Armstrong Leading the QB Race

[The King]

 

 

 

 

TM never had an oline this good.

I don't think it's coincidence the offensive line has always looked better with Tommy in the pocket.

Yes,Tommy has better footwork, I just wish that it would equal better results.

But, haven't we been hearing that this is the deepest, most athletic OL in the Pelini era? I know I have.

Serious question and I'm not coming at your from a confrontational tone, what didn't you like about Tommy's performance on Saturday? He a few bad passes, absolutely. The overthrow to Ameer was bad, the near interception on the pass to Alonzo was a bad decision. The crazy catch with Westerkamp I would call an below average decision (not bad) but the CB made a really good play on the ball. It happens.

 

I think the 52% (15/29) completion percentage is what sticks out. But if you break that down a little more, you realize it's not terrible.

 

To start, one of those incompletions was the spike at the end of the first half, so can we agree that shouldn't count in his evaluation? Brings it to 54%.

 

Next, he very decisively threw 5 passes out of bounds. One can argue that this is actually a positive play. Things that can NOT happen when you throw the ball away include: interception, sack for big loss, fumble and turnover. Effectively brings it to 65%.

 

Two other incompletions were bombs that missed Kenny Bell grasp by literally inches. Both flew over 60 yards in air and both hit both of Kenny's hands. These aren't completions, but the effect of the throw helps alleviate the box and allows Ameer to operate. If we complete the pass, it's great, but the effect on the defense is greater just by having that as an option.

 

Overall, Tommy's job isn't to complete 70% of passes, he isn't supposed to Christian Hackenburg. His job is to not turn the ball over and put the defense in bad spots and to keep the down and distance manageable. He had 0 turnovers and I think we had 1 occasions where we were 2nd and greater than 10 and that was due to a penalty. He did his job Saturday.

I didn't like the 52% completion percentage at all, considering the competition. Looking back at some of the highlights, many of those completions were underthrown or behind the receiver, and the receiver made a good play on them.

 

Fair enough about him throwing some balls away. Maybe on some of those throw aways, if he would have had better pocket presence and play making ability, he could have stepped up in the pocket and got a few yards instead of putting us in a hole. (Or, he could've pulled a T-Mart, ran around for a billion seconds, got sacked, thrown an INT or fumbled - which is truly "putting us in a hole" rather than living to play another down - something coaches repeatedly stressed to T-Mart, its ok to live for another down.)

 

Lastly, turnovers have been a huge problem (funny because, T-Mart got plenty of these doing what you mentioned before, with his "amazing play making ability trying to get a few yards"), and Tommy had 2 INTs dropped. I can stomach him not being a playmaker if he makes good decisions and doesn't turn the ball over. (Why are you complaining then? They DROPPED the INTs, so he had none...but yet, you're here, complaining.) But he pretty much single handedly lost the MSU game for us last year due to his turnovers. (Does Tommy really look like the same player to you as he did last year? Have you not noticed A) he slimmed down. B) He is faster, more agile. C) Better command of the offense D) related to A and B, but he is finally healthy on that knee of his)

 

If he plays the same against MSU as he did against FAU, we won't win. (Actually, we still probably win because FAU isn't Michigan State, but, once again, I doubt Tommy will EVER play as bad as he did against MSU because he is a whole new QB. You really think he is the same as his Frosh year, with no exp? C'mon man.)

 

 

I'm sorry but, lol what? You must've hated T-Mart.

 

If not, this is just rich.