We seem to have a problem. Whether it's Levis/Coen, Levis/Scang, Leary/Coen or BV/Hamdan, we seem to have QBs who aren't processing what's happening quickly enough and our QB coach/OC isn't able to teach them how to do so. I'm sure it's gone on longer than just the past few years, but, with Stoops wanting to implement more of a passing game that resembles something from this century, we have to depend on the QB to make quick reads and decisions and, for the most part, we haven't had that consistently.
Mike Leach QBs didn't seem to have this problem. Since Fat Boy started coaching TN, their QBs have seemed to be able to make the right reads way more often than not. Georgia QBs don't seem like they hold the ball too long, wait for their WRs to make their cut and create distance before throwing the pass. USC (Trojans) QBs don't have any/many problems with Riley's offense. Is our offense these past few years too complicated? Are the QB coach and OC unable to teach it properly? Are we asking our QBs to process too much information and make too many pre- and post-snap instantaneous decisions that they are not capable of and, thus, end up not playing quickly enough? Can we simplify the system/reads for the QB to enable them to process/play faster and, as a result, get rid of the ball quicker to the right receiver?
I did not watch the Georgia game as I, completely wrongly as it turned out and I deserve all the derision this board can supply, suspected a rout was imminent (also had out of town company that day and didn't want to be completely rude) so I don't know if this problem was evident Saturday. But, certainly against the 'Cocks, BV did not seem to be able to process what their defense was doing quickly enough to either 1) check out of the called play to a better one, 2) identify/throw to the hot receiver, 3) check down to a back or TE at/near the LOS in the hopes of picking up a few yards. At his best, Levis still was a bit slow processing what was happening during a play and would, a few times every game it seemed to me, miss the 2nd or 3rd option breaking wide open. Leary clearly had problems last year getting through his progressions and knowing where to go with the ball before the snap.
Certainly an OL that is shaky doesn't help. But, are the receivers on the same page and making the same reads as the QB or are they continuing on the planned route when they should be seeing that a blitz is coming and they are the hot receiver and need to break off their route? If someone with a lot more knowledge (a low bar) of the technical aspects of QB play could perhaps offer some insight, that would be great.
Mike Leach QBs didn't seem to have this problem. Since Fat Boy started coaching TN, their QBs have seemed to be able to make the right reads way more often than not. Georgia QBs don't seem like they hold the ball too long, wait for their WRs to make their cut and create distance before throwing the pass. USC (Trojans) QBs don't have any/many problems with Riley's offense. Is our offense these past few years too complicated? Are the QB coach and OC unable to teach it properly? Are we asking our QBs to process too much information and make too many pre- and post-snap instantaneous decisions that they are not capable of and, thus, end up not playing quickly enough? Can we simplify the system/reads for the QB to enable them to process/play faster and, as a result, get rid of the ball quicker to the right receiver?
I did not watch the Georgia game as I, completely wrongly as it turned out and I deserve all the derision this board can supply, suspected a rout was imminent (also had out of town company that day and didn't want to be completely rude) so I don't know if this problem was evident Saturday. But, certainly against the 'Cocks, BV did not seem to be able to process what their defense was doing quickly enough to either 1) check out of the called play to a better one, 2) identify/throw to the hot receiver, 3) check down to a back or TE at/near the LOS in the hopes of picking up a few yards. At his best, Levis still was a bit slow processing what was happening during a play and would, a few times every game it seemed to me, miss the 2nd or 3rd option breaking wide open. Leary clearly had problems last year getting through his progressions and knowing where to go with the ball before the snap.
Certainly an OL that is shaky doesn't help. But, are the receivers on the same page and making the same reads as the QB or are they continuing on the planned route when they should be seeing that a blitz is coming and they are the hot receiver and need to break off their route? If someone with a lot more knowledge (a low bar) of the technical aspects of QB play could perhaps offer some insight, that would be great.