Varsity [243]
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Posts: 53
Joined: 11/15/14
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Why we are seeing what we are seeing, IMO - kinda long
Sep 6, 2022, 2:29 PM
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I know this thing has been talked about ad nauseam. But I feel like a few items have been overlooked. And IMO, they are the most important items.
This is gonna be long so my apologies.
First, the basic stuff...
DJ showed that he's been working on getting better. Unfortunately, at least for 2 and a half quarters, it was more of the same from last year. Painful stuff to watch. He finally put a few things together as we began to pull away from a mediocre GT team. And Cade...well...we all know how he looked in his short time in the game.
Everyone has offered a myriad of reasons as to why we are seeing what we are seeing. Whether it be the WRs having the drops, the offensive line playing subpar, the play calling, or Cade looking good because it was the end of the game and he was playing against 4th string, there has been no lack of reasons/excuses for what was seen out of the QBs.
Football is a game of technique. The casual fan usually doesn't notice the small things goin on within the game. They don't notice the technical nuances happening at all positions on the field. You dont learn about these things when you call plays in a game of Madden.
We hear about technique and fundamentals from coaches all the time - DL technique, OL technique, playing inside or outside by the DBs, lineman playing with their hands, the footwork of the OL, quick twitch ability of RBs and WRs, superior route running of some WRs. These are just some basic ones but you get the idea.
The QB has fundamentals and technical aspects to his game as well. And as he touches the ball more than anyone save the center, his are arguably the most important.
Go back and watch Cades small sample of highlights vs any of DJs from the game...and any from DJ last year. Don't watch anything but them. Forget where the ball is going, forget the line play. Just watch them. When DJ throws, he is frequently off balance. Some of his throws are flat-footed. If you watch, at times he actually has his weight on his heels. There was a completed pass last night in the flat (to Shipley I think but not sure) that the throw came out like a submarine pitcher, very very sidearm when it didn't need to be (does it ever?). When he does get the ball in the air, many many times the ball comes out very wobbly - a wounded duck, as they say. Simply put, DJs fundamentals are not good. The location of his arm slot, his release point, his footwork, his follow through (similar to what you see after a baseball pitcher/player throws), his weight distribution during throws, the action of the ball after release....its just not good. These all majorly affect the location and catchabiltty of his passes. It's unfair to say no matter what type of ball comes the WRs way, they should haul it in. Yes, they should BE ABLE to catch those balls AT TIMES. But to say "ok, every ball that is gonna come your way is gonna be wobbly as hell and also, every one is gonna be way up high or at your feet or alittle bit far out in front of you or alittle bit far behind you" is not fair. The QB has to do his part also.
Now...go look at Cade's limited highlights. Watch the rollout on his first play. Even after the throw, keep your eyes on him. Watch his over the top throwing motion. Watch the way his arm comes across his body after the ball is released. Look at the tight picture perfect spiral that flies and atrives like a laser. Now go watch the pass that took us down the 3 yr line. Again, look at the throwing motion, coming over the top and where his arm goes after the release. After the ball is out and keeping your eyes on him, look at his footwork. Notice how his weight shifts properly from the his back foot to his front. Look at the way his back foot ends up like a golfer after they have swung through the ball. While I won't say perfect, his mechanics a practically picture perfect. Very reminiscent of some QBs that have come through here recently. I would venture to say his technique may be better at 18 then DW...more polished similar to TL. And we all saw the results - passes that arrived with a tight spiral, in stride, on time, and chest high to the WRs. All this had nothing to do with OL play, WRs catch ability, or even play calling.
I won't go into the ability to process information, the progression of going through relievers, scrambling ability, and pocket presense. These are all valid concerns about DJs game. And I don't think we've seen enough necessarily to comment on Cades. However, there was one thing that tells me his pocket presense may be very good as well. On the screen pass, he perfectly drifted back just a bit then floated a "lazy" ball over the defender with the exact strength at the right moment to give the play a chance. In other words, his timing (crucial for offensive plays to work properly) was impeccable.
Please understand, I'm not saying he's the second coming of Joe Montana. I'm not saying we will win the next 3 national championships. I get that he didn't see any pressure in his face.
What I am saying is that Cade is much more polished a QB in all aspects. I am saying that due to his technical and fundamentally sound game play, he gives us a much better chance to be successful when there is pressure or the OL play breaks down. This is what good QBs do.
And unfortunately, if a QB hasn't learned many of these things by the time he's arrived at college (forget by his junior year like DJ), hes probably not going to.
IMO, this is why we are seeing what we are seeing. Everything I've brought up will make an OL line look better or worse. It will make a WR look ready for the pros or like they can't catch. It will make the offensive play calling look limited and head scratching or Iike it a well oiled machine. When the defense has to respect every part of the field due to the QB, run lanes get wider. WRs are more open. That's what football is about, all 11 guys working together and on the same page. It's why it's the greatest game on the planet.
I don't envy Dabo and the decision he has to make. It's gotta be tough because he's got a locker room to take care of and he obviously cares alot for DJ. But the best is standard. And I have a feeling the best at the QB position was seen in the last 5 mins last night. I guess that's why Coach Swinney makes the big bucks.
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