After rewatching I'm feeling a lot better about how close this offense is to being very good. Arch settled in and started showing command in the 4th, and throughout the game he showed a nice understanding of coverage. He just made the wrong read a few times and had bad mechanics making a bad throw too many times. But he knows where to go with the ball. And there were 4 or 5 times where he makes ridiculous throws. It'll just be about tightening it up and learning to control the adrenaline in pressure moments.
On the TD play he does a fantastic job. He recognizes he has man across the formation, and motions the back in to max protect. He knows he'll have Livingstone 1 on 1 if he can look off the safety, but he'll need the time. Great recognition. He looks the safety off left then makes an NFL quality throw and Livingstone fights off the DB for position and the TD.
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This one was earlier at the beginning of the TD drive. Once again he checks to keep the back in for max protection. He reads zone, possibly single high, but he does a fantastic job manipulating the safety. First, he identifies the safety bailing out to cover middle. Then he looks the safety over before snapping back to Wingo and delivering a strike where the safety vacated. Great recognition and throw.
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This was the best throw of the game by either QB. It's a 3 x 1 vert with the slot running a post or seam (wasn't the best route), Wingo wide running a deep seam, and Endries running the wheel under it. OSU DBs play this very well, notice at the snap Arch reads the half field safety to that side turn and bail deep. At the beginning of the progression Arch sees the corner sink onto the wheel, which makes that wheel a very tight throw to fit in under the deep safety. He said "fuck it, I'm Arch Manning" and throws a got damn laser from the wide hash to the opposite sideline on the fucking money. Not many QBs can do that. That's shit that will keep DCs cursing at their screen in film review once this guy puts it all together. I did not appreciate this throw 10% as much watching it live as I did on review.
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We all know later in that drive he misses the throw to Wingo and that was the shot to get the game tied. That's the consistency factor that needs to be overcome in this next month to take the offense to the next level. The line can play. The receivers can play. Endries can make tough catches. Baxter and Wisner are plus pass blockers and get you what is blocked, but hopefully Clark can show he can be a back that can juke a safety or corner and get you extra. This offense is close, but still just a bit doughy in the middle and needs a little more time to bake. We'll get there.