Football Vols will go as far as Nico takes them-west

#1
JohnWardForever

JohnWardForever

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#1
westwords
Tennessee basketball has a week to prepare for the trip to College Station. Tennessee baseball is playing tag with the weather. Tennessee football is most of a month away from spring practice.
This seems a safe time to help Josh Heupel prepare for his job.
Football Vols will go as far as Nico takes them

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava #8 handing off to running back Peyton Lewis #27 during the November 23, 2024, game between the Vols and the UTEP Miners at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. (Photo by Drew Garrison/ Tennessee Athletics)
 
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#3
#3
In my opinion, if we don't see a marked improvement in Nico's decision making (i.e., when to run vs pass as the play develops, receiver check downs, etc.) then we need to question whether we have the right coaching staff.
 
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#7
#7
BigOrangeTrain said:
I disagree. The Vols will go as far as the OL will take them. I don’t care if Nico becomes the second coming of Joe Burrow this year. If the OL can’t protect him then we are screwed. Also the play calling has to get significantly better.
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Which begs the question, was the offense not more creative because of Nico's limitations? If so, an improved Nico should make the offense more unpredictable to opposing offenses. And yes, we definitely need improvement on the OL.
 
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#11
#11
IndianaVol said:
In my opinion, if we don't see a marked improvement in Nico's decision making (i.e., when to run vs pass as the play develops, receiver check downs, etc.) then we need to question whether we have the right coaching staff.
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I don’t think the decision making was horrific because he did not throw many interceptions and a few of them were thrown while being hit. He does need to have faster reads and get better on the deep ball.
 
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#13
#13
If the O line can keep him from getting killed then he'll have more time to look through his reads and make the right play which means better passing and more long throws too.

This gives our HC many more options from a more open playbook.

It really all comes right back to a MUST have a really great protecting O Line!!!

We need to bribe ummm, err, I mean NIL some of the best NOW and get then on the hill getting ready.

VFL...GBO!!!
 
#14
#14
UT Hill Man said:
I think if he protects the football better this year we'll be alright
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He literally threw 5 interceptions all year. If anything he needs to take more chances down field even if it means he throws a few more picks.
 
#16
#16
IndianaVol said:
In my opinion, if we don't see a marked improvement in Nico's decision making (i.e., when to run vs pass as the play develops, receiver check downs, etc.) then we need to question whether we have the right coaching staff.
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You super serious? You are not satisfied with where the program is and feel if they don't have a championship year this year then we don't have the right staff? Come on man, know where the program was and is. Tennessee is contender for the playoffs even if they are no on the Ohio State level.
  • 2024: 10-3 | Josh Heupel
  • 2023: 9-4 | Josh Heupel
  • 2022: 11-2 | Josh Heupel
  • 2021: 7-6 | Josh Heupel
  • 2020: 3-7 | Jeremy Pruitt
  • 2019: 8-5 | Jeremy Pruitt
  • 2018: 5-7 | Jeremy Pruitt
  • 2017: 4-8 | Butch Jones (4-6), Brady Hoke (0-2)
  • 2016: 9-4 | Butch Jones
  • 2015: 9-4 | Butch Jones
  • 2014: 7-6 | Butch Jones
  • 2013: 5-7 | Butch Jones
  • 2012: 5-7 | Derek Dooley (4-7), Jim Chaney (1-0)
  • 2011: 5-7 | Derek Dooley
  • 2010: 6-7 | Derek Dooley
  • 2009: 7-6 | Lane Kiffin
  • 2008: 5-7 | Phillip Fulmer
  • 2007: 10-4 | Phillip Fulmer
  • 2006: 9-4 | Phillip Fulmer
  • 2005: 5-6 | Phillip Fulmer
 
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#17
#17
fossilfiction said:
You super serious? You are not satisfied with where the program is and feel if they don't have a championship year this year then we don't have the right staff? Come on man, know where the program was and is. Tennessee is contender for the playoffs even if they are no on the Ohio State level.
  • 2024: 10-3 | Josh Heupel
  • 2023: 9-4 | Josh Heupel
  • 2022: 11-2 | Josh Heupel
  • 2021: 7-6 | Josh Heupel
  • 2020: 3-7 | Jeremy Pruitt
  • 2019: 8-5 | Jeremy Pruitt
  • 2018: 5-7 | Jeremy Pruitt
  • 2017: 4-8 | Butch Jones (4-6), Brady Hoke (0-2)
  • 2016: 9-4 | Butch Jones
  • 2015: 9-4 | Butch Jones
  • 2014: 7-6 | Butch Jones
  • 2013: 5-7 | Butch Jones
  • 2012: 5-7 | Derek Dooley (4-7), Jim Chaney (1-0)
  • 2011: 5-7 | Derek Dooley
  • 2010: 6-7 | Derek Dooley
  • 2009: 7-6 | Lane Kiffin
  • 2008: 5-7 | Phillip Fulmer
  • 2007: 10-4 | Phillip Fulmer
  • 2006: 9-4 | Phillip Fulmer
  • 2005: 5-6 | Phillip Fulmer
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No one should be satisfied, until the Vols are serious about competing for championships again. Getting embarrassed and chased off the field in the playoffs doesn't count. Heupel and Nico better use the off-season to go find some mental toughness or things will get ugly next season.
 
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#18
#18
Nega?

The sky will fall, the earth will crack, the oceans will be swallowed up, and life as we know it will end.

Anything short of the above is just a bad mood.
 
#19
#19
BigOrangeTrain said:
I disagree. The Vols will go as far as the OL will take them. I don’t care if Nico becomes the second coming of Joe Burrow this year. If the OL can’t protect him then we are screwed. Also the play calling has to get significantly better.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. Most of last years problems fall on our tackles not blocking or getting dumb penalties or our WRs being mediocre/bad. It’s hard to play QB when you are running for your life or no one is open. Not saying Nico was perfect by any means, but without competent receivers or line, it’s hard to do much.
 
#20
#20
He was a freshman folks and he throw a limited amount of interceptions. What freshmen QBs were better in college football last season?

For the most part the offensive line got whipped in the big games and they absolutely got obliterated in Columbus. It's been a long time since I've seen an offensive line get their asses kicked like they did at Ohio State. Similar to what the Eagles did to KCs online in the Superbowl. Pure dominance in the trenches....

Nico will not get better if the OL doesn't VASTLY improve
 
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#21
#21
loservol said:
No one should be satisfied, until the Vols are serious about competing for championships again. Getting embarrassed and chased off the field in the playoffs doesn't count. Heupel and Nico better use the off-season to go find some mental toughness or things will get ugly next season.
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Dude, it's college football. I am satisfied no matter what happens to the Vols and making the playoffs along with winning 10+ games is being a serious. If you cannot see the needle moving then you are short sighted. Your expectations are unrealistic considering you have only seen Tennessee win ONE national championship from when most on here were kids.
 
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#22
#22
UT Hill Man said:
I think if he protects the football better this year we'll be alright
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He only had 5 Interceptions and 4 turnovers in 13 games. That's pretty solid for a RS FR in his first season as a starter. Especially for a QB who's pass blocking was terrible and allowed 30+ sacks. He obviously needs to start hitting his deep passes better. But the Oline needs to improve pass blocking and the WR's need to start catching the ball instead of all the drops they had. Just a little improvement in those 3 categories will go a long way.
 
#23
#23
loservol said:
No one should be satisfied, until the Vols are serious about competing for championships again. Getting embarrassed and chased off the field in the playoffs doesn't count. Heupel and Nico better use the off-season to go find some mental toughness or things will get ugly next season.
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You don't think the entire Vol Football Program is not serious about competing for championships again? LOL, really? Heupel and Nico doesn't already have "mental toughness?" LMAO, you're a belly full of laughs..........
 
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#25
#25
OffTackleVol said:
Yea, the Negas are insufferable.....
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What’s so bad about what he said? The coaching on offense has been putrid. Poor pass blocking, receivers not getting open, and poor playcalling since Golesh left. Yet none of these coaching spots were replaced with someone new. Big question marks coaching wise on offense
 
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