This week Coach Urban Meyer estimated in an interview that Cardale Jones underthrew at least six passes in the Western Michigan game.  Meyer also noted the reason:

"Fundamentally he wasn't sound. The way he transferred back to front, dragging his back leg."

So I went back to the 2014 post season to look at Cardale's passing, especially the long bombs to Devin Smith.  I was surprised to note that he underthrew almost all his passes. 

Wisconsin

Big 10 Championship

1. 39 yards TD to Devin Smith. The pass was way short. Two defenders front and back. Devin fought off one, shoving him back, knocking his arm away, borderline offensive pass interference. The announcer Gus Johnson yelled with disbelieving amazement, "Oh, he made the catch."

2. 44 yards TD to Devin Smith. The pass was thrown perfectly even with a defender rushing into Cardale’s face.

3. 42 yards TD to Devin Smith. The pass was way short. Devin slowed, the defender bumped into him as Devin took the ball away.

Alabama

Sugar Bowl Semi-Final

1. 40 yards to Devin Smith on 1-yard line. Pass underthrown, Devin slowed, caught ball walking backwards, and went out of bounds with catch.

2. 47 yards TD to Devin Smith. The defender trips and falls, Devin again slows down and caught ball walking backwards. Makes sure he doesn’t go out of bounds.

Oregon

National Championship

1. 33 yards to Devin Smith. Incomplete, pass interference. Pass thrown late and behind, Devin slowed to catch and defender ran into back of Devin.

2. 45 yards to Devin Smith on 6-yard line. Pass underthrown behind Devin, who slowed and reached back to catch pass off his hip just as defender arrived.

Surprisingly Cardale was not that accurate, in fact ALL of the deep passes in post season were underthrown except one.  He did, however, have much better success with the intermediate passes on crossing and corner routes.

So how was the deep pass accuracy this year after working out in the off season?

Virginia Tech

1. 24 yards to Curtis Samuel. Cardale lobbed up pass under pressure, way off target. Samuel was going out to the corner, reverses to inside, fights past the defender, and makes amazing catch.

2. 54 yards TD to Braxton Miller. Pass thrown late, almost ran Braxton out of bounds, but he stays in, regains balance, steps out of tackle and runs 30 yards for TD. A higher percentage opportunity was pass to Campbell who did not have a defender near and who had a clear path.

Hawaii

0. 19 yards to Michael Thomas. Pass thrown behind, but Thomas stops and grabs it.

1. 47 yards to Jalin Marshall. Thrown into coverage. Incomplete.

2. 24 yards to Jalin Marshall. A pop pass in backfield Jalin ran for 24 yards. Cardale’s "longest pass" of the day.

3. 44 yard pass to Michael Thomas. Incomplete at 4-yard line and pass interference. Pass way underthrown, Thomas was clear but had to slow up.

Northern Illinois

None. Yanked after two interceptions.

It's shocking to realize that ALL of Cardale's long passes in 2015 were also off target, except one to Braxton at Virginia Tech-- and 20 yards is hardly a deep pass.

(I don't have the Western Michigan video yet.  Meyer said he underthrew at least six. Can some 11th warrior fill us in there?

MOD EDIT - I think the discussion has run course, points established all around. Thread closed.