I'm not saying he is playing well...but with this group of WRs at UK who would even look good? They are a complete disaster of a group.
Is Leary really that bad?
- Thread starter screwduke1
- Start date
I think Leary’s injury was worse than what was let on. He was so much better at NC State. You don’t have that kind of drop off while healthy. He’s either not totally healthy or the coaching staff has done a terrible job with him.
I think all The drops and style of play are hurting him.
He’s not THAT bad, but he’s not been able to overcome some of our problems on offense as well as an exceptional QB would. Our I-line isn’t good enough for just a so-so QB. I hope he can pick it up.
He plays behind a horrid pass blocking offensive line
He has a receiver who can’t play receiver that we have revolved our passing game around
His O coordinator is determined to use long developing routes and high risk sideline patterns - instead of a short precise passing game utilizing tight ends and backs
This coupled with the line issues are a disaster
#5 can’t catch neither can #7
All the back up receivers left because #7 was deemed the star and #6 were going to get the attempts
Leary hasn’t been great but he’s not entirely to blame either
He has a receiver who can’t play receiver that we have revolved our passing game around
His O coordinator is determined to use long developing routes and high risk sideline patterns - instead of a short precise passing game utilizing tight ends and backs
This coupled with the line issues are a disaster
#5 can’t catch neither can #7
All the back up receivers left because #7 was deemed the star and #6 were going to get the attempts
Leary hasn’t been great but he’s not entirely to blame either
We are at the point in the season where I think coen just needs to revamp his passing game to compliment Leary’s skill set and help him get comfortable. Coaches don’t like to wave the white flag but I think he has to relent.
He played cupcakes and played in a very weak ACC.
He hasn’t been great but his bad throws/misses have been compounded by all the drops making him look worse than he actually is. I’m with those that think the style of play is not conducive to his overall success. He can’t seem to get into a good rhythm where he is consistently hitting his mark. Every pass seems like a crap shoot. WR’s have to stop dropping catchable passes, amazing how bad they have been.
Neither are that bad. Neither Leary nor the WRs. Most of our WRs have never played in this system. Most RBs, TEs, and quite a few OL as well as our QB.
The question is this-
Do we limit our playbook and focus on just a few formations and plays, but also limit our ability to adjust in game, thereby taking a couple extra losses this year AND maybe next?
Or
Do we keep running this system in full and keep on with prep for the remaining schedule AND next season, gaining more wins next season because everyone but the starting QB next year understands their role?
We have who we have on the roster. We have done well in the past with this coordinator. We have big playmaking ability AND the ability to sustain drives, we just haven't put both together yet in an SEC game, MOSTLY BECAUSE OF POOR DISCIPLINE AND A LACK OF SELF-CONTROL.
LEARY got better this week, but he was mostly alone in doing so. Increasing the tempo would help a ton, like it would have helped Levis last season. Can't go uptempo if everyone isn't on the same page and playing unselfishly (and the PFs and UCs are playing selfishly, because they hurt the team.)
We're just starting to get Cummings involved again, so I still have hope for the offense to get going.
The three drives we had were no fluke. We just need to keep sticking to our strengths. Running light WRs deep with DBs making contact continually down the field and/or holding off the LOS is not gonna work. We need to work the soft underbelly of the zone/man we're getting, use our TEs on intermediate routes, and forget the slow developing plays.
Our OL and backs also need to know how to legally cut block their assignments to give Leary vision over them down the field. He's got the ability and the will to stand in there if he can see the field. Where he seems to be struggling is where he's throwing blind or guessing the WRs trajectory downfield.
Our OL and backs also need to know how to legally cut block their assignments to give Leary vision over them down the field. He's got the ability and the will to stand in there if he can see the field. Where he seems to be struggling is where he's throwing blind or guessing the WRs trajectory downfield.
I think it is definitely a combination of things. The drops are killing his confidence and you can tell every time he comes off the feel after a drive killing drop. His confidence is down anyway because he is well aware that he is not playing well. Add to the idea that his shoulder is stilled ****ed. Plus he is working in a system he isn’t familiar with. You add that the Oline is still not as good as it was in 2021. Adds up to a complete disaster for any QB really.
All the points made in this thread add up to the fact you need a true dual threat QB at UK.
I would rather have Robbie Ashford than Leary for a Stoops coached UK team.
UK will never be the physically dominate team so plays are going to break down.
You have to have a QB who can improvise and make something out of nothing.
I would rather have Robbie Ashford than Leary for a Stoops coached UK team.
UK will never be the physically dominate team so plays are going to break down.
You have to have a QB who can improvise and make something out of nothing.
Pretty much this.
Everything else about our offense has been pretty much terrible (except Davis), and Leary has managed OK under those circumstances.
In particular, the pass blocking has been horrendous and the receivers have been awful. One of them even more so than the others.
I agree it's more of a combination of mediocre at best pass blocking and receivers with bad hands.
This is more true than " Leary sucks " NO Leary is fine and would flourish elsewhere or under different circumstances here . Our OC may be a great offensive mind , but Stoops coached teams are going to rely on the run . Period . End of discussion.
It seems the OC is taking a lot of heat for calling for deep routes , esp the deep route on first down when we were up 14-0 . but to me , after burning them with Ray the first 2 series it was the perfect time to go long .. and whatever WR it was was WIDE OPEN , and Leary led him to far or the WR didnt accelerate well enough .. my point is we were 2 steps from that game being 21-0 and maybe turns into a UK blowout . 2 Steps . Ugh .
1. Leary has been very poor accuracy in spurts in all 7 games...even the OOC cupcakes...he'd go a half pretty poor and then 2nd half he'd go complete 12 passes out of 13 attempts. Leary has been very up and down as our Oline has been fine and not all the drops. To argue it's the Oline, it's a new system, it's the WR, etc.... Some of these passes are simple 15 yard dig routes that any college sytem has in their playbook and he's not a consistent thrower.
2. The WR Drops are frustrating....but Brown had this same problem last year and Brown-Stephens is a Fr....but you can't run plays to get the ball to those guys....they are killing the offense in multiple games. Dane has been fine for last 2 games and Tayvion has been fine all year IMO.
3. The play calls...I get you need to stretch the D with all the running Ray Davis does...but we've literally hit one deep ball in 7 games (it was to Tayvion vs. EKU). IT's basically a wasted play to throw as Leary can't hit them...so why throw. Just keep Leary to 15 yards and in. If you want to take deep shots....throw post routes over the middle...he clearly cna't hit a sideline go route.
All QBs at UK are a conglomeration of the Oline, WR, TE, etc... talent to be fair. Stephen Johnson had the worst WR talent by far to throw to IMO. I loved Schlarman's run blocking Olines...but never thought they were above average pass blocking units. Eddie Gran run schemes were amazing...passing trees were pretty rudimentary.
If you had to rank Stoops QBs...I'd have to go
1. Will Levis
2. Stephen Johnson
I think there is big drop to the next level
3. Terry Wilson
4. Patrick Towles
5. Devin Leary....he seems to be not a whole let different from Towles, Wilson IMO and I'd rank his dead last
I'll not rate Bowden's half year nor Drew Barker injury games.
2. The WR Drops are frustrating....but Brown had this same problem last year and Brown-Stephens is a Fr....but you can't run plays to get the ball to those guys....they are killing the offense in multiple games. Dane has been fine for last 2 games and Tayvion has been fine all year IMO.
3. The play calls...I get you need to stretch the D with all the running Ray Davis does...but we've literally hit one deep ball in 7 games (it was to Tayvion vs. EKU). IT's basically a wasted play to throw as Leary can't hit them...so why throw. Just keep Leary to 15 yards and in. If you want to take deep shots....throw post routes over the middle...he clearly cna't hit a sideline go route.
All QBs at UK are a conglomeration of the Oline, WR, TE, etc... talent to be fair. Stephen Johnson had the worst WR talent by far to throw to IMO. I loved Schlarman's run blocking Olines...but never thought they were above average pass blocking units. Eddie Gran run schemes were amazing...passing trees were pretty rudimentary.
If you had to rank Stoops QBs...I'd have to go
1. Will Levis
2. Stephen Johnson
I think there is big drop to the next level
3. Terry Wilson
4. Patrick Towles
5. Devin Leary....he seems to be not a whole let different from Towles, Wilson IMO and I'd rank his dead last
I'll not rate Bowden's half year nor Drew Barker injury games.
Leary is listed at 5'10" but I think he's more like 5'8". When the pocket starts to collapse on him, he has a hard time seeing downfield.
No way in Hades I'd have Will L as our best ever .. most talented maybe .. but happy feet , refused to stay in the pocket even in the moments we had a pocket .. choked in maybe the biggest game of Stoops career (and his) , at Ole Miss . They were ranked top ten , we were somewhere near that .. we win that game the trajectory of the entire season changes . IMO Will doesnt set out SC , we beat them , We roll Vandy .. Thats 3 more wins . Instead we lose all 3
I was shocked how short he was when I was at the game. Had no idea he was that short, and understood immediately why he's having trouble on the long routes. They need to roll him out from the shotgun for those plays, especially when his receivers aren't getting separation at the line or are being picked up downfield and their route physically altered with impunity.
Yes, he stinks and UK is going to finish 5-7. UT and UL will destroy us, not to mention what BAMA will do.
I don't think Leary is awful, but it's undeniable that he's not the same here as he was at NC State.
I think there are a few factors that play into it.
1. I think his injury is still affecting him – range of motion, throw power, level, rust, whatever.
2. Dude is 6'0" and had a ton of balls batted down at the line to start the year. Coen utilized TEs when he was here in 2021, but I suspect he is focusing on long balls and sidelines passes because setting up a tip drill in the middle of the field is a great way to circumvent your team's punter. Hard to get TEs the ball when the middle of the field is a danger zone. Lines in the SEC are bigger, and I have to assume that's a factor.
3. Receivers have given us more drops than a downpour. If I was shaky and needed a morale boost, I'd be pissed and thrown off if my receivers dropped dots.
4. OLine needs to create cleaner pockets and make DLinemen who jump to block passes pay for it. It's the SEC, so I know there's no such thing as a super clean pocket, but Leary is pressured way too often and I think it's affected his pocket presence.
I don't think the threat of riding the pine will put a fire under the guy. I like the designed runs we gave him. Those runs allowed Leary to FIGHT for some yards. He showed guts. I think he's a competitor.
I'm not sure what the solution is at this point. I don't know if we focus on rolling the pocket or what, but short passes over the middle, digs, and a lot of TE routes are hazardous with the way we're doing things now. Without half the field and receivers available to us, it's tough to do much. Maybe we focus on getting the OLine to create passing lanes during the bye week. I don't know.
I was critical of Leary after UGA. Unfairly, IMO. He's not what he used to be at NCST, but the offense doesn't perform the way it has to this point because of just one man. Moreover, that man has put himself out there for the team, and I love that. That's not enough, though.
I think there are a few factors that play into it.
1. I think his injury is still affecting him – range of motion, throw power, level, rust, whatever.
2. Dude is 6'0" and had a ton of balls batted down at the line to start the year. Coen utilized TEs when he was here in 2021, but I suspect he is focusing on long balls and sidelines passes because setting up a tip drill in the middle of the field is a great way to circumvent your team's punter. Hard to get TEs the ball when the middle of the field is a danger zone. Lines in the SEC are bigger, and I have to assume that's a factor.
3. Receivers have given us more drops than a downpour. If I was shaky and needed a morale boost, I'd be pissed and thrown off if my receivers dropped dots.
4. OLine needs to create cleaner pockets and make DLinemen who jump to block passes pay for it. It's the SEC, so I know there's no such thing as a super clean pocket, but Leary is pressured way too often and I think it's affected his pocket presence.
I don't think the threat of riding the pine will put a fire under the guy. I like the designed runs we gave him. Those runs allowed Leary to FIGHT for some yards. He showed guts. I think he's a competitor.
I'm not sure what the solution is at this point. I don't know if we focus on rolling the pocket or what, but short passes over the middle, digs, and a lot of TE routes are hazardous with the way we're doing things now. Without half the field and receivers available to us, it's tough to do much. Maybe we focus on getting the OLine to create passing lanes during the bye week. I don't know.
I was critical of Leary after UGA. Unfairly, IMO. He's not what he used to be at NCST, but the offense doesn't perform the way it has to this point because of just one man. Moreover, that man has put himself out there for the team, and I love that. That's not enough, though.
I know it hurts PA, but Davis is good enough to take a shotgun handoff and fight for extra yards. We need multiple drives a game from the gun. Leary is just better there.
Leary has been terrible on long throws this year. He missed a wide open Robinson to kill any chance or regaining some momentum against Georgia and Brown had three steps on the Missouri DB in what could of been a knockout blow. He wasn't even close on either throw and he's missed a bunch more of the deep throws besides those two..
Some posters. " Leary sucks, he's awful' same poster .. Our WR's keep dropping balls and the O Line has serious issues .. LOL. SMH
All 3 things can be true. I may not be as down on the OL as others, but Leary and the WRs have been bad. If the WRs didn’t drop as many passes Leary’s numbers would look better for sure, but he’s still missed a lot of throws.
Maybe so, but he didn’t light it up during our first 4 games this year against much less talented teams. I think his injury is not allowing him to throw the ball like he has in the past. We will probably hear something after the season is over that he was 75% himself. Since Stoops never develops a backup, there is not a better option than an injured Leary.
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