Aguilar's experience vs his passing yards totals

[TNTodd]

He did throw some bad interceptions, but several were tipped from the hands of a receiver that should have caught it. Others were 50/50 balls thrown down the field because they were losing and trying to get back into the game. Some were 50/50 balls in the end zone trying to come from behind.
You are going to have more interceptions when you are always playing from behind trying to force it down field. Heupal makes a lot of quick safe throws, especially with guys that miss down field a lot. I think some of the interceptions can be cleaned up with heupal pushing him to throw the ball away if it ain't there and throw in some move the sticks throws and let the receiver make the play.
All in all I think he will be fine... He will probably be the kind of QB that will help you kill GA and then lose to ETSU.

 

[PetrosBoy]

The Vol offense in 2025 will be exciting again with Joey, backed up by Jake. No more prima donas at QB.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

people have talked a lot about Aguilar's passing numbers last year but man he was clubbing some baby seals. here is App States schedule last year (by the way they went 5-6)

East TN State
Clemson
East Carolina
South Alabama
Marshall
Louisiana
Georgia St
Old Dominion
Coastal
James Madison
Georgia Southern

So you may want to zoom in on the one game he actually played against a quality opponent (25th ranked Clemson)

Aguilar was 18 of 41 passing 43% with 1 TD

unfortunately there are no other reliable data points from 2024 as the remainder of their schedule was abismal. however you can go back to 2023 where he threw for even more yards. let's look at that schedule..

North Carolina
East Carolina
Wyoming
Louisiana Monroe
Coastal
Old Dominion
Southern Miss
Marshall
Georgia State
James Madison
Georgia Southern
Troy
Miami (OH)

again kind of a carbon copy of 2024 with only one power 5 opponent where he completed 51% of his passes against North Carolina, not bad but they still lost and North Carolina is not really a good power 5 opponent, but I guess my biggest fear is he has not much real experience against power 5 teams, let alone GOOD power 5 teams.

I really worry about him being able to produce against really good competition, not that I think he can't, but there's no proof he can. all those passing yards but not against quality teams. Nico had amazing numbers against crappy non conference teams and then the SEC schedule started and we could barely score.

granted Aguilar should have higher quality players around him at Tennessee but I wish he had a bit more experience against big boy football teams so I felt better about his passing production.

This is irrelevant. This was the best we could do so we got him. I think he winds up backing up Merk.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

The Vol offense in 2025 will be exciting again with Joey, backed up by Jake. No more prima donas at QB.

I think Merk wins the job

 

[RockyTop603]

this is correct. and the guy that UCLA just kicked to the curb because they thought our asshat was a better QB is now coming here lol

Aguilar through TWENTY FOUR interception against horrible defenses in 2 seasons. averaging an interception every game.

Our asshat through just 5 interceptions against elite competition with pretty mediocre wide receivers.

Also, Aguilar was sacked just 15 times last year while Nico was sacked 28 times. the defense is brutal in the SEC especially for a guy that throws as much as Aguilar. I wonder how many 3 interception games he will have if he gets to start.

I'm telling you, this guy has never been tested against real competition.

but that's just my opinion, soon enough we will be forced to see.

I wonder out of the 28 sacks Nico took, how many were because he pissed off the O-Line…

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

He did throw some bad interceptions, but several were tipped from the hands of a receiver that should have caught it. Others were 50/50 balls thrown down the field because they were losing and trying to get back into the game. Some were 50/50 balls in the end zone trying to come from behind.
You are going to have more interceptions when you are always playing from behind trying to force it down field. Heupal makes a lot of quick safe throws, especially with guys that miss down field a lot. I think some of the interceptions can be cleaned up with heupal pushing him to throw the ball away if it ain't there and throw in some move the sticks throws and let the receiver make the play.
All in all I think he will be fine... He will probably be the kind of QB that will help you kill GA and then lose to ETSU.

This performance begs the question:

Why did UCLA pick THIS guy up?

I know we picked him up because getting someone late proved really difficult but I do wonder why a QB from a relatively mediocre Sun Belt team with a couple of good upsets ended up at a relatively mediocre B1G school?

 

[TNTodd]

I don't know much about the rules on practices. I know fall practice starts in August and Aguilar already has the play book studying...but what are the rules about him practicing with receivers or doing 7 on 7 work during summer to help him learn the system. Is it player only practices with a schedule to follow or can lower level assistants be there to assist etc. Not sure what they can and can't do during summer

 

[Vol4ever]

this is correct. and the guy that UCLA just kicked to the curb because they thought our asshat was a better QB is now coming here lol

Aguilar through TWENTY FOUR interception against horrible defenses in 2 seasons. averaging an interception every game.

Our asshat through just 5 interceptions against elite competition with pretty mediocre wide receivers.

Also, Aguilar was sacked just 15 times last year while Nico was sacked 28 times. the defense is brutal in the SEC especially for a guy that throws as much as Aguilar. I wonder how many 3 interception games he will have if he gets to start.

I'm telling you, this guy has never been tested against real competition.

but that's just my opinion, soon enough we will be forced to see.

Nico cannot process and see the field. I was worried about this fall with him. They made the playbook so simple yet he couldn't get it done, just like Milton. I'm happy he's gone. Looks like Joey is a gun slinger, I'll go with him. Nico was so bad if we hadn't had Sampson and the defense we would not won 8 games.

My .02

 

[#1fulmerite]

And was drafted into the NFL. 3rd round i think

Exactly. Had it not been for CJH, over throw Joe would not have made it to the league.

 

[landscapingvol]

I think Merk wins the job

There is a less than zero percent chance he wins the job barring an injury

 

[cgrish]

I think those people are just talking heads and guessing. nobody can say but Heupel who the starter will be and Heupel isn't even going to get to see this kid practice until August so who the hell knows anything about who will start.

ESPN is already saying Joey, but what do they know

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

If Joey wins the starting spot, IMO he does, he will be on a short leash. He starts throwing dumb ints Merk will be in. Joey is a one and done to get thru this season best as possible until the hot shot HS recruit gets here. I don't see Merk ever being a starter for long.

 

[cgrish]

If Joey wins the starting spot, IMO he does, he will be on a short leash. He starts throwing dumb ints Merk will be in. Joey is a one and done to get thru this season best as possible until the hot shot HS recruit gets here. I don't see Merk ever being a starter for long.

But really we don't really know what we have until they get on the playing field in a real game. Who knows the ones we have could be better than the one coming in.

 

[Vol737]

I wonder out of the 28 sacks Nico took, how many were because he pissed off the O-Line…

Maybe some, but I always felt like he held the ball too long on a lot of those.

 

[Vol737]

ESPN is already saying Joey, but what do they know

Nothing…as we’ve seen in the past.

 

[RockyTop603]

Maybe some, but I always felt like he held the ball too long on a lot of those.

Oh definitely I agree 100%

 

[tennesseeduke]

He's starting. They're not going to bring him in at $1.5 Mil to ride the bench.

I don’t think he beats Merklinger out.

 

[Hairy Vols]

He brought in for depth, not too start

What else did they say in the meetings that you sat in to get this insight. I’d say he came here to start. He could lose the job but I doubt he would have came somewhere his senior year to back up.

It’s an open competition and he has a very high chance of starting.

 

[xpsyclonex2002]

This season could go a lot of directions. I suspect we start the season rotating QB's. Only out of necessity. Nobody wants it. But we will not likely have a clear frontrunner at the end of fall camp. If this guy doesn't work out, i don't think CJH wants to throw Merk in cold. He will likely want real, in game, reps for Merk and not just in clean up time. If Aguilar works out, Merk will fade back and see garbage clean up time. If Aguilar is a failed experiment, Merk will ride out the rest of the season.

Regardless, it's time to pass the hat. We need $10M more dollars to legit compete. We've been punching above our weight so far relative to team talent and recruiting budget. But with everyone hitting the portal and recruiting being typically outside the top 10, it's catching up with us.

 

[Rememberthelate90s]

Beat him like a dog on NCAA dynasty Heisman setting. So he prolly can't help us. They struggled with audibles too.

 

[marcusluvsvols]

He's starting. They're not going to bring him in at $1.5 Mil to ride the bench.

Have seen this same post from others.

How much you think Jake and Gmac are getting paid? Nico got paid $2m+ to redshirt. Jake and Gmac may have taken a deal for a little less...but that would be directly against the trend for every other player and position in the SEC. Prices have only gone UP. Every portal season, twice a year prices have gone up.

JA is probably the lowest paid QB of the 3 at $1.4M. Thats nearly a 100% certainty. He replaced a guy that made $2.4M this year. So we saved money by getting him. That 3rd QB slot actually "paid back" $1M vs what it was a month ago. He may very well win the starting job based on experience...but the other 2 guys are far more talented borderline 5* kids. He was a 2* in HS.