I have been critical of Stroud's performance, in particular the first 3 and last 2 drives of the Oregon game. Im willing to admit I dont know everything, but when our own coaches say "The responsibility for this loss is mine", I dont really want to hear from anyone that CJ Stroud is our best QB simply because Day chose him, how I shouldnt judge a teenager/Freshman's first two games, OK fine, I am aware of these facts.
I just want to know if someone else looking at the same things I did, has another take. Maybe I am more critical than I should be. Maybe things are better than they appear for our offense. I am not sure how much of the problem was Day's playcalling and how much was Stroud's decision-making and execution. If you disagree with these observations, please EDUCATE ME.
anyways for anyone interested the video of the full game is here on youtube, get it while its hot.
Anyways, heres what I saw the first three drives,
Drive by drive analysis of the offense
1: Why these short passes to the LOS? Short passes to LOS, 2nd down pass to Wilson for 11 yards was best play outside the Miyan 20 yard run. I approved the check down that gave Miyan 6 yards, sucks he got bottled up and then we get 3rd &7:
-Strouds first pass to JSN a bit High, JSN has to leap straight up to get it but sails through his hands (25-50% JSN’s fault?), 4th &7: Wypler misses a chance to snap it for a free play, stroud straight whips it at Olave, incomplete, 100% CJ’s bad
Unimpressed with #7
Drive 2: couple Miyan runs, first pass to Olave, complete for 11 yards but over thrown, Olave leaps up like a jumping jack and is already falling mid catch.
2nd& 8: another panic throw by Stroud. Not a white jersey in site and he immediately slings it to Wilson several yards in front of the sticks. Thrown outside so Wilson has to double back to catch, immediately wrapped up for a 3rd down for Miyan to bail us out.
Olave crosser right at the line of scrimmage for little gain. Again, why is this man even touching the ball in front of the sticks?
Stroud run to the corner. Had so much real estate for the first but Olave why you no block? Well bc he turned back hoping stroud would throw to him for the Tuddy right before he crossed the LOS. Stroud ran it instead, solid gain and the penalty so can’t complain too much I guess.
False start, short runs (stroud keeps it on 2nd&13 he might’ve picked up a cool 6-7 with a slide to avoid the hit/draw the target), 3rd & 11. Stroud hits a tight window to get Stover in the hands, stover is basically in the process of being hit as it hits him but that seemed more like on Stover (75%) than stroud. However, JSN was drawing a bit of a double team and it looked like Wilson was open enough on the sidelines. 4th down. Jesse Micro is god.
#7’s passing skills Growing on me but Im still concerned with his performance this drive and decision-making in the pocket. Are all these short passes totally pre snap reads?
Drive 3 (& out): 1: overthrow to Flemming/Flemming slipped, hard to really tell if it was high and outside or if it was a slip.
Not gonna hate on Stroud’s run here. Oregon was all over him, nothing he could’ve done besides maybe toss it to JSN but risk a pick
3rd down: Stroud passed to Wilson, Wilson gets hit and its a drop immediately. Live and in the replay this looks to me more on Stroud for throwing so quickly into coverage when he had time in the pocket. Probably 50% Wilson’s fault, though.
Same level of disappointment I guess, further entrenching my view maybe?
