How does TD improve?

[GoSU96]

TD plays better with:

1. Better Run game,
2. Better Health,
3. Better Protection

Key to all of those, significant improvement on the OL.

 

[blizz]

Thing that sticks out to me is how tentative he was throwing the ball into tight coverage...in a sense he never did it and wouldn't throw the ball unless his receiver was wide open...like high school wide open. He needs to make the jump to understanding what open is at the P5 level. There is a lot of trust involved. Trusting your receiver to be able to make a play, trusting your own ability to deliver the ball into a tight window. To me that's the biggest jump he can make, just throwing into tighter coverage on time and trusting the receiver to make a play if the ball is put in the right spot.

 

[SmilinBob]

Thing that sticks out to me is how tentative he was throwing the ball into tight coverage...in a sense he never did it and wouldn't throw the ball unless his receiver was wide open...like high school wide open. He needs to make the jump to understanding what open is at the P5 level. There is a lot of trust involved. Trusting your receiver to be able to make a play, trusting your own ability to deliver the ball into a tight window. To me that's the biggest jump he can make, just throwing into tighter coverage on time and trusting the receiver to make a play if the ball is put in the right spot.

I agree but I wonder if the staff doesn't really want him to do that and take a chance on a pick. Value the ball type thinking.

 

[P Vasiloff]

I understand that people have concerns that for some reason it appeared that DeVito did not throw into tight spaces this year. However, his red shirt freshman year he did. He had a 6'5" Custis to throw too. He did not have that type of receiver this year. Last year at Yankee Stadium he threw a perfect tight window pass to Harris who got the ball taken away from him and DeVito got the interception. I have watched a lot and I mean a lot of college football this year and Syracuse across the board had the smallest receiving corps of any team that I watched. Maybe this year with some bigger receivers, DeVito will throw into that tight window because he may actually have a target to throw at. That being said, he still has to sling it into tight windows if he expects to win games and lead his offense. Here is to hope, Go Orange!!!!!!!!!

 

[blizz]

I agree but I wonder if the staff doesn't really want him to do that and take a chance on a pick. Value the ball type thinking.

Go back to the Babers comments about the offense being a race car and a quarterback doesnt get to drive the car unless he can make the tires sing. That comment, to me, answers this question. Undoubtedly part of the analogy is tempo, you have to be able to operate fast, recognize coverages and matchups pre-snap very quickly. But the part about making the tires sing implies tight tolerances or narrow margins for error...the ball has to be thrown just in the right spot just at the right time. A little to the left or a tenth of a second late and it's a disaster.

 

[NJCuse97]

Go back to the Babers comments about the offense being a race car and a quarterback doesnt get to drive the car unless he can make the tires sing. That comment, to me, answers this question. Undoubtedly part of the analogy is tempo, you have to be able to operate fast, recognize coverages and matchups pre-snap very quickly. But the part about making the tires sing implies tight tolerances or narrow margins for error...the ball has to be thrown just in the right spot just at the right time. A little to the left or a tenth of a second late and it's a disaster.

Babers also called Tommy a gunslinger. He said the problem with gunslingers is they don’t always take what’s given. I do feel Tommy prefers to wait for the deep rout to open. That prevents the slant, or the tuck and run. With a porous line, that leads to sacks. It may also explain his focus on one receiver, especially if only one is running a deep rout. Tommy is racing too fuel and he needs a little -1

 

[Alsacs]

Pocket awareness. He has the skills he just needs to feel pressure better.

 

[JackBauer44]

He had happy feet after the Maryland game last season and finally started trusting his OL once Bergeron came in to solidify the line. He needs that little bit of confidence that there won't be a guy in the backfield less than a second after the snap.

The thing we don't have to worry about is work ethic and I'm sure that Tommy will be watching a ton of tape and trying to work on his weaknesses all summer. I'm very excited to see what he comes back looking like in the fall.

Despite a lot of the complaints on this board, he had a great first season as a starter comparatively to some of the other guys we've had. A lot of guys make a big jump from year one to year two. He flashed in 2018 but it probably wasn't fair to expect that last season. Consistently good > occasionally great

I am utterly shocked every time I pull open these threads to see how bad Tommy is being referenced. A makeshift OL for half the season combined with an injury that I really have no idea how he played through, makes me believe he’s a warrior and he’s going to be just fine next year. I agree - there are a lot of things to be unhappy about last season, but IMO, Tommy is down on that list.

 

[bnoro]

I am utterly shocked every time I pull open these threads to see how bad Tommy is being referenced. A makeshift OL for half the season combined with an injury that I really have no idea how he played through, makes me believe he’s a warrior and he’s going to be just fine next year. I agree - there are a lot of things to be unhappy about last season, but IMO, Tommy is down on that list.

Not sure what's more ridiculous, the Tommy slander or the Babers slander.

 

[721Comstock]

Not sure what's more ridiculous, the Tommy slander or the Babers slander.

I know, right?

Like Syracuse - especially considering the overall "meh" (at best) state of the program for nearly 2 decades:
other than 2018, and maybe 2012 -
is going to get some dramatically better QB and/or coach??
Please.

 

[SoBristol]

I am utterly shocked every time I pull open these threads to see how bad Tommy is being referenced. A makeshift OL for half the season combined with an injury that I really have no idea how he played through, makes me believe he’s a warrior and he’s going to be just fine next year. I agree - there are a lot of things to be unhappy about last season, but IMO, Tommy is down on that list.

All true, but the thread started with a fair question — how does Tommy improve?
Of course, the OL needs to protect better, and the run game needs to provide balance. And then, Tommy needs to anticipate the rush, get better at using multiple receivers, and he needs to make positive plays when forced out of the pocket.
In practice, throwing routes against air to a single target, from a stationary open position, isn’t going to be much help to Tommy. So, simulate the situation where he needs work — evading the rush, throwing on the run, locating the secondary targets. His improvement is one of the big keys to the season.

 

[kcsu]

TD has tons of potential but he had issues with pocket awareness and avoiding a rush. I understand that the rush was at times on him before he caught the snap, not much he can do there.

But there were many plays where he had some time, and wasn’t able to feel the pressure and get away and extend the play. He got better as the year went on, but still below average imo.

The question is what can be done to improve this? My thoughts:

1) more quick throws called by the oc
2) a better running game will help too

The real question is what training does TD do over the next 8 months? Are there virtual reality goggles for training aids? Are there drills he can do on the field? Film study must be a part too, right?
Do you know a QB with this problem who has improved significantly over time? I’m looking for a reason to be optimistic here. We need TD to be solid next year.

Florange44

Competition drives improvement.

 

[shu 49]

Thing that sticks out to me is how tentative he was throwing the ball into tight coverage...in a sense he never did it and wouldn't throw the ball unless his receiver was wide open...like high school wide open. He needs to make the jump to understanding what open is at the P5 level. There is a lot of trust involved. Trusting your receiver to be able to make a play, trusting your own ability to deliver the ball into a tight window. To me that's the biggest jump he can make, just throwing into tighter coverage on time and trusting the receiver to make a play if the ball is put in the right spot.

I completely agree but also think back and he never threw his receivers open either. I always thought it was weird. I see a ton of other qbs do it but don’t remember one time TD doing it. Also has to get better throwing to left and on the run.

 

[cusefan88]

Servais playing LT for a whole season is going to make a huge difference.

 

[JRHEETER]

Let’s be real, Tommy was okay at best this season.

line and injury played a role into this certainly and are very valid excuses.

he has plenty to work on this season and I’m sure Babers will coach him up. Excited to see his improvement

 

[qdawgg]

Sterlin Gilbert...

 

[illestcuse]