Tennessee football: The case for and against each QB after three games

Joe Milton III

18-of-35 (51.4%) for 190 yards (5.4 YPA); 19 carries for 98 yards

3 total TDs (1 passing, 2 rushing); 2 fumbles

The case for

This is anecdotal to a degree, but nobody on Tennessee football’s roster makes better decisions than Joe Milton III with the ball. He knows when to keep it and when to throw it on RPO plays, and he’s got a great understanding of what to do when under pressure.

Neither of Milton’s fumbles are his fault, and there’s a reason he hasn’t thrown an interception yet. In their one game together, as we mentioned, Milton graded just as well as Hendon Hooker, and he wouldn’t have made either mistake on the Vols’ final two offensive possessions of the game.

The case against

We don’t have to analyze this one too much. Milton isn’t accurate. He’s left at least five touchdown passes on the field by overthrowing guys. Sure, in some cases, they were a deep-ball overthrow, but he overthrew Jacob Warren on an intermediate route against Pitt that should’ve been a score.

On his one touchdown pass, the throw was actually a bad one that Cedric Tillman had to come back to catch. Given what the Michigan Wolverines said about him, this is clearly a concern going forward and one that’s hard to think he’ll overcome.