Follow the Logic - QB

#1
VolBricks

VolBricks

May the Orange be with you!
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#1
We all have seen the play of Joe Milton during the first 3 games. Some/most of us are ready to see Nico have more snaps during meaningful games. I think Heuple/Halzle agree with us and have since before the season. Here is where logic (or the lack thereof) comes in: On Sept 6th Heupel said that Nico was not redshirting this season and that the coaching staff would play him "when the opportunity arose"

tennessee.rivals.com

VolReport - Vols' freshman QB Nico Iamaleava will not redshirt, Josh Heupel says

The Vols' highly touted freshman QB is expected to see the field plenty this season.
tennessee.rivals.com tennessee.rivals.com

I think Heupel/Halzle already knew that Milton was not going to be a top tier QB in the SEC and knew they would wind up playing Nico sooner or later this season if Milton played like he has. Otherwise why would you not say we plan to play Nico in 4 games (unless there is an injury to Milton) and move on, Why waste a redshirt year if you do not plan to play him?

I am not saying bench Milton and play Nico starting with UTSA and ride him no matter what. I disagree with this and think we should see a few series for Nico over the next few games that are planned out and the plays are scripted to his strengths to "break" him in to college/SEC play.
 
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#5
#5
I don't know how long Milton's leash is. Only someone very close to one or both of them would know. It is likely longer than what those calling for Nico want it to be. However, Heupel didn't like the flow of the game over the last two weeks and much of that rests with Milton.

Nico is the back up. The options were likely to play a walk on in that role or give Nico all the snaps possible when games get out of hand. It also gives him the back ups reps in practice which is important. He's not going to RS at UT because he likely won't be UT's starter for more than two years. Give him about 20 lbs and a couple of years... and he's a pro.

There are potential rewards to playing Nico sooner rather than later. But too many of you guys ignore the risks... and they are very significant. If he starts, Milton checks out. He may leave the team altogether. Then you spend the rest of the season trying to keep a twig from being broken by SEC defenses. Your back ups become walk ons and nothing else. Undoubtedly there are guys on the team who are tight with Milton and believe he should get time. If he's pulled... you could split your locker room. And truthfully... there is no guarantee that Nico will play better after you take the risks. If the problems are more weighted to something else then you have only made your problem worse.

There is also the fact that while the QB is most visible to fans... there were a TON of mistakes by other guys. So will changing the QB make those things go away? Not likely.

For now, it is probably the better decision to stick with Milton and try to build off some really good stretches vs UF. By quarter:

1st- 7/8, 89 yds, 1 TD
2nd- 1/4 3 yds, 1 INT
3rd- 8/12, 98 yds
4th- 4/10, 97 yds, 1 TD

The key was the 2nd quarter when the D absolutely couldn't get off the field and the O couldn't stay on it. UT only ran 11 plays in the 2nd qtr.
 
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#10
#10
VolBricks said:
We all have seen the play of Joe Milton during the first 3 games. Some/most of us are ready to see Nico have more snaps during meaningful games. I think Heuple/Halzle agree with us and have since before the season. Here is where logic (or the lack thereof) comes in: On Sept 6th Heupel said that Nico was not redshirting this season and that the coaching staff would play him "when the opportunity arose"

tennessee.rivals.com

VolReport - Vols' freshman QB Nico Iamaleava will not redshirt, Josh Heupel says

The Vols' highly touted freshman QB is expected to see the field plenty this season.
tennessee.rivals.com tennessee.rivals.com

I think Heupel/Halzle already knew that Milton was not going to be a top tier QB in the SEC and knew they would wind up playing Nico sooner or later this season if Milton played like he has. Otherwise why would you not say we plan to play Nico in 4 games (unless there is an injury to Milton) and move on, Why waste a redshirt year if you do not plan to play him?

I am not saying bench Milton and play Nico starting with UTSA and ride him no matter what. I disagree with this and think we should see a few series for Nico over the next few games that are planned out and the plays are scripted to his strengths to "break" him in to college/SEC play.
Click to expand...
I’ve read from uncertain sources that Nico has a wrist injury.
 
#15
#15
Yeah i'd say we would have seen him in the Peay game had they not provided everyone with a blueprint on how to beat us. Only thing they were lacking were better players. Vols pretty much have been outcoached for 2 weeks running.
 
#16
#16
I for sure don't know the answer. But coach has to look at recruiting in addition to keeping his team intact due to portal. Most people with a beating heart don't want to play for losers. After last year, I don't think a 7-8 win season will cut the mustard. No pun intended. hahaha
 
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#20
#20
If you are contemplating changing QBs, here’s a couple of factors you’re looking at if you’re trying to win as many games as you can:

1. If you change does it divide the team and screw up whatever team chemistry you have.

2. If it gets worse, what does it do to Nico and recruiting. Might make you look out of control and be used against you.

If it’s me…I’m starting Nico and my excuse to the media is that I’m just trying to give this offense some type of spark. I’ve said it before and been roasted on here, there’s a reason Milton has had issues everywhere. He is not consistent and he’s slow on his feet.
 
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#21
#21
I don't think Gaston Moore is any slouch at the position, but that raises its own flags with the remaining two QBs. Either way, no TN QB right now is getting the same amount of time that Hendon might've gotten last year. OL can run block for the most part, but the pass protection is suspect. I didn't see this much regression in the OL coming, but the talking heads did bring it up time and time again before the season. To be talking about the OL in year 3, when your identity is centered on offense is NOT good IMO. This element should have been addressed as number #1 on the list of priorities to get fixed, or even upgraded. You're running and passing game depends on it, and so I don't think any QB back there is going to fully get what they need right now.

From what little I've seen of Nico, he looks like he moves very well in the pocket. But I only need to see that once or twice to know if someone has that feel or not. Joe, distinctly, does not. He seems to think 1 or a 1/2 step left, or right is sufficient - at which point the rusher gets a hand on him. And, quite frankly, several of those times he should have already been gone, either running up field or extending the play out of the pocket. At this point, 5-6 years in, he's not about to all of a sudden clean that up. Getting his bell rung in the NFL might give him a clue. Regardless, he has his liabilities, and the staff is going to have to live with them. There may be others, but I just can see well enough down field to say.

Defense has improved - much better depth and I think it might have showed in the second half. But by no means have they taken that big step forward like what is needed to help the offense/QBs out. I didn't like hearing the same names in the secondary, and after seeing the same 3rd and long conversions, I see things have not changed much. They definitely don't strike me as any real threat to pick the QB off under normal circumstances. So far, a bigger step back than anticipated.
 
#22
#22
sjt18 said:
I don't know how long Milton's leash is. Only someone very close to one or both of them would know. It is likely longer than what those calling for Nico want it to be. However, Heupel didn't like the flow of the game over the last two weeks and much of that rests with Milton.

Nico is the back up. The options were likely to play a walk on in that role or give Nico all the snaps possible when games get out of hand. It also gives him the back ups reps in practice which is important. He's not going to RS at UT because he likely won't be UT's starter for more than two years. Give him about 20 lbs and a couple of years... and he's a pro.

There are potential rewards to playing Nico sooner rather than later. But too many of you guys ignore the risks... and they are very significant. If he starts, Milton checks out. He may leave the team altogether. Then you spend the rest of the season trying to keep a twig from being broken by SEC defenses. Your back ups become walk ons and nothing else. Undoubtedly there are guys on the team who are tight with Milton and believe he should get time. If he's pulled... you could split your locker room. And truthfully... there is no guarantee that Nico will play better after you take the risks. If the problems are more weighted to something else then you have only made your problem worse.

There is also the fact that while the QB is most visible to fans... there were a TON of mistakes by other guys. So will changing the QB make those things go away? Not likely.

For now, it is probably the better decision to stick with Milton and try to build off some really good stretches vs UF. By quarter:

1st- 7/8, 89 yds, 1 TD
2nd- 1/4 3 yds, 1 INT
3rd- 8/12, 98 yds
4th- 4/10, 97 yds, 1 TD

The key was the 2nd quarter when the D absolutely couldn't get off the field and the O couldn't stay on it. UT only ran 11 plays in the 2nd qtr.
Click to expand...
I think for the very reasons you listed Heupel rides Milton no matter what into the Bama game. If we have multiple losses going into that tilt, Milton starts but Nico ends up playing and we don't see Milton again.
 
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#23
#23
What happens if at the UTSA game
Milton starts and they eventually put in Nico or Moore and they run the offense better and light up the scoreboard? That could raise more questions if they don’t make a change.
 
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#24
#24
Remy said:
I think for the very reasons you listed Heupel rides Milton no matter what into the Bama game. If we have multiple losses going into that tilt, Milton starts but Nico ends up playing and we don't see Milton again.
Click to expand...

So you believe we ride Milton even if he continues to struggle going into Bama? Then we put Nico in against Bama? Lol
 
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