Wide open QB battle

#3
#3
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#4
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#5
#5
I wouldn't read too much into coachspeak.

Heupel can't come out and say "We picked up Joey because Merk isn't ready" nor can he say "Joey is just here as insurance."

In this situation really all he can say is "it's a wide open QB competition" even if he knows Joey or Merk or G-Mac is most likely his starter.

It's coachspeak.
 
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#9
#9
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
I wouldn't read too much into coachspeak.

Heupel can't come out and say "We picked up Joey because Merk isn't ready" nor can he say "Joey is just here as insurance."

In this situation really all he can say is "it's a wide open QB competition" even if he knows Joey or Merk or G-Mac is most likely his starter.

It's coachspeak.
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You don’t know Heupel personally. So you don’t know it’s coachspeak.
 
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#12
#12
BigOrangeTrain said:
You don’t know Heupel personally. So you don’t know it’s coachspeak.
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Hehehehehe. He's an SEC coach on a "glad handing tour" so coachspeak should be most of what he, Barnes, and Caldwell do.

But sure, Pollyanna...... he's being 100% upfront.
 
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#13
#13
Vol8188 said:
That’s what you say either way
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I hear ya but it's not what he said in years past. I think he has no clue who his qb1 will be especially with a true freshman and a last minute transfer portal add both of which Heupel has never seen throw a ball outside of highlight film.

Merklinger is the only one he actually has seen play.
 
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#14
#14
You’re silly if you don’t think this is Aguilars to lose. He’s experienced and played a lot of snaps and thrown for a lot of yards with subpar people around him. Sure it’s a competition but Merk will really have to shine to take it.

I think JA could really surprise people with a good cast around him.
 
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#15
#15
UTFranklinVol said:
I hear ya but it's not what he said in years past. I think he has no clue who his qb1 will be especially with a true freshman and a last minute transfer portal add both of which Heupel has never seen throw a ball outside of highlight film.

Merklinger is the only one he actually has seen play.
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In years past the fruit have a brand new swab who just joined and was the likely starter.
 
#16
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#17
#17
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
I wouldn't read too much into coachspeak.

Heupel can't come out and say "We picked up Joey because Merk isn't ready" nor can he say "Joey is just here as insurance."

In this situation really all he can say is "it's a wide open QB competition" even if he knows Joey or Merk or G-Mac is most likely his starter.

It's coachspeak.
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Accurate, but you left out "at the end of the day."
 
#18
#18
UTFranklinVol said:
I hear ya but it's not what he said in years past. I think he has no clue who his qb1 will be especially with a true freshman and a last minute transfer portal add both of which Heupel has never seen throw a ball outside of highlight film.

Merklinger is the only one he actually has seen play.
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Heupel has probably seen A LOT more than public highlight film of Aguilar. There's probably very little of Joey Aguilar on film that he hasn't seen at this point. He may have seen footage from his high school prom to judge his dancing footwork. 😂

It's very unlikely Heupel had only seen the film of Aguilar that we can pull up on YouTube when UT offered him.
 
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#19
#19
LegionnaireOfTheMiserable said:
The raise Merklinger got and the fact he has a year in the system over Aguilar means it is by no means a formality.
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Raise to keep depth in the locker room. Merk may know the system but JA has real time playing experience
From what I saw from Merk in the few games he played in and the OW game Merk not ready.
Doesn’t do any good knowing the playbook if you cant execute it.
 
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#21
#21
landscapingvol said:
If he didn’t say that, GMac and Merklinger would leave
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Actually, the addition of Aguilar--even if he wins the starting job--merely keeps Merk and GMac on schedule in their planned development curve.

They certainly expected Nico to start this season. And the plan Heupel sells is that we will recruit the best possible QB candidate each year, and that ideally, if you come to Tennessee as a QB, you will have 2-3 years to develop while competing with players ahead of and behind you to sharpen your skills while deep-learning the offense. Then, if you earn it, you can have two seasons to really shine in the offense, and establish your resume for the next level.

Inevitably, injuries and rogue dads will interrupt that sequence, but it's the best and fairest compromise between offering players opportunity to compete at their best, while protecting the program against very bad luck. IMHO
 
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#22
#22
Why would there be a leader in the clubhouse, when they can split snaps and see who is most effective? Guessing GMAC needs a lot of training table and weight room time before he could be SEC sturdy, but like his long range outlook. Combo of grasp and physical ability could be interesting with the new guys experience and Merck’s time in system.
 
#24
#24
sjt18 said:
And should have been. One of the worst parts about NIL like Nico had is that you almost have to start them.
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It is arguable that Joey Aguilar comes out smelling like a rose in this if he wins or loses the QB1 competition.

If he doesn't start, he collects his million and risks little injury.

He's not REALLY NFL material so he's not really losing anything there if he doesn't start.

If he does start, he gets his million and he's not had a lot of time to prepare so he can't really be blamed if he's not 100% efficient at the offense. If fans call for Merk after GA or whatever, he did his best. If he turns out to have a great year, he's a hero.
 
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