You disagree, it happens. I don't know why the idea that AR being as good (or better) than Kyle in one aspect of the game is so unacceptable to some, but it really speaks to how down the fanbase is on AR. He's got the potential and the skills to be a great one. What he doesn't have is the Jesses and Joes around him. Hopefully Billy gets that. But people being so protective of Trask that they're going to call Kyle Pitts a "relative dud" to elevate him shows that some of us may be operating more emotionally than rationally.
Suggesting that Richardson should switch to tight end is like suggesting Barry Sanders should have switched to cornerback.
It's what people do to QBs with wheels the minute they struggle a bit. There's still a bit of old fashioned belief that QBs should stand in the pocket.
He just needs time. A lot of it. Like two more years minimum. He's the perfect size, with speed and a very nice and quick release. He needs reps and polish. Not like he has a lame arm or side-arm release that needs to be rebuilt.
Two more. He needs a lot more reps. He needs to learn to see the field better and just become more instinctive.
I disagree with the OPs suggestion but not for the reasons expounded on the board. IMO he is not physically able to play the TE position in the SEC and certainly not the NFL. He has been constantly hurt and if reports from the UF camp are true, he has been hurt for most of the current season. By his own admission - 80%.
I think he needs, in this order: 1. A more consistent o-line that gives him the confidence to sit in the pocket and not worry he's going to get injured. The injuries seem to get stuck in his head. 2. WR weapons. Arguably this could be #1 but more time in the pocket covers up a lot of WR issues 3. To have more called runs. This fixes both #1 and #2, by making the defense play him as a possible run threat
I agree with you that the poster is probably off base about AR needing to become a TE, but, I can't go along with your reasoning for Anthony's challenges to date. Kyle Trask's reads, progressions, and execution accuracy were much better than that of AR. Kyle quickly read and released to alleviate real deficiencies in his line. While gifted and showing a high ceiling, AR is making his own mistakes on a regular basis, including overexcited short throws into the dirt and a lack of touch on most passes. When he does hit a receiver, it's seldom in stride. Take a look at most of Pearsall's catches; they're all diving stabs that yield few yards after the catch because the throws are slightly off the mark. AR has great talent, but, after all the hype, he's still an RS sophomore with very little starting experience, yet great potential. Blaming others around him for his need for growth is not a good take. The OL has done generally better around AR this year. The RBs are showing some true excellence around him. We do need some tight ends that can both block and catch, but, AR really needs time to develop. People that hyped him for the Heisman as a first round draft choice this year were doing him a disservice.
Except he wasn't. Hell, I'm not sure if he was even drafted. Maybe he was a 7th rounder, but certainly wasn't drafted early
Literally, the worst take of the thread. Pitts broke the rookie record for a TE (He and Ditka are the only TE's with 1000+ yards their rookie year), made the Pro-Bowl, broke Julio's single season rookie receiving record for the Falcons. . . . Not his fault they switched to a HS Quarterback and a HS offense. Wish the Falcons would just trade him to a team that will use him. Could probably get a first rounder and a second they could use on the blocking TE's they seem to covet so much. Or some OL or defensive players. You know, something that actually works in the Wing-T of NFL offenses.
Not sure who this is in response to, but if it's my post, I specifically said consistent time in the pocket. Sometimes AR gets all day, sometimes the line breaks down almost immediately. When your head starts clicking seconds it's based on average case scenarios.
I feel like the OL has been good enough. I'd bump No. 2 up to No. 1 and make it ALL CAPS AND BOLD. At the very least, one that he can really count on (and who can get consistent separation) so he could get into some kind of rhythm. Also, I don't know if teams just defend it better now or if AR struggles with the decision making, but I'd like to see more read option a la Cam at Auburn back in the day. Just something to keep the defenses more off balance. Oh, and on a completely separate note, can we ditch the flanker motioning (behind the RBs) on every damn play. I get it every once in a while, but as part of your base offense? Seems very HS to me. Reminds me of double-wing offenses. Half the time, all it does is remove another receiver from running patterns, which gives AR even less options.
This is basically the same for any qb with a solid line and our line is giving him ample time in most cases. Trask had much less protection than AR and little running game to help. In Any event comparisons between the two qbs are really unfair mainly due to the schemes they play in. Supposition but I imagine Richardson in Mullens scheme this year would outperform what he has done this year by far but obviously that can't be proven.
To be fair, Trask had a much better coach in that respect. Piss on Mullen all you want, but he does do well with QB's. And, let's be honest, he runs a better offense. Very similar, but still better play caller and QB developer than Napier at this point.
