Where is Hilinski really at?

[AikenGameFan]

In his 1st 2 games he looked really sharp. Even though we lost, he made Bama rethink their pass defense. Then there was Missou. We all determined he was hurting. Then you get UK. That was a huge running game but it almost had to be. He was 15 of 27 (55%) for a paltry 140 yards. In the UGA game he was more accurate, 15 of 20, but with the exception of the one pass to Edwards, everything was short. only 116 yards and he got hurt again. Now we look at Florida. His 6th game; kind of experienced now. He is 17 of 35 (48%) for 170 yards with one long pass to Edwards.

I know when Jake was playing we saw him miss some long balls. A lot of times Champ blamed the receivers like he does now for Ryan. I really like Ryan and want to see him go on to win a Heisman. I really thought he could after his 1st 2 games. I just do not know what has happened these last 4 games. Okay I get it. He had some injuries. But I am really wondering what has happened to his long ball? I really think in practice thy need to forget the screens and curl ins and let him practice long balls. His timing and form is way off right now. I am not a QB coach and don't know what they have to do, but I surely hope they can get this fixed soon.

I like Joyner too, but don't see him as much of a passing QB. He is only 50% himself and no long balls.

What do you think? Was it a couple lucky games for Ryan and now we are seeing what to expect or is he just having injury issues? Will he get his touch back?

I sure do hope it is just injuries and this week he will excel again

 

[cocky0]

I think the pressure of getting popped after the throw might be getting to him too. Early on, he stayed poised all the way through the eventual tackle. Then he found out how hard SEC defenders can hit. So he may be rushing his throws a little. 

 

[gAmkok]

I think being hurt plays into it - rushing his delivery to get to protecting his knee. I think a healthy Hilinski returns to his previous form and accuracy.

 

[JimG]

He was doing poorly v. UF until they put in their subs, then he came to life.  His team needs him to step up and hit those passes when our guys are open. 

 

[gamecock88]

He was doing poorly v. UF until they put in their subs, then he came to life.  His team needs him to step up and hit those passes when our guys are open. 

Agreed.  UF backed off and pretty much accepted a lot of the shorter throws.  Defending this offense is too easy when all you have to do is defend part of the field.  Most everything flows through BE.  Even of the flea flicker, the ball was under thrown and contested.  One thing about RH that is both good and bad is that he hangs in the pocket in the face of a hit.  Takes too many shots.  It's still early in his career, obviously, but I still question his and any QBs development under this staff.  He may be better next year but BE is gone.  Who then?

 

[MFB]

I think you have to factor in the weather for the long balls vs Uf, but it did look like he was rushing them early. Another thing you have to factor in is he hasn't been turning the ball over the last 3 games and we have been in position to win or won those games. For a true freshman QB in the SEC you have to put them in the best position to help the team win and I think they have done that for the most part. I have been surprised by how quiet Shi Smith has been the last several games, it feels like they need to find a way to get him some explosive plays

 

[MFB]

And hopefully O. Smith is finally getting healthy enough to play more snaps

 

[JimG]

Agreed.  UF backed off and pretty much accepted a lot of the shorter throws.  Defending this offense is too easy when all you have to do is defend part of the field.  

If we can't hit some deep throws, we're not going to win many games. Big plays are as much a part of winning as moving the chains. 

We need some of this: 

 

[MFB]

Ryan has hit some deep throws against the 2 best teams we have face so I don't doubt he can do it. There are a lot of other factors at play in the other games so I wouldn't overreact too much

 

[Mr Ed]

I think it’s just the level of defenses have improved and he’s under a lot of pressure.  

Alabama didn’t get much pressure on him and we were calling a bunch of quick passing plays.  He seems extremely accurate when he has time (even late in the FL game) , not so much under pressure.  

I’d like to see more play calling like the Alabama game and I think Muschamp hinted at that on Sunday.  

 

[Pitchcock]

His arm motion at times looks different.

Starting the season he had a very short, quick, almost “Marino-like” release. 

It seemed to change late in the 4th of the Bama game after he’d taken a few hard shots. 

Since then the guy’s been beaten like a rented mule. 

Maybe he’s rushing, or it just may be pain from an accumulation of hits.

He needs to do a better job of getting the ball to receivers, but in turn they need to catch it.

One thing, like with Bentley the defense isn’t expecting him to run the ball. But every time he does he seems to pick up yards. If he popped off a 5-8 yard run every now and then to extend a drive it would slow the defense a step or two. As it is they can just pin their ears back and come after him when we go empty backfield.

 

[FeatheredCock]

Guy's Ryan really hurting here and really has had a effect on his play. Like elbow tendinitis very painful and throwing man the pain just to let it go so that should be the reason in the long ball. Knee issues also in play here. He is doing all he can.  He is on the heal and might show what he can do Saturday. So just do not judge to much right now. If he was healthy with the issues here then I would be worried.

Hope the article adds to the topic here for discussion.

QB Ryan Hilinski isn’t 100%. How close he is remains unclear, as he’s come through first elbow tendinitis and then a couple knee issues, including a sprain, suffered against Georgia. (VIEW ARTICLE)

 

[kingofnerf]

You know who we're playing.

The Vols will go after him for sure.

 

[Longhaul]

I think it is too early to answer a lot of questions about him at this point.  We can all speculate, but I think the body of work is very small.  Some good some not so good kind of what you expect from a Freshman playing in a conference that has a high level of play.  I do think some of his problems are stemming from injury and the desire to protect himself, but we really do not know.  I will agree with Pitch that one thing I liked about him watching his high school film was the quick release and very decisive.  

 

[AikenGameFan]

After today, it don't look so great. He is supposedly over the injuries yet he missed a lot of open receivers. Yes a couple got dropped, but many were just bad passes. His one long ball was way overthrown,

I know Ryan did not have it today. That 1st play pass was beautiful. I was excited. Then we watched miss after miss. Only 54% completions. Take away that 75 yarder and he was 27 of 50 for 244 yards. Passing the ball 50 times you would expect way more than 4.8 yrd/pass. Their 2 QB averaged 11 and 12 Yrd/pass. In 30 attempts they had 351 yards.

I know Muschamp won't do it, but I really think they should have pulled Ryan and gave Ulrich a shot. Maybe he would have better rhythm. Sometimes when you pull a starter it gives them a big wakeup call and they come back the next game on fire. Ryan just does not look so good right now. Say what you want, Ryan is not filling Bentley's shoes so good right now. I know we got some good runners, but you need good passing included to win games. Sadly, we probably won't make it to a bowl game so there goes some huge practice time out the window. 

I just wish Ryan could get it back like he had against Bama.

 

[Gamecock Rob]

If he’s 100%, Luke Doty should be licking his chops. I don’t think his knee or elbow are anywhere close and he’s playing thru it due to the depth chart. We should sit him this week vs Vandy, and I don’t care if that means playing Urich.

 

[TKE226]

My guess has been that Ryan is maybe 80%. That’s just me. I know Muschamp says he is good to go but players play at 70% or worse. If he is the best we have even hurt so be it. But he isn’t 100%. 
 

im not willing to put all this on him right now. Mostly because I want to see what he can do in future years. 

 

[Ironfan]

Hilinski will not be successful in the SEC, IMO. Maybe the Big 12 but not the SEC. He is as immobile as I have ever seen at the position.

 

[carolina_corpsman]

I have come to realize, Muschamp will not admit a player is hurt. I would guess RH is probably at 75% if that. That being said, this offseason will be quite the QB battle.