Jim Chaney Press Conference (8/27)

[sjt18]

JG isn’t great but he was a lot better than Shrout or Maurer. If he’s still struggling early on I would just go straight to Bailey. Nothing to lose in a year like this anyway.

JG was a liability in the passing game. He didn't move the O well. Later in the season he separated himself by managing the run game better than either of the other two.

However... he probably would not have started again if Maurer could have stayed healthy. Whether at any point the coaches considered him "a lot better"... they did not consider him good enough. And they were willing to take a shot on a true Fr that wasn't ready to play.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

JG was a liability in the passing game. He didn't move the O well. Later in the season he separated himself by managing the run game better than either of the other two.

However... he probably would not have started again if Maurer could have stayed healthy. Whether at any point the coaches considered him "a lot better"... they did not consider him good enough. And they were willing to take a shot on a true Fr that wasn't ready to play.

That hits the nail on the head.

 

[The Original Fade]

JG was a liability in the passing game. He didn't move the O well. Later in the season he separated himself by managing the run game better than either of the other two.

However... he probably would not have started again if Maurer could have stayed healthy. Whether at any point the coaches considered him "a lot better"... they did not consider him good enough. And they were willing to take a shot on a true Fr that wasn't ready to play.

Maurer’s health had little to do with him not starting again. His 42% completion percentage combined with 2 TDS and 5 INTs did.

 

[sjt18]

Maurer’s health had little to do with him not starting again. His 42% completion percentage combined with 2 TDS and 5 INTs did.

Nope. Take out his "junk time" play or better yet compare JG and him in games in which both played competitive downs.

He was not taken out of the first 3 games for performance. He didn't play well vs UK... and was taken out just like JG was earlier in the season.

Bottom line is that none of them has played at an acceptable level. The difference is that JG hasn't done it with A LOT more opportunities.

 

[The Original Fade]

Nope. Take out his "junk time" play or better yet compare JG and him in games in which both played competitive downs.

He was not taken out of the first 3 games for performance. He didn't play well vs UK... and was taken out just like JG was earlier in the season.

Bottom line is that none of them has played at an acceptable level. The difference is that JG hasn't done it with A LOT more opportunities.

JGs numbers were much better than Maurer’s - higher completion %, TD/INT ratio, and QB rating

 

[PulaskiVolFan]

Nope. Take out his "junk time" play or better yet compare JG and him in games in which both played competitive downs.

He was not taken out of the first 3 games for performance. He didn't play well vs UK... and was taken out just like JG was earlier in the season.

Bottom line is that none of them has played at an acceptable level. The difference is that JG hasn't done it with A LOT more opportunities.

Back when JG hadn't done it very long he was still light years ahead of BM statistically and with a much worse overall roster. I'm curious as to why you think the one that stunk is a better option than the one Coach Pruitt and Chaney seem to be rolling with. Which of these 2 do you like better?
QB1
35/75, 46.7% Comp 541 yrds 7.2 avg 2 td, 5 int and a 102.7 rtg with a roster that went 8-5
QB2
86/139, 61.9%, 997 yrds, 7.2 avg 4 TD, 2 Int, 128.7 rtg on a roster that didn't have a single Jr or Sr get drafted for 2 seasons

 

[jpope9]

He actually looks like he may have lost a little.

I went the complete opposite way while my gym was covid closed.

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

Lol, you've got no clue what inept QB play looks like then as every knowledgeable fan out there predicted JG would pretty much be our starting QB going forward after last season's Ky and Mizz games. Must be nice though to be one of those select few that predicted the opposite, you guys should get together and start giving couch coaching clinics all across the country.

JG starting does not mean he is not inept which he has proven in about 90% of the games he has started at UT. It just means the other Qb’s have matured yet to take the job from him.

 

[LittleVol]

We will see a totally different qb in JG this year in my opinion

JG is a Vol QB. Has given his all for the team. I personally don't think he will lead the team through the theduration of the season.
But as fans we should support him while he is the starter. Props to you, Ktownkingvol and Pulaski for having his back.

 

[PulaskiVolFan]

JG is a Vol QB. Has given his all for the team. I personally don't think he will lead the team through the theduration of the season.
But as fans we should support him while he is the starter. Props to you, Ktownkingvol and Pulaski for having his back.

I just don't give up on kids and athletes. If JG didn't have arm talent and toughness I'd be the 1st yelling to get rid of him. I thought his benching, as well as many others after our overall team play vs Fl, was handled perfectly, as was the rest of the year with our QB position. JGs overall numbers were pretty good during the last 6 football games, included an SEC road victory or 2 and bowl win even when he played poorly, all while not being able to tie his own shoes because of a broken hand and during the death of a close loved one. He's tough, he's All-Vol and I think he plays his guts out for half a fanbase that continues to bash him and anyone rooting for him. Our overall team is much improved than the 3 previous seasons and because of the overall team improvement I can see JG improving as well. He's good enough to win football games. I actually think our poor running game is a much bigger factor to our offensive woes than our QB is. We're gonna be fine for several seasons at QB because of Pruitt and Chaney and I believe JG will play his role in that position's process.

 

[LittleVol]

JG will have had two years in a Cheney offense, if he doesn't improve by game 3 or 4, I feel that they need to make a change. I have faith that Cheney can help improve JG now that he has had some consistency with his OC and offense.

We'll be 0-3 or 0-4 by then if you dont make a change if he's playing that badly

 

[1vol8]

JGs numbers were much better than Maurer’s - higher completion %, TD/INT ratio, and QB rating

Not vs top 25 teams. Idk why is so hard to remember that Maurer never looked at a defense that WASNT an SEC opponent. Who got 90% of the cupcake snaps again? Let’s not forget 2 of his 4 starts were vs teams ranked #3 or better and his stats were better vs THOSE teams (oddly enough the only games that were tailored to him) outside of UK. If you guys are so unwilling to give Maurer a legitimate chance to learn then why are you so willing to forgive JG for making the same mistakes? It makes no sense.

 

[sjt18]

Back when JG hadn't done it very long he was still light years ahead of BM statistically and with a much worse overall roster.

Yeah. Pumping up a completion % by taking 20 sacks and checking down... means he was "light years" ahead.

Stats without context are not worth much.

And... just to remind you of the context of this exchange... I've consistently said Maurer wasn't ready to play. He was forced to play because JG was ineffective.

I'm curious as to why you think the one that stunk is a better option than the one Coach Pruitt and Chaney seem to be rolling with. Which of these 2 do you like better?
QB1
35/75, 46.7% Comp 541 yrds 7.2 avg 2 td, 5 int and a 102.7 rtg with a roster that went 8-5
QB2
86/139, 61.9%, 997 yrds, 7.2 avg 4 TD, 2 Int, 128.7 rtg on a roster that didn't have a single Jr or Sr get drafted for 2 seasons

Well, to put things in real context... by only including the games in which both played competitive downs.

You have a Fr at 54% completions for 480 yds who moved the unit up and down the field on pretty good D's and a RS Jr at 58% completions for 290 yds with a long history of not moving the O effectively. Even considering the Fr is going to make more mistakes... he gives you a chance. You can understand his mistakes A LOT more than the ineffectiveness of the other player. You can correct those mistakes... but can you get the veteran to overcome an inability to make quick reads and anticipate throws?

AND AGAIN AD NAUSEUM... Maurer wasn't ready. He shouldn't have been out there. They appear to have had no intentions of playing him... except that JG completely surprised them by playing so poorly. You REALLY need to understand the weight of that decision and especially in light of Maurer's obvious mistakes mixed in with some flashes.

I haven't seen enough of Maurer to say what he can become. We've seen a few flashes. We've seen two really bad INT's vs MSU. We've seen bad decisions and attempts to force the ball. We've seen some balls thrown very well into very small windows. But he has/had a LONG way to go as far as being a well developed passer OR manager of the offense.... and still they thought it better to throw him out there vs UGA than to put up with another week of what JG was doing.

 

[PulaskiVolFan]

Yeah. Pumping up a completion % by taking 20 sacks and checking down... means he was "light years" ahead.

Stats without context are not worth much.

And... just to remind you of the context of this exchange... I've consistently said Maurer wasn't ready to play. He was forced to play because JG was ineffective.


Well, to put things in real context... by only including the games in which both played competitive downs.

You have a Fr at 54% completions for 480 yds who moved the unit up and down the field on pretty good D's and a RS Jr at 58% completions for 290 yds with a long history of not moving the O effectively. Even considering the Fr is going to make more mistakes... he gives you a chance. You can understand his mistakes A LOT more than the ineffectiveness of the other player. You can correct those mistakes... but can you get the veteran to overcome an inability to make quick reads and anticipate throws?

AND AGAIN AD NAUSEUM... Maurer wasn't ready. He shouldn't have been out there. They appear to have had no intentions of playing him... except that JG completely surprised them by playing so poorly. You REALLY need to understand the weight of that decision and especially in light of Maurer's obvious mistakes mixed in with some flashes.

I haven't seen enough of Maurer to say what he can become. We've seen a few flashes. We've seen two really bad INT's vs MSU. We've seen bad decisions and attempts to force the ball. We've seen some balls thrown very well into very small windows. But he has/had a LONG way to go as far as being a well developed passer OR manager of the offense.... and still they thought it better to throw him out there vs UGA than to put up with another week of what JG was doing.

Got it, you like the one with the awful stats better, you could have said it without explanation. Chaney sounded like he thought JG would show improvement, you continue to say he won't. Unbelievable to me really. I'm gonna go with Coach on this one as opposed to some nameless computer face criticizing from his coaches lounge.

 

[VolunteerCeltic]

Why would a RS Senior need 3-4 games to show improvement?

Your completely right, if he throws a pick six in the first qtr of the first game, bench him and never let him see the field again......that will show everyone there is no tolerance for mistakes in this program.......

 

[sjt18]

Got it, you like the one with the awful stats better, you could have said it without explanation.

Yeah. That was a stupid statement. Maurer wasn't ready. So no, I don't like that he had to play. JG stank. I don't like that he played either. UT did not have a "good" option.

What JG did as a RS Fr doesn't provide a direct comparison to anything he or Maurer did this last season. The best comparison is the games in which both played competitive downs. In those games, their completion % was similar. Maurer threw 4 picks but A LOT more yardage than JG. I would really, really, really rather NOT have my RS Jr that I just spent the entire off season trying to prepare and build up be so comparable to a guy I expected to RS and who wasn't ready to play.

Chaney sounded like he thought JG would show improvement, you continue to say he won't.

Do you habitually lie... or is it just when you're losing an argument? I have said that I believe JG's problems to be innate and that he's hit his ceiling. I have also said I hope he surprises me and the lights come on. I avoid speaking in definitive terms about future events that I have no control over.

FWIW, Chaney was confident that JG would go out and play well in the first 3 games last year too. He had good reason to be. JG has always been a practice all American. Somehow it just hasn't translated to game time.

Unbelievable to me really. I'm gonna go with Coach on this one as opposed to some nameless computer face criticizing from his coaches lounge.

Yep... burn that straw man with blue flames. You lie about what I've said... then take Chaney's comment out of context. Double for you.

 

[BeardedVol]

Your completely right, if he throws a pick six in the first qtr of the first game, bench him and never let him see the field again......that will show everyone there is no tolerance for mistakes in this program.......

Right, because asking why 3-4 games are needed to determine improvement is tantamount to expecting him to benched for a single bad pass. Because that's what happened in 2019, Pruitt got upset about a single bad bass and benched him.

Classic.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

I expect and hope all qb's are improving, if they are not they will not be playing. Pruitt is ultimately going to play the one the gets it done. Let the cream rise to the top and let the best man lead. At this point 99 percent of fans do not know who has improved the most, I keep hearing Shrout looks better, I am sure and hope they all continue to improve. You can never have enough able Qb's, it is good that Maurer and Shrout got their feet wet last year. And of course the highly touted Bailey only adds depth. GBO!!!!

 

[The Original Fade]

Not vs top 25 teams. Idk why is so hard to remember that Maurer never looked at a defense that WASNT an SEC opponent. Who got 90% of the cupcake snaps again? Let’s not forget 2 of his 4 starts were vs teams ranked #3 or better and his stats were better vs THOSE teams (oddly enough the only games that were tailored to him) outside of UK. If you guys are so unwilling to give Maurer a legitimate chance to learn then why are you so willing to forgive JG for making the same mistakes? It makes no sense.

I’m not forgiving JG for making mistakes that I’m holding Maurer accountable for, but you seem to quickly forgive Maurer’s performance against UK while making excuses for his other performances based on competition. The truth is, none of them are very good but JG was at least better enough to start ahead of them and the same will be true this year. But again, if JG struggles even a little I would go HB

 

[sjt18]

I’m not forgiving JG for making mistakes that I’m holding Maurer accountable for, but you seem to quickly forgive Maurer’s performance against UK while making excuses for his other performances based on competition. The truth is, none of them are very good but JG was at least better enough to start ahead of them and the same will be true this year. But again, if JG struggles even a little I would go HB

Not exclusive to these two guys... but I think you can always "forgive" a true Fr for things you cannot forgive a RS Jr.