Serious, but stupid question: How well can coaches assess a QB’s decision-making ability in practice?

[BobPSU92]

I’m torturing myself rethinking yesterday’s loss and keep coming back to Clifford’s terrible interception in the end zone. Double coverage. Underthrown. Forced. Just brutal. A QB starting for three years makes that throw? How?

So I got to thinking, how well can coaches assess a QB’s decision-making ability in practice? Sure, a QB demonstrates that he knows the offense, that he can run the called plays. Two-step drop, throw accurately to the one receiver in a drill. Demonstrate leadership and that his teammates respond well to him. Fine. What about dealing with the unexpected and making something out of nothing or making the right decision to avoid disaster? How well can coaches assess that? How much time does a QB go up against a defense in practice (i.e., 11 on 11)?

By the time coaches learn a QB makes poor decisions in a game, it’s too late. Of course, some kids learn and avoid mistakes with experience. Some don’t.

 

[PSUFTG]

I’m torturing myself rethinking yesterday’s loss and keep coming back to Clifford’s terrible interception in the end zone. Double coverage. Underthrown. Forced. Just brutal. A QB starting for three years makes that throw? How?

So I got to thinking, how well can coaches assess a QB’s decision-making ability in practice? Sure, a QB demonstrates that he knows the offense, that he can run the called plays. Two-step drop, throw accurately to the one receiver in a drill. Demonstrate leadership and that his teammates respond well to him. Fine. What about dealing with the unexpected and making something out of nothing or making the right decision to avoid disaster? How well can coaches assess that? How much time does a QB go up against a defense in practice (i.e., 11 on 11)?

By the time coaches learn a QB makes poor decisions in a game, it’s too late. Of course, some kids learn and avoid mistakes with experience. Some don’t.

Depends on the coach - how they structure practices, how competent they are, etc. I get it.

Some, obviously, I get it, do very well (Ryan Day, Nick Saban, etc, etc)
Some, obviously, I get it, don't. Fair question.

 

[leinbacker]

I’m torturing myself rethinking yesterday’s loss and keep coming back to Clifford’s terrible interception in the end zone. Double coverage. Underthrown. Forced. Just brutal. A QB starting for three years makes that throw? How?

So I got to thinking, how well can coaches assess a QB’s decision-making ability in practice? Sure, a QB demonstrates that he knows the offense, that he can run the called plays. Two-step drop, throw accurately to the one receiver in a drill. Demonstrate leadership and that his teammates respond well to him. Fine. What about dealing with the unexpected and making something out of nothing or making the right decision to avoid disaster? How well can coaches assess that? How much time does a QB go up against a defense in practice (i.e., 11 on 11)?

By the time coaches learn a QB makes poor decisions in a game, it’s too late. Of course, some kids learn and avoid mistakes with experience. Some don’t.

I wonder if fatigue plays into it. I think that was the drive where he had a few lengthy scrambles. That and takes hit after hit.

 

[BobPSU92]

Depends on the coach - how they structure practices, how competent they are, etc. I get it.

Some, obviously, I get it, do very well (Ryan Day, Nick Saban, etc, etc)
Some, obviously, I get it, don't. Fair question.

I don’t get it.

 

[Catch1lion]

MY calls out left or right and then you immediately have to throw the ball.

 

[PSUFTG]

I don’t get it.

Well, you're not the only one, obviously.

 

[BobPSU92]

MY calls out left or right and then you immediately have to throw the ball.

Yurcich: James, what do you think?

Franklin: I’m sold. Cliff’s obviously ready to be to our starter.

 

[Midnighter]

I’m torturing myself rethinking yesterday’s loss and keep coming back to Clifford’s terrible interception in the end zone. Double coverage. Underthrown. Forced. Just brutal. A QB starting for three years makes that throw? How?

So I got to thinking, how well can coaches assess a QB’s decision-making ability in practice? Sure, a QB demonstrates that he knows the offense, that he can run the called plays. Two-step drop, throw accurately to the one receiver in a drill. Demonstrate leadership and that his teammates respond well to him. Fine. What about dealing with the unexpected and making something out of nothing or making the right decision to avoid disaster? How well can coaches assess that? How much time does a QB go up against a defense in practice (i.e., 11 on 11)?

By the time coaches learn a QB makes poor decisions in a game, it’s too late. Of course, some kids learn and avoid mistakes with experience. Some don’t.

Clifford plays scared. Like he's going to be hit at any moment (and he probably will be). I guess the bonus to him coming back is he's going to take those hits for CV, DA, BP, until he can't anymore.

 

[BobPSU92]

Clifford plays scared. Like he's going to be hit at any moment (and he probably will be). I guess the bonus to him coming back is he's going to take those hits for CV, DA, BP, until he can't anymore.

Shell-shocked from previous A$$. BEATINGS. ?

I thought the announcers yesterday were MEH. , but they did call out Franklin’s poor offensive lines since he’s been here.

 

[Midnighter]

Shell-shocked from previous A$$. BEATINGS. ?

I thought the announcers yesterday were MEH. , but they did call out Franklin’s poor offensive lines since he’s been here.

I mean, why else would you blindly throw into double coverage after making a nice play to avoid a sack? Part of it is Clifford's ceiling, the other part is he doesn't want to die.

 

[loinfan01]

I mean, why else would you blindly throw into double coverage after making a nice play to avoid a sack? Part of it is Clifford's ceiling, the other part is he doesn't want to die.

Didn’t you hear about the 3 safety look Arkansas was using? You can’t coach around that exotic look. You can’t execute against that exotic look. It was a clear schematic advantage. 3 safeties! Who does that??

On a serious note, I agree with you. He was trying to carry the team while running for his life. That leads to mistakes.

 

[psu31trap]

I think the kid was exhausted. He was harassed after every snap forcing him to scramble, make split second decisions on whether to run or throw the ball. Also, did anyone notice the receivers having a tough time getting separation, even in man to man coverage. Fix the running game, get the Offensive-line to execute the correct blocking schemes and Clifford’s errant pass will correct itself.

 

[BobPSU92]

I mean, why else would you blindly throw into double coverage after making a nice play to avoid a sack? Part of it is Clifford's ceiling, the other part is he doesn't want to die.

I want a QB who is willing to die on the field. That isn’t too much to ask given what’s at stake. See the big picture.

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

Franklin has to get some eye gouging MFers on our line from somewhere MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt , who cares . Cliff took a nasty kinda intentionally aimed at his ribs shot noticed a couple plays later our D went low on their QB, you have to do stuff like that. Same goes find a QB who would be happier here with a back up role compared to backing up a mediocre QB in a mediocre conference. Use the portal.

I'm actually glad Diaz is here to bring a little smack mentality to the defense hopefully instead of our shoulder launching tactics. JF has to realize the problem what ever , system , coaches , players the problem stands if he's willing to change what needs to be changed.

On the OP, sorry to get side tracked, i'm pissed at the product. Losing Levis, Bowen , and Johnson without a portal replacement qb was the tone for this year's play calling. That's without knowing how bad TR really was. So it was Cliff or nothing , on Cliff he took unnecessary hits all year long , some were his own doing . For instance 4th quarter against Indiana took some hard hits from their linebacker who liked to hard hit, got up slow a couple times , Cliffs call or read or designed play ? i',m going with Cliff's call.

One more thing against Auburn Cliff made a bad throwing decision , came off the field and MY said you had a guy open here or there. So for right now he's our only option, he had Lee open in the flat for a TD, what can i say, other than Cliff is shell shocked.

 

[JoeBot409]

I’m torturing myself rethinking yesterday’s loss and keep coming back to Clifford’s terrible interception in the end zone. Double coverage. Underthrown. Forced. Just brutal. A QB starting for three years makes that throw? How?

So I got to thinking, how well can coaches assess a QB’s decision-making ability in practice? Sure, a QB demonstrates that he knows the offense, that he can run the called plays. Two-step drop, throw accurately to the one receiver in a drill. Demonstrate leadership and that his teammates respond well to him. Fine. What about dealing with the unexpected and making something out of nothing or making the right decision to avoid disaster? How well can coaches assess that? How much time does a QB go up against a defense in practice (i.e., 11 on 11)?

By the time coaches learn a QB makes poor decisions in a game, it’s too late. Of course, some kids learn and avoid mistakes with experience. Some don’t.

He asks to meet their girlfriend(s)

 

[step.eng69]

I think the kid was exhausted. He was harassed after every snap forcing him to scramble, make split second decisions on whether to run or throw the ball. Also, did anyone notice the receivers having a tough time getting separation, even in man to man coverage. Fix the running game, get the Offensive-line to execute the correct blocking schemes and Clifford’s errant pass will correct itself.

 

[step.eng69]

I want a QB who is willing to die on the field. That isn’t too much to ask given what’s at stake. See the big picture…..OR

Watch the movie Patton

 

[HpyVly]

Personally I don’t care what their decision making is like in practice, I care what it is like in games. They are two different atmospheres. Some guys can kill it in practice but lock up in games, some guys struggle in practice but for one reason or another are able to step up in games. I’ve seen enough to know some of our guys are not making good decisions in games….regardless of what they are doing in practice…..time to give others a chance to step up on game day.

 

[Tom_PSU]

I want a QB who is willing to die on the field. That isn’t too much to ask given what’s at stake. See the big picture.

I’m with you, and we should all be done with this team until some guys start paying the ultimate sacrifice on the field. Obviously it’s too late for this season, but a couple of fatalities on opening day next season might install the proper mindset. That’s a small price to pay (well maybe not for them but it is for us) to achieve victory. COVID, debilitating injuries, opt outs, bad NIL deals, poor offensive and defensive schemes magnified by poor execution or whatever. I’m tired of this entitled sissy behavior, we need kamikaze pilots circling the Beav willing set the proper tone. Crashing into the medical tent on the side lines might give injured players second thoughts about leaving the field.

Maybe Jimmy Franks should fall on his sword after his next special teams blunder to show those players just how serious we are. We could give him a Viking funeral on the 50 yard line at halftime. That might wake some players up. If you don’t care for the above suggestions, I have a few that some people may consider extreme.

 

[blion72]

Personally I don’t care what their decision making is like in practice, I care what it is like in games. They are two different atmospheres. Some guys can kill it in practice but lock up in games, some guys struggle in practice but for one reason or another are able to step up in games. I’ve seen enough to know some of our guys are not making good decisions in games….regardless of what they are doing in practice…..time to give others a chance to step up on game day.

re QBs you are describing one of the biggest differentiators. Since they have the ball on every offensive play, their decisions are fundamental. Tom Brady was a 7th round choice for a reason = not that good in the combine like evaluations. This misses the fact that he was a great game decision maker. Trace (also a 7th round choice) had great decision making and much better running than many other QBs. He was pretty accurate in drills but his arm was a problem on the go patterns. He was the beneficiary of great 50-50 ball WRs and TEs. Guys like Godwin bailed him out. Clifford has not really had a receiving corps like that, and he is just a less skilled version of Trace, and makes slower decisions. Also as has been stated above - the PSU offense scheme and OL leads to QB's getting hurt.

When Spurrier was coaching Florida and SC, he was very good at not just staying loyal to any QB. He always said the game is the place you see what they can do. So he did not let himself get locked into a situation where a QB is able to keep the job no matter what. I recall one game at SC he played 3 QBs. He always said you need a couple QBs actually working with the 1's in practice. I think he said you need to keep all the QB's sphincter muscle loose. In the game, the leash was always very short with his QB's.

 

[Bvillebaron]

A

re QBs you are describing one of the biggest differentiators. Since they have the ball on every offensive play, their decisions are fundamental. Tom Brady was a 7th round choice for a reason = not that good in the combine like evaluations. This misses the fact that he was a great game decision maker. Trace (also a 7th round choice) had great decision making and much better running than many other QBs. He was pretty accurate in drills but his arm was a problem on the go patterns. He was the beneficiary of great 50-50 ball WRs and TEs. Guys like Godwin bailed him out. Clifford has not really had a receiving corps like that, and he is just a less skilled version of Trace, and makes slower decisions. Also as has been stated above - the PSU offense scheme and OL leads to QB's getting hurt.

When Spurrier was coaching Florida and SC, he was very good at not just staying loyal to any QB. He always said the game is the place you see what they can do. So he did not let himself get locked into a situation where a QB is able to keep the job no matter what. I recall one game at SC he played 3 QBs. He always said you need a couple QBs actually working with the 1's in practice. I think he said you need to keep all the QB's sphincter muscle loose. In the game, the leash was always very short with his QB's.

And JoePa always said if you have to plat 2 or more QBs, it means you don’t have a good one. You take Spurrier’s career if you want, I will take Paterno’s. Thank you.

 

[blion72]

A

And JoePa always said if you have to plat 2 or more QBs, it means you don’t have a good one. You take Spurrier’s career if you want, I will take Paterno’s. Thank you.

These are two philosophies re QBs, and there are successful coaches using each approach in CFB and the NFL. In spite of the ones having "A" QB, if performance is lacking - they are replaced.

 

[CvilleElksCoach]

I’m torturing myself rethinking yesterday’s loss and keep coming back to Clifford’s terrible interception in the end zone. Double coverage. Underthrown. Forced. Just brutal. A QB starting for three years makes that throw? How?

So I got to thinking, how well can coaches assess a QB’s decision-making ability in practice? Sure, a QB demonstrates that he knows the offense, that he can run the called plays. Two-step drop, throw accurately to the one receiver in a drill. Demonstrate leadership and that his teammates respond well to him. Fine. What about dealing with the unexpected and making something out of nothing or making the right decision to avoid disaster? How well can coaches assess that? How much time does a QB go up against a defense in practice (i.e., 11 on 11)?

By the time coaches learn a QB makes poor decisions in a game, it’s too late. Of course, some kids learn and avoid mistakes with experience. Some don’t.

I coached QBs for 15 years. here Is the short version. I put my guys is situations during drills and game type situations they could show me their skill set including decision making. Drills are good but too controlled. When we did 7 on 7 or full team I always scripted my offensive plays and the defenses I wanted against the play call. That way I could see if he was going to make the right calls, make the proper pre and post snap reads, his progression and his throw, pitch, run, whatever. this allowed me to put him in tough situations to stress him for his reactions. In most cases, after the play I will ask why he did what he did. I want to hear right then why he made the decision he made. I tried to make practice tougher than the games. I wanted to get to the game so we could play fast Knowing we did our thinking on the practice field.