How long can JJ last?

[Potomac Griz]

Oh, i thought they were listening to me....

Thanks for crushing my backseat coaching dreams..

Jerk :come:

Sorry for crushing your dreams! I would suggest maybe trying to get a wireless headset linked with Delaney's so he can listen to your opinion...but as we've seen he has a little trouble with his headset so he might still not be able to listen

 

[BozAngelesGriz]

i hope Canada can last the season, too. he has been the unsung workhorse of the offense as of late and has taken a few nasty hits as well.

 

[Jaredkuehn]

Is JJ taking more hits this year than he did as a regular ball carrier in Pflu's zone read offense? Zone read QB's take hits regularly whether or not they have the ball.

He took a lot of hits in 2011 and he finished that season on fire. He could have landed awkwardly on a shoulder or sprained an ankle while running the ball during that season, but he did not.

 

[JayLarson]

JJ is taking way more hits than any other quarterback that the Griz have had in my memory. He is not a big guy and he is taking huge hits, yes he is getting back up. More hits than he was taking in '11. I know he was not at his greatest today with the 3 picks, and maybe the hits are starting to take their toll on him. Anyone that is not worried about the big hits he is taking maybe is not a Griz fan at all. Maybe they are a cat or eagle?

 

[AZGrizFan]

JJ has already proven he can take the hits. It's the wrong hit that could get him injured instead of just hurt, but that can happen at any time to any quarterback. Even if a QB only gets hit once the entire game, it could result in a season-ending injury so why worry about it?

More hits = more potential of getting hurt. That's why it's worrisome.

Our OLine is doing an absolute shitty job protecting him most of the time out there. Combine that with the fact we cannot run the ball anymore at all it seems and we're left with JJ running for his life out there heaving up prayers on occasion (leading to some INTs now) and still taking big shots after doing so.

We are very lucky JJ is a slippery QB so he avoids quite a few would-be sacks. I'm not sure what's going wrong with our OLine lately, but something sure isn't right.

First off, USD had 26 sacks coming into this game. They are a very high risk/high reward defense. They are also 44-9 at home since 2003...home losses are very, VERY rare for them.

I went back and watched the game replay. JJ was hit 8 times in the first half, including 2 sacks, 1 run and 5 "knockdowns" after the throw was released. On several of the knockdowns/sacks, USD brought the house, and on many of them the O-line actually provided decent coverage, but the secondary for USD wasn't allowing anyone to get open.

He was hit after the INT early in the 3rd, then the next series was a cheap shot well after the ball was released (no flag), a few plays later on the 3rd & 10 completion to Jones (the play where EH absolutely layed OUT two defenders) he was hit after he completed the pass, was hit late after the long completion to EH @ the 4:41 mark, left the pocket prematurely and was sacked after the penalty at 3:39, then was hit HARD on his 3rd pick in the end zone (this was the play we motioned a guy OUT of the are from which they sent a LB and a corner on the blitz).

In the 4th quarter the first time he was touched was on the blitz that he fumbled and recovered the ball. That counted as a sack and was at the 9:10 mark. After that play, because of the Hermanson fumble return for a TD, Montana's offense didn't even see the field again. USD took the kickoff down for a FG (at the 1:48 mark), Henderson ran the kickoff back for a TD and USD ran out the clock trying to score. So, Johnson was hit exactly ONCE in the 4th.

So that's 8 hits in the first half, and 7 times in the 2nd half (2 of which were cheap/late hits that weren't called). I lost count of the # of times the commentators said "he's got all kinds of time", or that I saw him bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, and finally flush out of the pocket. Also lost count of the # of times USD blitzed...they apparently felt that was the only way to beat the Griz.

For anyone complaining about the # of times Johnson was hit, think about this: If we were running the zone read, he'd be getting hit a LOT more than 15 times a game. A LOT more.

Now, I'm not saying our O-line doesn't need improvement, but there were LOTS of plays where they gave him plenty of time, he just couldn't find anybody open....you can't put every hit on Johnson onto the O-line.

 

[BakunLT]

Not complaining....... Concerned that D-line and LB's are able to penetrate so easily. This happened at NAU too, JJ would snap the ball and defenders were basically already in his ass. Panic scramble passes

 

[CDAGRIZ]

I saw this thread title and thought someone would be banned by the end of the first page. Glad to see it didn't come to that.

 

[Hammer]

I saw this thread title and thought someone would be banned by the end of the first page. Glad to see it didn't come to that.

jeez what a garbage brain!!!

 

[CDAGRIZ]

I saw this thread title and thought someone would be banned by the end of the first page. Glad to see it didn't come to that.

jeez what a garbage brain!!!

Haha, I know. It's been that way for a while.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Now, lets see how many times McGhee & Adams got hit today, series by series:

1st Quarter:
MSU: McGhee tacked on a run, then DRILLED on another collapsed pocket scramble, hit about 4 times really hard on a read-option carry.
EWU: Adams drilled on the 4th play from scrimmage on an MSU blitz
MSU: McGhee drilled on an EWU blitz on 3rd & 8, overthrows receiver
EWU: Adams gets tackled hard on a scramble near the goal line after a broken bubble screen that didn't pan out;
MSU: McGhee drilled hard and knocked on his ass on a completion at the 1:11 mark;

So that's McGhee 5, Adams 2 in the 1st quarter

2nd Quarter:

MSU: McGhee knocked to the ground on his TD pass to Bleskin at 13:39
EWU: Adams taken down awkwardly on a scramble; Adams sacked by Daly;
MSU: No hits on McGhee
EWU: No hits on Adams
MSU: McGhee sacked hard by Day;

Halftime score: McGhee 7, Adams 4

3rd Quarter:

EWU: Adams again taken down awkwardly on a scramble; Adams layed OUT on a 3rd down pass; adams hit hard on a long 24-yard scramble;
MSU: McGhee sacked on 3rd & 9 by Hamlin
EWU: Adams tackled after pocket collapses; Adams goes down hard on the next pass completion to Kupp,
MSU: No hits on McGhee

Score at the end of the 3rd Quarter: McGhee 8, Adams 8

MSU: McGhee tackled awkwardly from behind on a QB keeper near the goal line;
EWU: Adams nearly chopped in half on the 76 yard TD pass, as he's hit and bent back, sideways, etc...
MSU: No hits on McGhee
EWU: Vitto relieves Adams, throws TD pass
MSU: McGhee tackled hard on a collapsed pocket scramble; McGhee flushed out and sacked; McGhee tripped up and intercepted

Final score: McGhee: 11 Adams 9, including both being hit extremely hard, by multiple players, brought down awkwardly, and I'm sure fans were holding their breath at times hoping they'd get up....that's why they call it football.

 

[PlayerRep]

Now, lets see how many times McGhee & Adams got hit today, series by series:

1st Quarter:
MSU: McGhee tacked on a run, then DRILLED on another collapsed pocket scramble, hit about 4 times really hard on a read-option carry.
EWU: Adams drilled on the 4th play from scrimmage on an MSU blitz
MSU: McGhee drilled on an EWU blitz on 3rd & 8, overthrows receiver
EWU: Adams gets tackled hard on a scramble near the goal line after a broken bubble screen that didn't pan out;
MSU: McGhee drilled hard and knocked on his ass on a completion at the 1:11 mark;

So that's McGhee 5, Adams 2 in the 1st quarter

2nd Quarter:

MSU: McGhee knocked to the ground on his TD pass to Bleskin at 13:39
EWU: Adams taken down awkwardly on a scramble; Adams sacked by Daly;
MSU: No hits on McGhee
EWU: No hits on Adams
MSU: McGhee sacked hard by Day;

Halftime score: McGhee 7, Adams 4

3rd Quarter:

EWU: Adams again taken down awkwardly on a scramble; Adams layed OUT on a 3rd down pass; adams hit hard on a long 24-yard scramble;
MSU: McGhee sacked on 3rd & 9 by Hamlin
EWU: Adams tackled after pocket collapses; Adams goes down hard on the next pass completion to Kupp,
MSU: No hits on McGhee

Score at the end of the 3rd Quarter: McGhee 8, Adams 8

MSU: McGhee tackled awkwardly from behind on a QB keeper near the goal line;
EWU: Adams nearly chopped in half on the 76 yard TD pass, as he's hit and bent back, sideways, etc...
MSU: No hits on McGhee
EWU: Vitto relieves Adams, throws TD pass
MSU: McGhee tackled hard on a collapsed pocket scramble; McGhee flushed out and sacked; McGhee tripped up and intercepted

Final score: McGhee: 11 Adams 9, including both being hit extremely hard, by multiple players, brought down awkwardly, and I'm sure fans were holding their breath at times hoping they'd get up....that's why they call it football.

Thanks for doing this, AZ. Very interesting. I appreciate the research you've been doing this fall. Very helpful.

 

[tgriz]

I lost track of how many times rushers came in unblocked and hit JJ. It is becoming a weekly theme

 

[TxGriz]

I was pissed at the number of time JJ got hit and no flags thrown vs. the number of times the Griz were flagged for it. At least 3-4 to 1.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Thanks for doing this, AZ. Very interesting. I appreciate the research you've been doing this fall. Very helpful.

Well, I'm not trying to be a dick about it, but the implication is that JJ is getting hit way more, or way harder than other QB's in the league and it's just not really true. I'm not kidding, there was one time I wasn't sure VA was getting up after getting high/lowed by three 'scat defenders...oh and he happened to throw a TD pass on that play...these guys hang in the pocket WAY longer than QB's used to, and take the punishment for it...but it's a risk/reward thing and they're usually rewarded handsomely. It might be a function of the defense sending the house, it might be a function of a receiver taking an extra second or two to break open, it might be a lot of things...it isn't always the offensive line. SOMETIMES it's the Offensive line, sure, but not every time...in fact, not even MOST of the time.

 

[cclarkblues]

At least we didn't see JJ trying to crawl off of the field like the LSU QB last night.

 

[PlayerRep]

I lost track of how many times rushers came in unblocked and hit JJ. It is becoming a weekly theme

Much of the time this resulted from SD blitzing so many people that UM didn't have the blockers, or at least enough blockers on the correct side, to pick up all of the rushers. It is impossible to stop all rushers, if there aren't enough blockers in position. You just hope the right play is called, the qb recognizes where the blitz is coming from early enough, and the qb is able to get rid of the ball quickly and accurately before the blitz impacts him or the throw.

With 27 sacks, I assumed that SD must bring the heat alot, but a comment by Delaney in the paper gave the impression that SD has not been blitzing this much in prior games.

 

[PlayerRep]

At least we didn't see JJ trying to crawl off of the field like the LSU QB last night.

That was odd. Is it okay to talk about SEC football on egriz, or should this thread now be moved somewhere else?

 

[PlayerRep]

Thanks for doing this, AZ. Very interesting. I appreciate the research you've been doing this fall. Very helpful.

Well, I'm not trying to be a dick about it, but the implication is that JJ is getting hit way more, or way harder than other QB's in the league and it's just not really true. I'm not kidding, there was one time I wasn't sure VA was getting up after getting high/lowed by three 'scat defenders...oh and he happened to throw a TD pass on that play...these guys hang in the pocket WAY longer than QB's used to, and take the punishment for it...but it's a risk/reward thing and they're usually rewarded handsomely. It might be a function of the defense sending the house, it might be a function of a receiver taking an extra second or two to break open, it might be a lot of things...it isn't always the offensive line. SOMETIMES it's the Offensive line, sure, but not every time...in fact, not even MOST of the time.

I agree. Again, I'm glad you took the time to assemble some data to back up what you believed/observed.

 

[smarsh]

Quick, short throws perhaps?

what this dude said. protection has actually been okay. no short passing game to speak of. if everybody's running routes > 15 yards down the field, it's gonna take some time to develop. most of the hits he took in the USD game were after he'd been given pretty good time by his line.

 

[cclarkblues]

At least we didn't see JJ trying to crawl off of the field like the LSU QB last night.

That was odd. Is it okay to talk about SEC football on egriz, or should this thread now be moved somewhere else?

Says the guy that starts the thread about Sabin's height...