Why hunt down a high profile QB?

[xpsyclonex2002]

We have a RS QB that was supposed to be top shelf when he was recruited. We have a true freshmen that was supposed to be top shelf when he was recruited. We have a 5* coming in the next class. What's the point of recruiting them if you're scared to play them? Why recruit someone from the portal with the intention of starting them? What signal does that send to those guys? Merklinger is exactly where Nico was coming into the fall except for the bowl game start. McIntire wouldn't be the first true freshmen to start at QB for us. I know that we would prefer to put a proven product on the field but just because some guy knocked it out of the park playing for Northeast Western State for the Infirmed doesn't mean that will translate to the SEC any more than a RS Freshman with a year under his belt practicing with the team. If we pick up someone cheap, sure. Why not add depth? But we shouldn't be out trying to recruit a replacement for Nico with the intent to spend that money. Take the money Nico would have got and get some solid portal players to bolster the team as a whole. We are going to be run heavy again this year. Sure. Pick up a spare QB. With only two on the roster, we are thin. . Pick up a lineman. Pick up a DB. Pick up a spare receiver. But looking to blow that money on another higher profile QB knowing that Faison might look around if he feels like he's likely to sit for 2 years is foolish.

Bottom line is, if you're not going to play the guys you recruit, then stop recruiting them. Just live out of the portal. Steal known talent. Be Ol Miss.

 

[Vols till I fall]

I completely understand what you are saying, however we do still have the lieces around the right QB to go to the playoffs again

We need a developed QB that is an upperclassmen imo.

Doesn't have to be a flashy guy, just a guy who knows what he is doing and won't run out of bounce on the last play of the game vs Arkansas

 

[Tman44]

Yes, you are correct. It would be nice to have some depth though.

 

[Rocky Top T]

You get an experienced QB if you can without a doubt, if the 2 we have cannot beat him out, then nothing has changed for them. They were gonna be backups this year anyway and they knew that. Get a starting QB if you can. No brainer!

 

[VawlIn]

Because we play in the SEC and need one because Merk and Mac currently aren’t capable of taking this team to the playoff this year

 

[VawlIn]

We have a RS QB that was supposed to be top shelf when he was recruited. We have a true freshmen that was supposed to be top shelf when he was recruited. We have a 5* coming in the next class. What's the point of recruiting them if you're scared to play them? Why recruit someone from the portal with the intention of starting them? What signal does that send to those guys? Merklinger is exactly where Nico was coming into the fall except for the bowl game start. McIntire wouldn't be the first true freshmen to start at QB for us. I know that we would prefer to put a proven product on the field but just because some guy knocked it out of the park playing for Northeast Western State for the Infirmed doesn't mean that will translate to the SEC any more than a RS Freshman with a year under his belt practicing with the team. If we pick up someone cheap, sure. Why not add depth? But we shouldn't be out trying to recruit a replacement for Nico with the intent to spend that money. Take the money Nico would have got and get some solid portal players to bolster the team as a whole. We are going to be run heavy again this year. Sure. Pick up a spare QB. With only two on the roster, we are thin. . Pick up a lineman. Pick up a DB. Pick up a spare receiver. But looking to blow that money on another higher profile QB knowing that Faison might look around if he feels like he's likely to sit for 2 years is foolish.

Bottom line is, if you're not going to play the guys you recruit, then stop recruiting them. Just live out of the portal. Steal known talent. Be Ol Miss.

Unless we sign an upcoming sophomore Brandon won’t be asked to sit 2 years

 

[xpsyclonex2002]

I completely understand what you are saying, however we do still have the lieces around the right QB to go to the playoffs again

We need a developed QB that is an upperclassmen imo.

Doesn't have to be a flashy guy, just a guy who knows what he is doing and won't run out of bounce on the last play of the game vs Arkansas

That dovetails into my post. I think we need a guy for depth. Not a splashy name from a well known program. But a guy who could be a reasonable fill in if one of the other two QB's or both get hurt. Finding a guy with the intent to get in the playoffs is a bad recipe in my book. Someone who has never practiced with the team, doesn't know the system, and wants to leave their team is not a plan for success. Us making it to the playoffs should hinge on the play of our young guys, not a new guy.

 

[HooahVol]

I wonder too if we could do the 2 qb thing. Get someone who is great with their legs like Hooker who keeps defenses honest but bring in one of the 4 star guys for passing plays. Similar to what Spurrier did with Tebow and Leak.

 

[xpsyclonex2002]

Unless we sign an upcoming sophomore Brandon won’t be asked to sit 2 years

Well that's my concern. Why bring in an upper class washout if the goal is the playoffs? The only thing that makes sense is someone who has a couple years under their belt. Then we are putting ourselves at risk of missing out on Brandon.

 

[VawlIn]

That dovetails into my post. I think we need a guy for depth. Not a splashy name from a well known program. But a guy who could be a reasonable fill in if one of the other two QB's or both get hurt. Finding a guy with the intent to get in the playoffs is a bad recipe in my book. Someone who has never practiced with the team, doesn't know the system, and wants to leave their team is not a plan for success. Us making it to the playoffs should hinge on the play of our young guys, not a new guy.

So you’re good with going 7-5 this year? Because that’s where we likely end up if we don’t bring in a different QB. You drastically underestimate how important that position is to a success of a team. Also a good coach tailors his system to his personnel. So ideally a QB won’t have to learn a whole new system and Heupel can implement some concepts from their former school

 

[Vols till I fall]

Honestly, kind of like Juan Jennings, I would love to see Boo take sole snaps lol.
He's an athlete and I will never understand why Jennings never got a look as a QB under Butch

Jennings was a BEAST as a QB in HS

 

[xpsyclonex2002]

So you’re good with going 7-5 this year? Because that’s where we likely end up if we don’t bring in a different QB. You drastically underestimate how important that position is to a success or a team. Also a good coach tailors his system to his personnel. So ideally a QB won’t have to learn a whole new system and Heupel can implement some concepts from their former school

I'm not underestimating anything. QB and center are the only 2 guys guaranteed to touch the ball on every play. I'm not convinced starting one of our young guys wouldn't end up nearly the same as starting Nico. I didn't like Nico before all this went down. I don't believe that the talent drop off is that big if anything at all.

 

[VawlIn]

I wonder too if we could do the 2 qb thing. Get someone who is great with their legs like Hooker who keeps defenses honest but bring in one of the 4 star guys for passing plays. Similar to what Spurrier did with Tebow and Leak.

This isn’t madden, 2 QB systems don’t work. Especially in a non huddle based offense. Also neither Leak nor Tebow played for Spurrier and Tebow was used as a short yardage rusher and not really a second QB

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

That dovetails into my post. I think we need a guy for depth. Not a splashy name from a well known program. But a guy who could be a reasonable fill in if one of the other two QB's or both get hurt. Finding a guy with the intent to get in the playoffs is a bad recipe in my book. Someone who has never practiced with the team, doesn't know the system, and wants to leave their team is not a plan for success. Us making it to the playoffs should hinge on the play of our young guys, not a new guy.

Prevailing opinion is that Nico was "mid" but neither Merk nor G-Mac could beat "mid."

So going into a season with QBs less than "mid" and hoping Coach Heupel evaluated his QB talent incorrectly and one is better than Nico seems to be what you're saying.

Vs going out and looking for someone who is at least "mid" for the SEC.

It's obvious. Look for a QB with one year left who has experience and can beat out Merk and G-Mac for QB1 in a fair competition in the Fall.

They'll have EXACTLY what they were going to have with Nico here: a fair QB competition where they can prove themselves better.

 

[HeuperDrive]

we need depth in any case. We can’t roll with only 2 scholarship QBs, we just can’t.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

So you’re good with going 7-5 this year? Because that’s where we likely end up if we don’t bring in a different QB. You drastically underestimate how important that position is to a success or a team. Also a good coach tailors his system to his personnel. So ideally a QB won’t have to learn a whole new system and Heupel can implement some concepts from their former school

Took the words right out of my mouth: I hope people keep this same energy if we decide to go with Merk - who has 9 career passes in college - and go 7-5/6-6. We aren't exactly known for our patience and understanding, and while I don't agree with Basilio on everything he is right in that real life isn't a Disney movie; we aren't rolling out Merklinger and going 9-3/10-2 with another CFP appearance. There is no harm in taking a swing at more high profile QBs... if we don't land one, then we take a depth QB and roll with what we got. But that doesn't mean we don't try to somebody period.

 

[xpsyclonex2002]

Prevailing opinion is that Nico was "mid" but neither Merk nor G-Mac could beat "mid."

So going into a season with QBs less than "mid" and hoping Coach Heupel evaluated his QB talent incorrectly and one is better than Nico seems to be what you're saying.

Vs going out and looking for someone who is at least "mid" for the SEC.

It's obvious. Look for a QB with one year left who has experience and can beat out Merk and G-Mac for QB1 in a fair competition in the Fall.

They'll have EXACTLY what they were going to have with Nico here: a fair QB competition where they can prove themselves better.

Did he beat them out because he was the best player or was the millions of dollars we would be paying Nico to sit on the sidelines influencing that? If Nico was that head and shoulders above the other two, we should cut their scholarships right now.

 

[VawlIn]

I'm not convinced starting one of our young guys wouldn't end up nearly the same as starting Nico. I didn't like Nico before all this went down. I don't believe that the talent drop off is that big if anything at all.

Merk looked bad on Saturday and made some absolutely atrocious decisions. He was late on almost every ball he got out that wasn’t a quick screen and even bounced a screen pass off the grass. I think he’s a talented kid, but he has all of the problems Nico does without the arm talent and athleticism. We just lost 100% of our offensive production from last year after losing our starting WR group, Sampson, Nico, and most of our OL. We lose a significant portion of our 2 deep on the DL from last year and our all SEC corner is coming off a torn ACL and may not be ready to go till mid way through the season or could even end up opting out all together as he will likely be a day 2 pick. This could be a Jeremy Pruitt type of team this year if we don’t get significantly and I mean SIGNIFICANTLY better QB play than what we got Saturday

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Did he beat them out because he was the best player or was the millions of dollars we would be paying Nico to sit on the sidelines influencing that? If Nico was that head and shoulders above the other two, we should cut their scholarships right now.

You think Josh Heupel would play a guy who is not the best QB because of NIL? You think he places what we've spent over putting the best team on the field?

We have bigger problems than our roster if that's true.

 

[DonDiego]

Honestly, kind of like Juan Jennings, I would love to see Boo take sole snaps lol.
He's an athlete and I will never understand why Jennings never got a look as a QB under Butch

Jennings was a BEAST as a QB in HS

IIRC, Jennings practiced with the QB's when he first got to Knoxville. When he saw where he was in the pecking order, he requested to be moved to receiver.

 

[madbamahater]

Having 3 capable QBs and competition is never a bad thing. It's likely the frosh aren't ready, but that may change quickly?

 

[a vol n tears]

Because we play in the SEC and need one because Merk and Mac currently aren’t capable of taking this team to the playoff this year

Not saying you are wrong, but Nico did not make one special play that allowed the Vols to make the playoffs. I actually can’t remember any play he made that I still remember and thinking, that was an exceptional play. No idea what CJH is going to look for in a portal QB, whether a scholarship fill or a sure fire starter. However Nico started as a RS fresh and that is exactly what what Merck will be. If Mercklinger can be mid pack quality, Tenn is basically in position to be just as good.

 

[VawlIn]

I'm not underestimating anything. QB and center are the only 2 guys guaranteed to touch the ball on every play. I'm not convinced starting one of our young guys wouldn't end up nearly the same as starting Nico. I didn't like Nico before all this went down. I don't believe that the talent drop off is that big if anything at all.

I get what you’re saying, but it’s not as much about talent as it is about making the right decision and play and getting balls out on time. Jake wasn’t up to par in either regard on Saturday. Could that be fixed by September? Sure it could, but I’d rather not have to find out if I’m being totally honest

 

[bpalmer28]

I'm projecting that we will have our best OL since 1998. We don't need a world-beater at QB, but with an experienced leader and the weapons we have around him we could make another run at the playoffs.

People forget that Bishop averaged 6.1 ypc last season and I think people are overlooking the athleticism of Peyton Lewis, Mike Matthews, and Braylon Staley.

 

[VawlIn]

You think Josh Heupel would play a guy who is not the best QB because of NIL? You think he places what we've spent over putting the best team on the field?

We have bigger problems than our roster if that's true.

I mean he did play Joe Milton over Hooker, and likely didn’t have any pressure from boosters to play one or the other. You don’t think there’s a chance he could’ve done the same with Nico? Not saying there was a better option last year, but Heupel playing the worse of two QBs because one was the guy he hand picked and the other wasn’t isn’t necessarily something that’s unprecedented during his time here