Gif highlights @Purdue

[LG210]

Just showed this GIF to a former UW and NFL WR who's in the office today on business. I simply asked if our QB made the right choice.

He confirmed your point - "No way" should the QB have thrown to Willies, who "misread his coverage, should have pulled up into a hook". 4 things could happen if he threw it, and 3 are bad: tipped by crossing defender, interception by middle defender, Willies blown up, or a reception.

Guess he's "nuts" too.

'Sup Billso?

 

[Knight78]

Totally agree. I wasn't trying to bash CJ. I am just surprised that some don't think Willies is open on that play.

Well, if CJB threw the ball he risked hitting the referee in the middle of the field. He was the only guy that could have made a play on that ball besides Willies.

 

[okeefe4prez]

Dean - The problem with the first GIF (in which Willies appears wide open to you) is that the throwing lane isn't completely open. I honestly think Hamilton's route was too deep and didn't clear the Mike out of the way in time, so he hasn't cleared the window. Beathard throws that ball with pace (as he would need to do), there's a chance the Mike gets a hand on it and tips it. If he anticipates to throw where Willies will be as soon as the Mike clears, there is a chance (as OK4P said) that Willies gets his lunch handed to him. I think you can see Beathard wants to hit Willies, but again, the window was muddy enough that he thought better to check down. I'd say if Hamilton doesn't arc so much around the DE to release into his route, that's a great opportunity to hit Willies on the dig.

Now, on the second GIF, the window is wide open and he throws Hillyer into it beautifully. There is no one underneath and the bracketing coverage can't get a read on where CJB is going with the ball, creating the void for Hillyer.

He looks open for a second if you ignore the guy in the lane, assume the LB isn't baiting you and fixing to break that way and that you can get it into the WR's hands before he gets to the next guy in the zone. Which is to say, he ain't open. Oh yeah, and when you've seen a bunch of guys catch a sudden case of the dropsies, last thing you wanna do is leave it over the middle where a bad play by the WR can lead to another INT. Kid played the percentage just right on that play and I find it humorous that vogs is trying to knock CJ on the play.

 

[ArvadaHawk]

I'm sorry, but the people who are saying Willies isn't open here are nuts. No way the LB can go from a standing position to getting to the ball in time. Look at how much smaller the window is, and CJ completed a 17 yard pass to Hillyar. Look how much closer the defender are to him before he releases the ball, and they have no shot at this ball at all. Willies is more open than Hillyar.

Okay, here is how I see this on the first GIF and Willies. Watch CJ's head. He is looking right and just as Willis breaks open, CJ take a quick look at Willies (you can see CJ's head turn left). CJ quickly decides against a pass to Willies and comes back to the right to the dump down receiver. Now, this is speculation on my part, but I believe that what CJ could have seen was Willies continuing with his route, instead of stopping and sitting down in the hole. The PU defending is moving towards Willies and Willies towards the PU defender. To me, this looks like a good decision. If Willies had stopped his route and sat down, I think CJ wanted to and would have thrown the ball to him. What do you all think?

 

[ArvadaHawk]

Just showed this GIF to a former UW and NFL WR who's in the office today on business. I simply asked if our QB made the right choice.

He confirmed your point - "No way" should the QB have thrown to Willies, who "misread his coverage, should have pulled up into a hook". 4 things could happen if he threw it, and 3 are bad: tipped by crossing defender, interception by middle defender, Willies blown up, or a reception.

Guess he's "nuts" too.

I swear I hadn't read this before my post. But you can clearly see CJ take a quick look at Willies. It's these subtle things that you can see on film that are telling. And yeah, love the GIF's.

 

[SamBrownlee48]

Willis makes the block for Parker.

Here you go

As much as Willies' big play potential makes us drool, it's plays like this that will have him seeing more playing time sooner.

Iowa loves a WR who can throw a block.

 

[Billso]

'Sup Billso?

Yo avatar make me hoongreh

 

[hawkfan2679]

Okay, here is how I see this on the first GIF and Willies. Watch CJ's head. He is looking right and just as Willis breaks open, CJ take a quick look at Willies (you can see CJ's head turn left). CJ quickly decides against a pass to Willies and comes back to the right to the dump down receiver. Now, this is speculation on my part, but I believe that what CJ could have seen was Willies continuing with his route, instead of stopping and sitting down in the hole. The PU defending is moving towards Willies and Willies towards the PU defender. To me, this looks like a good decision. If Willies had stopped his route and sat down, I think CJ wanted to and would have thrown the ball to him. What do you all think?

There is a credo in most offenses that you run vs. man, sit vs. zone. This was pretty clearly a zone coverage, so Willies probably should have sat down. However, not sure what the Greg Davis offense dictates to him in this case.

To piggy back on your point, I think CJB's intention was to hit something in the middle of the field. Notice the feet when he throws to Hamilton...they are still pointing towards a midfield target, most likely Willies.

But, going back to something I mentioned earlier, if Hamilton takes a less circuitous route around the DE, he clears that Mike and I'm almost certain Beathard could hit the anticipation throw to Willies for a nice pickup over the middle (before he gets killed).

 

[ArvadaHawk]

There is a credo in most offenses that you run vs. man, sit vs. zone. This was pretty clearly a zone coverage, so Willies probably should have sat down. However, not sure what the Greg Davis offense dictates to him in this case.

To piggy back on your point, I think CJB's intention was to hit something in the middle of the field. Notice the feet when he throws to Hamilton...they are still pointing towards a midfield target, most likely Willies.

But, going back to something I mentioned earlier, if Hamilton takes a less circuitous route around the DE, he clears that Mike and I'm almost certain Beathard could hit the anticipation throw to Willies for a nice pickup over the middle (before he gets killed).

When you see some of the small things CJ is doing, you really don't get the impression that he's a kid with very little experienced. He really seems to "get it." I think this kid is legit and a potential elite qb, in the future. He has made some bad throws and has held onto the ball a bit too long at times; but one is mechanical and the other isn't something I would call a bad decision. He's holding onto the ball waiting for wr's to come open and not checking down too quickly. Now, you can dispute this point if you want, but to me, that is a timing/internal clock thing that can be corrected with more experience

 

[jacknicholson]

Yeah I think he was open too. CJ looked uncomfortable at first, and I think he was trying to get the ball out quicker as the game progressed. I thought there were times in the second half where he looked completely comfortable and confident. That's the CJ we want. The problem with going with him at QB is we are going to go through some growing pains. He will miss reads, make some bad throws, but I think he still gives us at the very least, as much chance to win as Jake does. The big difference is, he has a lot more potential, and by next year and the year after he could really be as special of a QB as we have seen in a long time at Iowa. He certainly has all of the physical tools. Let's hope GD doesn't ruin him ;-)

Very nice thoughtful post, DJL....

 

[jacknicholson]

Even in slo mo I thought it was difficult to say it was a TD but I was alright with it, don't cha know. It made up for the TD pass CJ made in the first game that was taken away for bobbling...

We might as well take the points, Mn, it was close, we probably got a break as the replay people could have called it either way.....

 

[jacknicholson]

Just showed this GIF to a former UW and NFL WR who's in the office today on business. I simply asked if our QB made the right choice.

He confirmed your point - "No way" should the QB have thrown to Willies, who "misread his coverage, should have pulled up into a hook". 4 things could happen if he threw it, and 3 are bad: tipped by crossing defender, interception by middle defender, Willies blown up, or a reception.

Guess he's "nuts" too.

His expertise is as tough to crack as a Brazil Nut, Billso.....

 

[docholihawk]

Thanks Dean for the gif's. The only point I'd make is what we see as open and what the qb can see is vastly different. You have to be incredibly talented just to make the roster of a division 1 football team. Put yourself in CJ's place. He has 3-4 seconds to make the decision and he's making from the same level as the receiver not from above like we see in the gif's. He's also doing it with bodies flying around. I can't fault him for going after a particular receiver. When you go through your progression you hit the guy who's open as soon as you see him open. You don't see him and look at others and then go back to him. Pro qb's do it all the time and announcers point it out all the time also. A completion is positive.