What qb should start against UGA next weekend?

Won’t matter either way.
The 4th stringer. Whoever that is. I'm tired of seeing wide open receivers get under and over thrown. At least if its the 4th string QB then we can expect it. Put all the 4th string receivers in to. Then we will not be roweled when they drop the ball.
 
Okay even if Nico loses to UGA as a freshman, it ain’t gonna kill the rest of his career lol
I just think if you make a pros and cons list of things based on Nico starting against UGA, the cons will heavily outweighs the pros.

In other words, unless you think he can be the difference in winning or losing that game, there is much less to lose than there is to gain. And he isn't the difference in us winning or losing, so wait and give him a winnable scenario to go out in his first game.

I know the emotion of the butt-kicking we just took has people on tilt and wanting see changes for the sake of change, but rationally speaking, this just isn't the spot to put the future of your program in. You play the long game with him and his future. You don't emotionally toss him into an unwinnable situation.

JMO
 
Not sure why so many posters think nico would be hurt playing vs Georgia but not Vanderbilt. Getting hit by a 245# end or a 290# lineman is about the same no matter who you play.
Don't think he should start but if the game is out of hand why not give him some snaps? If Milton is injured do we send out Moore or Shuler?
 
I just think if you make a pros and cons list of things based on Nico starting against UGA, the cons will heavily outweighs the pros.

In other words, unless you think he can be the difference in winning or losing that game, there is much less to lose than there is to gain. And he isn't the difference in us winning or losing, so wait and give him a winnable scenario to go out in his first game.

I know the emotion of the butt-kicking we just took has people on tilt and wanting see changes for the sake of change, but rationally speaking, this just isn't the spot to put the future of your program in. You play the long game with him and his future. You don't emotionally toss him into an unwinnable situation.

JMO

I believe the people going crazy are the ones on tilt. I have been consistent in my stance on Nico starting and that was he shouldn’t until it becomes clear we are no longer in the running for the East or a NY6 bowl. As of now, we have not shot at either. So the quality of bowl is basically crap and crap lite.

The only downside to Nico starting, in my opinion, is him getting hurt. However, that’s literally the chance everytime the QB steps on the field.

Regarding playing the long game, getting a start on the 2024 season and Nico era now in 2 final meaningless games is doing just that. Playing and planning for the future.

Unless people are convinced that Nico is gonna go on some massive weight and body overhaul this offseason, why exactly are people concerned about him playing at home against a type of team he’s gonna be playing against for multiple seasons?

I think people are in some denial that the season is still able to be salvaged by winning out…. Sure beating Georgia and extending the Neyland streak is nice but does that really improve anything? No not really. We are still on the outs of a NY6 game with Ole Miss likely to be 10-2.

My two cents is Heupel needs to give the fans something to take in the offseason to calm all these people that have gone full tilt. I love Joe and everything he’s done. But with the main goals of the season fully out of reach and off the table, it’s time to play the long game and let the guy who’s gonna be here for the next two seasons get his starts. Finishing 8-4 with Joe is vastly less pleasing then finishing 8-4 with Nico these final starts. The only con to Nico starting this week is a potential injury that is literally there for any player that steps on the field. I’m not concerned one bit about that. The kid is getting paid a lot to be here. There is nothing but positives for ripping the bandaid off and letting him get his baptism.
 
Not sure why so many posters think nico would be hurt playing vs Georgia but not Vanderbilt. Getting hit by a 245# end or a 290# lineman is about the same no matter who you play.
Don't think he should start but if the game is out of hand why not give him some snaps? If Milton is injured do we send out Moore or Shuler?

Because they think he is fragile and soft and needs to be bubble wrapped until 2025.

Also if people are scared for him to start vs Georgia they sure as hell better not call for him to get mop up duty vs Georgia’s backups. The only difference between Georgia’s starters and backups is experience and experience only. The talent and athleticism is the same. If he is too at risk to play their 1’s, he sure as hell is at risk to play their 2’a
 
Because starting a new qb cleans up this mess.
If Milton deserves to be benched to go ahead and play for the future, you better bench 90% of the starters or get out of here.
 
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all you can say about Melton is he is a serviceable QB, but he is not championship quality. one game it's a scoop six he gives the other team the next it's a pic-six. A six year QB should not throw a pic-six
Interesting take. Happens in every level at all experience levels. That is not to say it wasn't a bad decision.
 
So if we lose to Georgia in overwhelming fashion and Joe has another 70-80% completion and 200-250 yards and a TD or two, how is that a more valuable outcome than Nico getting reps vs a top tier team with lesser stats? Everyone agrees QB isn’t gonna fix everything. But the reps for Nico far outweigh the steady Eddie performance for Joe in a loss….

Everyone agrees we are likely to lose to Georgia. So why are we not playing the guy who is starting next year out of fear for someone who isn’t gonna be here who’s only upside is he might make the loss look better?

I don’t care if lose by 10 or by 30…. The reps and preparation for Nico to start is valuable and helps the transition to him as the starter into 2024
 
Heupel wont play Nico cuz he'll need the "We have an inexperienced QB..." excuse next year in his back pocket if **** goes South. This is the BEST team Nico will face this year until he faces UGA again next year. Let him see what he can do against the best. Nowhere to go but UP!
 
Heupel wont play Nico cuz he'll need the "We have an inexperienced QB..." excuse next year in his back pocket if **** goes South. This is the BEST team Nico will face this year until he faces UGA again next year. Let him see what he can do against the best. Nowhere to go but UP!
Inexperience at QB ain't going to save him if he makes losing a habit to a goof like Napier.
 
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Nico's first start should not be against the two time defending national champs. Are you guys all high?? Stop the drinking or something...
 
Milton should start the rest of the season heck its to late to try something else now and he is not the biggest problem on the team their is plenty of that to go around . UGA has 5 and 4 stars 3 deep . just go out play and keep chopping wood . IMO the coaches do not do the players any favors with a game plan that the other team hasnt seen they do the same stuff every week on both sides of the ball .
 
W

Why get the freshman hurt? It's over. Live by Milton, die by Milton. There was a reason he didn't start at at MI or start last year. Coach H doesn't have anyone else.
I do not understand why he did not get a portal QB but he does love Milton .
 
Nico's first start should not be against the two time defending national champs. Are you guys all high?? Stop the drinking or something...

Yeah because if there is anything that is certain, Nico getting his first starts against the likes of NC State, Kent State, UT Chatt, and UTEP are going to prepare him to go on the road against Georgia and Oklahoma next year.....

It is truly amazing that people are serious concerned about long lasting damage from playing in a game against a team he will face in the next 2 years.... All while this game is 9-10 months away from the 2024 season.... If this guy is seriously risk of having some sort of damage or mental issues that will bleed into 2024, why are we paying him $2m per year?

If Georgia is a loss regardless of QB, what are the logical reasons to no let the guy who is going to be a 2-3 year starter for us to go ahead and get his hands dirty? Outside of the risk of injury, which guess what - is a risk to everyone on the field, there is no downside to playing Nico.....

Take the risk of injury out of it completely, name me 1 risk that we face from Nico getting a start on his starting career this week? You can't. Because QB isn't fixing the defense... So if the porous defense is going to give up 40 points to Georgia, it shouldn't really matter who is playing QB.... And if it don't matter, the reps/experience are more vital to Nico, the future, than Joe who is 3 games away from his college career ending.
 
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I believe the people going crazy are the ones on tilt. I have been consistent in my stance on Nico starting and that was he shouldn’t until it becomes clear we are no longer in the running for the East or a NY6 bowl. As of now, we have not shot at either. So the quality of bowl is basically crap and crap lite.

The only downside to Nico starting, in my opinion, is him getting hurt. However, that’s literally the chance everytime the QB steps on the field.

Regarding playing the long game, getting a start on the 2024 season and Nico era now in 2 final meaningless games is doing just that. Playing and planning for the future.

Unless people are convinced that Nico is gonna go on some massive weight and body overhaul this offseason, why exactly are people concerned about him playing at home against a type of team he’s gonna be playing against for multiple seasons?

I think people are in some denial that the season is still able to be salvaged by winning out…. Sure beating Georgia and extending the Neyland streak is nice but does that really improve anything? No not really. We are still on the outs of a NY6 game with Ole Miss likely to be 10-2.

My two cents is Heupel needs to give the fans something to take in the offseason to calm all these people that have gone full tilt. I love Joe and everything he’s done. But with the main goals of the season fully out of reach and off the table, it’s time to play the long game and let the guy who’s gonna be here for the next two seasons get his starts. Finishing 8-4 with Joe is vastly less pleasing then finishing 8-4 with Nico these final starts. The only con to Nico starting this week is a potential injury that is literally there for any player that steps on the field. I’m not concerned one bit about that. The kid is getting paid a lot to be here. There is nothing but positives for ripping the bandaid off and letting him get his baptism.
My bigger concern...other than injury which is a valid concern as well...is him going out against such a tough, experienced, and talented group in UGA and really struggling and it hurting him mentally more than anything. I hate to see his confidence shattered in a meaningless game he has no shot of winning anyway. Maybe that's a non-issue for him, bit I'm not sure any of us know his mental makeup until he's faced with adversity. I'd just like for his first big test to come after he's warmed up against some leaner competition rather than facing a team like UGA right out the gate.

As for when he should be playing, I was right in line with you on time-frame...as soon as we were out of the running. But because it's UGA we face first once that was decided, I'd still hold him out, or at worst, let him in the game once it's out of hand and there's much less pressure and no week-long leadup to the game where he has to think about who he's facing. We get down by 3 TDs, run him out there and see what he can do.

Just a difference of opinion on when it should happen for him, but we are on the same page everywhere else it seems. I'd be perfectly fine letting him start against Vandy and then get all the bowl reps. I doubt that happens, though. Heupel is married to Milton for some reason.
 
It's not fair to Nico starting him against the #1 team in the country even if it is at home. However, you let him and Milton both know if the offense begins it's blunders especially in the 2nd half, and once again demonstrates stagnation we'll be moving to Nico.
 
My bigger concern...other than injury which is a valid concern as well...is him going out against such a tough, experienced, and talented group in UGA and really struggling and it hurting him mentally more than anything. I hate to see his confidence shattered in a meaningless game he has no shot of winning anyway. Maybe that's a non-issue for him, bit I'm not sure any of us know his mental makeup until he's faced with adversity. I'd just like for his first big test to come after he's warmed up against some leaner competition rather than facing a team like UGA right out the gate.

As for when he should be playing, I was right in line with you on time-frame...as soon as we were out of the running. But because it's UGA we face first once that was decided, I'd still hold him out, or at worst, let him in the game once it's out of hand and there's much less pressure and no week-long leadup to the game where he has to think about who he's facing. We get down by 3 TDs, run him out there and see what he can do.

Just a difference of opinion on when it should happen for him, but we are on the same page everywhere else it seems. I'd be perfectly fine letting him start against Vandy and then get all the bowl reps. I doubt that happens, though. Heupel is married to Milton for some reason.

Well you’ve mentioned one logical response to this so thank you! I get the mental lag a bad performance can cause. My only response is that next week brings Vandy so a much easier drop in opponent to bounce back in the short term mentally. Long term, next season is over 10 months away. I trust this staff and Nico, quite frankly, to shake off any hurt feelings over getting blown out by Georgia. Especially with that being his first of 3 starts as opposed to a season ending start.

Kudos to you for offering logical responses. I just am at the point that i don’t think QB matters in us finishing 8-4 and hopefully 9-4. With that in mind, I don’t think Nico could possibly play bad enough vs Georgia where it impacts Vandy and risks a loss there.

Crowd should be on fire Saturday. Also letting Nico get to experience a big time atmosphere against a top team in Neyland prolly also helps in experience. But you do offer valid concerns.
 
It's not fair to Nico starting him against the #1 team in the country even if it is at home. However, you let him and Milton both know if the offense begins it's blunders especially in the 2nd half, and once again demonstrates stagnation we'll be moving to Nico.

So it’s not fair to Nico to start against Georgia but it’s fair to send him out against Georgia if we fall behind. All while Georgia’s 1’s and 2’s are just as talented as each other with the only difference between them is experience.

Like if Nico can’t start and play against Georgia’s starting D, why is it “fair” to have him play their backups. Georgia simply reloads every year on defense. Their backups could start anywhere else in the country.
 
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Dumb question....ESPECIALLY WITHOUT A POLL.

Joe. Of course. Nico vs Vandy would be interesting but it will never happen barring injury.
 

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