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Fair warning, this is not a complimentary post. It's a tough look at the first couple of games and some of the issues I am noticing with Sam. The biggest issues are that related to his field vision and anticipation which all might go back to him reading the defense. It's hard to pin-point with QBs. Regardless, here are some examples on film of him having opportunity to attack the second and third level and struggling to do so:
It's 3rd and long, Bradford has time in the pocket...he needs to take a chance here...once Austin clears the LB, he has a lot of space.
This play ended up working out as Bradford made a great throw to Givens...however, he had an easier and potentially bigger play to Cook who opened up on the scramble drill. Gotta keep his eyes active while scrambling. He locked on Givens.
Never even looks at Austin. Austin has inside positioning and there's a window to throw to with a whole lot of space. Not an easy throw but a throw a NFL QB should make. OL did him no favors though.
Again, Bradford throws short right before Pettis clears the defender and is wide open down the seam.
I isolated this play because it shows a lack of anticipation...he needs the ball to be leaving his hand at this point. Lob the ball over the OL so D-Rich can catch it in stride in space. Instead, he waits until Richardson is clearly open and the LB makes the tackle for only 1 yard gain on what could have been an easy 10 yard pick-up.
Another scramble drill play...it's a tighter window but Bradford has Austin if he pulls the trigger and throws it into the open space. Instead, he holds onto it until it's too late and the safety knocks the ball down on the sideline.
He read this one right. Just made a bad throw. Austin has inside positioning. He should have thrown a ball with zip down the open window on the seam...instead he threw it to the red box over the top forcing Austin to break off his post route and allowing the defender, who was over the top, to knock the ball away.
Again, not the easiest throw but Cook has a window. Throw it into the open space and let him go get it.
No description necessary.
He ends up throwing to Givens for a first down but Austin is wide open down the field. Much easier throw.
Austin has inside position on the quick slant, the ball should be out. There's a window and a TD if Austin holds onto it.
Two WRs open...Bradford chooses Givens(short route) and airmails the ball over his head for an incomplete pass.
Austin runs the corner to wide open space. Sam never sees him. All he would have had to do is loft the ball to the back part of the end-zone.
Cook gets across the face of the LB. There's a wide open window in the middle of the end-zone. Sam needs to pull the trigger.
Look, I'm not saying these are the easiest throws in the world but these are the type of throws that separate guys like Alex Smith and Sam from guys like Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning.
I just am not confident Sam will ever be the guy that can see these plays as they are happening and make these throws. However, our OL...especially the interior...are doing him absolutely no favors.
It's 3rd and long, Bradford has time in the pocket...he needs to take a chance here...once Austin clears the LB, he has a lot of space.
This play ended up working out as Bradford made a great throw to Givens...however, he had an easier and potentially bigger play to Cook who opened up on the scramble drill. Gotta keep his eyes active while scrambling. He locked on Givens.
Never even looks at Austin. Austin has inside positioning and there's a window to throw to with a whole lot of space. Not an easy throw but a throw a NFL QB should make. OL did him no favors though.
Again, Bradford throws short right before Pettis clears the defender and is wide open down the seam.
I isolated this play because it shows a lack of anticipation...he needs the ball to be leaving his hand at this point. Lob the ball over the OL so D-Rich can catch it in stride in space. Instead, he waits until Richardson is clearly open and the LB makes the tackle for only 1 yard gain on what could have been an easy 10 yard pick-up.
Another scramble drill play...it's a tighter window but Bradford has Austin if he pulls the trigger and throws it into the open space. Instead, he holds onto it until it's too late and the safety knocks the ball down on the sideline.
He read this one right. Just made a bad throw. Austin has inside positioning. He should have thrown a ball with zip down the open window on the seam...instead he threw it to the red box over the top forcing Austin to break off his post route and allowing the defender, who was over the top, to knock the ball away.
Again, not the easiest throw but Cook has a window. Throw it into the open space and let him go get it.
No description necessary.
He ends up throwing to Givens for a first down but Austin is wide open down the field. Much easier throw.
Austin has inside position on the quick slant, the ball should be out. There's a window and a TD if Austin holds onto it.
Two WRs open...Bradford chooses Givens(short route) and airmails the ball over his head for an incomplete pass.
Austin runs the corner to wide open space. Sam never sees him. All he would have had to do is loft the ball to the back part of the end-zone.
Cook gets across the face of the LB. There's a wide open window in the middle of the end-zone. Sam needs to pull the trigger.
Look, I'm not saying these are the easiest throws in the world but these are the type of throws that separate guys like Alex Smith and Sam from guys like Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning.
I just am not confident Sam will ever be the guy that can see these plays as they are happening and make these throws. However, our OL...especially the interior...are doing him absolutely no favors.