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

[VolArmy74]

When the season starts, Merklinger will have been in the system for 18+ months. If he's not ready to play, or doesn't have a grasp on the offense, he was vastly overrated out of high school and he never will get it no matter how long he's here.

I've seen nothing as yet to make me believe that's the case. Basing anything, good or ill, off a spring game, is silly.

I don't believe we'd have told him to kick rocks if we didn't feel we had a capable QB between him and GMAC.

We are the king of starting true freshman. Manning, Clausen, Ainge, and Bray all did it.

Jalen Hurts did it, Matthew Stafford, Fromm did it a few years ago and finished something like 5th in the nation in QBR and took Georgia to the championship game.

18 months is plenty of time for Merklinger to be the man.

 

[tlowe]

Both of them (Merk and GMac) have what it takes between the ears to be successful, and both want to be here and will give maximum effort. Nico had none of that, in hindsight. I think that along gives them a leg up on where Nico was at this time last year, despite the physical talent and lack of experience.

Both have a release that's too slow right now and our offensive line can't compensate... they will get killed.If they are worked in sparingly the speed will come but it will take another year. There was some merit to the supposed complaint by the Nico camp that the offensive line did not give him enough time.Ohio State ate him up all day....wonder what a tier one team would do to these two right now.Likely cripple the boys

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

Can they? Yes

Are they the best option compared to all the currently and soon to be available QBs from the portal? Probably not.

2025 was supposed to be the year when we had an experienced QB leading the team. Most successful teams now have older QBs. Simply put: Merk and GMac are just young and inexperienced, like Nico last year. You see how that turned out.

Last year turned out pretty good. If we can repeat last year i will be the happiest Vol fan around.

 

[CAVPUT]

When the season starts, Merklinger will have been in the system for 18+ months. If he's not ready to play, or doesn't have a grasp on the offense, he was vastly overrated out of high school and he never will get it no matter how long he's here.

I've seen nothing as yet to make me believe that's the case. Basing anything, good or ill, off a spring game, is silly.

I don't believe we'd have told him to kick rocks if we didn't feel we had a capable QB between him and GMAC.

We are the king of starting true freshman. Manning, Clausen, Ainge, and Bray all did it.

Jalen Hurts did it, Matthew Stafford, Fromm did it a few years ago and finished something like 5th in the nation in QBR and took Georgia to the championship game.

18 months is plenty of time for Merklinger to be the man.

Don't ignore coaching....or lack thereof.

 

[BearBryant]

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!

Heupel must think he's got a good and capable QB with Merklinger and McIntyre, as he didn't flinch. But they need at least 3 QB's for depth. The media always exploits anything to make it controversial for VIEWS. I trust Heupel. He has proven he is an excellent coach.

 

[Tennman]

you always need at least 3 QB's regardless who is QB1.

 

[thebane5]

What are the odds that GM or JM is the OP?

 

[Smokymtnbullet]

Say or think what ya want.When this QB search began we were looking for a starter.As time goes on we could settle for a backup.Merck and Mac knew they weren’t the starter this time last week

 

[superdave1984]

I sort of get what you're saying, but not really. They must play to get experience.

I agree, but you would prefer that experience come in mop up duty rather than as the day 1 QB1

 

[ksgovols]

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!

They don't weigh 400# combined, besides the inexperience. A year or two in the weight program will pay big dividends for GM. JM could win the job, but he'd need a serviceable back up. You gotta have 3 in the QB room.

 

[DaddyChad]

I just don't see us getting a good qb in this portal. I don't really know who is available.

Entirely possible that you’re right. We have to add another player there though. Cannot go into the Swamp with a couple of freshmen and expect a good outcome.

 

[VOL931]

Do you really think given the hype, money, time, and effort they were just going to give up on him? Not a chance. There was never any competition. It was always Nico's job. And he wasn't horrible. But we also sat and watched Milton win out over Hooker and had Milton never got hurt we wouldn't have seen Hooker. So I just don't think that is a good argument.

Exactly. Clearly since being at TN, HEUP hasn't been a good evaluator of QBs. He thought Milton was needed bc Hooker wasn't capable? Hello! He recruited Milton as a transfer over Hooker. Duh.

 

[greenbacknative]

I think the stat of 9 total passes completed.. between the two of 'em.. Would love to see both blossom into stars though.

 

[sonofUT62]

I honestly believe Heupel is doing what the late Al Davis professed to do, get the best coaches and the best players possible, and just win baby. Bring in a Qb, maybe Merk will prove to be better like Hooker did when they brought in Milton. Lets wait and see.

There are 1000 positive things I could say about Josh Heupel. A commitment to getting the best coaches is not one of them.

 

[Shirleyudontmeanthat]

It’s not fair to an extremely talented but skinny 18 yo kid and a 19 yo who has taken zero important snaps to to put those kind of expectations on them … they both need an experienced guy in front of them. It least for now. If they can beat someone out …

 

[HubbaBubba]

I'm not an expert....Heck, I'm not even an amateur at football stuff...but I say get a serviceable backup, use the remaining NIL number to sure up the O-line and WR positions, put Merklinger or MacIntyre in, run a fairly conservative offense build on it every week and see what happens. If nothing else, you got an experienced QB for the next season. TN should have a really good defense (if McCoy is ready to play) and a pretty good RB room. Let's roll with it.

 

[Orangeslide]

It really doesn’t matter who we think CJH should run out for Qb in 2025, we had serious OL issues in pass protection last year, and I don’t see that improving much this year. I’m not sold on the OL coach, Ellarbee, did not show much OL improvement through the season. I personally think both QBs or a portal QB will struggle behind our OL. I hope I’m wrong here and hope our QB balls out, but I believe CJH may have to consider cutting ties with OL coach after this year if he wants to win a championship in the SEC. Going to be some growing pains again on offense and probably will struggle more this year compared to last year. Our defense better be damn good again this year.

 

[Godfatha]

It really doesn’t matter who we think CJH should run out for Qb in 2025, we had serious OL issues in pass protection last year, and I don’t see that improving much this year. I’m not sold on the OL coach, Ellarbee, did not show much OL improvement through the season. I personally think both QBs or a portal QB will struggle behind our OL. I hope I’m wrong here and hope our QB balls out, but I believe CJH may have to consider cutting ties with OL coach after this year if he wants to win a championship in the SEC. Going to be some growing pains again on offense and probably will struggle more this year compared to last year. Our defense better be damn good again this year.

I want CJH to succeed here, but I do have concerns about the program going to the next level if he isn't looking for improve his coaching staff and get the best available. It appears to me he is a creature of comfort and goes with who/what he knows instead of challenging himself on coaching staff. I'm not sold on Ellarbee, Hazle, or the WR coach. It appears we are too complacent.

 

[volsfan199]

Do you really think given the hype, money, time, and effort they were just going to give up on him? Not a chance. There was never any competition. It was always Nico's job. And he wasn't horrible. But we also sat and watched Milton win out over Hooker and had Milton never got hurt we wouldn't have seen Hooker. So I just don't think that is a good argument.

With the overthrows in that Pitt game in 2021 I definitely think we'd seen Hendon play even without the injury.

 

[SCRocket]

Have we ever rolled into the start of the season with a redshirt freshman and true freshman QB’s?

 

[Sarms58]

Do you really think given the hype, money, time, and effort they were just going to give up on him? Not a chance. There was never any competition. It was always Nico's job. And he wasn't horrible. But we also sat and watched Milton win out over Hooker and had Milton never got hurt we wouldn't have seen Hooker. So I just don't think that is a good argument.

Yea, Nico didn’t do anything to lose the job so we don’t know, two years ago Joe Milton was the clear starter until he got hurt and he never was the starter again until Hooker was gone.

A few seasons back Georgia started a true freshman. That wasn’t the plan but the returning starter got hurt in August and missed a few weeks. The freshman played great and never gave up the job - the returning guy had to transfer out to get a starting job.

So I’m with you - we don’t know that Nico’s game performance were significantly better because Nico never had to sit out for any amount of time that might have given Merk a chance to wow everyone.

 

[Backwards K]

Merklinger will have been in the program as long as Nico last year, Johnny Football when he beat Alabama...... I do know they really think MacIntyre has a bigger upside. Might as well throw him out there like they did Peyton in 94.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Why do you find it acceptable to assume Merk is ready but not ok for others to assume he's not?

HE took the intelligent route and made NO assumptions one way or the other, just commented about those that did compelled by agendas favoring failure. Surely you can see that in his response.

 

[ksgovols]

Have we ever rolled into the start of the season with a redshirt freshman and true freshman QB’s?

Brent Shaeffer, Eric Ainge and transfer Rick Clausen is the closest. 2 true freshmen and a Jr. transfer with zero experience.

 

[sjt18]

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!

Without reading this whole thread, neither is currently good enough. They both can develop. Maybe one will take command over the summer with the void Nico left.