The biggest takeaways for me that I can be sure of are that he thinks like a qb should. He had one play last night, where I think he threw the ball out of bounds on purpose while he was being pressured one time and another time he knew he had to slide and he did that just made me think he had a football mind that is well beyond a true freshman. He’s a kind of quarterback that’s going to run up and get his teammate set and spike the ball without having to be told by a coach or waste a time out. The kind of quarterback that you have confidence in a two minute drill that he’s not gonna screw up time management. The kind of quarterback that you know is not going to force a throw for an interception on first down in the red zone. I am also sure that he has the arm strength and arm talent to make multiple throws from multiple angles. Yes his footwork on some of his throws left a little to be desired, throwing a receiver open that only Mizel could catch it was great to see for a freaking freshman. Having said all that, our offensive line can very easily get him injured with the opponents we are going to face upcoming. Mertz got hit hard and often against Miami. I just hope DJ has enough football IQ to not be a hero when the offensive line collapses. I hope he will continue to throw it away when he needs to or take the sack if he has to. The price of throwing the ball deeper downfield is that without good offensive line play your quarterback is going to take a shot. You just know, Papa Lagway is going to be looking at that since he is a former college player himself. Super exciting debut for DJ.
Good for Lagway. Lives up to the hype and it was nice to see some big plays hitting the receivers in stride. Really wanted him to take Emory Jones record for passing yards in a game. Napier should have let him get it. The Oline has way more subbing and rotation then I’d like to see. There is no cohesiveness and you can’t have an elite Oline rotating your guys all game. Lagway has earned a shot at starting. Let them battle all week and see who steps up.
I don't think they looked good against an opponent they should dominate. Couldn't get a yard on fourth down. Multiple whiffs resulting in TFLs. Maybe it'll look better on film than it looked live, but I doubt it.
Can we beg the Dazzler to come out of the press box and coach the OL for the rest of the season. OL was his specialty, along with the dive.
I mean I haven’t given up completely on him. I still hope that he’s gonna get it done but I have grave concerns about his choices of OC and DC, and maybe the whole staff. They’re not SEC caliber. Maybe Billy isn’t either. But because he’s coaching my team, yeah I hope.
Respectfully, who said they did look "dominant" or consistently "good"? I don't even remember anyone seriously suggesting that they would look like world-beaters in the pre-game discussions. Blind enthusiasm is definitely not the order of the day in Gator Nation this morning. But refusing to acknowledge some positives in last night's performance is just as wrong-headed as being over the moon would be. JMHO.
Your point is legit. I just don’t think DJ is there yet due to lack of snaps to make the quick decision. Hope I’m wrong because he’s got all the tools from what I’ve seen. Our coach can do the same for the oline by having quick open routes mixed in. I think a moving pocket “occasionally” would help DJ. Defenses will back up if he keeps completing long passes.
He’s definitely not 100% confident yet. He hesitated on several throws where he was staring down (even pump faked) the open guy. If he starts making those quick decisions, he’ll be tough to handle. It will come with experience.
Respectfully, again, no one including me is callow enough to believe that a true FR QB is "there yet" after one widely acclaimed performance against a very weak team. DJ will undoubtedly go through some rough patches and make rookie mistakes that remind us all that he is a true freshman, as the season plays out. That's not exactly a red-hot news flash.
I thought the daz wasn't half bad as a commentor. I was surprised. I am ready for a change in the OL coaching though. We are actually ok when we figure out who to block and get a hat on hat, its just so much lack of awareness across the board on the OL. Some of that could be missed OL protections or playcalls, but to not be able to pick up that first 4th and 1 was frustrating to watch.
People make fun of the Dazzler but he said something last night that perfectly described our offensive line in that it does not have that get down and dirty mentality. It does not impose its will on other teams; especially when we only needed a yard or two on a third or fourth down. The same could be said for the defense in the first half. The second half showing was better so, maybe, the defense will continue to play with a little more intensity and effort. As for Lagway, he definitely is a star in the making if he can stay upright. He does have a quick release and seems to know how to put a little a little air on the ball when necessary. I don't think Mertz has the arm strength to make the throws Lagway did on some of those long completions.
Yes, but imagine against an SEC DL that each o lineman holds up .5 to 1 second less than against this weak team. That moving around in the pocket doesn't happen. This line just has to get better and not keeping the top 5 on the field makes it worse.
I like how the team didn't fold. Guys looked to be enthusiastic and were actually out there trying to make plays. Hope to see some carry over.
A mobile qb with field awareness can know the strengths and weaknesses of each and every lineman. Sacks happen not only because of a tackle getting blown by but because the qb is still there at the end of that rush. A little anticipation and the qb can move to avoid the sack. Proactive and not reactionary moves.
