SBNATION article on Milton's first Tennessee game
I found this article on MSN (SBNATION) reviewing Milton’s performance against Bowling Green. The title pretty much sums up the article, “Joe Milton inconsistent in Tennessee debut”.
The review points out that Milton started out hot going 9 for 11 and leading Tennessee to a quick 14 – 0 lead with Milton rushing for a touchdown on the Volunteers first possession. The article then says that “the wheels fell off” and in the second quarter as Milton “struggled to complete passes, or even find an open receiver.”
The article went on to describe Milton’s performance as he “misfired on a couple of deep shots, barely missing a wide open Cedric Tillman. He sailed both attempts long. Milton also seemed a touch slow getting through his reads all night long, getting himself into trouble in the pocket — which eventually led to a sack fumble.”
The article finishes off by pointing out that Milton was a major piece of the Tennessee running game finishing with 14 carries for 44 yards and 2 touchdowns and that it was their first game.
Joe Milton inconsistent in Tennessee debut (msn.com)
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:16 AM ^
During the OSU Minny game, the Fox crew was making snide remarks against Michigan during the Milton highlights. “His old team couldn’t protect him like that…” and such.
I wish Milton the best, but I’m not going to lose sleep on it. I’m also not going to second guess the transfer nor the coaches decision making on who is/isn’t performing better.
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:26 AM ^
When Tennessee was up 14-6 at halftime against mighty Bowling Green and they were acting like the score was 56-6? Yeah, that was interesting.
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:37 AM ^
“It’s all Tennesse!”
I was like… it’s a 1 score game?
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:42 AM ^
I'll mention here that Bowling Green is 126th in SP+ preseason. It's not like they're even a middling MAC team. They may be one of the worst teams in all of FBS.
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:02 AM ^
I was impressed with Bowling Green for how young they are - granted Tennessee is not a good team but the amount of turnover they have had in the last year is mind boggling. Also, has there ever been more former Michigan coaches and players on a (non Michigan) coaching staff?
Not sure this is all of them but:
Scot Loeffler
Terry Malone
Steve Morrison
Erik Campbell
Cato June
Kevin Tolbert
September 3rd, 2021 at 1:22 PM ^
Coaching like it's 2006
September 3rd, 2021 at 10:46 AM ^
Agreed - I remember seeing the highlights at halftime and they said it was all Tennessee and then the score was 14-6. In the few minutes of the game that I watched (all in the 2nd half), Milton looked the same. Cannon arm but hesitant, very inaccurate, no touch and when given the option to run, slow to take it. And this was against the worst team in FBS when their RBs were getting like 8-10 yds per touch.
September 3rd, 2021 at 12:25 PM ^
"all Tennessee"
LOL they barely touched the ball in the 2nd quarter
September 3rd, 2021 at 3:16 PM ^
He was the same player. His early completions were all within the lone of scrimmage or behind—screens. He missed a wide open WR deep by 12 yards past him. He was staring down WRs and waiting for them to finish routes before throwing. He was late on aa wide open comeback route so his WR caught it but out of bounds without a corner within 5 yards.
His intermediate completions were only to guys that had settled in a zone and waited for seconds.
For a guy as athletic, fast, and big as Justin Fields, but with an even stronger arm, he is still indecisive and inaccurate on most routes past the line of scrimmage.
He has three years left to realize his talent, which I hope he does, but the commentary from the “experts” was simply low hanging plastic fruit that makes me not respect them as commentators.
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:29 AM ^
I mean, I had the same thoughts.
He was standing there completely flat footed, waving his receivers to go deeper several times. Didn't see that much last year. Also, part of the reason he took so long was that he was consistently bypassing wide open receivers on short/mid routes, so it looks like he still has his old bad habits.
Needless to say, he won't get that kind of time when Florida or Georgia come to town.
September 3rd, 2021 at 10:14 AM ^
I remember a 3rd and 20+ in the first half where he had a clean pocket for about 15 seconds, and 2 open receivers… he took a sack.
I also remember a running back doing jumping jacks in the middle of the field because he was so open, and joe took the sack.
I don’t hope for Joe’s failure, but it’s refreshing to see his issues aren’t just a “Michigan thing”
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:35 AM ^
I mean Tennessee had a full fall camp to prepare for the worst team in the Mac and Milton looked competent against Minnesota too
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:45 AM ^
Exactly. Josh Heupel seems to have not "developed" Joe any more than he was "developed" here. Heupel even publicly criticized Milton's "decision making". That's exactly what we've all been saying was his problem. All the talent in the world, but makes too many mental mistakes.
So much for, "They don't build robots, here. They just let us go out and make plays". How did that work out? ?
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:22 AM ^
All the talent in the world, but makes too many mental mistakes.
I know what you're trying to say, but how you're saying it rankles. The distinction between talent and mental aptitude, especially in a QB, is how Ryan Leaf got drafted #2 and Tom Brady fell to the 6th round.
Did we come full circle? Are we back to the days of yore, when everyone creams their pants over a QB who can throw a bullet through a tire at 70 yards, and go "meh" on the guy with a noodle arm but can actually read a defense?
Joe Milton is not a talented QB. He is, in fact, an extremely untalented QB. I'm not hating or hexing; it'd be great if he figures it out. But evidence is evidence. A talented QB is someone who can make decisions in the pocket. Fuck the arm strength.
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:34 AM ^
When people use the word "talent" they are usually talking about physicality (arm strength, speed, etc.) When I did well on tests in HS no one said I was "talented".
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:40 AM ^
They literally created programs for the 'gifted and talented' students when I was in high school.
September 3rd, 2021 at 1:36 PM ^
They literally created programs for the 'gifted and talented' students when I was in high school.
I assume that was because of their arm strength
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:39 AM ^
Do we really need to wish Milton the best? Isn't he the one who left disgruntled and steered a few on the team and a few we were recruiting to go elsewhere? And if that is indeed the truth, then fuck him. If not, then yeah, go get em tiger.
September 3rd, 2021 at 10:51 AM ^
Who did he steer not to come here?
September 3rd, 2021 at 10:59 AM ^
Xavier and Giles if I recall. Don't wish the kid ill but his sense of his own personal glory reminded me of O'Korn in the Amazon doc.
September 3rd, 2021 at 12:18 PM ^
Jordan Phillips for one and I think he and Giles Jackson helped Texas' Tapping up of Xavier Worthy.
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:40 AM ^
They made a lot of snide remarks. Like when discussing Indiana as a bigger threat to OSU than Michigan. While Indiana and PSU might just be that, they didn't need to add UM to the conversation.
We are the ones proving ourselves and will.
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:41 AM ^
Just shows that Michigan is living rent free in heads of Fox's commentators. It's better than being ignored and treated as irrelevant.
September 3rd, 2021 at 12:28 PM ^
I love it because this is exactly the kind of stuff that football players use to eat lightning and shit thunder (thanks to "Rocky" for that line). Even though it's just TV guys, players hear it, feel it, use it.
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:44 AM ^
Yeah, the Fox comments were hilarious considering he was struggling to move the ball against a BGSU team that gave up 45 pts/gm last year against MAC teams.
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:46 AM ^
Please tell me this will not be a weekly thing. I really don't care what former Michigan football players are doing with their new teams.
September 3rd, 2021 at 10:02 AM ^
Be sure to let Magnus know since he does this at TTB every week.
Or you could just...skip it?
September 3rd, 2021 at 10:45 AM ^
...and still going strong! I like knowing what former players are doing. Heck, I like watching what former recruits are doing, even if they never played for or committed to Michigan. It's interesting to me to see what kinds of kids bust, blow up, quit, transfer, etc.
September 3rd, 2021 at 10:39 AM ^
After this week I'm sure they'll pop up when a former player does well (like I assume we won't get a Charbonnet post this weekend if they struggle against LSU) but I assume actual football will replace these posts.
September 3rd, 2021 at 12:40 PM ^
I think we'll definitely get a Charbonnet post if he doesn't do well vs LSU
September 3rd, 2021 at 10:07 AM ^
Lmao, it was against BOWLING GREEN. The WORST team in the MAC last year. Good lord, Fox.
September 3rd, 2021 at 10:32 AM ^
I think they even called him a dark horse Heisman candidate.
11-23 for 140 yards 1 td against 126th ranked team - strike the pose
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:04 AM ^
Didn't he have 3 TDs? Do rushing TDs not count anymore?
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:10 AM ^
It's the internet. People are more interested in proving their point than the accuracy of the information they bring to the argument.
September 3rd, 2021 at 1:27 PM ^
You mean the accuracy of not including rushing touchdowns in a passing stat line?
Oh wait, it's the internet, people are more interested in proving their point than the accuracy of the information they bring to the argument.
September 3rd, 2021 at 3:37 PM ^
Thank you! I was going to enlighten them but you were kind enough to do it for me.
September 3rd, 2021 at 1:38 PM ^
If you think having 40 yards rushing at 3.1 yards per carry against one of the worst defenses in the country helps his case, have at it
September 3rd, 2021 at 2:33 PM ^
Do rushing TDs not count anymore?
They count, but not in the context of discussing someone's abilities as a passer.
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:04 AM ^
I heard that too! I assume they backtracked a bit after the second half. Honestly, when I heard that comment from a non SEC loving broadcast I got a bit worried that he had 300 yards and 4 TDs before half. Then went to check out the game and saw what I saw last year. I don't get it.
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:22 AM ^
I guess good that he had 2 rushing tds but sub 50 percent completion percentage against a MAC secondary is just not good. SEC DB’s on the lineup.
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:25 AM ^
I thought that at first, too, when they were talking about the upcoming halftime show. But I think it was actually that they were going to discuss (1) a dark horse Heisman candidate; and (2) former UM QB Milton's first game with TN (2 separate topics). I changed the channel at halftime, so didn't actually hear/see what was discussed.
September 3rd, 2021 at 1:26 PM ^
Separate topic. They were referring to the Coastal Carolina QB as the darkhorse Heisman candidate.
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:01 AM ^
Mike Tyson withes Milton the best too
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:45 AM ^
Reggie Bush was just gushing over Milton last night. You'd think he was up 35-3 against Alabama. I personally just think he wanted to throw shade at Michigan, which is probably a pretty easy thing to do these days since Harbaugh has provided a lot of ammo.
I'm rooting for Milton, but he's got a few games coming up where the wheels could fall off pretty quickly. Florida is towards the end of the month, and then while Pitt isn't exactly a worldbeater, neither is Tennessee. Never mind the stompings they're going to be subjected to against Alabama and Georgia later in the season.
If he struggled against a lowly Bowling Green team, it doesn't bode well for his future prospects. But again, I'm pulling for him to prove me wrong.
September 4th, 2021 at 12:49 AM ^
Bowling Green truly is an awful football team. And I am glad I bet them at +35 against Tennessee. It was a lot of points and it seemed like an easy win.
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:18 AM ^
Sports are soooo weird.
We like them because they have something that life rarely provides, a clear score and definite winners & losers.
But that comforting certainty hides the mess behind the score. Reading this synopsis, I can't help hoping that Milton gets the development—a weird compound of talent, self-motivation, situation, teaching, and luck—he needs to succeed.
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:20 AM ^
The second TD was a miss-read on his part as well. He should have handed it off, but his athleticism bailed him out.
I hope he does well though.
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:20 AM ^
Joe Milton is Joe Milton.
September 3rd, 2021 at 9:27 AM ^
Yeah, his big play of the night was a 50/50 arm punt to a blanketed receiver in the end zone. I would not be very impressed if I were a Vols fan.
September 3rd, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
I was wondering if he truly had developed some of his weaknesses. But I watched the whole game and I swear it was like the Milton that played against MSU stepped off that field and right into the game vs Bowling Green. Stood around way too much in the pocket, taking unnecessary sacks. Missed several WIDE OPEN dudes, air mailed several open recievers going deep, trusted his legs to avoid sacks too much and generally looked lost once coverage actually was decent. He was fine against Bowling Green (literally a bottom 10 team in FBS) but holllleeee shheeeettt, the Florida's and Georgia's of the world are gonna be a nightmare if he doesn't start to advance his reads and timing in the pocket.
Needless to say, anyone bagging on Michigan for letting him go now looks like an idiot. He's the same guy he was last year to a tee.