Vols Fall Practice #4

#151
#151
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
I'm in no position to question Josh Heupel who nearly won a Heisman and did win a Natty as a QB and was QB coach for Sam Bradford when he won the Heisman. I believe he knows QB talent.

I am concerned that only 1 out of 4 QBs and teams Heupel has had at UT could really efficiently run his offense.

While we were successful in 2024, it wasn't because of tempo and the veer and shoot but more on the grit of Dylan Sampson and our excellent defense.

I'm glad Heupel CAN and DOES win games without his signature offense firing on all cylinders and he proves he is a very good football coach by doing so but I'm curious if we'll see the veer and shoot REALLY take off again at UT.

I know coach's change based on talent but if your signature offense can only be run well by a few QBs, something has to give.
Click to expand...
Drew Lock at Missouri and Dylan Gabriel and the other UCF QB that I am forgetting were successful with Heupel. Milton was the best we could get when he transferred, but he just wasn’t a great fit. They still had a very good 2023 season.

Missing on the kid from Indiana was unfortunate, but Nico is the real disappointment - missed on both the talent and character evaluation. Hopefully, Merk or JA will get us back on track.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Al Orange, orangebloodgmc, TrumpedUpVol and 1 other person
#152
#152
VAVol85 said:
Drew Lock at Missouri and Dylan Gabriel and the other UCF QB that I am forgetting were successful with Heupel. Milton was the best we could get when he transferred, but he just wasn’t a great fit. They still had a very good 2023 season.

Missing on the kid from Indiana was unfortunate, but Nico is the real disappointment - missed on both the talent and character evaluation. Hopefully, Merk or JA will get us back on track.
Click to expand...
It is TBD if Nico was missed from a talent standpoint.
 
#154
#154
VAVol85 said:
Drew Lock at Missouri and Dylan Gabriel and the other UCF QB that I am forgetting were successful with Heupel. Milton was the best we could get when he transferred, but he just wasn’t a great fit. They still had a very good 2023 season.

Missing on the kid from Indiana was unfortunate, but Nico is the real disappointment - missed on both the talent and character evaluation. Hopefully, Merk or JA will get us back on track.
Click to expand...
McKenzie Milton at UCF was successful with Heupel until injured, I believe, and may be who you were thinking of.

I think Nico is talented but he's a head case. He'll likely learn at the next level that everyone is talented and they'll have zero time for his BS.

As for Joe Milton being the best we could get, that's strikingly similar to the Joey A situation though we can hope for a better fit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Al Orange, chuckiepoo, MemphisVol77 and 1 other person
#155
#155
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
I'm in no position to question Josh Heupel who nearly won a Heisman and did win a Natty as a QB and was QB coach for Sam Bradford when he won the Heisman. I believe he knows QB talent.

I am concerned that only 1 out of 4 QBs and teams Heupel has had at UT could really efficiently run his offense.

While we were successful in 2024, it wasn't because of tempo and the veer and shoot but more on the grit of Dylan Sampson and our excellent defense.

I'm glad Heupel CAN and DOES win games without his signature offense firing on all cylinders and he proves he is a very good football coach by doing so but I'm curious if we'll see the veer and shoot REALLY take off again at UT.

I know coach's change based on talent but if your signature offense can only be run well by a few QBs, something has to give.
Click to expand...
So Heupel gets go credit for producing the SEC’s all-time leading rusher? The passing game has struggled, but as long as our run game us effective I’ll continue waiting patiently for the next great QB to emerge.
 
  • Like
Reactions: orangebloodgmc and chuckiepoo
#156
#156
bpalmer28 said:
So Heupel gets go credit for producing the SEC’s all-time leading rusher? The passing game has struggled, but as long as our run game us effective I’ll continue waiting patiently for the next great QB to emerge.
Click to expand...
Heupel gets credit for winning games and doing what it takes to win games. For sure.

Heupel's signature offense is run first..... not essentially run only.

Haven't we seen enough swing passes to know we're not in 2022 anymore?
 
#159
#159
bpalmer28 said:
Boo Carter is going to end up being a hero at WR on crucial drives. We’ll need him to if the dropsies continue
Click to expand...
Boo was dropping them in the spring too lol.

The passing will need time. That’s the fact of the matter and whoever plays QB needs to learn to become a game manager.
 
#160
#160
bpalmer28 said:
What do you recommend?
Click to expand...
Since we're winning, I'm not really in a position to complain but I'm concerned that Heupel can't seem to get back to what was a very difficult offense to stop when Hooker ran it.

I'm curious why we can't get back to that offense.

Someone suggested it's our O Line protection and play that keeps us from looking like we did in 2022. Many have questioned the trust Heupel has had in his QBs but Milton and Nico were his choices. Others have suggested the receivers aren't getting the separation we saw in 2022.

Samson's success suggests we had a talented O Line to run behind but the passing game rarely followed his success running.

Film seems to show some open receivers getting reasonable separation at least some of the time with some drops, some sailed passes, and some that never got targeted despite being open.

One comes back to QBs. Heupel's a QB coach with the success to back it up but we're not getting the results from guys he's picking up like he's had in the past. It's concerning.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Al Orange, OrangeBeachVol and Big Orange Captain
#161
#161
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
Since we're winning, I'm not really in a position to complain but I'm concerned that Heupel can't seem to get back to what was a very difficult offense to stop when Hooker ran it.

I'm curious why we can't get back to that offense.

Someone suggested it's our O Line protection and play that keeps us from looking like we did in 2022. Many have questioned the trust Heupel has had in his QBs but Milton and Nico were his choices. Others have suggested the receivers aren't getting the separation we saw in 2022.

Samson's success suggests we had a talented O Line to run behind but the passing game rarely followed his success running.

Film seems to show some open receivers getting reasonable separation at least some of the time with some drops, some sailed passes, and some that never got targeted despite being open.

One comes back to QBs. Heupel's a QB coach with the success to back it up but we're not getting the results from guys he's picking up like he's had in the past. It's concerning.
Click to expand...
I heard something the other day on some Vols podcast and I wish I could remember who they said did the breakdown but someone had put together a video allegedly showing 22 TD passes that Nico missed. They claimed that all 22 were plays that Hendon would have easily connected on. I would like to see it if anyone has a clue what I’m referencing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NighthawkVol and chuckiepoo
#163
#163
Brave Volunteer said:
Probably the most baffling decision in the Huepel era outside of starting Milton over Hooker. I refuse to believe there was NO ONE available in the portal to at least provide some depth.
Click to expand...
Starting Milton wasn’t baffling at all. Milton outplayed Hooker in practice. You have to start the guy who wins the job. I’m not sure why this is so hard to understand.

By all accounts, it wasn’t even close.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheVolsFrog, LaagerVol, VolFreakJosh and 3 others
#166
#166
LittleVol said:
Brazzell (Jr) (injured)
Matthews (So) (sore)
Staley (RsFr)
Jefferson (RsFr)
Jackson (Fr)
Smith (Fr)
Dodson (Fr)

Notable Walkons
- Weary
- Winton

TE Depth
Kitz (Sr)
Davis (RsSo)
Brame (Fr)
Van Dorsealar (Fr)

The big question is will we see the freshman TEs more this season or the freshman WRs?
I think Brame and Van Dorsealar are locked in. So you have to feed those guys as both will play heavy roles next season. Even this season too at times.

I think you will see Jefferson and Staley have special roles. Jefferson will be a prime target in redzone area. While Staley will catch bubbles or run deep.

Our air game is so young. Since I’ve been a fan I’ve never seen it this young. Depth is fine.

Look to 2026
Brazzell
Matthews
Staley
Jefferson
Smith jr
Jackson
Dodson
King
Moa
Bey
Click to expand...
Wait. You can get out of practice because you are sore?
 
#167
#167
FLVOL_79 said:
Wait. You can get out of practice because you are sore?
Click to expand...

You gonna turn a sore ankle or knee or hammy (no idea if these are his “soreness”) into a more permanent injury from practice when your first game is less than 30 days away?

Or do the smart thing and let a guy take it easier for a few days to fully recover before returning to practice?
 
  • Like
Reactions: LaagerVol and orangebloodgmc
#170
#170
VAVol85 said:
Fair enough. I would argue he’s not a great fit for Heupel’s offense because he is slow to recognize opportunities. But he has a very good arm and a quick release when he decides to throw. Maybe he will do well at UCLA…but I doubt it.
Click to expand...
Nico will always have problems as long as his Dad/family continue to guide his life. Time for him to be the decision maker base on his talent and not the greed of his advisors.
 
#172
#172
It’s a long season and even longer if you make the playoffs. No need to fight thru injuries on day 3 or 4. Fight thru those during the grind of the season.
 
#173
#173
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
Since we're winning, I'm not really in a position to complain but I'm concerned that Heupel can't seem to get back to what was a very difficult offense to stop when Hooker ran it.

I'm curious why we can't get back to that offense.

Someone suggested it's our O Line protection and play that keeps us from looking like we did in 2022. Many have questioned the trust Heupel has had in his QBs but Milton and Nico were his choices. Others have suggested the receivers aren't getting the separation we saw in 2022.

Samson's success suggests we had a talented O Line to run behind but the passing game rarely followed his success running.

Film seems to show some open receivers getting reasonable separation at least some of the time with some drops, some sailed passes, and some that never got targeted despite being open.

One comes back to QBs. Heupel's a QB coach with the success to back it up but we're not getting the results from guys he's picking up like he's had in the past. It's concerning.
Click to expand...
It has definitely been QB play.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Al Orange
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top