Vols Spring Practice #10

[marcusluvsvols]

Excited by Merklinger’s development. I’m no scout, but his high school highlights reminded me of Hendon.

He was outstanding in HS. I agree...lots of fans have forgotten about Jake. He was an Elite 11 QB out of HS just like the other 3 top shelf QBs we have on campus/committed. Both AP and Hubbs have mentioned recently...without being asked about Jake...that since he has changed his throwing motion in the past year (grips the ball completely differently than he did his entire prior playing career) that the ball comes out of his hands with MUCH more power and better accuracy.

Jake will be the next starter after Nico IMO...and will start until he leaves. Whomever loses the competition between Gmac and the #1 QB coming in next year from HS likely transfers. The winner backs up Jake til he leaves. Time will surely tell.

 

[bpalmer28]

Remind me who were his OL in 2020? Trey Smith, Darnell Wright, Cade Mayes, Carvin, Spraggins, Calbert....believe I see the problem

Actually, I think it was Wanya Morris (true freshman), Smith (beast), Brandon Kennedy, Mays (good), Wright (true freshman).

But I was thinking about JG's earlier years. Seems like he was abused.

 

[WillisWG]

Actually, I think it was Wanya Morris (true freshman), Smith (beast), Brandon Kennedy, Mays (good), Wright (true freshman).

But I was thinking about JG's earlier years. Seems like he was abused.

Wright & Morris were both So in 20.


UK Game starters, granted the line up changed a few time due to injuries but JG problem was between his ears not the OL, he reminded me of Crompton in some aspects. Indecisive, held the ball too long and wasn't very good at reading the D.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Maybe we should not set up a yes/no dichotomy of, it's either the QBs fault or the OL's. Yes, sometimes it is one of their's. But sometimes it's predictable play calling. Sometimes a RB misses a key block.

 

[cgrish]

Sounds like we have the makings of a QB controversy. I'm on team Merk.

Merk may be better, but Nico will start regardless of how good Merk is. Hype sticks with his players regardless of their play. Hence Hooker did not start until Milton injury.

 

[cgrish]

His career is ONE year. This fanbase is the most fickle on the face of the planet. His ypc is 12.3. You posted the yards per ATTEMPT stat. Peyton only had a 7.9 y/a his first season.

Peyton was running an entirely different offensive scheme than in todays football. No telling what his stats would have been under Hypes normal offense.

 

[tnvols106]

Nico & Leavitt were the only RS Freshman to lead their teams to the playoffs.
only 4 freshman/RS freshman threw for more yards than Nico, they played at Tulane, Nebraska, and Ball State, Arizona State. not too bad for the qb playing on a big boy squad.
of those four, they all threw more ints.
and his per attempt & per catch were higher than 2 of 4. and barely behind the 3rd.

against the one common opponent they both started against Nico's numbers were better than Archies if you account for him not playing the entire second half. Nico in one half had 174 yards, and 2 tds, and a 87.5 QBR. Archie had 325 yards, 2tds, and a 79.9 QBR playing the full game.

sure he wasn't lighting up the world, but that was never a reasonable expectation. but when you look at the competition Nico was near the top. it was only our fans outrageous expectations that made him not live up to the hype.

No one had outrageous expectations; Nico was a very high 5*. We are not dealing with Kids anymore, they're getting paid to do a job.

He had decent stats last year because of the way we run up the score on our weaker out-of-conference games.

He led his team to the playoffs last year, but there were several better QBs that didn't have the team we did.

After the latest allegations about Nico wanting to renegotiate his contract, it's time to tell him to shut up and sit down or hit the door. I'm sorry, but we can't have our best players threatening to leave in the spring cause they know we can't replace them. This is for players who aren't going to get playing time. If they want more, they have to do it at the end of the year.