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Do you think Mertz is playing well?

Discussion in 'RayGator's Swamp Gas' started by uf1998, Oct 1, 2023.

  1. uf1998

    uf1998 Senior

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    The stats say he's #2 in completion percentage, but to me this is so misleading because he hardly ever attempts passes longer than 10-15 yards, and he checks down more than any Gator quarterback I've seen. Our #2 and #3 pass catchers are both RBs. That's not good.

    In addition, he rarely throws the ball away when being chased with heavy pressure. When you watch him play it feels like he's trying to win the completion percentage title instead of actually making a play. Am I wrong?
     
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  2. Mikog8tor

    Mikog8tor GC Hall of Fame

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    Mertz isn’t the problem. He’s doing a very admirable job IMO
     
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  3. Wanne15

    Wanne15 GC Hall of Fame

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    There’s no running game and he is under pressure every time he drops back. The other running back ran for 280 yards. End of story.
     
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  4. G8RKrackin23

    G8RKrackin23 VIP Member

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    He missed some wide open receivers yesterday but he's been better than I expected pocket mobility isn't as good as I thought
     
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  5. duggers_dad

    duggers_dad GC Hall of Fame

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    IMO he’s playing high floor/low ceiling.
     
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  6. airgator96

    airgator96 GC Legend

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    I think he is playing really well. I think if he had an consistent offensive line we are probably sitting at 4-1 despite the play calling.
     
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  7. yellowboy90

    yellowboy90 GC Legend

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    He had been playing well and was getting help from his receivers on poorly thrown balls, like most qbs, but last game he seemed off and were missing open wrs. It's hard to blame any offensive player though because they are working in a terrible designed system.
     
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  8. Wanne15

    Wanne15 GC Hall of Fame

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    Partially true but when a running back gets 280 yards I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a game that we won
     
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  9. Wanne15

    Wanne15 GC Hall of Fame

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    Blamed the entire offensive line because they didn’t block shit
     
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  10. duggers_dad

    duggers_dad GC Hall of Fame

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    I was nervous about this game if only because CHARLOTTE put a beating on Mertz.
     
  11. cubangator

    cubangator GC Legend

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    Mertz its who he is, a average college QB, but Mertz isn't the problem, the problem its a way bellow offense system and the people who runs it.
     
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  12. airgator96

    airgator96 GC Legend

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    their oline bullied our front 7 without doubt, but the offense did not even have the ball for more than 20 secs in the first quarter, hanging the defense out to dry.

    But I agree
     
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  13. kes

    kes GC Hall of Fame

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    I think he has played better than I expected after hearing his stats prior. He is running for his life half the time. Plodding scheme. I don’t think he’s the problem. At the same time, I hope he isn’t the most talented we have. Caught with a new staff and young qb room. With the season gone, why not play a younger player? Even if we sign a top player, we should have an experienced backup.
     
  14. Agator88

    Agator88 GC Hall of Fame

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    Reminded me of that LSU game in 2021, didn't much matter what the offense did, the defense was getting gashed every possession.

    Mertz had some success going downfield yesterday, but once the 4th quarter started UK was playing deep and our offense seems to be deep or check down. Therefore, down 3 scores with time as a factor we are throwing 4 yards routes to our RB. That or the 7 yard curl to a TE waiting to get blasted by a S or LB. There were guys open, and UK defense was playing more man early than I thought they would. It was almost like we expected one thing, got another, and still never adjusted the gameplan.
     
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  15. Wanne15

    Wanne15 GC Hall of Fame

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    They bullied our defense from the first play. Tired didn’t even come into the picture. Both sides of Los was complete domination. The most basic element of football is run and stop the run. They 100% did that and there’s nothing else to look at when that happens, game over.
     
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  16. 06GATORS08

    06GATORS08 GC Hall of Fame

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    He's not a superstar but he's not the problem.
     
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  17. Skink

    Skink GC Hall of Fame

    Yes you’re wrong. For openers, he doesn’t have enough time in the pocket for the 30+ yard downfield pass plays to develop. That is not his fault. If we could run the ball his options would open up considerably, but the o-line can’t do that either.
     
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  18. UF24ou14

    UF24ou14 GC Hall of Fame

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    He also had receivers that missed some and he still completed over 80% of his passes and 2 TDs.
     
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  19. bobbybaker86

    bobbybaker86 GC Hall of Fame

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    He doesn’t make THE plays when we need him to make them. Like he had 5 incompletions yesterday and 3 of those were throws he HAS to hit on.

    He’s not THE problem but he doesn’t elevate us either. He’s giving us exactly what we all wanted him to give us prior to the season for better or worse
     
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  20. Skink

    Skink GC Hall of Fame

    Have you considered that the play calling is limited by the lack of an offensive line? If you can’t establish any running game and the line can’t pass block either, what do you propose the offensive game plan should look like?
     
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