Why the heck not?

#26
#26
And they are bitching about a coach who, when everything he has ever done as a coach stopped working, turned on a dime and changed his whole identity to a run dominated, defensive beast of a game plan. It is a very rare coach indeed who can adapt like that mid season. In a way, what Heupel is doing to patch together wins without a high octane vertical passing game is just as impressive (if not more so) than what he did in 2022.
Folks, Heupel Just WON an SEC game against a top tier defense with 20 points and 100 passing yards. Just stop and let that sink in.
Excellent post. I think Heupel knows JM is not a great (and is probably an average) QB but he is the best one we have at the moment. Heupel adjusted to our players strengths while minimizing their weaknesses. Our WRs haven't been much help either so our passing game is what it is.
We can complain that some of the players are not as good as we think they should be or we can accept their limitations and support them anyway.
 
#27
#27
We most likely win that game with Justin Worley starting. Justin lit it up once taking over from the "you don't know until he gets meaningful snaps" candidate with the 0.1 QBR. Jones was out of his trumpet blowing mind.
When did Worley light it up?
 
#29
#29
It's just not ideal. Sure it could work, but the odds are stacked. What if he comes out and looks like Peterman against UF. You don't come back from that. Not to mention a serious injury derails next season.
Good point. I watched Jonathan Cromptons post game analysis and he brought up one thing I didn’t think about. He said say you move on from Milton and Nico plays terrible. There may not be going back to Milton. Then what? Moore?

Also, I know many don’t like him but I do. Dave Hooker said that everyone in the locker room loves Milton and is behind him 100%. So could benching Milton cause problems in the locker room?
 
#30
#30
Good point. I watched Jonathan Cromptons post game analysis and he brought up one thing I didn’t think about. He said say you move on from Milton and Nico plays terrible. There may not be going back to Milton. Then what? Moore?

Also, I know many don’t like him but I do. Dave Hooker said that everyone in the locker room loves Milton and is behind him 100%. So could benching Milton cause problems in the locker room?
I like Joe. I think he is extremely fortunate this team has an elite run game and pass rush. Can't ask for anything more as a mediocre QB.
 
#31
#31
I like Joe. I think he is extremely fortunate this team has an elite run game and pass rush. Can't ask for anything more as a mediocre QB.
Joe isn’t good. But you are right about the run game. Gotta give Heupel big credit for completely switching his offensive strategy to adapt for Joes struggles. I think some seem to forget that we had the #1 rushing attack in the SEC in 98 I believe.
 
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#32
#32
Agreed....it is simply ridiculous how this fanbase bitches after wins. Even with an excellent track record of knowing what he is doing, so many question CJH and his knowledge of qbs.

🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
I think they have a shot against Bama and Georgia the way they've been playing the last 3 weeks. Nico as a FR will be feast or famine. What if he played terrible and they barely lose to Bama anyway. The what ifs will never end.
 
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#33
#33
Also our loud and very vocal fan base can be rough on players. The last thing Heupel needs is for Nico to make a bad throw or two and 102k booing him as a freshman. I'm sure he hears and see how Milton is talked about. Could be something to what I am saying. Maybe not.
 
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#34
#34
You may be forgetting the heupel and co get to watch nico every day. So they know what we have and they must not believe he’s ready. If it starts getting out of hand that’s when we may see him to give us a spark.
I don't believe that one bit. 2 years ago it took an injury to Joe to get Hendon his shot. Coaches saw HH every day in practice but yet still stuck with Joe. HH was much better than Joe right off the bat, he seized his opportunity and never looked back.
 
#36
#36
It’s a crap situation. Milton isn’t good, I don’t think he’s going to be good. A lot of people arguing for him but he’s had opportunity after opportunity. He just makes bad decisions all the time. Starting Nico at Tuscaloosa though isn’t optimal either.

I think you probably have to roll the dice with Joe bc I believe the team is still behind him. I would definitely reduce Keyton’s playing time though. Those drops are inexcusable when your qb and team are struggling; one was likely a TD.
 
#37
#37
Two reasons
Milton is 5-1 as a starter this year, 7-1 since taking over

Nico playbook vs Milton playbook. The play selection goes down with a true freshman verse a guy who’s been here 3 years.
 
#38
#38
Not defending Joe anymore after the performance Saturday; but just because he is not getting it done doesn’t automatically mean that Nico would necessarily ball out. We are in a transitional window between the recruits Heupel had to work with in 2021 and the recruits he really wanted long term. We all knew that Milton was a high risk/high reward proposition. Unfortunately he hasn’t lived up to our high hopes, fortunately he had only one loss since taking over for Hendon. The three picks in the last two games are troubling but they haven’t cost us a game so far.
If we can get serviceable numbers from Joe (including some of the hard hitting runs he finally started uncorking in the second half) and continue a bruising ground attack, we should be able to finish a decent season and set the groundwork for the next era of Tennessee football
I agree. But, Joe is only going to lower his head to run over small/little DB’s. He is not going to man up against a defensive player of comparable or even slightly less stature compared to him.

Looked like an idiot stepping out of bounds AGAIN instead of getting first down and even worse when he did run over that small DB then jump up like he accomplished something!

Shades of Ole Miss may never fade for him.
 
#39
#39
We most likely win that game with Justin Worley starting. Justin lit it up once taking over from the "you don't know until he gets meaningful snaps" candidate with the 0.1 QBR. Jones was out of his trumpet blowing mind.
Worley was awful QB for trying to run a RPO offense. 98% he handed it off and he couldn’t throw it deep. He was the SC player of the year over Clowney and never got recruited by SC or Clemson.
 
#40
#40
I don't believe that one bit. 2 years ago it took an injury to Joe to get Hendon his shot. Coaches saw HH every day in practice but yet still stuck with Joe. HH was much better than Joe right off the bat, he seized his opportunity and never looked back.
So what you're saying is we have a coaching problem, right? It's not a problem with Milton, really, but you don't think Heupel knows what he's doing.
 
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#41
#41
I agree. But, Joe is only going to lower his head to run over small/little DB’s. He is not going to man up against a defensive player of comparable or even slightly less stature compared to him.

Looked like an idiot stepping out of bounds AGAIN instead of getting first down and even worse when he did run over that small DB then jump up like he accomplished something!

Shades of Ole Miss may never fade for him.
He ran over their All SEC linebacker and knocked him out of the game. Go watch it
 
#42
#42
Idk man they're 7-1 with Joe and they didn't lose to Florida because of him. They lost because of Mays out and the defense.
Nah. It’s time for us to stop this poor, pitiful vol mentality. Our program should expect greatness. It’s not all on joe. But every once in a while a QB has to put the team on his back and make things happen. Joe doesn’t have that.
 
#43
#43
So what you're saying is we have a coaching problem, right? It's not a problem with Milton, really, but you don't think Heupel knows what he's doing.
I think he’s saying sometimes someone needs an opportunity to show what they can truly do. Some people practice great, crumble in games, and vice versa. You’re trying to spin it otherwise.
 
#44
#44
Nobody knows what he is getting paid. Also, there are factors you and others obviously just don’t take into account in the QB situation. We are 5-1. Face the facts. Milton is the QB and will be unless he gets injured or starts costing us ballgames.
I prefer to fix the problem before it becomes the problem. Proactive, not reactive comes to mind.
 
#45
#45
I think he’s saying sometimes someone needs an opportunity to show what they can truly do. Some people practice great, crumble in games, and vice versa. You’re trying to spin it otherwise.
I'll agree. That opportunity has to be earned by beating someone out ahead of you (determined by the coach) or by injury.

He's actually suggesting Heupel screwed up in starting Milton previously. He's insinuating our coach can't judge QBs.
 
#46
#46
I keep hearing everyone say that it would be foolish to start a true freshman in Tuscaloosa and my question is "Why?" He is a 5 Star and he is getting paid big money to deliver big performances like SEC road wins. The truth is we have no clue what he is capable of playing meaningful snaps with the starters. What would it hurt to roll the dice and start him the first drive and see what he can do? We know what we have with Joe. He is struggling. It is what it is. But Nico is still an intriguing mystery.
Here is a different take completely. Gaston Moore is a redshirt Junior and played for Coach Hype at UCF. He understands the offense. If he could just let all of our skill players show their talents while he runs the offense and throws the same short passes they are allowing Joe to throw, we would have as good or a better chance. I have pulled for Joe since day one, but it’s clear that he can’t handle the position. The coaches are literally calling plays around Joe.
 
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#47
#47
I'll agree. That opportunity has to be earned by beating someone out ahead of you (determined by the coach) or by injury.

He's actually suggesting Heupel screwed up in starting Milton previously. He's insinuating our coach can't judge QBs.
I didn’t take it that way. Sometimes people just perform well on the big stage. As he already mentioned look at the hooker/Milton situation. Milton was the starter. He obviously looked better in practice. When hooker got his shot he balled out. Where would we have been without the Milton injury? Who knows if hooker would’ve ever got the shot.
 
#48
#48
I didn’t take it that way. Sometimes people just perform well on the big stage. As he already mentioned look at the hooker/Milton situation. Milton was the starter. He obviously looked better in practice. When hooker got his shot he balled out. Where would we have been without the Milton injury? Who knows if hooker would’ve ever got the shot.
So, you tell your starter, "hey look, Joe, you're just not that good so I'm going to see what Nico can do."

If Nico doesn't work out, you've told the entire team you don't believe in your starter.
 
#49
#49
I'll agree. That opportunity has to be earned by beating someone out ahead of you (determined by the coach) or by injury.

He's actually suggesting Heupel screwed up in starting Milton previously. He's insinuating our coach can't judge QBs.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I think Joe earned himself a short leash last week. I have no clue who will back him up, but I know based on play calling our coaches did not trust Joe after his decision making last week. Play calling blatantly showed us that. I hope he proves me wrong next week.
 
#50
#50
I keep hearing everyone say that it would be foolish to start a true freshman in Tuscaloosa and my question is "Why?" He is a 5 Star and he is getting paid big money to deliver big performances like SEC road wins. The truth is we have no clue what he is capable of playing meaningful snaps with the starters. What would it hurt to roll the dice and start him the first drive and see what he can do? We know what we have with Joe. He is struggling. It is what it is. But Nico is still an intriguing mystery.
Milton has lost 1 game for us in his last 8 attempts. If we get more pis called and keyton didn't drop his balls our teams and his numbers would look better. I mean nimrod got behind their dbs every time. I think we need to boot Thornton and let webb play the slot some with white.
 
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