Big Clif #17

[reinell30]

If he was going to develop better throwing mechanics he would have done it by now, and if he did have better throwing mechanics, he's be starting for an FBS team. You put a better than average arm on him (accuracy/drive) and he is a damn good QB. As it stand now, his arm is going to fail him at some point either with turnovers or just lack of production. That said, I do think he is the best option we have considering his ability to run, which helps keep the defense honest.

I think that the mechanics can get "better"...but those fixes tend to "fail" at the worst possible times, too. But, at this point it is what it is. He's 3-0 as a starter and we run with what we've got.

I wish he would learn to tuck that ball away when he runs. He keeps it out there just begging for it to be swatted away...

 

[armonte]

I would like to see them run a QB Power out of the 3 back (T formation for youngsters) set double tight, right off the end with the three backs leading.

I think that the mechanics can get "better"...but those fixes tend to "fail" at the worst possible times, too. But, at this point it is what it is. He's 3-0 as a starter and we run with what we've got.

I wish he would learn to tuck that ball away when he runs. He keeps it out there just begging for it to be swatted away...

 

[ElrodGrizzly]

I would like to see them run a QB Power out of the 3 back (T formation for youngsters) set double tight, right off the end with the three backs leading.

I wish he would learn to tuck that ball away when he runs. He keeps it out there just begging for it to be swatted away...

How would you line that up? Or does the QB just kind of hang out for a second and let the RB's get past him to set up blocks?

I will FULLY admit I don't have a deep knowledge of that 3-back, T formation.

 

[garizzalies]

Let’s fucking goooooo!

Do you believe now?

I think Fontes dropped a TD, and Clif missed two others, Rac had a bad drop too. QB’s rating was near perfect.

While the passing purest complain, Big Clif just goes out and gets it.

Having QB power available on 3rd downs changes everything.

Did you see him roll his eyes when they sent in a running play for the last play of the first half. He obviously wanted another chance at a bomb. He’d probably make the same eye roll if you mentioned “mechanics” to him :roll:

 

[Znelson15]

Cliff has been playing great, and one thing I really love for him is that he looks for Bergen!!!! We have been needing that

 

[ElrodGrizzly]

This is a kid who came in and VOLUNTEERED TO RETURN KICKOFFS AS A QB to show how bad he wanted it. I've loved this kid. His teammates love him. He came in and immediately started trying to get his teammates paid. Fuck yes Big Cliff

 

[garizzalies]

Passing: 11 of 18 for 176, 1 TD, no picks, long of 76.

Rushing: 13 attempts, 51 gain, 13 loss, 38 total, long of 13, 1 TD, 2.9 avg

Clifton McDowell led the Grizzly offense with a balanced and composed performance in the hostile environment. He completed 61 percent of his passes for 176 yards and a score, and added 38 yards on the ground with another score…

In a situation that could have been disaster, Montana instead turned it into a dream. McDowell found Bergen for a 12-yard gain to give the Griz some space. They converted the first down with a QB keeper.

Two plays later, McDowell ran a play-action pass and dropped a perfect pass over the top to a streaking Bergen, who beat the defense for a 76-yard score.

…the offense kept it on the ground, running a Statue of Liberty trick play for a gain and then keeping it in the hands of McDowell on third down for a touchdown score from eight yards out…

Montana faced a 2nd-and-11 and it looked like McDowell would be sacked to drive them further back, but the quarterback stiff-armed a would-be tackler, escaped the pocket and delivered a first down throw to Keelan White in Idaho territory.

McDowell found Bergen over the middle for another third and long conversion that put Montana into field goal range.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Let’s fucking goooooo!

Do you believe now?

I think Fontes dropped a TD, and Clif missed two others, Rac had a bad drop too. QB’s rating was near perfect.

While the passing purest complain, Big Clif just goes out and gets it.

Having QB power available on 3rd downs changes everything.

Did you see him roll his eyes when they sent in a running play for the last play of the first half. He obviously wanted another chance at a bomb. He’d probably make the same eye roll if you mentioned “mechanics” to him :roll:

Definitely Fontes would like to have another shot at that TD. And mind you, I’m not “complaining” about Cliff’s mechanics…hell, if they were any better he’d be at a G5 or P5 school…Christ I watched Alabama’s QB and another P5 QB yesterday and their numbers were almost identical to Cliff’s! :lol: :lol:

 

[garizzalies]

11/21 for 218 and 2.

Plus 15 for 83.

Plus one reception for 24.

That’s 325 total yards (not counting sacks).

Beast mode

 

[bgbigdog]

I wouldn’t say he short arms everything, but he sure doesn’t drive the ball to get it there. As big and strong as he is, I agree he would be lethal if he learned to truly incorporate the power from his hips/trunk into his passes. He never appears to really “set” himself well. Some of those things are natural and some are poorly learned behaviors. Luckily mechanics can always be improved.

He showed a flash of what “could be”, at the end of the first half at UC Davis. If he used the same strength/power he did trying lob that ball to the end zone, he could really start to zip some balls to the receivers on those intermediate routes. Maybe they can set him up with a good qb coach after the season to help him progress next year.

Two things:
1) maybe “short arm” isn’t the right terminology….he appears to kind of “flick” the ball out there without the prototypical QB arm movement/rotation. That causes a number of his passes to miss by a long shot (well over, well short, etc—two stand out—the pass in the left flat (don’t remember who it was to), and the pass to Ostmo when he scrambled to his right and directed Ostmo down the field then missed him by flicking it 5 feet over his head).
2) I don’t know if it’s timing or what, but rarely is a pass right in the bread basket. Even the ones that were caught for TD’s and big gains on Saturday usually required some kind of substantial effort for the WR to get to the ball. It was either way high (Fontes catch on the left sideline), behind the receiver (Bergen, and a couple others), or uncatchable altogether (Fontes’ TD catch). Rare was the case where a pass was RIGHT where it needed to be (White’s TD catch)…

And all that is improveable with time/practice. And despite those obvious shortcomings, with this offense, and this O-line, HE is the guy that needs to be behind center.

I see two motions. One where he’s trying to guide it to the receiver, and another like he just winds up and lets it fly. The incompletion to Fontes early - thrown on the money - not guided. The throw to Junior that was picked - guided. I do think he worried about putting too much on the short passes and it causes the flicking seen in the guiding motion guiding motion.

I’d forgive him all of that because all he’s done is win.

 

[Copper Griz]

The biggest change I noticed from last night was his weapons were open. He went to three or four receivers. I think the Griz receivers have the speed to beat most corners or safeties. The play calling just hasn’t really been there. To the coaches credit, they opened it up last night. Going to require defenses to scheme differently and help this offense. Mayginnes didn’t even play and the o line looked good. Hope this team just keeps improving.

 

[kemajic]

Two things:
1) maybe “short arm” isn’t the right terminology….he appears to kind of “flick” the ball out there without the prototypical QB arm movement/rotation. That causes a number of his passes to miss by a long shot (well over, well short, etc—two stand out—the pass in the left flat (don’t remember who it was to), and the pass to Ostmo when he scrambled to his right and directed Ostmo down the field then missed him by flicking it 5 feet over his head).
2) I don’t know if it’s timing or what, but rarely is a pass right in the bread basket. Even the ones that were caught for TD’s and big gains on Saturday usually required some kind of substantial effort for the WR to get to the ball. It was either way high (Fontes catch on the left sideline), behind the receiver (Bergen, and a couple others), or uncatchable altogether (Fontes’ TD catch). Rare was the case where a pass was RIGHT where it needed to be (White’s TD catch)…

And all that is improveable with time/practice. And despite those obvious shortcomings, with this offense, and this O-line, HE is the guy that needs to be behind center.

I see two motions. One where he’s trying to guide it to the receiver, and another like he just winds up and lets it fly. The incompletion to Fontes early - thrown on the money - not guided. The throw to Junior that was picked - guided. I do think he worried about putting too much on the short passes and it causes the flicking seen in the guiding motion guiding motion.

I’d forgive him all of that because all he’s done is win.

As his history and his performances here show, McDowell is not a natural passer. I suspect now he is getting better coaching than he has in the past and with his natural athleticism, he's improving as the season progresses. There are still instances where the non-QB brain emerges (delay of game penalty, pick in the red zone), but his athleticism and durability are behind the winning streak. Not only is he a strong, tough runner, but he seems to have a knack for avoiding big hits. The defense has allowed some time in the development of the offense.

 

[uofmman1122]

All I know is that if Clifton can throw the ball with the same timing and accuracy that he did last night going forward, this team might not lose again.

 

[Spanky2]

All I know is that if Clifton can throw the ball with the same timing and accuracy that he did last night going forward, this team might not lose again.

He gets better every week and wins football games.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

He has very nice touch on many of his passes.

 

[Wolf777]

He has clearly been receptive to coaching. It does help having a former qb working as his coach. He also didn’t melt at the challenge of a strong # 2 behind him. He’s tough and is figuring out he can bully his way in the run game. He’s tough. Though he had a big mistake last night and one against UC Davis, overall he has been protecting the ball and trusting his receivers.

He is growing with this team and the team trusts the offense and the offense trusts the defense. That has not been the case the last couple of years. This team has good chemistry and seems to be very symbiotic, feeding off of each other’s success.