The plan for QB

[RockyTop603]

IMO Anthony Colandrea (UNLV) with one year left and honestly makes a lot of sense as a bridge option. Threw for around 3,400 yards with 23 TDs and added another 600+ on the ground, so he’s a legit dual threat. Productive, experienced, and not a big “portal superstar” chasing massive NIL. Feels like the kind of guy who could come in, compete right away, and steady things for a year without breaking the bank.

 

[JlorVol]

IMO Anthony Colandrea (UNLV) with one year left and honestly makes a lot of sense as a bridge option. Threw for around 3,400 yards with 23 TDs and added another 600+ on the ground, so he’s a legit dual threat. Productive, experienced, and not a big “portal superstar” chasing massive NIL. Feels like the kind of guy who could come in, compete right away, and steady things for a year without breaking the bank.

I agree. May not be the sexy pick, but with all the holes we need to fill on defense I think it is the wise pick.

 

[YankeeVol]

Yikes, a top portal qb who is actually considering joining Stoops’ moribund program is a huge red flag. A red flag with flashing lights and row after row of heavy concrete construction barriers.

Stoops ain't the coach buddy

 

[Sudden Impact]

QBs don’t win games by themselves. Your point is moot. Are all teams equal? No. Say you have a FR QB at Kentucky. Then you have a FR QB at OSU. Are those rosters and coaching staffs equal? No.

In the SEC, if you have a FR QB at UK and one at UGA. Which QB has the much easier path to success?

At several points in a season, it always rest solely on the ability of a QB, be it Fr or Sr to move a team down the field to score x points. Via Drives or whatever to produce points. Experienced QBs vs True Freshmen or RS Freshman no matter how good they are, lack the experience to do so.

A championship supporting cast is a must have to do so with any QB. It is easier for an opposing DC to bait or scheme a Freshman QB.

Execution and experience are huge contributions/factors to any QB's success, but it boils down to experience.

 

[a vol n tears]

I can’t agree with your argument. No Tennessee defensive lineman plays 75 snaps. Bailey led this year with less than 35 snaps per game due to the heavy DL rotation. Tennessee’s top two LBs played roughly 50 snaps per game.

Aguilar is not taken out of the equation on running plays. Many of Tennessee’s runs are RPOs where the QB is literally the one deciding whether to keep it, throw it, or hand it to the running back. There are other alignment responsibilities, checks, etc that a qb is expected to handle for Heupel, counting defenders in the box,etc. On many running plays, Aguilar’s responsibilities might be even more than on a lot of the simpler pass plays.

You are correct. I remember when the NY Giants took Lawrence Taylor over the available offensive talent, saying he could be involved in every defensive snap vs an offensive player. Shows my age, however I do agree with a defensive player who can wrec havoc would be more important than a QB. I’m old and showing how the game has passed me by. LBer is the position to do this, but LBer is a fading position as edge rushers and hybrid players are the current fad. You rarely hear of dominating LBers any longer. No more Al Wilson’s

 

[MurphyVol]

I think there are some hidden gems in the portal that could end up being the best of the lot of they land in the right situation. Taron Dickens of WCU being one of them.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

LWSVOL, usually a pretty knowledgeable source, already hinted that Heupel is going to talk to Leavitt, who isn't a placeholder QB.

If that's true, Heupel's plan seems to be to swing for the fence at QB. He may not get Leavitt and may go elsewhere but that tells me he thinks QBs in the portal might give us a better chance to win than G-Mac.

 

[Rocky Top T]

Gotta fix the defense first.

Gotta fix both

 

[Rocky Top T]

I thought Ty Simpson and his dad hated us lol.

They do, and the feeling is mutual

 

[Sudden Impact]

They do, and the feeling is mutual

West Tennessee is not a big UT supporter. HS coaches in the past would encourage more to attend AL back in the day, but there is definitely a hate for us. In the case with Simpson it could be a system choice vs a hate choice.

 

[Proud Army Wife]

I bet that you didn’t know that his dad is the head football coach at UT Martin, and on Saturday, October 18th, in the year of our Lord 2025; coached a game that morning, and STILL made it to Tuscaloosa to watch his son play that evening.

I’m aware.

 

[mprock]

He could coach a game on Saturday morning or early afternoon and still fly to Knox. For night game. If we can get Ty we need to get him. If you are going to have a good team you better have a good QB .

 

[Sudden Impact]

He could coach a game on Saturday morning or early afternoon and still fly to Knox. For night game. If we can get Ty we need to get him. If you are going to have a good team you better have a good QB .

IMO, CJH needs a QB that 1) knows his system and can read defenses, 2) an arm and 3) Processing speed. Hooker was the perfect fit. His processing speed in game was off the charts. Saw plays before they occurred.
Ty may not be a good fit, with experience the 2nd string QB - Mack might be a better fit. But honestly I am banking on Brandon Fazion to come in and be the fit. Supporting cast will also play into the future. It will take time and experience at this level will be a must.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

IMO, CJH needs a QB that 1) knows his system and can read defenses, 2) an arm and 3) Processing speed. Hooker was the perfect fit. His processing speed in game was off the charts. Saw plays before they occurred.

Hooker is only making a max of $500k with the Jets practice squad, let's double that and sign him!

Where are my "Screw the NCAA and their stupid rules people?"

 

[Sudden Impact]

Hooker is only making a max of $500k with the Jets practice squad, let's double that and sign him!

Where are my "Screw the NCAA and their stupid rules people?"

I wish we could, but we cannot. I wonder where Brady, or Manning would go.

Unfortunately you cannot teach processing speed, you can only facilitate an environment for it to grow. Slowing down the game for the QB to excel. Everybody laughed at Dooley for his thoughts on this but as a QB coach he was pretty good about coaching QBs to get the ball out of their hands.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

I wish we could, but we cannot. I wonder where Brady, or Manning would go.

Unfortunately you cannot teach processing speed, you can only facilitate an environment for it to grow. Slowing down the game for the QB to excel. Everybody laughed at Dooley for his thoughts on this but as a QB coach he was pretty good about coaching QBs to get the ball out of their hands.

Hooker, unlike old men, is still a viable QB and the NCAA doesn't have a winnable case to limit eligibility and NIL earnings just for some arbitrary "5 to play 5" or "signed to play for a pro team previously" rules.

I'm dead serious. Hooker knows the system, could get paid more at UT, and would likely greatly help the team.

The NCAA is useless. Sign him, pay him, play him, and make them try to stop us.

 

[rocketskates]

I’m aware.

Just making sure in case it wasn’t explained enough a few months ago when we played Alabama.

 

[Sudden Impact]

Hooker, unlike old men, is still a viable QB and the NCAA doesn't have a winnable case to limit eligibility and NIL earnings just for some arbitrary "5 to play 5" or "signed to play for a pro team previously" rules.

I'm dead serious. Hooker knows the system, could get paid more at UT, and would likely greatly help the team.

The NCAA is useless. Sign him, pay him, play him, and make them try to stop us.

I am all for it and of course NCAA is useless. They are basically an administrative police office.
Sure they have the ability to act/punish but their bias' is wide open. We don't need an NCAA we need a Commission. It will Level the playing field.

 

[Rocky Top T]

West Tennessee is not a big UT supporter. HS coaches in the past would encourage more to attend AL back in the day, but there is definitely a hate for us. In the case with Simpson it could be a system choice vs a hate choice.

I live in West Tennessee, there are a Lot of Vol fans here.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Well, if we get to cherry pick scenarios, I will point out that the four qbs remaining in the playoff have qbr rankings as follows 2- Mendoza (Heisman), 5- Chambliss, 10-Beck and 13- Moore, all of whom are rated ahead of Aguilar at 21.

Sure, we made the playoff in 2024 heading into that Ohio State game with the number 6/7 (yds per game/ points per game). And that top tier defense gave up 317 yds passing, 156 rushing, 473 total yds and 42 freaking points to the OSU offense led by #1 QBR ranked Howard. Mediocre qb Iamaleava put up 104 yards passing and 17 points.

I’m not arguing that other positions are irrelevant. I am only arguing that QB is the single most important position (is this even debatable?), and that if the coaches are not absolutely sold on Brandon or GMac’s ability to be a top tier QB then they should and will spend what it takes to get that capability. Saying that we cannot afford a QB because of other needs is laughable if their is doubt that top level capability does not already exist in the qb room.

But we did not know Nico was going to pull his little trick. We were lucky to gey Joey bemcause all the studs had been recruited by other teams. Nico screwed us as badly as he could have. His actions left us high and dry.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

LWSVOL, usually a pretty knowledgeable source, already hinted that Heupel is going to talk to Leavitt, who isn't a placeholder QB.

If that's true, Heupel's plan seems to be to swing for the fence at QB. He may not get Leavitt and may go elsewhere but that tells me he thinks QBs in the portal might give us a better chance to win than G-Mac.

Anyone in the portal will have more experience than GMac and we really don’t know what GMac can do under pressure.

 

[MDsweetT]

I wish we could, but we cannot. I wonder where Brady, or Manning would go.

Unfortunately you cannot teach processing speed, you can only facilitate an environment for it to grow. Slowing down the game for the QB to excel. Everybody laughed at Dooley for his thoughts on this but as a QB coach he was pretty good about coaching QBs to get the ball out of their hands.

Playing QB is the ultimate “be quick, don’t hurry” that John Wooden would talk about with his teams. Have to understand what the defense is showing you pre-snap and react post snap if they take away certain reads in your progression while also knowing where you safety valve is when you’re “hot”.

Only games can really help you with understanding the speed since QBs can’t get hit in practice.

 

[Sudden Impact]

Playing QB is the ultimate “be quick, don’t hurry” that John Wooden would talk about with his teams. Have to understand what the defense is showing you pre-snap and react post snap if they take away certain reads in your progression while also knowing where you safety valve is when you’re “hot”.

Only games can really help you with understanding the speed since QBs can’t get hit in practice.

Totally agree. Experience and in game environment.

 

[Sudden Impact]

I live in West Tennessee, there are a Lot of Vol fans here.

Sure there are, Kids also grow up parent's influence. Coaches do their best to place there kids into the best place for selection. For years, Alabama pipelined the West Tennessee area with $$$$$$ which was a game changer.

 

[Sudden Impact]

I live in West Tennessee, there are a Lot of Vol fans here.

Sure there are, Kids also grow up with parent's influence. Coaches do their best to place for their players to put them into the best place. Coach's have influence. For years, Alabama pipelined the West Tennessee area with $$$$$$ which was a game that changed when NIL arrived.