Orlando Sentinel: Florida QB Graham Mertz ‘In The Flow,’ Not Missing Throws For Gators

He’s better than AR.

 

Not as athletic as AR, but definitely a better QB.

 

A lot more experience than AR. The advantage of Mertz should be a more consistent and stable offense but lacking the possible explosive runs of AR. Look forward to the downfield passing game yo be incorporated more going forward.

 

Mertz is just what we needed for this offense! He gets better every game!

 

I think he's a solid transition to DJ. I think Mertz returns next year and gives DJ time to grow.

 

After watching the GNFP video I'm not sold that Mertz is throwing to the right guy as often as he should. Looked like he missed quite a few big plays. He does throw an accurate ball, just wish he would throw it to the RIGHT guy more often. Seems like something that could be corrected fairly effectively in practice.

 

^ Echoing the above, his completion percentage is off the charts. But the spectacular catch by Pearsall underscores Mertz tendency to hit his receivers OFF-stride AND missing the more open receivers. I believe it was Douglas who was open for the TD.

And true enough, no spectacular ups and downs is addition by subtraction.

 

I don't think he's all-world, but honestly, Mertz is the perfect QB for this team right now. He doesn't make a ton of big plays but he doesn't make a lot of big mistakes either. He keeps the offense on the field as opposed to all the 3-and-outs we've seen for the last 10-15 years while we watched our defense got worn out game after game. He has greatly exceeded my expectations and I think this team is going to get better as the season progresses. Imagine if we can just eliminate all the stupid penalties.

Plus, his girlfriend is quite impressive!

 

Now you done it!

He's getting the press praise here's hoping he keeps level headed.

 

Considering the disappointment most of us had hearing he was our portal pick up, I think he’s exceeded expectations this far. I’m a fan and hope he continues to improve. Hope he stays next year too.

 

C4 told me before the season started this guy was a baller. I had doubts then but I definitely love me some Mertz now. Even the Tiger King is on board, if you've seen that post!

 

There's lot to be said about consistency. As good as AR was, he could make an all world play and then follow it up with an epic brain fart. Mertz isn't doing that.

 

I have a friend who used to coach at Eastside when AR was there, and he told me that AR's problem is that he was a WR until his junior year, so he doesn't have the experience at QB to develop the instincts that someone who has played QB since little league develops. In high school he was coached to look for his primary receiver and if he wasn't open, run.

 

Now you’ve done it!

 

I was perplexed as to why so many were down on him when we got him. He was as good coming out of high school as any QB in the nation and was the highest rated QB Wisconsin has ever had..... unfortunately it was Wisconsin where you could count on one hand and have fingers left over the amount of succesful QB's they've had and developed.

 

Mertz seems to throw to Pearsall no matter how covered he is. Understandable because he usually catches the ball anyway. We get Wilson back and start distributing the ball around our offense could get rolling. It will be tough to do that with UK in hostile environment. But hopefully that's where our newly invigorated D comes in.

 

Agree, on the great catch, there were 4 defenders in the area. Without the catch it was a pick. Meanwhile, Douglass had his man beat.

But heck, with the -3 protection, I’d be picking a target and chucking it!

 

I would hope so, he’s much older and way more experienced than AR