Vols Fall Practice #4

[miket4god]

The fact that we didn’t pursue anyone in the portal who had ever taken a snap is malpractice. Idk if you’ll ever see a WR group with less experience in the portal era.

We did pursue a couple of WR in the portal, but evidently even the depth WR wanted starter money that we weren't willing to pay.

 

[volfan411]

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.

contrary to popular belief this offense doesn’t need elite QB play. It needs a QB who can read the defense and recognize where the ball needs to go then get it out on time.

Nico was slow to read the defense then got the ball out late which allowed the defense to adjust.

 

[Skooter]

Iir Nico looked great in practice.
Practice. So did Milton. And Guarantano.
We have 4 weeks of practice before the first game. We are 4 in. Relax.

 

[WillisWG]

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.

21 Orange & White stats. Joe is sitting in the stands thinking Harrison is the competition. That game thread is quite the read. NO ONE thought HH was the guy

View attachment 364160

 

[RiseToTheTop]

contrary to popular belief this offense doesn’t need elite QB play. It needs a QB who can read the defense and recognize where the ball needs to go then get it out on time.

Nico was slow to read the defense then got the ball out late which allowed the defense to adjust.

this


dude took forever to see anything

 

[LaagerVol]

Exactly. If we are serious about winning a natty we better be ready to spend $30-$40 million on a roster. That’s the sad state of college football right now.

Throw a few million in the pot then

 

[WillisWG]

Duane Morris

 

[25vol]

contrary to popular belief this offense doesn’t need elite QB play. It needs a QB who can read the defense and recognize where the ball needs to go then get it out on time.

Nico was slow to read the defense then got the ball out late which allowed the defense to adjust.

I get what you’re saying, but I disagree. Seeing the field, going through reads, avoiding locking onto receivers, and getting the ball out on time are elite traits in my opinion. Heupel’s offense might not need a future HOF QB to function, but saying it doesn’t require elite play understates how tough those things really are, especially in this conference. Hooker had almost a sixth sense for anticipating when a seemingly covered receiver would break open and made it look effortless. We’ve already seen two QBs since him struggle to execute it, and having a sub-par WR group since 2022 hasn’t helped.

 

[NighthawkVol]

21 Orange & White stats. Joe is sitting in the stands thinking Harrison is the competition. That game thread is quite the read. NO ONE thought HH was the guy


View attachment 760998

Yep. And all through fall practice, not only did observers say Milton was better, but players did too. Cooper Mays was one who explicitly said that Joe Milton was by far the best QB of fall practice.

Besides the fact that Heupel had to have had ESP to know that Hooker would end up being better than Milton, you can't start a QB who is outplayed in fall practice without losing your team. Brent Hubbs has often alluded to this happening in 2005. Rick Clausen outplayed Erik Ainge, Fulmer started Ainge based on upside, he lost the team, team went from preseason #3 to a 5-6 record.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

It has definitely been QB play.

If the reason Heupel hasn't run tempo and the full veer and shoot we saw in 2022 is QB play, it leads to the questions:

Can only 1 out of every 3 QBs (and possibly 1 of 4 or 5 or 6) run your full offense?
Who is picking the QBs for your offense?

We ARE winning. Heupel and Co are putting together great defenses and grinding out the running game, but where has tempo and passing down field gone since 2022?

If it's the QB play, is the Heupel high tempo spread offense just not workable for most QBs?

 

[WillisWG]

Three Thoughts on Tennessee Football’s Defense From the Opening Four Practices | Rocky Top Insider

Three things that have stood out to me so far during Tennessee football's opening four practices of fall camp.

www.rockytopinsider.com

The linebacker room is top-level

What Josh Heupel and William Inge have built up in the Vols’ linebacker room is nothing short of elite. The top unit of juniors, Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander, are two of the most experienced and proven backers in the conference.

Behind those top two, a group of second-year players, Edwin Spillman and Jordan Burn,s are expected to play significant roles. Both battled through injury a year ago, but have gotten nothing but praise from Inge and company this offseason.

Colton Hood can play a big role

There’s uncertainty around one of Tennessee’s cornerback positions. While Rickey Gibson III is locked in as one of the starters, the health of Jermod McCoy is leaving the other spot open. If McCoy is healthy, there’s an argument that he’s the best defensive back in the SEC. If he needs time before returning to the field, he’ll need a replacement.

Hood can develop into a valuable piece of the secondary for UT as he progresses in his career. Two, he’s already looking the part of a starting corner.

Even if Hood isn’t asked to start if McCoy can get healthy in a hurry, he’ll likely be the first guy off the bench with Jalen McMurray to relieve the starters.

Young defensive linemen look ready to go

While there is a good bit of returning production, there will be plenty of young players asked to take a step this year. This includes true freshmen Isiaiah Campbell and Ethan Utley.

So far, those freshmen, among others, and even some returning talent, look primed to have breakout years. Rodney Garner and Levorn ‘Chop’ Harbin have been nothing but elite position coaches, and I don’t see a reason to worry about their units despite the departing production.

 

[MemphisVol3]

Yep. And all through fall practice, not only did observers say Milton was better, but players did too. Cooper Mays was one who explicitly said that Joe Milton was by far the best QB of fall practice.

Besides the fact that Heupel had to have had ESP to know that Hooker would end up being better than Milton, you can't start a QB who is outplayed in fall practice without losing your team. Brent Hubbs has often alluded to this happening in 2005. Rick Clausen outplayed Erik Ainge, Fulmer started Ainge based on upside, he lost the team, team went from preseason #3 to a 5-6 record.

Yeah I remember that season...we had a great defense that year too.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Three Thoughts on Tennessee Football’s Defense From the Opening Four Practices | Rocky Top Insider

Three things that have stood out to me so far during Tennessee football's opening four practices of fall camp.

www.rockytopinsider.com

The linebacker room is top-level

What Josh Heupel and William Inge have built up in the Vols’ linebacker room is nothing short of elite. The top unit of juniors, Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander, are two of the most experienced and proven backers in the conference.

Behind those top two, a group of second-year players, Edwin Spillman and Jordan Burn,s are expected to play significant roles. Both battled through injury a year ago, but have gotten nothing but praise from Inge and company this offseason.

Colton Hood can play a big role

There’s uncertainty around one of Tennessee’s cornerback positions. While Rickey Gibson III is locked in as one of the starters, the health of Jermod McCoy is leaving the other spot open. If McCoy is healthy, there’s an argument that he’s the best defensive back in the SEC. If he needs time before returning to the field, he’ll need a replacement.

Hood can develop into a valuable piece of the secondary for UT as he progresses in his career. Two, he’s already looking the part of a starting corner.

Even if Hood isn’t asked to start if McCoy can get healthy in a hurry, he’ll likely be the first guy off the bench with Jalen McMurray to relieve the starters.

Young defensive linemen look ready to go

While there is a good bit of returning production, there will be plenty of young players asked to take a step this year. This includes true freshmen Isiaiah Campbell and Ethan Utley.

So far, those freshmen, among others, and even some returning talent, look primed to have breakout years. Rodney Garner and Levorn ‘Chop’ Harbin have been nothing but elite position coaches, and I don’t see a reason to worry about their units despite the departing production.

I have to see it to believe it. In the games we lost last season and even the year before they were the biggest issue IMO. Misdirection has killed us

 

[MemphisVol3]

I have to see it to believe it. In the games we lost last season and even the year before they were the biggest issue IMO. Misdirection has killed us

It was mainly when Pili went down both times. Defense still played great but it was a slight notch down after Pili got hurt...I do think the LBers will be better this year though.

 

[aRmo]

It was mainly when Pili went down both times. Defense still played great but it was a slight notch down after Pili got hurt...I do think the LBers will be better this year though.

Lets hope so, the defense truly struggled against alot of motion looks last year.

 

[Orange.]

WRs dropping catchable passes is disgusting and unacceptable. A coach who accepts that happening is unacceptable. I am not saying a coach should eat a players face off whenever that happens. But he should require that player or players to work to the maximum allowed by rules. If they are not willing to work on their own until they stop dropping passes, then find players who will work hard and catch the football. No player will be perfect, but those WRs are worth less than zero to the team if they do not consistently catch the catchable passes thrown to them.

Fahr everybody!

Welcome to the official “tough talk, poseur” ignore list.

 

[FLVOL_79]

When you’re the best of 1 of 5 scholarship wideouts you can have a day to recover.

I'm gonna try this tomorrow. Tell my boss I need the day off because I went too hard on leg day today.

 

[WillisWG]

here are the numbers for Tennessee’s quarterbacks during routes on air over the first week:

Jake Merklinger has completed 41-of-49 attempts while Joey Aguilar has completed 38-of-51 attempt and George MacIntyre has completed 29-of-31 attempts.

MacIntyre’s worst day was the first day and that is the same day we did not record his results so his numbers are skewed a bit to the positive side. He has thrown to the third team receivers pretty consistently and has not repped with the first team receivers while we’ve been on the practice field.

Merklinger and Aguilar have alternated reps with the starters to this point. Drops have hurt Aguilar’s numbers badly to this point. In fact, we categorized eight of his 13 incompletions as drops. Now, some of those drops weren’t on great throws. There’s been balls he’s thrown high and behind receivers but the pass catchers got two hands on all of them so we categorized them as drops.

Tennessee pass catchers have dropped only two of Merklinger’s nine incompletions to this point.

Back to work tomorrow

a few caveats in the article

How Tennessee Quarterbacks Performed In Routes On Air During The First Week Of Practice | Rocky Top Insider

How Tennessee football quarterbacks have performed during routes on air periods during the Vols' first week of fall practice.

www.rockytopinsider.com

 

[FanDude]

View attachment 760916

" I am not saying a coach should eat a players face off whenever that happens." If there is something in my post that you disagree with, why don't you try stating your point about what is actually said in the post instead of ridiculing the person? Can you do that? Well? Can you?

 

[bpalmer28]

I’m definitely concerned about the WR/QB issue but certainly not surprised. I’m hoping it’s just a timing/chemistry issue that will get worked out. While the WR room is thin, there’s still talent there. Surely they all don’t have bricks for hands.

I agree. Matthews and Brazzell caught the ball well last year so I think they'll be fine. The jury is out on the other guys. Carter will provide a nice boost in the hands department.

My biggest concern is that our fanbase is already worried about drops and the season hasn't even started. That means you'll probably start hearing scattered boos after the first drop in Neyland. That can mess with a kids head.

 

[FanDude]

Do these receivers have that?

That is the question. Hyatt dropped so many catchable passes in critical game situations that his value as an SEC receiver appeared questionable. The following offseason, he became one of the hardest working players on the team. He turned into a first into the building and last one out kind of guy, perfecting his routes and spending session after session with the jug machine. Whatever time he could get catching for a QB, he took it. The next season he was where he needed to be to get separation and catch passes. The difference was night and day. Instead of dropping passes, he caught them and had a great season. The reality is that it takes extra hard work to be that good.

 

[FanDude]

Fahr everybody!

Welcome to the official “tough talk, poseur” ignore list.

That is not what I said. Nor was it implied. Welcome back at you to the knee-jerk-negative, nonsense talking Ignore List.

 

[TheVolsFrog]

here are the numbers for Tennessee’s quarterbacks during routes on air over the first week:

Jake Merklinger has completed 41-of-49 attempts while Joey Aguilar has completed 38-of-51 attempt and George MacIntyre has completed 29-of-31 attempts.

MacIntyre’s worst day was the first day and that is the same day we did not record his results so his numbers are skewed a bit to the positive side. He has thrown to the third team receivers pretty consistently and has not repped with the first team receivers while we’ve been on the practice field.

Merklinger and Aguilar have alternated reps with the starters to this point. Drops have hurt Aguilar’s numbers badly to this point. In fact, we categorized eight of his 13 incompletions as drops. Now, some of those drops weren’t on great throws. There’s been balls he’s thrown high and behind receivers but the pass catchers got two hands on all of them so we categorized them as drops.

Tennessee pass catchers have dropped only two of Merklinger’s nine incompletions to this point.

Back to work tomorrow

a few caveats in the article

How Tennessee Quarterbacks Performed In Routes On Air During The First Week Of Practice | Rocky Top Insider

How Tennessee football quarterbacks have performed during routes on air periods during the Vols' first week of fall practice.

www.rockytopinsider.com

Glad they also said how many were dropped in the article.

 

[WillisWG]

Glad they also said how many were dropped in the article.

Those are shareable details..media off their game in practice reporting

 

[SaturdaysInKnox]

I think JA is a gamer, similar to Dobbs. Dobbs was never great in the routes during the air session of practice