We Need A Quarterback Now

A number of fans feel similarly, and I really scratch my head on this one. I am assuming we all watched the same games? I watched many of those games several times. What I saw was a quarterback who couldn't hit wide open receiver's consistently. AR had a boatload of talent, but he probably will never be Mr. Consistent in the NFL, unless he has someone work with him and he puts in the practice. Frankly, I am glad he went to the NFL, because I don't think another year in college would have done much for his completion percentage. He has an extraordinarily strong arm, yet that is no substitute for mechanics. Many times I watched mechanics explain why he either missed throws or did not, and it had ZERO to do with coaches or playcalling. Execution is on the players, and AR did not execute worth a darn! Don't misunderstand me, I think AR is a great kid; but, I am not talking about him as a person. He did not consistently, go through his read progressions, shuffle his feet, flex his hips or pivot on the balls of his feet, or bounce off his backfoot and square his shoulders. In order to do that, he was going to have to put in a ton of extra practice in order to see habits become second nature.

 

I will say this, however; I do not understand why someone did not address his mechanics and stress practicing them to become second nature! To me, that is on the quarterback coach and HBC!

 

Doesn't matter, Misery got him!

 

I am beginning to wonder if Mertz might do better here--much better--than at Wisconsin.

The link I am sharing has outstanding g analysis and causes Gator Nation to consider that quarterback position could improved in 2023 or no better than 2022. Sorry, but we didn't get an excitable prospect in the Portalet!

Here's the link:

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And some random comments:

Wisconsin was not the right system for Mertz. Run two downs, pass on third down. Wisconsin ran 75% on first down, 60% run on second down, and 66% passing on third down. Thus, Wisconsin had a very predictable offense. Graham Mertz was put in an awful position, and he had no receiver help. Wide receiver's and tighte end were not good. Only 29% of passes for Mertz were on first down, whereas the average national percentage was 42% on first down. How much was bad playcalling, and how much was on Mertz? Hard to really say. Threw off platform too much. That's the big new thing: throwing off platform. But, very few quarterbacks can do that.

Can he become consistent? That's the big question. The OL is being remade at UF. Mertz is not a quarterback to bail out an OL. Will the new OL cause Mertz to throw off platform and throw turnovers?
Doesn't make progressions to make the easy throws. Sounds like AR in that regards.

Richardson, nationally, had one of the highest amount of time to make throws. AR threw into tight windows, stared down the first read, and did not find one on one battles. Mertz has the exact same complaint against him. So, it doesn't look like Mertz is an upside to AR, and, in addition, Mertz isn't mobile.

In defense of Mertz, most third down throws at Wisconsin were 15 yard comebacks. Wasn't there anything else they could call? Was that the reason he went through three OC's in three years? Or was that all he could handle?
Make the right read and check the ball down. AR struggled with doing that in 2022. Can Mertz read and check better than AR in 2023? Up to now, he did not do that at Wisconsin. He should have figured that out long before now how to read and check. He has the talent, can he be consistent? Is Mertz another AR type (but non-mobilr) with low execution?

What may make Mertz more effective at UF? More quick throws, more quick screens? More quick game stuff.
How does Napier adjust the offense? He has had mobile quarterback's and Mertz is not. Mertz might get 4 or 5 yards on designed runs, but he is not going to run for 60.

How much of a jump can he make? He has skills for winning. The question mark is consistency. Florida has a better line, better running backs, and better receiver's.

But, the SEC has a way better defense.