Graham Mertz, Game Manager Appreciation Thread - (updated to 2024 season)

A game manager is a QB that isn't super athletic. They aren't going to wow you with their speed or arm strength, but they make the right play when needed

 

IMO, Mertz was a much needed pickup. I'm not sure where would be if Billy hadn't properly evaluated, and landed him. The TD to Montrell was very Mahomes like. Judging by the way our players went after the dollies at the end of the game, I think he has their respect.

You have to laugh at the media clowns picking him as the worst QB in the SEC. They sure get paid a lot of money to be wrong so often.

 

I always envisage a Joe Burrow type as a "QB", if ur not slinging it all over the field for 400, your a game manager.

 

Mertz is doing a great job so far. Beyond expectations IMO.

 

What a difference a couple of weeks make.
All of UFs goals are still ahead of them.

The schedule looks favorable to add some
"W's now.

Ky will be huge coming up.

 

Only one addition to this. A game manager wins games by not losing them. That is him in spades this year.

 

Not mine, this was my expectations, I knew he would silence a bunch of talking heads. Anyone who was trying to judge a QB based off of the Wisconsin game plan is nuts. He was the highest rated QB recruit Wiscy ever had and they still fumbled that. You can't undervalue 32 P5 starts when looking for a QB to lead your team and only 4 other QB's in all of cfb had more starting experience than Mertz. He's not "Flashy" but he is the leader we needed, mature, super efficient , cool under pressure and is only getting better. I consider us lucky to have him IMO

 

Steve Spurrier and Danny wuerffel would fall under the Game manager category too.... oh and they just happen to be 2 of the 3 statues out front of UF.

 

Brett Farve, Rex grossman, p mahone, joe burrow we’re not game managers. Neither are Tom Brady, Peyton manning drew brews.

Danny wuerffel Shane Mathew’s are not game managers either.

Game managers are aj macaron, Greg melcory type. I think mertz belongs to this group

 

Let's not get crazy. Mertz is a lot better than most expected. He is a real leader. He is not going to single handedly win games. But he will play a valuable part of us winning games. He is not capable of gunslinging it on an every down basis. But he has shown he is a dependable QB, which has been something we really haven't had a lot of post-Tebow (sans Trask). So, let's enjoy it and not burden him with unrealistic expectations.

 

Keep doubting. Until the Heisman is renamed the Mertzman. Crow you shall eat.

 

The simple answer is no

 

Game managers are like point guards in basketball they make the offense run on schedule for all the reasons listed above

The other QBs listed above can take over a game and lead come from behind victories repeatedly.

Sound defense and a game manager is a good position to be currently. We are still in the formative stage of the rebuild (ie talent upgrade, team cohesiveness, fundamental execution, learning to win)

At the conclusion of the season it would be nice to see full participation in the bowl game, expecting to win games, additional talent upgrades during the ESP for Jan enrollment, additional ‘25 commitments, and additional coaching hires

All the above would be a great 2nd season under BN

 

Game manager implies the QB is not asked to carry the offensive load and attack defenses frequently down the field. When you're an offense that's run-first, or you want the QB to throw mostly short easy passes to your playmakers, your QB will probably be called a game manager.

Yes, more prolific QBs like those mentioned above also "manage" the game in some respect. But clearly there's a difference in that they do more to lead the offense and stretch/attack the defense than the classic game manager QB examples.

Mertz was very good last night, he deserves accolades (no turnovers!). But he threw for 166 yards last night, his longest completion was 18 yards on a (very well executed) screen pass. That's why he's called a game manager. Which isn't a bad thing, when you run for 180+ yards that'll win you some games! But its obvious what we ask Mertz to do is very different than e.g. what UT asked Hooker and Milton to do the last year and this.

 

But he also threw for 333 yards on 31/44 passing and a TD in week one so what does that tell you? It tells me he takes what the defense gives him and can sling it if the running game isn't clicking. It also tells me he knows how to follow a game plan. But it doesn't tell me why any of that should be a knock on the QB. It just means he knows how he needs to play within the confines of the game.... what is needed when it's needed.

 

We also scored 11 points in said game, so when we have to revert to him passing every play the offense probably isn't going to be effective. Now that's not all on Mertz, its the whole offense. It may be UF doesn't have the pass protection and deep WR room to rely more on the vertical passing game. But unfortunately we needed the vertical passing game in Utah when they stuffed the run and built a lead, and it wasn't there.

 

It was also his 1st game of the season, with this staff, in this system and as a gator. All 1st's. And he became one of only 4 QB's in UF history to throw for 70% comp % , 300+ yards and 30+ completions in a game joining Rex, Danny and Tebow.