I know it’s early but I’ve been wondering

#26
#26
Yes. I posted their sec record
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#27
#27
Not to rain on your spending spree with someone else's money, but on the opening drive vs UTEP, White was wide open down the middle and Nico threw it behind him...like no where close behind him. Unless Williams has Inspector Gadget arms, even he isn't getting that ball. Nico has to be better. If not, even the best OL and WR corp means nothing.
Fair point but Williams is doing what squirrel does at age 17. He’s very special. We need more big play WRs.

But you’re absolutely right Nico has to be better. It means nothing if the QB can’t get out of his own way. Don’t matter who you got at WR if the QB plays terribly.
 
#29
#29
To answer your question directly: WR and OL is what I'd imagine they go after.
Agreed. Our line does good run blocking hence us always running through the tackles but sometimes in pass protection they miss.

Coach Elerby needs to go. We need more development from players we recruit and sign.
 
#31
#31
This year I would have rather had Lagway.

Kid is a baller. The stage isn't too big for him. Not sure we can say that about our $8M man.....no offense to him.

He's played better than Nico in exactly 1 game. He was ok vs LSU but completed barely 50% of his passes. He had the 1 long TD Vs UGA before the injury but he was 2 of 6 overall. He was bad vs UK at home. And he looked terrible vs us before that last TD (which shouldn't have happened if we didn't get lazy on special teams).

I get he's a true freshman so you're judging on a curve. But I am not seeing this "baller" everyone is talking about.

UF got to 6 wins because they found a defense, plain and simple.
 
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#32
#32
Unless multiple guys leave, I don't think we'll take a WR, unless it's someone who is a true difference maker. TE also seems set. I think we'll be looking at OL and RB in the portal in offense, but OL will be the primary focus with Heard as the only returning starter.

And we'll need to reload on the DL too. Losing Lott, Thomas, Bailey, Simmons and Pearce (at least).
 
#33
#33
There have also been several plays where the ball was there and dropped. Do you think that maybe the timing is so off because the WR room is not where it's supposed to be ? Maybe they run cleaner routes in practice. I dunno but it isn't just Nico. Everyone keeps trying to solely blame him and it's not just him. These same wr dropped passes last year and struggled with press coverage. Milton is an NFL QB. One is in his first year as a starting qb in college and the wr's for the most part are all 5th year guys. The young guy is expected to make mistakes where as the Seniors are expected to do what they are supposed too.
Oh I do agree. It is far from just Nico but also far from just the WR’s. I don’t think we need to replace every WR minus Mathews either (not saying you’re saying that) idk what the problem is but likely multiple factors. But we need one legit WR dude lol
 
#35
#35
I have extremely high hopes and see potential in Nico. And he’s been as expected this year- super talented - flashes brilliance and shows he’s a RS freshman.

I think it’s ok to look at and compare other freshman QBs too though… lagway, sellers, van buren- is Nico at the top of that list?
 
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#37
#37
I have extremely high hopes and see potential in Nico. And he’s been as expected this year- super talented - flashes brilliance and shows he’s a RS freshman.

I think it’s ok to look at and compare other freshman QBs too though… lagway, sellers, van buren- is Nico at the top of that list?
Has anyone heard how much time Nico spends in the film room. Average? Less than average? More than average?
 
#38
#38
I expect Nico to take a big leap next season. He needs to put on some muscle and continue to grow into the position.
 
#40
#40
There have also been several plays where the ball was there and dropped. Do you think that maybe the timing is so off because the WR room is not where it's supposed to be ? Maybe they run cleaner routes in practice. I dunno but it isn't just Nico. Everyone keeps trying to solely blame him and it's not just him. These same wr dropped passes last year and struggled with press coverage. Milton is an NFL QB. One is in his first year as a starting qb in college and the wr's for the most part are all 5th year guys. The young guy is expected to make mistakes where as the Seniors are expected to do what they are supposed too.
He isn’t just making the sorts of mistakes that come with inexperience though. His first throw of the UTEP game was as bad as you’ll ever see a wide open throw being missed. Running out of bounds at the end of the Arkansas game is as bad and as inexcusable of a mental mistake as one can make.
 
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#42
#42
Given the high profile, high dollar flip of Bryce Underwood, bidding for the elite transfers is going to be very high.

A guy like Ryan Williams might be available for the right price but be prepared for sticker shock if you want the best proven talent.

If you want the highest performance from the start of your season, you will have to pay for proven quality players.

If you want to keep waiting on that next phenom who will be "only a freshman and he'll be a lot better next year but there's going to be growing pains" you can have a good season or two every second or third year.

The Oregon Ducks just go buy a seasoned QB and other seasoned players every year or so and it's working out pretty well for them.

You are what you pay for.
 
#44
#44
Heupel needs to really look hard at his offensive scheme and determine whether it is still up to the task.

Given that the tempo has slowed from 2022 (the high water mark) and we have struggled mightily for 2 years now.
 
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#45
#45
Given the high profile, high dollar flip of Bryce Underwood, bidding for the elite transfers is going to be very high.

A guy like Ryan Williams might be available for the right price but be prepared for sticker shock if you want the best proven talent.

If you want the highest performance from the start of your season, you will have to pay for proven quality players.

If you want to keep waiting on that next phenom who will be "only a freshman and he'll be a lot better next year but there's going to be growing pains" you can have a good season or two every second or third year.

The Oregon Ducks just go buy a seasoned QB and other seasoned players every year or so and it's working out pretty well for them.

You are what you pay for.
It’s not just the money. Oregon took a Bo Nix that left Auburn with questions on if he would be drafted and ended up as the 12th overall pick. Until Heupel is able to get a QB drafted in the 1st round, it’s going to be hard to attract top QBs with just NIL.
 
#46
#46
It’s not just the money. Oregon took a Bo Nix that left Auburn with questions on if he would be drafted and ended up as the 12th overall pick. Until Heupel is able to get a QB drafted in the 1st round, it’s going to be hard to attract top QBs with just NIL.
CJH already got Nico and Jake, he has top QB's lined up to come onboard.
 
#47
#47
It’s not just the money. Oregon took a Bo Nix that left Auburn with questions on if he would be drafted and ended up as the 12th overall pick. Until Heupel is able to get a QB drafted in the 1st round, it’s going to be hard to attract top QBs with just NIL.
Oregon's HC Dan Lanning is defense guy and Heupel was Sam Bradford's QB coach when he won the Heisman and his OC/QB coach when Bradford was the 1st pick in the NFL draft. Heupel also was the original guy to recruit and coach Dillon Gabriel, Oregon's current starter who is in the Heisman conversation this year.

It's not that Heupel doesn't have history knowing QBs. He's not going to the portal for them or when he did, he rolled the dice on Joe Milton developing into Cam Newton which didn't happen. Heupel has taken the "build it myself route" which is fine but the growing pains year of a freshman QB won't be easy, even if the a guy like Nico is great next year. After he's gone, we see a year of Merk or McI being "just a freshman and learning" before perhaps getting a stellar year or two from them.

Getting a guy like a Lagway, with SEC experience and developed skills, speeds up the process and let's the team hit the ground running.
 
#49
#49
He better because he has been very average this year. He he doesn’t, he should be benched
You mean like Pruitt should've benched JG? It turns out Maurer quit playing football altogether and Harrison Bailey was last seen as a walk-on at Louisville. So who should Pruitt have benched JG for?

Should Heupel go with Merk, a redshirt FR (like Nico is now) or McI, who will be a true FR?

You can't just bench someone and expect success if you can't replace them with an equal or better player.
 
#50
#50
He isn’t just making the sorts of mistakes that come with inexperience though. His first throw of the UTEP game was as bad as you’ll ever see a wide open throw being missed. Running out of bounds at the end of the Arkansas game is as bad and as inexcusable of a mental mistake as one can make.
Did you even read what happened? He lost grip of the football on the roll out by the time he gathered control he was past the line of scrimmage. He tried to get out of bounds but the clock expired. Again he is young and no it shouldn't have happened and it is really doubtful it will happen again. Nico is not perfect and he won't ever be. However he has the skills to take us where we want to go unless you morons run him out of town with BS like this
 

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