Recruiting Football Talk VIII

[Pepe_Silvia]

Funny, I think the rest of you are being dense suggesting a portal QB who has only summer camp to learn the playbook is worth $4 mil. I haven't been suggesting we cave and give Nico the money. I've been suggesting we stick to our guns and not overpay for a guy from the portal. If we were unwilling to give Nico $4mil, we don't need to throw $4 mil at a portal QB.

I have zero problems with cutting ties with Nico. He tried to extort the program. But let's all realize, he's not getting dropped because he lacks talent, he's getting dropped for being cancerous. He played well enough to get us to the playoffs in his first year starting. Everyone on here was talking about how he would develop going into next season. And there was every reason to think he would. One of the few highlights of the OSU game was him cracking his helmet, then going right back out there to play. So if we weren't going to pay him $4mil, I don't think we should be saying it's okay to pay a portal guy $4 mil. Save the money for Faizon Brandon.

So many of you seem to be missing my point. Or you just want to pay the next guy, no matter how he plays here, $4mil, just to say eff you to Nico. FFS, there's no need to overpay for a guy IMO. Worst case scenario we just roll with Merk. The only way I'm on board with $4mil is if it is somehow incentive laden, which my understanding is currently illegal. The last thing we want to do is pay $4 mil to a guy who comes in and under performs.

This book chapter you wrote is needlessly long but I just want to point out that nico was shown the door because he was asking for way more than he was worth.

 

[Weezer]

This book chapter you wrote is needlessly long but I just want to point out that nico was shown the door because he was asking for way more than he was worth.

What's the worth of a one-year QB who doesn't know our playbook? I wouldn't think it's $4 mil. What Nico's worth was never my point.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

I’ve never paid attention to Luke Altmeyer but I did enjoy watching him give the gamecocks a loss in their bowl game.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Someone who gets my point. Thank you.

It’s a terrible point. Hoover, Altmyer, etc can all learn this offense in 3 months.

It’s not rocket science

 

[knoxvol52]

My guess is Danny White is on the warpath, because he has repeatedly said how much he HATES leaks. The leak itself never should have happened. And I doubt we ever get to know who the culprit was. But I hope whoever it was no longer has a career involved with Tennessee sports.

Leak or no leak, still wouldn't change what occured. Nico would still be gone...

 

[knoxvol52]

It’s a terrible point. Hoover, Altmyer, etc can all learn this offense in 3 months.

It’s not rocket science

What kind of message does that send to Merklinger and G-Mac? All Quarterbacks have some ego could be a tough pill to swallow if a Portal QB gets the starting nod over two QB's recruited by CJH to come here.

Quarterback and WR are the two biggest egos on Football field.

BTW: both GM and Merk may be fine with a Portal QB starting ...who knows.

 

[TrippieRedd]

What kind of message does that send to Merklinger and G-Mac? All Quarterbacks have some ego could be a tough pill to swallow if a Portal QB gets the starting nod over two QB's recruited by CJH to come here.

Quarterback and WR are the two biggest egos on Football field.

Let them battle it out. I didn’t say the portal QB had to start.

I’m just saying this system isn’t as hard as many think it is, especially if you’re coming from a school that incorporates some of the same elements in their offense.

 

[tyonthefly93]

Watched Avery Johnson highlights last night. No idea if he will come, but dudes got some game.

 

[Weezer]

Let them battle it out. I didn’t say the portal QB had to start.

I’m just saying this system isn’t as hard as many think it is, especially if you’re coming from a school that incorporates some of the same elements in their offense.

If you're paying a portal QB $4mil, he better be starting.

 

[Weezer]

It’s a terrible point. Hoover, Altmyer, etc can all learn this offense in 3 months.

It’s not rocket science

Is he worth $4mil for a year?

 

[RikidyBones]

The ones blaming the NCAA are lazy. The NCAA isn't to blame here. They've been villainized, taken to court about everything and stripped of power by the players. The courts have rendered the NCAA powerless. They can't enforce anything. They were the governing body and everyone cheered each court loss. The judges had zero foresight about their decisions and some of them were outright ridiculous.

This situation is on Nico and his family. That's it. His family went to put feelers out to other schools. His family went overboard with demands. When a report broke out, his family reacted horribly. Nico then decided to skip practice and not answer calls. There is no other finger pointing. Nico and his family were given a contract early showing good faith and trust and they did NOT satisfy their end of the bargain.

Blame is solely on the Nico family and Nico.

 

[RikidyBones]

What kind of message does that send to Merklinger and G-Mac? All Quarterbacks have some ego could be a tough pill to swallow if a Portal QB gets the starting nod over two QB's recruited by CJH to come here.

Quarterback and WR are the two biggest egos on Football field.

BTW: both GM and Merk may be fine with a Portal QB starting ...who knows.

As long as you get a guy that isn't a red shirt fr, they'll be fine. Get a guy that is looking for NFL draft next year and the situation they had coming into the year is the same.

 

[Vols4us]

In the highlights I saw on the youtubes it did look like Gmac played better - was quicker making decisions and had better pocket awareness and maybe a quicker release. I think he’s faster too.

I was there. G-Mac was better by far. Both played in the same scrimmage against the same players, which also allowed for some minor stunting on D.

G-Mac made Hooker type decisions with similar awareness and much better accuracy. Assessed the coverage, looked primary/secondary receiver, slid away from pressure and took off as necessary with quickness.

Merk made Milton type decisions and was throwing high most of the time. That's footwork related, sometimes do to the pressure. That concerns me in the heat of battle. He did not sense the pressure as well, but may have had the worst of it from an O-line blocking sense.

Just one scrimmage we got to see, but I would have expected the exact opposite result, especially with the inaccuracy from Merk. G-Mac's throws cut through the windy conditions better and were spot on the entire time. He was quicker with good cuts on the runs. He made plays.

Like them both though - they compete nd play like Tennessee Vols, giving their best.

 

[UTSuave’]

What kind of message does that send to Merklinger and G-Mac? All Quarterbacks have some ego could be a tough pill to swallow if a Portal QB gets the starting nod over two QB's recruited by CJH to come here.

Quarterback and WR are the two biggest egos on Football field.

BTW: both GM and Merk may be fine with a Portal QB starting ...who knows.

We would never get another top qb recruit ever…JH needs to protect his integrity and trust putting faith in the players he recruited investing that time and trust or it’s all for nothing if he doesn’t…this is a much bigger picture..I wish JH would just roll with what he’s got and mold them how he wants them to be not coming in from high school never playing a down and demanding 4 million because he’s a 5*…these kids don’t have that kind of ego they will listen.

 

[DD4ME]

Because my man @Mrpeabody8888 has been consistent as a heart beat, and he lines up with what reporters are starting to leak here are some of his key quotes combined.

Watch Luke Altmyer here. Not saying he’s worth more, but a name to watch.

Hearing rumblings.

There are some sharks out there. Reps for other qbs are actively reaching out. “What package can you offer my kid?” Body ain’t even cold yet

Remember he was at ole miss before Illinois. He won’t be hard to coach up.

Altmyer would not be a backup.

I’m not against giving Merk the shot. Just hearing reps have already put out feelers from Altmyer camp.

I think he’s what Merk may be in 2 years.

Agree. I’m hearing it was actually the team leaders that put nail in coffin for Nico. In the end, I believe a net positive, and cautionary tail for some of the players on the team. This will be a good thing for the squad.

Same as last night. They are going to get a starter from portal. Cash folks are ready to prove a point in this instance. I still think Luke is leader in clubhouse right now. They are engaging with multiple reps though.

Have not heard his name specifically. But only names I have heard are Luke and Fifita.

 

[DD4ME]

I was there. G-Mac was better by far. Both played in the same scrimmage against the same players, which also allowed for some minor stunting on D.

G-Mac made Hooker type decisions with similar awareness and much better accuracy. Assessed the coverage, looked primary/secondary receiver, slid away from pressure and took off as necessary with quickness.

Merk made Milton type decisions and was throwing high most of the time. That's footwork related, sometimes do to the pressure. That concerns me in the heat of battle. He did not sense the pressure as well, but may have had the worst of it from an O-line blocking sense.

Just one scrimmage we got to see, but I would have expected the exact opposite result, especially with the inaccuracy from Merk. G-Mac's throws cut through the windy conditions better and were spot on the entire time. He was quicker with good cuts on the runs. He made plays.

Like them both though - they compete nd play like Tennessee Vols, giving their best.

Thanks @Vols4us the blocking was my question as that can wildly change what guys look like

 

[Vols4us]

Funny, I think the rest of you are being dense suggesting a portal QB who has only summer camp to learn the playbook is worth $4 mil. I haven't been suggesting we cave and give Nico the money. I've been suggesting we stick to our guns and not overpay for a guy from the portal. If we were unwilling to give Nico $4mil, we don't need to throw $4 mil at a portal QB.

I have zero problems with cutting ties with Nico. He tried to extort the program. But let's all realize, he's not getting dropped because he lacks talent, he's getting dropped for being cancerous. He played well enough to get us to the playoffs in his first year starting. Everyone on here was talking about how he would develop going into next season. And there was every reason to think he would. One of the few highlights of the OSU game was him cracking his helmet, then going right back out there to play. So if we weren't going to pay him $4mil, I don't think we should be saying it's okay to pay a portal guy $4 mil. Save the money for Faizon Brandon.

So many of you seem to be missing my point. Or you just want to pay the next guy, no matter how he plays here, $4mil, just to say eff you to Nico. FFS, there's no need to overpay for a guy IMO. Worst case scenario we just roll with Merk. The only way I'm on board with $4mil is if it is somehow incentive laden, which my understanding is currently illegal. The last thing we want to do is pay $4 mil to a guy who comes in and under performs.

Good post.

People will point to OSU buying a QB and winning the NC. But OSU had everything they needed on the roster before that happened and still lost two games, one against an awful UM team that is their blood rival, before getting their acts together.

We do not have the roster to do that, we lack some talent at several positions. So how you spend the money in the portal matters. A $4 M one and done QB is unlikely to get it done for us. Use it on building the overall roster while developing the talented QB's already there. Make sure that All World QB commitment coming in next season arrives on campus and you have studs on the roster for him to use.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Im watching the highlights of the uscjr vs Illinois game and im now on the Luke Altmeyer train.

5th year senior with sec experience. Good mobility. Good arm. Doesn’t panic under pressure - scrambles and keeps his eyes down field. Won’t be a progresss stopper for our young guys. Draft eligible after this season.

 

[headhunter15]

Just say UT gets Avery Johnson, does that mess things up with Merk, GM, and FB? Johnson is only a sophomore.

 

[Vols4us]

Thanks @Vols4us the blocking was my question as that can wildly change what guys look like

YW - the pocket collapsed on him more it seemed. He wanted to hang in there longer than G-Mac. Some of it may have been because they were playing touch football on the QB's and made him antsy on footwork. But it also collapsed on G-Mac some. He sensed it and got out of there in the right direction every time and did not throw high.

Just one scrimmage, it could change in fall camp. I like both, but if you base it all on the one scrimmage, G-Mac by a lot.

 

[Vols4us]

Just say UT gets Avery Johnson, does that mess things up with Merk, GM, and FB? Johnson is only a sophomore.

It could mess it up bigger than it already will be and for what with FB coming in next season? Avery has not proven to be a world class QB IMO.

 

[scienceteaching_vol]

My guess is Danny White is on the warpath, because he has repeatedly said how much he HATES leaks. The leak itself never should have happened. And I doubt we ever get to know who the culprit was. But I hope whoever it was no longer has a career involved with Tennessee sports.

I could be dead wrong but I think the leak was intentional on our side. They knew he was being shopped around. He was trying to strong arm them into more money. I think Tennessee leaked it and got the exact reaction from everyone they wanted.

I don't think Danny is pissed. I think it was a master move and he's giddy over the results.

 

[CABVOL]

I could be dead wrong but I think the leak was intentional on our side. They knew he was being shopped around. He was trying to strong arm them into more money. I think Tennessee leaked it and got the exact reaction from everyone they wanted.

I don't think Danny is pissed. I think it was a master move and he's giddy over the results.

This

 

[Jackcrevol]

What if it's one of those military clocks?

US Naval Observatory Master Clock ?

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

I could be dead wrong but I think the leak was intentional on our side. They knew he was being shopped around. He was trying to strong arm them into more money. I think Tennessee leaked it and got the exact reaction from everyone they wanted.

I don't think Danny is pissed. I think it was a master move and he's giddy over the results.

Would explain Nico’s dad throwing a temper tantrum on Twitter