Quote:I think the biggest indicator will be if his improved mechanics hold up during the actual games with real bullets flying.  I think last year, the more he got pressured the worse his mechanics became, and he was back to his college form later in the season.  The OL will have a huge impact on his ability to develop during his second year.  First by getting the run game going with improved run blocking, and second by picking up the pass-coverage and blitzes during passing downs, giving him enough time to complete his progression.

 

I wouldn't call it "college form" as much as his mechanics suffered as his arm wore down as the season progressed.

 

That's what they're coaching him on this offseason - recognizing when he's doing that and self-adjusting.

 

A rookie QB is basically throwing footballs during his final college season, through the offseason meat market, and on into camp, preseason, and regular season (if they are rookie starters.)

 

As his arm wore down, he compensated trying to muscle extra zip.  That leads to all kinds of footwork and other mechanical issues which are caused by fatigue, not "college form."

 

But you're right about what happens when the bullets fly.  Will he retain what he's learned and be able to identify breakdowns and self-adjust, or slip back into fatigue mode?

 

We'll see.

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