his highlight reel has been posted here many times... because it's awesome. I'll put it up one more time for you BP. The pass I'm referring to leads off the highlights appearing just after the 2 minute mark [video=youtube;tXFHH1DkfS8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXFHH1DkfS8[/video] STOMP
Seriously though, wouldn't there be a difference between velocity and how far you can throw? I'd assume both have to do with arm strength, but I would guess that velocity could be improved by mechanics. Am I wrong?
True. For example, all pitchers use throwing drills and most can throw a baseball pretty much as far as the others. However, some of those same pitchers throw 96mph fastballs and others 86mph. So how far one can throw is not indicative of how fast one can throw. And that is the obvious point and brings us back to Mariota's softer passes. Now, maybe he can throw harder and will throw harder when he needs to throw harder. I suspect that will be the case- or at least I hope so. Bennett clearly seems to have a livelier arm. But he lacks poise to me that Mariota brings. I think that will probably mean Mariota will be prone to make better decisions. I now think, after one game, Chip made the right decision.
I do think arm strength is part distance and part velocity. I have seen QB's that can't throw that far but has a good velocity. I think you need both to be a outstanding QB. You don't need to throw more the 50-60 yards but any thing less then that and you just are not going to be a top NFL QB. I still like a QB that doesn't always throw bullets. Unless you have a outstanding WR group which Oregon doesn't have. I love the way so far from what I have seen on the highlights and Spring game and ASU game how Mariota delivers the ball right at the WR's sweet spot. I believe he is going to make our WR's look really good. I guess we will have to see when he plays against some top defenders if he can still make those passes but I have a feeling he can.
I still can't believe how good Mariota looked as a redshirt freshman. I have seen many QB's at Oregon and even in their sophomore and sometime junior years(D.Dixon) didn't look that good on their best day. I think if Mariota is going to improve more this year and a lot between each of his next couple years he is going to be something we haven't ever seen.
Wow....I can't believe people are complaining that Mariota actually puts touch on the football rather than gunning it in every time. Also, why are we comparing the two? There is a reason that pretty much everyone close to the team was not shocked by Marcus's performance as he was declared the starter for a reason.
I don't think people are complaining. It's just something that a few of us noticed in his first game and we were wondering if it could play a problem against better defenses. That's all.
I played QB in high school, so let me give you a little lesson, rookie. There's a substantial difference between "touch" and throwing soft and/or aiming a pass. There is also the trajectory of the ball in certain passes. Moriota threw some soft aimed passes and some on poor trajectories. That's just a fact you have to accept- or go and learn something about throwing a football. But he'll get better.
Well I played OLB and SS in my years and I can tell ya where Marcus is putting those passes on inside left shoulder like the one he threw DAT in the enzone? That's a pass that's almost undefendable without a PI call! Further it's his FIRST GAME!!!! That said he's probably rolodexing the play book, thinking of his fundamentals and dealing with a pretty loud crowd, I think we can all agree with that.... fair? What is he 19 years old? I think he did AMAZING under those conditions and we haven't seen anything yet!! Wait till he gets comfortable out there... my favorite play of the game wasn't a TD he threw it was when he scrambled out and just somehow knew where the 1st down line was and right before dumped a pass off to pick up more yardage... Freshman don't have that kind of field awareness, this kid does. I think the only thing that may snag Marcus up is he may be to creative like when he almost threw a perfect seemed ball into tripple coverage and the reciever dropped it. I'll tell ya what though? Had he made that play? ESPN would be calling him Mr. Mariota right now!
To be sure, some of those passes were indeed right where they needed to be. But he's young and also made some mistakes that i have no doubt will be corrected. I think he'll have a great career here. And I mean, great.
Well I played a fair bit of NCAA Football 13 for Xbox... and I can say, that I couldnt do in the game... what he was doing that 1st quarter
I think some of you are turning this into more than it is. A few of us were getting our first look at MM and we were just pointing out an observation. Nothing more. I have no complaints about the kid. He looks pretty damn amazing for a freshman. I think he could possibly go down as the best QB in Oregon history (if he stays healthy).
Not sure sure if it was intentional, but this is one of the funniest posts I've read in a long time considering you went all Uncle Rico. Anyway, you realize when a qb is aiming, his accuracy decreases significantly due to break downs in mechanics, footwork, and as a result, timing. Those issues were not present at all during the game. Also, Mariota's been "throwing soft" with amazing success against Oregon's starting defense and has been receiving rave reviews about this passing ability from actual coaches who watched him in the closed practices (a couple of whom I know personally) since he stepped onto campus.
