Agree. We have had less than two good full seasons of QB play since 09 (.33 in 15, .5 in 19, and 1.0 in 20). Mertz is damn good. Head and shoulders above everyone except Grier in 15 since Tebow. No shame in being second to Trask. It’s actually quite a complement!
Mullen calling the offense versus BN calling the offense…not sure Mertz gets a fair shake in the comparison. Mullen schemed guys wide open and pressured the defenses with up tempo attacks…BN well…
Pleasantly surprised by Mertz. I thought he did very well considering everything he had to work with. Last years OL was one of the worst we've had in recent history.
I do not think the article was meant to imply that Mertz is the next Trask or that Mertz will have a large jump in production from one year to the next. The article says Mertz is the best QB Florida had after Tebow other than Trask. It is implied that he can have a leap in production like Trask, but we have to dig at some advanced statistics to figure out where that production could come from. In 2023 the passing game called for Mertz depends on shorter depth to target and lots of YAC from Pearsall agree Wilson. The deeper shots went to Jackson’s and Pearsall’s circus catches. In 2024 the personnel are different and I would expect a deeper depth to target and a slight decline in completion percentage, with some plays drawn up for the speedsters to get some uncontested deep passes. I am willing to watch Mertz’s completion percentage decline if it means more explosive plays down the field. In that case his stats might place him closer to Feleipe Franks than Kyle Trask unless a new OC (external or internal hire) draws up good plays within the skill set of this offense.
For what is worth..Mullen had hired someone competent to call plays and pressure a defense..not invite all 11 defensive players to crowd the line as we threw sideways behind the line or even worse ran the worlds slowest developing flea flicker.
Was calling for the same thing all year. Would gladly trade 10% comp % for an extra 5 air yards. Explosive plays are how you become a top tier offense.
Will Grier was damned good, but he was so poorly used. Since Cam Newton. But his departure is also sad. Here's to hoping...
Not sure why you are touchy about me pointing out the obvious about what Wunderlich said. He never mentioned Lagway at all, nor did he compare any of the quarterbacks AFTER Tebow to Tebow. Given the point that Wunderlich made--that Mertz was second only to Trask among the post Tebow quarterbacks-- your comment about Lagway being closer to Tebow was not only off topic, it was vague and confusing.
A QB like Trask makes the O-line look good. The guy was a straight up baller and deserved a better defense than we gave him. Unfortunately, it looks like he will not be getting a shot in Tampa Bay. To his credit, Baker Mayfield did what he needed to do and exceeded expectations this year. Trask likely needs a trade or an injury to whatever team he on’s QB1 to see the field.
Agree wholeheartedly. There is a difference of opinion among podcasters Shane Mathews, Seth Varnadore, James DeVirgilio, and Brandon Olsen as to whether the lack of air yards was by Napier's design or if the option was there the whole time but Mertz was not comfortable in the pocket the extra 2 seconds needed to get the deep pass. They all agree that air yards were always within scope for the offense Napier has used in the past. It might take a separate OC or passing game coordinator to get those extra air yards out of Mertz by the design of the play or by being in his ear constantly--without the million other distractions that a head coach has to get through even if he wanted to talk to the QB face-to-face.
And he was quick to make decisions, one of the reasons the line was adequate for him was because he checked down and completed the pass before the rush got to him.
I can read just fine. However, no thread I have ever seen stays fully on topic. I made my comments and stand by them. If you are confused, try better reading comprehension before misquoting someone, ask, or move on without a confronting and inaccurate post.
I’d take AR but AR and Mertz are pretty close. If you look at QBR that includes passing, sacks, rushing, and everything else… AR finished 36th in the country Mertz finished 36th Identical. 2022 and 2023 offense both produced around 28-29 PPG, with 2022 a little higher The non QB talent was better in 2023 which is why I give AR the slight edge But most importantly…it’s not good enough. AR and Mertz played at a borderline top 25 level. They were FAR from the weakest link, but neither close to a championship level. I can see Mertz taking a leap to a top 25/30 level (still well below Trask). And if we get a D improving to a top 50 group then we can be borderline top 25
My reading comprehension is just fine, thank you. Maybe you should re-read your post. Wunderlich compared Trask and Mertz. He did not compare them--or anyone else- to Tebow. He never mentioned Lagway. Yet you interjected that "...Lagway is going to be closer to Tebow..". This statement was not only completely off topic, it was also vague and confusing because it begged this question: Who is Lagway going to be closer to Tebow than? Closer than Mertz? Closer than Trask? They were the subject of Wunderlich's article. Sorry, but I did not post anything inaccurate, nor did I misstate anything.
