Joe Burrow under pressure

[*SHRacerX*]

(05-02-2020, 12:00 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I think it is a bit of a stretch to call 195 yds and 1 td against Arkansas an "elite" game.

Plus 3 great games at the end of a season don't change the fact that over the first 9 games he completed less than 50% of his passes more times (twice) than he completed over 60% (once).  He only had a td pass in 3 of his first 9 games and only passed for more than 200 yds twice.


Even with his hot finish he still ranked 12th in a 14 team league in passer rating. 

The Arkansas game had them up 24-3 until mid-way through the 4th quarter.  He was just handing the ball off a lot by that point (48 team rushes).  To say that a 71% completion % and 9.3 yards per attempt isn't elite might be a bit of a stretch...but even if I let you call that one "average", that is still 19 consecutive games where he didn't even have an average performance.  

The point was made that it wasn't all in 2019, and that is what the final four games show in 2018.  The coaches at LSU started to give him more as they started to realize he could handle a more wide-open playbook.  Had you ever watched LSU offense before Burrow?  They were stone age.  His abilities in 2018 is what got them to open things up.  

He also didn't get to LSU until after some spring practices had already been held there.  He had to learn a new system, team, coaching staff, etc.  The fact that a college kid with little playing experience picked it up that quickly is further testament to his football IQ.