Football Post-spring review: Quarterbacks

[JRowland]

Doing a post-spring review series touching on each position group.

I've got Drew Barker and Stephen Johnson both with improved stock following the spring practices and spring game. The other three? Their stock's holding. Overall feel slightly more optimistic about the position than I did before the spring.

LINK: Post-spring review

 

[WildCard]

It is always hard to draw conclusions from 1s vs 2s. Even more difficult when QBs are "protected". And they were well protected in that game. Some of those sacks would not have been a tackle in touch football. [laughing]

Notwithstanding these circumstances, I though Barker looked "solid" in his performance. IIRC he was 12 for 18 and suffered 2 legitimate drops. That strongly suggest the accuracy is there if given that much pocket time, a factor we won't know until September. And I'm not sure the defense ever brought a 5th rusher except a time or 2 when they were caught by a pass play when showing a 5-2 look up front. The TDs strikes to Timmons and Conrad were whistled into tight windows (although it looked like the safety came over slow and out of position on the throw to Timmons). He was calm and efficient on the 2 minute TD drive and effectively used the check down routes.

I was impressed with Johnson's play as the #2 QB. He is an adequate back up and could well offer a change of pace QB should Gran wish to go that route. All things considered, a very good get that late in the recruiting season. I have not yet watched the second half so have no comments about Hoak.

The Cats have a nice group of RBs. If the O-line and receivers can do their part the QB play itself should be adequate. JMO.

Peace

 

[TBCat]

I think most of the sacks were legit however Ware's first sack on Johnson was clearly bogus. He was barely even able to touch Johnson as he escaped the pocket. Under no circumstance could he have actually got Johnson to the ground on that play. The rest I thought were real though. Also there were some situations were I thought the DL didn't know the rules on how to get credit for a sack. There were at least two times where there would have been a sack in a real game but the action wasn't stopped because the DL just stood up and stopped altogether instead of touching the QB to down the play.

 

[Soupbean]

Drew did look better but it's going to take in game time to keep building on the habit of remaining calm and making good decisions. He has a live arm and is accurate when given time and throwing on time. That's why it's so critical for him (or any QB for that matter) to learn to make his decisions early so that he can throw in rhythm and on time. When he finds his target late he wants to try to gun it in there and over throws almost every time and this can lead to Interceptions. I think this is why Hinshaw is stressing small steps to keep him more calm in the pocket. That along with simplifying his reads to one, two and take off will allow him to be pretty good.IMO.

 

[JRowland]

I think most of the sacks were legit however Ware's first sack on Johnson was clearly bogus. He was barely even able to touch Johnson as he escaped the pocket. Under no circumstance could he have actually got Johnson to the ground on that play. The rest I thought were real though. Also there were some situations were I thought the DL didn't know the rules on how to get credit for a sack. There were at least two times where there would have been a sack in a real game but the action wasn't stopped because the DL just stood up and stopped altogether instead of touching the QB to down the play.

But if Johnson were Barker on that play it may well have been a sack. Ware beat Leavitt on both of those plays.

 

[Cazwheel1072]

Unlike our prior OC, I believe Gran to be intelligent enough to use Hart and Conrad to help our OTs out with the pass rush when we get into season play.

Was impressed with Hart, that kid plays like a hoss. And obviously Conrad looks like he will be special.

The QB play was better than I thought top to bottom of the depth chart, a very pleasant surprise which suggested to me that these kids are now well coached.

 

[Beatle Bum]

You should have asked Andy Sweeney o Card Radio before improving the stock of Barker and Johnson. He is going to have a conniption.

 

[Beatle Bum]

It is always hard to draw conclusions from 1s vs 2s. Even more difficult when QBs are "protected". And they were well protected in that game. Some of those sacks would not have been a tackle in touch football. [laughing]

Notwithstanding these circumstances, I though Barker looked "solid" in his performance. IIRC he was 12 for 18 and suffered 2 legitimate drops. That strongly suggest the accuracy is there if given that much pocket time, a factor we won't know until September. And I'm not sure the defense ever brought a 5th rusher except a time or 2 when they were caught by a pass play when showing a 5-2 look up front. The TDs strikes to Timmons and Conrad were whistled into tight windows (although it looked like the safety came over slow and out of position on the throw to Timmons). He was calm and efficient on the 2 minute TD drive and effectively used the check down routes.

I was impressed with Johnson's play as the #2 QB. He is an adequate back up and could well offer a change of pace QB should Gran wish to go that route. All things considered, a very good get that late in the recruiting season. I have not yet watched the second half so have no comments about Hoak.

The Cats have a nice group of RBs. If the O-line and receivers can do their part the QB play itself should be adequate. JMO.

Peace

On the flip side, there were two sacks that would have seen the QB lit up. That can also have an impact.

I think it a mistake to put a cap on either QB. Let's see how they come out of the summer. I think both will, and better, improve. 15 practices in a new system (and new school for Johnson) is not much.