Are we just a QB away from being good?

[JMSqb11]

I don't think JG is phenomenal by any stretch, but he did plenty enough against GA state amd BYU for us to win. He didn't give up 30+ points against GA state and sure as hell didnt give up the long pass play at the end of the BYU game. Could he have played better, absolutely, but the first 2 games were lost because of the defense.

He also ensured the game was close vs BYU with the interception on our side of the field and a super late throw to Jennings that the secondary was able to break up.

The offense single handedly kept that game close and allowed it to be a ball game.

 

[Daniel_Lincolns_Foot]

U obviously dnt understand how points off turnovers work. Kinda hard to stop somebody when u fumble at your own 20 yardline. The defense held them to 5 yards after we threw an interception. The problem was we turned it over in fg range so stop it dude. If u give up the ball deep in your own territory the other team will score just about every time. Idc whose defense it is, if u give a team the ball in scoring range their gonna score. U cant turn the ball over at your 20 and turn around and expect the defense to bail u out. Thats just not realistic. U do know that teams that turned the ball over 3 times in a game lost 85% of the time right?? So if u want the reason why we lost to Ga st its becuase the offense sucked that day simple as that.

I get the impression that you think I’m saying “don’t let the other team score off of turnovers.” Or “stop them at the goal line every time.” Never said that. I know that points will be scored off of turnovers. But next time, step up and only allow, say, 3 FGs off of turnovers instead of 2 TDs and 1 FG. As for the other 21 points, hold them to a FG one of those drives. If you don’t, be prepared to face your fair share of criticism. And the criticism doesn’t have to be equal—the offense can certainly be more to blame for a loss than the defense. But again, I’m going give the defense their fair share.

You blame the offense, I blame the offense AND the defense. Not sure why that is considered some mind boggling take?

 

[Bigworm87]

He also ensured the game was close vs BYU with the interception on our side of the field and a super late throw to Jennings that the secondary was able to break up.

The offense single handedly kept that game close and allowed it to be a ball game.

Correct. I said he wasn't phenomenal and could have played better. If Alontae or Nigel make the stop, we win the game. It came down to one play, we weren't successful. He still did enough for us to be winning up until that last play. I'm not defending him, but literally one play cost us the actual game. We could play what if's all day. Who's to say if he doesn't throw the pick and we punt anyways because our offense was a$$.

 

[JMSqb11]

Correct. I said he wasn't phenomenal and could have played better. If Alontae or Nigel make the stop, we win the game. It came down to one play, we weren't successful. He still did enough for us to be winning up until that last play. I'm not defending him, but literally one play cost us the actual game. We could play what if's all day. Who's to say if he doesn't throw the pick and we punt anyways because our offense was a$$.

If JG doesn’t throw a pass late, and doesn’t throw into triple coverage, Vols flip a 10 point swing vs BYU and games doesn’t come down to 4th quarter

 

[Bigworm87]

He didnt give up 30 against Ga st but he lead an offense to 8 straight drives, against one of the worse scoring defenses in the ncaa, that resulted in less then 200 yards, no TDs, and turned the ball over 3 times in our own territory. Those 17 off turnovers were the difference in the game. He didnt give up the deep ball against BYU but he threw the int that got them back in the game deep inside our own territory. In both cases if u take care of the ball u win the game

Jg went 26-40 for 311, 2 td's and 1 int against Ga state. The team also had 2 fumbles. Oh, we also only rushed for 93 yards for a 3 yard avg, but let's just say it's all his fault? We had over 400 yards of offense against them which is more than enough to beat a team like that.

He went 17-28 for 176, 2 td's and 1 int against BYU. We actually rushed for 242 yards against BYU. Another 400+ game for the offense. More than enough to beat BYU. No one is saying anything else about the running back or oline play in that game either. I mean you avg almost 5 yards a carry and got 0 rushing td's.

The defense gave up around 350 in both games and only caused 1 turnover. Our offense could have absolutely and should have done more. Im not denying that, but it just gets old everyone trying to say the only reason we didnt win 10 or arent elite is because of qb play. He's definitely going to have to get better by next year if he doesnt want to be onthe bench, no one is denying that, but based on stats alone, even with only playing halves of several games was probably the 3rd or 4th best QB in the SEC.

 

[Bigworm87]

If JG doesn’t throw a pass late, and doesn’t throw into triple coverage, Vols flip a 10 point swing vs BYU and games doesn’t come down to 4th quarter

Once again, reading is hard apparently. You had a chance to end the game on one play, with the lead. You didnt. He COULD have played better, yes, but if we get that stop, game over. Oh, and we still had a 3 pt lead when they scored after the int, which happened with 14:00 to go in the 3rd quarter. You know, like 28:00 minutes before the botched coverage.

 

[JMSqb11]

Once again, reading is hard apparently. You had a chance to end the game on one play, with the lead. You didnt. He COULD have played better, yes, but if we get that stop, game over. Oh, and we still had a 3 pt lead when they scored after the int, which happened with 14:00 to go in the 3rd quarter. You know, like 28:00 minutes before the botched coverage.

The game could have been over before the 4th quarter where it didn’t have to come down to one play. And you are very bad at understanding what is being talked about. You are acting as if QB play hasn’t been an issue for the Vols under JG’s tenure as starter. The BYU game was another chapter in the long book of “How QB play plagued Tennessee”.


And don’t sit here and Chirp about the stat line. If it wasn’t for Jennings going bizerk, JG would have one less touchdown and one more interception. And if it wasn’t for JG, Jennings would have had a walk in touchdown in the second half that effectively puts the game.

JG took 7 points off the board in that game with a super late throw to Jennings in the endzone. He also gave BYU 7 points with that interception to open the second half. He was literally responsible for a 14 point swing towards BYU when it could have been to Tennessee’s advantage.

But yes, let’s excuse the multiple plays that one player continues to make over a 3 season starting career to trash one player and one play.

 

[LordBolton]

Well we lost those games 112-30. I do think good QB play play makes it closer but doesn't flip any of them to a win.

No way we beat UF or UGA this year. We had Bama on the ropes though, their offense was dead in the water with Tua out. We score instead of them on JGs bonehead play, and I think we take it down even with JG in there.

 

[901 Orange]

I get the impression that you think I’m saying “don’t let the other team score off of turnovers.” Or “stop them at the goal line every time.” Never said that. I know that points will be scored off of turnovers. But next time, step up and only allow, say, 3 FGs off of turnovers instead of 2 TDs and 1 FG. As for the other 21 points, hold them to a FG one of those drives. If you don’t, be prepared to face your fair share of criticism. And the criticism doesn’t have to be equal—the offense can certainly be more to blame for a loss than the defense. But again, I’m going give the defense their fair share.

You blame the offense, I blame the offense AND the defense. Not sure why that is considered some mind boggling take?

Or just dnt turn it over 3 times in your own territory and win the game

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

He also ensured the game was close vs BYU with the interception on our side of the field and a super late throw to Jennings that the secondary was able to break up.

The offense single handedly kept that game close and allowed it to be a ball game.

And the defense allowed GS and BYU to get huge plays and score. Team game that works both ways. If JG would have played better it may have led to wins over both GS and BYU. Of course if we could have ran the ball it could have led to wins. If the defense even played half as good as it shoukd have, we win both easily.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Or just dnt turn it over 3 times in your own territory and win the game

So is football just an offensive game?

 

[Daniel_Lincolns_Foot]

Or just dnt turn it over 3 times in your own territory and win the game

....or just don’t give up three 75+ yard TD drives and win the game.

 

[JMSqb11]

And the defense allowed GS and BYU to get huge plays and score. Team game that works both ways. If JG would have played better it may have led to wins over both GS and BYU. Of course if we could have ran the ball it could have led to wins. If the defense even played half as good as it shoukd have, we win both easily.

Shocker that a defense that gets thrown out on the short side of the field after a turnover may give up a touchdown.

Also you are correct about the run game. Pruitt did make a few 4th down "go-fors" that I didn't like. Should have took points in field goals.


One thing about our defense in first two games vs our last game. Team has matured and grown up fast. They also got reps to learn things and over the course of 3 months, they got better. It also helps that Pruitt had his guys on the field vs Indiana that weren't there to start season.

 

[JMSqb11]

Well we lost those games 112-30. I do think good QB play play makes it closer but doesn't flip any of them to a win.

UGA was a 2 score game going into the 4th Quarter... Game wasn't as lopsided as the score suggests. Offense had to make plays after the defense forced 3 punts in the 3rd quarter.

Bama game was literally right there for the taking if not for a rogue official, an overthrown Jennings TD by JG, and then the rogue decision at the goal line. Once again the game was tighter than score suggested.

Florida was just awful.

 

[EconVol92]

I don't think JG is phenomenal by any stretch, but he did plenty enough against GA state amd BYU for us to win. He didn't give up 30+ points against GA state and sure as hell didnt give up the long pass play at the end of the BYU game. Could he have played better, absolutely, but the first 2 games were lost because of the defense.

I agree that he is not responsible for the GA State loss as I think that is totally on the coaching staff overlooking that game.

But I totally disagree about BYU and think he is the only reason that game was lost. He could have easily had 5-7 interceptions that game and he made the offense totally run oriented and BYU could load the box.

The defense made one error when they were on the field for the majority of the game and JG made error after error and mistake after mistake.

I just don’t think he is a power 5 QB.

Of the teams played this year how many times would you rather have had JG playing QB over the opponents QB.

For me the answer is not often.

 

[901 Orange]

Jg went 26-40 for 311, 2 td's and 1 int against Ga state. The team also had 2 fumbles. Oh, we also only rushed for 93 yards for a 3 yard avg, but let's just say it's all his fault? We had over 400 yards of offense against them which is more than enough to beat a team like that.

He went 17-28 for 176, 2 td's and 1 int against BYU. We actually rushed for 242 yards against BYU. Another 400+ game for the offense. More than enough to beat BYU. No one is saying anything else about the running back or oline play in that game either. I mean you avg almost 5 yards a carry and got 0 rushing td's.

The defense gave up around 350 in both games and only caused 1 turnover. Our offense could have absolutely and should have done more. Im not denying that, but it just gets old everyone trying to say the only reason we didnt win 10 or arent elite is because of qb play. He's definitely going to have to get better by next year if he doesnt want to be onthe bench, no one is denying that, but based on stats alone, even with only playing halves of several games was probably the 3rd or 4th best QB in the SEC.

1st off yards dnt equal TD so its not how many yards u get its how many points. JG threw for 300 but 70 of that came on the last drive during garbage time when he threw the last second TD to get us to 30. On the previous 8 drives before that he was 12-23 with less then 200 yards, 0tds, 1int and took 4 sacks. See stats can fool u. It matters when u got those yards. IMO we should have hung at least 40 on the 121st ranked scoring defense. We put together 2 real drives the whole game and that was in the 1st quater. We let them hang around and it turned into a war.

 

[whodeycin85]

1st off yards dnt equal TD so its not how many yards u get its how many points. JG threw for 300 but 70 of that came on the last drive during garbage time when he threw the last second TD to get us to 30. On the previous 8 drives before that he was 12-23 with less then 200 yards, 0tds, 1int and took 4 sacks. See stats can fool u. It matters when u got those yards. IMO we should have hung at least 40 on the 121st ranked scoring defense. We put together 2 real drives the whole game and that was in the 1st quater. We let them hang around and it turned into a war.

Hence why his QBR was 38 for the game.

 

[Sara Clark]

A QB away? Don't know. But it's a good place to start!

 

[Bigworm87]

1st off yards dnt equal TD so its not how many yards u get its how many points. JG threw for 300 but 70 of that came on the last drive during garbage time when he threw the last second TD to get us to 30. On the previous 8 drives before that he was 12-23 with less then 200 yards, 0tds, 1int and took 4 sacks. See stats can fool u. It matters when u got those yards. IMO we should have hung at least 40 on the 121st ranked scoring defense. We put together 2 real drives the whole game and that was in the 1st quater. We let them hang around and it turned into a war.

No one is disagreeing that he didnt play well a lot of times this year. Im not saying he's a game changer, but several mistakes across the field on both sides cost us those games. Didn't JJ have 2 go throw his hands this year and were ints? I Know for sure he had one in the endzone at Florida that was a huge momentum swing. I'm not advocating JG being the best QB long term on our roster, but to think he is the sole reason we lost the first 2 games is completely ludicrous. Also, he didn't just "take" 4 sacks. At least 3 of those fell on missed blocks by of your true freshman. morris, gray and wright. Youre right that around 70 came on the final drive. so he still would have been in the 230 range. No talk about avg 3 yards a carry against that sh!tty defense, though? That just doesn't fit the narrative, huh?

 

[901 Orange]

No one is disagreeing that he didnt play well a lot of times this year. Im not saying he's a game changer, but several mistakes across the field on both sides cost us those games. Didn't JJ have 2 go throw his hands this year and were ints? I Know for sure he had one in the endzone at Florida that was a huge momentum swing. I'm not advocating JG being the best QB long term on our roster, but to think he is the sole reason we lost the first 2 games is completely ludicrous. Also, he didn't just "take" 4 sacks. At least 3 of those fell on missed blocks by of your true freshman. morris, gray and wright. Youre right that around 70 came on the final drive. so he still would have been in the 230 range. No talk about avg 3 yards a carry against that sh!tty defense, though? That just doesn't fit the narrative, huh?

I never placed ALL the blame on JG. My original comment was the offense played bad and put the defense in a bad position. Thats exactly what happened. U brought up JG's stats so i put the stats into context. I didnt bring up any other game but Ga St. U brought up BYU trying to deflect blame to the defense and i pointed out that JG got it started with an int. U insist on making it about JG. U say take away the last drive and he still has 230yards 1td and 1int. I said from the beginning of the second quater until the last garbage time drive he was 12-23 thats 52% with 174 yards 0tds,1int at home against the 121st ranked scoring defense in the country. Its the entire offense fault but in football the Qb always takes the lion share of the blame especially if he dnt light it up against a horrific defense. It doesnt take an elite qb to beat Ga st but u do need a guy who can consistently hit your wr's who happen to be your best players on offense.

 

[Rickyvol77]

I’m not “pro” or “anti” JG but the fact is that when he is on he can at least manage the offense decently. When he is off, he is beyond below average and hurts the team. Just depends on what you get but I trust coach Pruitt as it has led to a 7-1 finish. Curious to see what happens next season with the QB position

 

[Bigworm87]

I never placed ALL the blame on JG. My original comment was the offense played bad and put the defense in a bad position. Thats exactly what happened. U brought up JG's stats so i put the stats into context. I didnt bring up any other game but Ga St. U brought up BYU trying to deflect blame to the defense and i pointed out that JG got it started with an int. U insist on making it about JG. U say take away the last drive and he still has 230yards 1td and 1int. I said from the beginning of the second quater until the last garbage time drive he was 12-23 thats 52% with 174 yards 0tds,1int at home against the 121st ranked scoring defense in the country. Its the entire offense fault but in football the Qb always takes the lion share of the blame especially if he dnt light it up against a horrific defense. It doesnt take an elite qb to beat Ga st but u do need a guy who can consistently hit your wr's who happen to be your best players on offense.

But you also need guys who can block and backs that can run for more than 93 yards against a horrid defense. we didnt do either. JG didnt play great as well as the oline, running backs, defensive line and dbs. Both games were a sh!tty performance by both sides of the ball. cb's and de's had plenty of opportunities to stop the option. Im not saying youre the one saying it's all on JG, but there's a lot of mouth breathers on here that act like if he would have made 2 less mistakes we would be 10-3.

 

[9876543vol]

But you also need guys who can block and backs that can run for more than 93 yards against a horrid defense. we didnt do either. JG didnt play great as well as the oline, running backs, defensive line and dbs. Both games were a sh!tty performance by both sides of the ball. cb's and de's had plenty of opportunities to stop the option. Im not saying youre the one saying it's all on JG, but there's a lot of mouth breathers on here that act like if he would have made 2 less mistakes we would be 10-3.

That loss was on everybody, including coaches, but a good QB would have bailed us out, and as we know, Guarantano is not a good QB.

 

[TennesseeVol2006]

If so, would the Wake QB be an upgrade? I would love for Bailey to be able to redshirt next season.

I don’t know that any of our QB’s who played this year are truly capable of playing at this level.

I’d trade any of our current QB’s for Indiana’s in a heart beat.

Honestly. Yes.

I look at this team and wonder if we had a mediocre to decent QB. Or even if we had a good QB?!?

I look at it like this—BYU and Georgia State are def wins with a mediocre QB.

Florida was very beatable this year, but Guarantano was flat out awful. I think with a mediocre to good QB, we beat Florida this year too.

Bama. I think we also had all the momentum and could have won even if we got average QB play.

I think this season is a travesty because the resiliency this team showed made me think they deserved much more.

I think this team is playing for an SEC championship with Jajuan Jennings at QB all year.

 

[TennesseeVol2006]

I really respect the toughness of JG and his loyalty to the program, but then you realize he is only an average QB. With the right guy we score a lot more than 23 on Indiana and the game is a no contest. JG was all over the place with the ball high, low, wide, aiming and missing. I would like a new beginning at QB because if we had a top guy there this team is a factor in every game we play next season.

I think he’s a liability. He’s a bad college QB.

Think about his play against BYU. Florida. Georgia state. Vanderbilt. Missouri. Kentucky. Indiana.

How many chances do we give this kid?

Honestly, I appreciate his heart but he’s a backup QB AT BEST.

Having him on the roster is a liability. I think playing him is worse than giving a development year to a young Harrison Bailey, or even if you give Maurer a full shot to qb1. Can’t be worse than Guarantano.