QB/WR Braxton Miller (B1G POY, National Champion, OSU HOF)

[southcampus]

(shouldn't you be working, young man? )

....yes

 

[1926Buckeyes]

In the NFL they hit people in stride against zone coverage because they are really [censored]ing good and they know exactly where and when the receiver is going to hit the opening in the zone before they even get there.

I don't think Braxton is quite at that level yet.

Yeah this is mainly why I agree with this. If Miller was a junior or senior, he could probably make that throw, or should make that throw, but this being early in the season of development, Stoney needs to adjust for Miller and make an easy target. It's not a huge deal though, not like that was a game-changing play.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Counter argument (and I don't know for sure because I don't have the film in front of me): Miller saw an opening in the zone defense that Stoneburner should have sat down in and he threw it there.

Then you don't need to be chiming in.

If Braxton "hits him in stride" then the ball would be intercepted or knocked down by the LB that was 4 yards away. The LB reacting to the ball and Stoneburner continuing to run full stride would erase a lot more than three yards by the time the ball got there.

See above.

 

[Buckeye86]

Then you don't need to be chiming in.



See above.

Based on my recollection of the play and your statement that there was a player slightly over three yards away, my point is still more valid than yours.

I assume you recognized that which is why you chose to focus on something trivial rather than the content of my post.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Based on my recollection of the play and your statement that there was a player slightly over three yards away, my point is still more valid than yours.

I assume you recognized that which is why you chose to focus on something trivial rather than the content of my post.

The player (LB) who was about three or so yards away was stationary and was about 3 yards both to the trailing side and in front of Stoney when Miller threw the ball. The ball was not in danger of being tipped due to the LB being stationary (in fact, the LB whiffed on trying to deflect the ball despite the ball thrown behind...had the ball been on target the LB would not have been close to it) and the nearest other defender to Stoney when he touched the ball was probably 4-5 yards away and nearly stationary. You need to watch the replay instead of relying just on memory. Again, had the throw been in stride it would've been a huge gain.

 

[Nicknam4]

It's not always about who's fault it is in plays like this but more about getting the timing and chemistry between the Quarterback and his receivers just right. Braxton needs to always be on the same page with his teammates in an offense like this for it to execute correctly. They aren't quite at that point right now but it will come with time with a young team like this. All they can do to fix it is practice, practice, practice, until it clicks.

 

[buchtelgrad04]

I gotta go with Mili on this one.

I initially thought Stoney should've sat in the zone as well, but after rewatching and slowing it down (a luxury the players don't have, btw) Braxton could've put a little more on it because the MLB followed Evan on the underneath drag. Stoney would've had another 10-15 yards if the pass was accurate.

Pre Snap:

Right After Snap:

As Stoney is cutting inside:

When Braxton begins to throw:

The Throw:

This one is on Braxton. The window was there.

 

[Buckeye86]

I initially thought Stoney should've sat in the zone as well, but after rewatching and slowing it down (a luxury the players don't have, btw) Braxton could've put a little more on it because the MLB followed Evan on the underneath drag. Stoney would've had another 10-15 yards if the pass was accurate.

What he could have done is irrelevant. No one is disputing that there was a window of opportunity.

The important questions are these:

Was Stoney supposed to sit down in that zone? Did Braxton expect him to sit down in that zone?

Did Stoney run a bad route? Did Miller make a bad throw?

No one outside of the players and coaches will likely ever know.

I think it is clear in the last picture that the LB on the left was making a break on the ball and he potentially had a play on it if Miller had led Stoneburner much further to the left.

Could he have put some touch on it and lofted it over the LB for a big gain? Yes. Could he have thrown it too low allowing the defender to get a hand on it or intercept it? Yes. Is he a sophomore quarterback still learning? Yes. Am I more comfortable with him throwing it almost exactly right in the middle of two defender rather than attempting to lead a receiver and throwing it much closer to one of the defenders? Yes.

 

[buchtelgrad04]

What he could have done is irrelevant. No one is disputing that there was a window of opportunity.

The important questions are these:

Was Stoney supposed to sit down in that zone? Did Braxton expect him to sit down in that zone?

Did Stoney run a bad route? Did Miller make a bad throw?

No one outside of the players and coaches will likely ever know.

I think it is clear in the last picture that the LB on the left was making a break on the ball and he potentially had a play on it if Miller had led Stoneburner much further to the left.

Could he have put some touch on it and lofted it over the LB for a big gain? Yes. Could he have thrown it too low allowing the defender to get a hand on it or intercept it? Yes. Is he a sophomore quarterback still learning? Yes.

It's college football. These are the plays these guys are supposed to make. You notice zone, you find a soft spot, sit down, and drift with the QB unless someone impedes on your spot. It's man, you create separation.

The last picture actually shows that Braxton has more of a window than I initially thought. The screenshot above it, the LB's foot is on the hash as he's watching Evan. Next screenshot, ball is at least 5 yards out of Braxton's hand and his foot is STILL on the hash.

As I said before, this is a luxury the players don't have in the middle of the game. But there's no excuse for this miss.

EDIT: And honestly, in a perfect world, the ball should've been gone by the 3rd screenshot. Lol.

 

[Buckeye86]

But there's no excuse for this miss.

Actually, there are several potential excuses for that miss which I already covered:

Was Stoney supposed to sit down in that zone? Did Braxton expect him to sit down in that zone?

Did Stoney run a bad route? Did Miller make a bad throw?

Pretending like that one is "on" Braxton is ignoring Stoneburner's end of the deal.

Either way, this is a ridiculously pedantic argument.

To get a little broader here, I thought the offense would have benefited tremendously from attacking the middle of the defense on plays almost exactly like that one (I would have preferred more vertical rather than crossing routes) more in the game.

I think we got away from attacking the middle vertically for most of the third quarter which is why the offense sputtered so badly.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I think it is clear in the last picture that the LB on the left was making a break on the ball and he potentially had a play on it if Miller had led Stoneburner much further to the left.

The last picture actually shows that Braxton has more of a window than I initially thought. The screenshot above it, the LB's foot is on the hash as he's watching Evan. Next screenshot, ball is at least 5 yards out of Braxton's hand and his foot is STILL on the hash.

Memory < video evidents!!11!!!

 

[Mike80]

Might we please drop this little debate?

There's a decent chance both players got a minus for the play. Let's just let it go and hope they connect on similar players as we go through this season.

 

[jwinslow]

Stoneburner was wide open. Braxton just missed.

 

[Bleed S & G]

Stoneburner was wide open. Braxton just missed.

Can't be!




On a serious note, enjoying watching this growth

 

[redguard117]

Are we allowed to hire another coach to only oversee the QB position, or are we already at the NCAA limit? Herman must have his hands full just running the offense, and a former NFL qb or dedicated qb coach would in my opinion do wonders for Brax.