I agree. But I also think "you have to walk before you can run". I think they're trying to get his internal clock established. Once that's set he can go through all his reads within that clock interval. I think there's been progress on this, so I'm hopeful it continues.
I agree that these "boneheaded" decisions are concerning. To me they're so bad that I want to know WTF he was seeing/thinking? Because contrary to popular opinion here, he's actually been making pretty good decisions this year so far. If anything, he's been too cautious and gone to his checkdown too soon, but then he makes that play at the end of the half and it's like "WTF?". But I don't think it's because he's stupid. Nor because he lacks football sense. I attribute it to him trying to rework his game from the ground up since he got to the Jets and instead of playing with his natural instincts, he's been trying to override them to fit what they want him to do. This has caused several very visible issues. One, he lost his confidence, which thankfully he seems to be getting back. Secondly, he's taking longer to process things since he isn't reacting on instinct but on thinking about what the "right" play is. Thirdly, he's become more conservative and risk averse, I don't know if he can internalize what they're trying to get him to do so that it becomes "instinctual". That's a really hard thing to do. If you work hard at it, and get enough repetitions, you can probably come close. I wonder if they wouldn't have been better off letting him play the way he did at BYU - way more mobile and off platform than being a pocket QB. Anyway, getting back to the boneheaded plays, he needs to eliminate them whatever their cause.
If RT isnt beat like a drum Carter is open for a massive gain. He had to go around him and barely got back to the LOS. Carter went around the RT but if he slipped to the inside of AVT same thing, prob a big gain. EDIT - I can't tell if that is lazard or not, but it really looks like it was designed to get to carter in the flat. lazard initiates some real contact at the logo and then to the other defender at around the opp 48
He probably doesn't even have to pump. If he throws this ball with touch and anticipation its 7. That guy on Lazard has no chance at making that play if the ball is to the back pylon. He's flat footed as can be and Lazard blows by him.
I still don’t get why they don’t try to recognize cover 1 or cover 3 and send two guys on fly routes. Tell him to look left and throw right or vice versa. We have a very fast receiver with experience catching a lot of fly routes in college in Garrett Wilson and a 6’5” 230 pound X receiver that can body defensive backs or play defense if it’s an atrocious throw. I just don’t think we’ve really done a good job in the past three years designing plays to at least create the illusion of a deep threat even if we can’t connect. Pressure matters and limits this but still.
These are the type of plays that are super frustrating. It’s what my old coach in high school use to call a tits/ass read. It can work with corner/flat routes or slant/flat routes. If you see the front of his jersey, hit the corner. If you see him turn his hips, hit the flat route. Especially in a zone coverage with a clear flat defender. It’s just infuriating because this isn’t advanced NFL stuff where you have half the field playing quarters and half the field playing cover 2. This is basic high school football reads.
It is an offense he has never run before. Hackett said in his press conference today. We are asking Zach to do things has never done before in the NFL. That is no excuse for "WTF" plays but it makes sense for the rest. He will get better and better as the season progresses as he becomes more comfortable in the offense. We are seeing some very encouraging things. To bad Hackett has not been here since his rookie season.
How are you supposed to take those shots at the EZ when both starting OTs are out? That's asking for a strip sack imo.
In order for you to take a shot at the end zone or throw the ball out of bounds, it's 1-2 throw. You don't have the time to worry about the offensive line. If a guy isn't open, it's in the seats. If you don't want to try it the third time, then I respect that. You should get three shots there, but if you only get two, at least you get points. And if you do get sacked, everybody's right there, you've got time to get to the line and spike the ball. If you're afraid of the offensive line, then just run a play that is obviously an out of bounds play and not in the middle of the field, and then kick the field goal. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to throw a ball in the middle of the field with no timeouts left.
I couldn't possibly agree more! I think he definitely would have been better off if they had let him play the way he did at BYU instead of trying to totally remake him. There is no question in my mind that he would have been a lot better, and we wouldn't have seen all the awful throws and braindead decisions. He's having to think too much, rather than relaxing and letting his talent and instincts take over. No one plays well when they're having to think too much on the field. It slows down their reactions and play.
I agree with the last paragraph. If he got sacked on 1st down, it could have been a strip sack, or he could have gotten hurt. With as conservative as both Saleh and Hackett are, I understand why they didn't take any shots into the EZ on that series, but I think I might have tried at least one, and if he wasn't sacked, probably another. I don't think I'd have tried three. That said. I wouldn't have had Zach being a pocket passer. I'd have rolled him out and perhaps he'd have had the opportunity to run the ball in, and I'd have used play action.
Very good point. If you roll him out and let him create, maybe you get one shot and a field goal, if he's instructed to get rid of the ball quickly one way or the other, maybe two. Three may be unrealistic considering the circumstances and the personnel.
My observations so far is Zach staying in the pocket stepping up and keeping his eye downfield. BUT by staying in the pocket, we're getting so see first hand how bad our Oline can be at times and how fast that pocket collapses. Last season he'd be out of the pocket running towards the sidelines, so we really didn't get to see the pocket collapse on him too often...this year we get to watch ZW standing tall for 2-3 seconds before getting swallowed up.If our Oline can come together and give ZW RELIABLE time to throw, he could get a lot better.
He can’t play like BYU in the NFL. You have to let go of that argument. He’s NOT the most athletic player on the field anymore. Look at Richardson. He’s already on IR. Zach would be in a wheelchair right now.
The Colts should be ashamed of themselves. They drafted a very athletic, very raw QB who doesn't currently have the skills to start in the NFL and should have sat him behind Minshew for a year or two and taught him how to play the position. Instead they threw him out there and called plays that let him use his athleticism to put up decent numbers without being able to play the position properly at the expense of making him the most obvious injury waiting to happen you'll ever see.
But but but top 5 QBs have to start day one. Didn't you say that or at least agree with that sentiment regarding Zach?
If you cannot see the growth in Zach this season I am not really sure what to say. The last two games especially. KC he was aked to throw and threw it around like all pro QB. Denver he was asked to game manage and managed the game making key thrid down throws on obvious passing downs. There are criticisms and some big ones. The dropped snap in the KC game and that debacle at the end of the half. Those are mental mistakes he needs to stop making. I think he is going to have another good game against Philly. I am more worried about our defense than our offense. Our defense has been horrible against the run and that late TD against the Broncos is worrisome.
No I didn't. And Richardson gets more slack in terms of being raw because he has athleticism Zach doesn't.
