VTTW Board Index

How good is Merklinger? I thought he ran around o.k. last season, but have literally zero opinion on his ability.

They changed his grip and motion over the winter
Resulted in much improved accuracy and velocity
Seems to have done well in limited viewing opportunities

OK, we have two four-star QBs as backups. Yes, I know that doesn't mean everything, but it means something.

If 4 mil is the bottom line, start preparing the 2nd and 3rd stringers.

What could go wrong with a redshirt freshman and a true freshman? We did it before with two true freshmen.  :biggrin:  :powert:

I think we can win with Merck at the helm but I will point out that this offense is far more complicated for a QB, especially pre snap, than Cut's
I will also point out that Ainge was a gunslinger

All true. But at this point, what are our options?

And our offense last year wasn't exactly the Heupel offense from the previous year. And Nico didn't exactly tear things up running it.

Run the ball as usual. Take our chances with the pass.

I feel better with these QBs than I have with our backups in the past.

Is it possible our OL improves? Losing Mays is massive, but surely we get better tackle play, and at least similar work from the guards.

If so, the everyone appears magically better provided WRs can catch.

It hinges on how well the replacement for Coop plays
I've heard good things about Satterwhite this spring but we always hear good things about the young OL in the spring then they disappear in the fall
With the two guards we got in the portal and the OTs I feel pretty good, at Center I have to see it to believe it

This reminds me of the 90s when we went through middling OL coaches before Mike Barry's arrival. Hopefully I'm wrong.

More complicated? I think Heups offense is actually known for being conceptually pretty simple.

Pre-snap the reads are complicated
In play I'd say about 90% of the routes are option routes, usually determined by the pre-snap read but not all
That is what stood Hooker apart
He was able to move receivers around pre-snap to get the open routes that he and the receivers (especially Hyatt) took advantage of
Against L$U, bamer and others it was those pre-snap reads/motion that opened up those huge games for Hyatt
In the offense the QB and/or WR are going to make bad reads but the object is to make the reads early and just play loose, Hooker could, Nico had difficulty

I agree with this 100%. Hooker and the receivers knew, pre-snap, where the ball was going in most cases. Sometimes it was an either/or route depending on how the safety/corner covered the play but they were on the same page a lot of the time.

In depth analysis not required to know that Nico was a 486 compared to Hookers current CPU.  :naughty: