Tannenbombs
Club Member
Yes I have. That's why I'm a bit confused to see velocity described as a problem.
He...is a FLAME THROWER.
What you're describing is a problem of experience and feel. It's a sign of maturity that he understands what throws need arc and what throws need heat. But he's still working on his change-up. You can see it. His change-up looks like a promising, but half-finished product.
His fast ball is one of the best out there. Period. Full stop. There's a reason I keep comparing him to Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes by the way if you really tracked him in college this way did NOT burn up the atmosphere with his fast ball all the time. He played in the type of offense where you typically see passers sort of throwing at a comfortable 90% of what they're capable of, even when they're dialing it up. The way you could detect how special Mahomes's arm was, was by paying attention to what he was capable of while on the move. And he was CONSTANTLY on the move. That man hardly ever just set up and delivered, the way you think about it in a classical sense.
If you are one of those who likes Clayton Thorson, I think that's something he had in common with Patrick Mahomes. Not the arm talent, because he doesn't have that level of arm talent. But the way he was constantly throwing on the move, inside the pocket, outside the pocket, etc. He had some really, really sh-tty blocking. Just like Patrick Mahomes.
The difference being that whereas Patrick Mahomes actually converted a full 60% of his 3rd & <10 plays, which is an almost unheard of number for a full season's worth of work, especially a Texas Tech season which is like 1.5 seasons to most other passers, Clayton Thorson only converted about about 44% of those.
That's just one little statistic, but it's one that I like, because whatever you think of the way the passing game has evolved over the last 20-30 years, third down is still third down, and it has been almost wholly resistant to the secular trend of increasing passing potency/efficiency.
The point is simple, that where Mahomes generally (with the exception of one game against Iowa State) turned chicken sh-t into chicken salad at Texas Tech, Clayton Thorson turned chicken sh-t into chicken sh-t at Northwestern.
But we were talking about Jordan Love. My bad.
Watch the San Jose State game if you want to see finger-breaking passes. There was one that should have been an interception and you could tell that there was absolutely no way the defensive back was going to catch the ball, because it was just that hot.
I see the same thing you guys are referencing on his touch throws underneath or to the flat. I understand that he's not trying to Tyree or Drew Lock fastball an easy throw, but they take a while to get out there.
I only did a 2 game peak. I'm only doing 2, maybe 3 games on guys over summer. I just want to get a feel. I just watched San Jose State. He spins it pretty damn good on drive throws. AND he was asked to make a lot more of them than the 2 games I watched, Michigan State and BYU.
I know I said I doubt it changes much. Quite honestly, the way he was throwing the ball to the flat, I didn't think Love had that in him, and I referenced that as the reason why he was low on the list. I feel comfortable putting him slightly above Fromm.
The touch throws are just really weird to me. Idk. I haven't seen this before. Interested in both of your opinions on the subject.
Also, what do you guys think is or are the big reasons for Herbert being so inconsistent?
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