re: SEC Network Finley “seeing ghosts” when passing the ball

quote:

---

He was completely lost that day. He’ll improve, he’s only a freshman, but it’s putting lipstick on a pig to say he did anything that day.

---

never said he did anything good. just saying it’s hard to put it on him with the o line playing that bad. we saw what he’s capable of when given protection like he was against SC

He doesn’t move in the pocket, he bails right every time and he got away with at least 3 cardinal mistakes throwing back across the field. He won’t keep getting away with that and teams will pickup on this tendency. He will have to learn how to go through progressions or at least learn where his second option is or DCs will start to exploit him the way Auburn did. Don’t forget Arkansas rushes 3 most of the game and that gave him a little more time but he’s not beating anyone with anticipation or smarts right now and that can’t last. His best game was still 120 yards short of Brennan’s average and if we can’t control the game running the ball Finley has tons of trouble.

quote:

---

, they really didn't. Stinchcomb was blabbing about this multiple times after the TD, as if the fact he threw a damn TD to take the lead wasn't the story. Finley moved in the pocket, kept his eyes downfield, and threw a good pass. "Seeing ghosts" is only a thing if he's pulling the ball down to escape pressure that isn't there. Again, he kept his eyes downfield and threw the ball right after moving in the pocket

---

Yes. I forgot where but someone breaking down the game said to them it seemed more like he was getting his recievers open.

They explained when it looked like he would take off it would pull the coverage and allow recievers to get open.

I'm not sure if that was really his thinking but seemed to work atleast on a few plays

That was sort of my point too, Arkansas hardly ever attempted any rush of Finley, yet he got happy feet multiple times. He’s got the talent but a lot to learn about pocket presence, patience, like when to step up or get out.

Ala, Fla, the Aggies are going to be a recurring nightmare for LSU’s outstanding freshman QB. We shall see how much Finley matures pocket presence wise over those three games.

This is true. However, game reps change most young QB's ability to read/react to defenses. He is apparently a student of the game and these are things you can learn. What you can't learn is how to be 6'7"...mobile and fit balls into postage stamp-sized windows like he does.

Every QB needs an O-line that can block. Against Auburn, he was getting to about "2 Missi"--then bam!

The playcalling has to improve dramatically if we’re even going to halfway compete against those teams. There’s no way this type of offense should score only 27 points with 42 minutes of possession against anybody. If we try this keep away stuff with the teams you mentioned we’re dead. Why isn’t Kirkland’s versatility being used? Why not throw more swings with Emery? Don’t we have jet sweep and pop pass in the playbook? Where’s the play we used to kill Florida and other teams motioning the back outside of Marshall to create that safety/LB mismatch? We aren’t going to beat anybody throwing hitches, 5 yard outs and the occasional bomb.

Madking do you have something personal against this kid, you seem to only have negative comments concerning him. You do realize that he is only 18 years old making his 3rd start against SEC competition. Why don't we give him a few years before we write him off. This is the best looking freshmen qb i have seem play for the Tigers, so i would like to give him the benefit of the doubt for right now.

quote:

---

Finley isn’t making strike throws into tight windows

---

against the Arkansas zone he absolutely was, announcers kept saying they were “dangerous” but against a zone you have to find the gaps and fit it in. Also does he get any credit for taking us on a long game winning drive and throwing the game winning touchdown, on the road against an SEC team while being a true freshman?

It wasn’t meant to be a “who’s better” it was a comparison to show the extreme drop off in production and the contrast in reality compared to the wish casting going on instead of Finley’s production so far. If we’re being honest about him as a passer in this offense you have the two other QBs, 378ypg, 377ypg and Finley at 226ypg. Refusing to acknowledge that huge disparity doesn’t help to evaluate him as a player. If we just ignore the facts because he has a big arm we’re just deluding ourselves and robbing the board of an honest discussion. I don’t think it’s all on him I think adding more wrinkles and using our athletes in more creative and practical ways gives us a better chance of winning than dumbing down the offense and babying him.

Those “dangerous” throws you’re talking about are cardinal mistakes he got away with not something to be encouraged about. If he keeps doing that the Ints will come in bunches and you can bank on that.