hendon becoming a star...as he is now paying attention Nico while bringing Nico up to speed.
That QB we saw against Clemson can be the best QB in the SEC in 2023. And yes I think him seeing how good and WHY Nico is so good in that 3 weeks of practice has made Joe adapt his ways. Because Joe has the talent to adapt. He had 1 overthrow against Clemson. Now we have 8 month of interaction between Nico and Joe, and Tayven before 2023 season. Either Joe Milton explodes into a phenomenal QB or Nico will be the most ready freshman we've ever had start. Either way, we're still a SEC contender next year....

One area to keep an eye on this spring is we have to replace the kicker and punter.

 

[butchna]

One area to keep an eye on this spring is we have to replace the kicker and punter.

Upgrading both. Campbell from Indiana is perfect on Xp’s (hooray!) and almost so on 50+ yard attempts, and the Aussie punter booms em!

 

[Caculator]

One area to keep an eye on this spring is we have to replace the kicker and punter.

Kicker is a done deal, another Jackson product.