Can someone explain to me why Merklinger or MacIntyre can't be QB1?

#126
#126
LegionnaireOfTheMiserable said:
In that particular instance against UTSA, he shouldn’t have played after he got hurt. We were up big. Then he stinks up the joint and let them get back into it.

However, I will say that we saw in September that Joe was not the answer, and every game he played after that was a wasted of reps for Nico. I absolutely believe Nico should have played, not because he was great, but because Joe wasn’t good enough and never would be.
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Ok, but that presumes Nico would have been better. His 2024 season doesn't reflect that, even though he looked ready to play in the Iowa game, but then so did Joe in the Clemson game. Actually Nico fares slightly worse statistically - they're nearly identical - and didn't improve meaningfully over the season. Nico hasn't proven he'll ever be good enough.

Anyway, back to the point; it's unsubstantiated meme-weaving to assert Heupel wouldn't have sat Joe during 2022 if not for Milton's injury. Or that there's a larger, blind loyalty-to-the-starter problem there.

Yet.
 
#128
#128
VFL9798 said:
Go back and look at their recruiting profiles. Both guys had around 30 offers so they were highly recruited but to ask them to be the starter immediately is not always common. Most true freshman will redshirt a year and then sit the bench a year or two before taking the reins which was the vision for these two. Some programs like Nebraska need to start a true freshman because they’re desperate for wins … but for a program like Tennessee, we need a guy with experience to deliver success immediately. Big reason why Josh Heupel recruited Hendon and Joe his first year so he wouldn’t have to play Harrison Bailey
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Merk isn’t a true freshman.
 
#131
#131
NCFisher said:
Even more, I recall criticism of Hooker as a wash out from VaTech who wouldn't cut it in the SEC.

It's tough being a fan coach.
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The scary part is Heupel benched Hooker after seeing and comparing him to Milton. Heupel does not seem to be the QB whisperer some think he is as how much did Hooker and Milton have success based on their own variables versus what Heupel imparted? I for one am not sure but Nico did not set the world on fire after being with us for two years.
 
#134
#134
gobigorange91 said:
Can someone please explain to me why it seems like both national media and local media think there is just no way that a redshirt freshman who was the 13th best QB or true freshman who was 17th best QB just don't stand a chance this year? I get that they are "unproven" but I mean did Nico really prove much last year? His numbers were not great and everyone would point to that. Did he have the physical tools? Sure, but so did Joe Milton and he just could never put it together in three years in the program. Why is everyone so sure Nico would have but these other highly ranked guys couldn't. Why do we need to go get some "proven guy" with maybe a year under his belt in a different system to come in and start over a guy who will have been here a year and a half by the time the season starts. So basically if your not a five start you need at least three years in the system to be good? It's like people wanting you to have experience for the job but if you never get the opportunity to get experience how can you ever prove yourself? I'm just so sick of this narrative that they will be this huge drop off from Nico. I'm not buying it. They can do good. They can lead us to wins. Why in the world would you come here as a highly ranked QB if you couldn't do the job. Why did we bring them in if they can't do the job? How many great QBs have we seen that were ranked where those two were out of high school or lower. Why can't they do it? Why do they need to sit three years before they can do it? Sorry I'll quit ranting. These guys can produce this year. I believe it. I hope one of them goes out and proves absolutely everyone wrong. Go Vols!
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Hype dont trust them. Easy answer. He would not have said Saturday they will look for one on portal
 
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#135
#135
How many TD's did NIco throw in SEC play? Merk didnt separate himself because Nico was the assumed starter. We are talking about a guy who had offers from 8 sec schools. Will there be a drop off? I dont think as much as many think. Does he have the cast to support him.
 
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#136
#136
Remy said:
The scary part is Heupel benched Hooker after seeing and comparing him to Milton. Heupel does not seem to be the QB whisperer some think he is as how much did Hooker and Milton have success based on their own variables versus what Heupel imparted? I for one am not sure but Nico did not set the world on fire after being with us for two years.
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He didn't bench Hooker; both were auditioning in practice for the part. Consensus seems that Milton practiced well, and he thought Joe had more potential. Again, Milton's gametime appraisal literally amounted to just 5 quarters prior to injury.

Heupel's going into his 5th season, now void of Pruitt players. Still short 2-3 players due to Pruitt infractions, but we'll have a better view of his era over the next couple seasons. Hard to fault him much, thus far.
 
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#138
#138
BigOrangeTrain said:
Here it is in a nutshell. Here in VN we have some fans that have seen them in very limited action and they just assume neither are ready. GMac does need weight but I fully think Merk is ready to take the reins. People seem to forget that Merk had a pretty successful HS career and he is more athletic than Nico.
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He's quicker and faster?
 
#141
#141
It does. If confident in either 2. You dont challenge them pubicly. You stay quite and get the best you can. But we are basically advertising a chance to play at a top 10 university with argueably the best fans and great pay..its pay for play. Any qb outside of sec can prob get 2 mill of a p4 starter. G5 maybe 500 and a chance to start. In Hype we have to trust. Nega vols be dammed
 
#143
#143
gobigorange91 said:
Can someone please explain to me why it seems like both national media and local media think there is just no way that a redshirt freshman who was the 13th best QB or true freshman who was 17th best QB just don't stand a chance this year? I get that they are "unproven" but I mean did Nico really prove much last year? His numbers were not great and everyone would point to that. Did he have the physical tools? Sure, but so did Joe Milton and he just could never put it together in three years in the program. Why is everyone so sure Nico would have but these other highly ranked guys couldn't. Why do we need to go get some "proven guy" with maybe a year under his belt in a different system to come in and start over a guy who will have been here a year and a half by the time the season starts. So basically if your not a five start you need at least three years in the system to be good? It's like people wanting you to have experience for the job but if you never get the opportunity to get experience how can you ever prove yourself? I'm just so sick of this narrative that they will be this huge drop off from Nico. I'm not buying it. They can do good. They can lead us to wins. Why in the world would you come here as a highly ranked QB if you couldn't do the job. Why did we bring them in if they can't do the job? How many great QBs have we seen that were ranked where those two were out of high school or lower. Why can't they do it? Why do they need to sit three years before they can do it? Sorry I'll quit ranting. These guys can produce this year. I believe it. I hope one of them goes out and proves absolutely everyone wrong. Go Vols!
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Because at this point in their careers they aren’t good enough
 
#146
#146
gobigorange91 said:
Can someone please explain to me why it seems like both national media and local media think there is just no way that a redshirt freshman who was the 13th best QB or true freshman who was 17th best QB just don't stand a chance this year? I get that they are "unproven" but I mean did Nico really prove much last year? His numbers were not great and everyone would point to that. Did he have the physical tools? Sure, but so did Joe Milton and he just could never put it together in three years in the program. Why is everyone so sure Nico would have but these other highly ranked guys couldn't. Why do we need to go get some "proven guy" with maybe a year under his belt in a different system to come in and start over a guy who will have been here a year and a half by the time the season starts. So basically if your not a five start you need at least three years in the system to be good? It's like people wanting you to have experience for the job but if you never get the opportunity to get experience how can you ever prove yourself? I'm just so sick of this narrative that they will be this huge drop off from Nico. I'm not buying it. They can do good. They can lead us to wins. Why in the world would you come here as a highly ranked QB if you couldn't do the job. Why did we bring them in if they can't do the job? How many great QBs have we seen that were ranked where those two were out of high school or lower. Why can't they do it? Why do they need to sit three years before they can do it? Sorry I'll quit ranting. These guys can produce this year. I believe it. I hope one of them goes out and proves absolutely everyone wrong. Go Vols!
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Tell them this is your team now. Prove they’re worthy of you by working your tail off in the off season and then go out and win the QB1 job in the fall. We are going to cut the reins in fall and let you rip it.
 
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#147
#147
UTodd01 said:
Not sure Merk is as good as the fan base wants to believe. Hope I'm wrong there. GMac looks like a hell of a prospect, but shouldn't be starting this year.
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And why not if he is performing better? And I don't know if he is or not, but if so go with him.
 
#148
#148
LegionnaireOfTheMiserable said:
Well we pushed Nico out so we did cut the losses. I just think it’s a little simpleminded to say “Nico was still the starter so the backups must suck.” The backups may very well suck, but you are kidding yourself if you don’t think that their being backups was only based on how everyone looked in Spring Practice and that alone.
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From all the reports I read about spring training they both looked better than Nico. I wasn't there just from reading about the sessions.
 
#149
#149
DaddyChad said:
Favorable home schedule last season. Remind me again how he fared on the road?

Again I have no issue with Merk or Mac. Both are going to be good qbs. I’m just not sure they’re ready right now and this team is a contender if we can figure out the qb position.
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I just don't see us getting a good qb in this portal. I don't really know who is available.
 
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