I didn't think Dobbs accuracy was any worse than most QBs I watched last year. I didn't see him missing wide open receivers down the field consistently.
I think folks took the few times he threw balls into the dirt on receiver screens or slightly behind RBs on the RB screen as evidence of bad down field accuracy.
He actually threw the ball really well from 10-20 yards. As the 3rd down passing stats show. What he struggled with were the short bubble or screen passes. I think most get hung up on those throws cause they're theoretically easier to throw. And some project that if Josh is struggling with those short passes then he can't throw deep.
That couldn't be further from the truth. The reason we barely threw the ball deep was because our wide receivers couldn't separate. We now know that our leading WR runs a 4.8 and could not get a tryout with an NFL team. That should be clear evidence that the lack of down field passing was more a WR problem than QB problem.
I know you watch a lot of football....so do I. Did you not see these other SEC qbs throw the ball this year, each who completed their passes at a much better clip than Dobbs' 59.6% and averaged much better than Josh's 6.7 ypa......
1. Coker- 66.9% and 7.9 ypa
2. Prescott- 66.2% and 8.0 ypa
3. Allen- 65.9% and 9.3 ypa
4. Kelly- 65.1% and 8.8 ypa
How about these other national guys?
1. Mayfield- 68.1% abd 9.4 ypa
2. Watson - 67.8% and 8.4 ypa
3. Hogan- 67.8% and 9.4 ypa
4. P. Lynch- 66.7% and 8.5 ypa
5. Boykin- 64.9% and 9.0 ypa
6. Adams, Jr- 64.9% and 10.2 ypa
His accuracy was definitely worse than those guys.
One thing thst many have pointed out with regards to Josh's accuracy, it wasn't just went he overthrew open WRs or skipped passes on bubble or WR screens....it was also that even when he hit a lot of receivers for completions, that he didn't deliver the ball where the receiver could run with it and get big chunk yardage. Oftentimes, he'd hit a guy, but it wasn't in stride, so a 10 yard completion was only a 10 yard completion, when it could've been much more Josh hit him in stride so he could catch it at 10 yards and run for another 10 or more.
As far as Josh not being consistently accurate throwing deep, it is true. I've heard this for 3 years now from guys like Hubbs, Rucker, Hyams, PFort, Swain and others, who see him in practice after practice....and they all say the same thing....he's not very good throwing deep and needs to improve. That then translates to the coaches not trusting him to throw those passes very often on Saturdays, not making it an emphasis in the gameplan/on the call sheet, and of course, when he has, we've seen very little success. While I agree that it's not all Josh's fault, he is the bigger part of the problem IMO.
Recall what was pointed out in the articles:
"Coming off the worst completion percentage of his career (59.6), Dobbs intangibles are more important than ever. He didnt pout when Tennessee started 2-3 and blew games against Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas. Dobbs will have to show scouts he can throw downfield. Only 17 of his completions last year went for at least 25 yards."
"Obviously, though, there are questions. And nearly all of them concern Dobbs ability to throw the ball."
Dobbs accuracy and touch, though, have been problematic at times during his college career. Hes largely been able to overcome them, but theyve caused him and the Vols some issues."
