2nd year QBs... should they be "ready" or not?

[bpalmer28]

In the wake of Nico's struggles, I've seen some posters dismiss the fact that Nico only has 7 games under his belt as being a poor excuse. They've cited Bryce Young and Johnny Manziel as examples of redshirt freshmen who were great QBs in the SEC. I did some digging through recent history to prove them wrong, but the evidence isn't as conclusive as I thought. The truth is that some were ready, and some were not. Not earth shattering, I know. But it took me a while to look at all of these guys' stats, so I figured I'd share anyway.

Great SEC QBs who weren't ready or struggled in their 2nd year:
Joe Burrow
Dak Prescott
Josh Dobbs
Hendon Hooker
Justin Fields
Kyle Trask
Drew Lock
Jalen Milroe


Great SEC QBs who were already good by their 2nd year:
Bryce Young
Johnny Football
Tim Tebow
Spencer Rattler
Tua Tagovailoa
Jake Fromm

 

[titansvolsfaninga]

Each result will be different. Different teams around each QB, different schemes.

 

[JohnnyJava]

Just as a clarifier, Rattler was in his fourth year by the time he made it to the SEC. And I’m not sure I would categorize him as being great. Same with Burrow as far as class goes. It is an interesting question that you pose with a lot of variables.

 

[DaddyChad]

Young players are going to struggle some regardless. If you put a young guy in with protection and play to his strengths he can be successful. The ability to get the play call, read the defense pre snap, see the field and deliver the ball are difficult if you’re giving the young guy protection. The longer the player is in the system, getting those mental reps in game, the quicker they will know where to go with the ball. Our problem right now is one his processing speed isn’t fast enough but it’s about on par for a young player, and also we’re not protecting well enough. Get hit a few times and you start seeing pressure coming every play from everywhere.

Think what you want about Nico, hell get pissed and hateful he’s earning more money than most of us will see in our lifetime but at the same time recognize it doesn’t matter if Manning was back there. You have to have pass protection to be effective especially when you’re a first year starter and a young player.

I said at the first of the year I figured this was an 8-4 or 9-3 year at best mainly bc he was a first year starter and I figured he would struggle. Honestly I think we’re in better shape than I thought given the Oline struggles.

 

[chuck0303]

Young players are going to struggle some regardless. If you put a young guy in with protection and play to his strengths he can be successful. The ability to get the play call, read the defense pre snap, see the field and deliver the ball are difficult if you’re giving the young guy protection. The longer the player is in the system, getting those mental reps in game, the quicker they will know where to go with the ball. Our problem right now is one his processing speed isn’t fast enough but it’s about on par for a young player, and also we’re not protecting well enough. Get hit a few times and you start seeing pressure coming every play from everywhere.

Think what you want about Nico, hell get pissed and hateful he’s earning more money than most of us will see in our lifetime but at the same time recognize it doesn’t matter if Manning was back there. You have to have pass protection to be effective especially when you’re a first year starter and a young player.

I said at the first of the year I figured this was an 8-4 or 9-3 year at best mainly bc he was a first year starter and I figured he would struggle. Honestly I think we’re in better shape than I thought given the Oline struggles.

We've got the depth on the Dline now we've gotta get some depth on the Oline. Tackles getting hurt on just about every play. Got to protect the QB or have him roll out. Don't understand why there's not more short passes to the tight ends to help stop the rush.

 

[volbound1700]

In the wake of Nico's struggles, I've seen some posters dismiss the fact that Nico only has 7 games under his belt as being a poor excuse. They've cited Bryce Young and Johnny Manziel as examples of redshirt freshmen who were great QBs in the SEC. I did some digging through recent history to prove them wrong, but the evidence isn't as conclusive as I thought. The truth is that some were ready, and some were not. Not earth shattering, I know. But it took me a while to look at all of these guys' stats, so I figured I'd share anyway.

Great SEC QBs who weren't ready or struggled in their 2nd year:
Joe Burrow
Dak Prescott
Josh Dobbs
Hendon Hooker
Justin Fields
Kyle Trask
Drew Lock
Jalen Milroe


Great SEC QBs who were already good by their 2nd year:
Bryce Young
Johnny Football
Tim Tebow
Spencer Rattler
Tua Tagovailoa
Jake Fromm

Good post. I thought Nico was in the second group (he was compared to Bryce Young) but he is probably leaning kore towards that first pact.

 

[a vol n tears]

We've got the depth on the Dline now we've gotta get some depth on the Oline. Tackles getting hurt on just about every play. Got to protect the QB or have him roll out. Don't understand why there's not more short passes to the tight ends to help stop the rush.

I think they are keeping the TEs in to block. They need all the help they can get

 

[sonofUT62]

I think they are keeping the TEs in to block. They need all the help they can get

They can block and release to run short/ low risk routes. I personally thought the opening play of OT was the best call of the night. As opposed to the handoff to Sampson that everyone thought was coming.

 

[Alto1]

They can block and release to run short/ low risk routes. I personally thought the opening play of OT was the best call of the night. As opposed to the handoff to Sampson that everyone thought was coming.

Absolutely it was!!!

 

[kptvol1]

With anything, I try to parallel it to my own life experiences: if someone is good at a new thing they’re doing from the jump, they’re at a plateau. It seems that the brilliant struggle at the jump because they’re processing a lot, but learning and storing information. As a casual observer, we’d say something “clicked” at a point, but it’s more like a coming to head of an education that has been quietly taking place. With Nico, I’ve been guilty of impatience, but aware of the possibility that he’s brilliant. Perhaps that “click” is about to come to a head.

 

[Raebo]

Those that were good the second year probably had better offensive talent around them (at least OL) than Nico does at this point.

 

[KTrain]

Nico is not great at escaping the pass rush, I saw a couple times smaller QBs would have probably side stepped or out moved a 300 pound lineman. Bryce Young had about the same blocking and in 2022 UT D was all over him all game and he would Houdini and come out and hit a strike about the best QB performance in a losing cause I've ever seen. If you have that escapability you don't need great blocking.

 

[madbamahater]

People, chill out a bit. Nico has played 7 games and is a Freshman.

 

[BogeyVol]

Except Nico is not a second year QB... First year starter. Expectations and hype have collided with reality that SEC defenses can confuse a first year QB. Very poor pass protection isn't doing him any favors either.