The Padron Report

[George S. Patton]

I am not proclaiming him a Davey O'Brien candidate or the second coming, but I think you can see the difference between him and Bo Mitchell.

1. He has a better grasp of running this type of offense than Mitchell ever did because he was trained in this of offense since middle school. He sees the field very well, he understands how to move in the pocket to keep plays alive, he doesn't get rattled.

2. Padron is comfortable because understands how to deal with the pressure. My two examples:
a. On SMU's first possession, Padron faces a third down and about four. He steps up in the pocket and is about to go down but he keeps his eyes down the field. And he is going down, he finds Terrance Wilkerson for about 6 yards -- first down.
b. On his only touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders, he felt the heat from a LB/S coming from his right, took one step up into the pocket, delivered a nice to throw to Sanders in stride and there's your TD.

3. There just seems to be a better feel in the relationship between Padron in the receivers. The ball is going where it's supposed to go and the WRs are going to the spots regardless if they are the first, second, third or fourth choice. Quite frankley, he may the best thing to happen to Cole Beasley. And the duck he threw in the first quarter was painful to watch but when you have WRs play for you and trust you, they return the trust. Credit Sanders for making a very good adjustment on the ball.

4. A couple times I felt Padron held the ball too long and should have thrown the ball away. Plus, the INT in the Rice end zone looked like a miscommunication. And he didn't protect the ball when he fumbled. That is a film work thing. But it's pretty clear Jones is really simplifying this offense and is adding as Padron becomes comfortable.

5. Now, the more teams collect film on him, the more they will adjust to his game, movement in the pocket. Padron will have to adjust. So will Jones.

There is a long way to go, and I'm just basing this off of what I saw against Rice and what I read from the Tulsa game. Pretty fair to say he just understands how to play quarterback better than Mitchell has. When you've trained in this type of passing game for your whole life, you understand. He doesn't have the arm strength but he knows how to adjust velocity on his throws in terms of their distance.

So here's what you have from Padron including the second half of Houston:

48-70-1 (68%) 729 4TDs 1 INT.

But we'll see how it goes against UTEP.

[ponyscott]

Good post.....I don't agree about his arm strength though..he does have the velocity but hasn't had the need to show it...his arm strength has improved considerably and will get even better...his touch is good...

[Alaric]

1. He has a better grasp of running this type of offense than Mitchell ever did because he was trained in this of offense since middle school. He sees the field very well, he understands how to move in the pocket to keep plays alive, he doesn't get rattled.

I'm reservedly excited about Padron but he doesn't have a better grasp of the offense, a, and b, he didn't run it at SLC. He ran a spread v the run n shoot here which is an option passing game. Big difference. BLM runs a more complex version of the offense but panics a lot - doesn't mean he doesn't understand the offense. The rest of your post is pretty accurate.

[SMU 86]

1. He has a better grasp of running this type of offense than Mitchell ever did because he was trained in this of offense since middle school. He sees the field very well, he understands how to move in the pocket to keep plays alive, he doesn't get rattled.

I'm reservedly excited about Padron but he doesn't have a better grasp of the offense, a, and b, he didn't run it at SLC. He ran a spread v the run n shoot here which is an option passing game. Big difference. BLM runs a more complex version of the offense but panics a lot - doesn't mean he doesn't understand the offense. The rest of your post is pretty accurate.

The SLC offense is closer to the SMU offense than Katy's offense.

[Alaric]

1. He has a better grasp of running this type of offense than Mitchell ever did because he was trained in this of offense since middle school. He sees the field very well, he understands how to move in the pocket to keep plays alive, he doesn't get rattled.

I'm reservedly excited about Padron but he doesn't have a better grasp of the offense, a, and b, he didn't run it at SLC. He ran a spread v the run n shoot here which is an option passing game. Big difference. BLM runs a more complex version of the offense but panics a lot - doesn't mean he doesn't understand the offense. The rest of your post is pretty accurate.

The SLC offense is closer to the SMU offense than Katy's offense.

any offense that employs the forward pass is closer to the run and shoot than is the Katy offense

[kull]

any offense that employs the forward pass is closer to the run and shoot than is the Katy offense

[OC Mustang]

a) I think that the arm strength of Padron isn't quite Mitchell's, but where it counts, it's just fine.
However, I also don't think it matters because they both can run this offense. They both have their advantages and drawbacks, and as long as the offense is managed by Coach Jones to each one's abilities, and the defense is kept honest by adjustments, I think both are going to be fine.

b) I also believe that SLC's offense is indeed not the run & shoot in philosophy, strategy, nor execution. However, Padron has adapted more quickly to this offense for three reasons: 1) he didn't start his first game at the beginning of the season...he has had 6-7 weeks more than BLM did to adjust. 2) SLC starts in 7th grade training a stable of QBs in throwing mechanics; distance, location, and throwing motion...as well as in QB reads, stamina, and intangibles. That's 50-100 balls a day per QB from January thru August, and at least half that during the season. Regardless of whether Padron played or not, he threw at least 800 balls a month. He's got better grasp simply on the throwing part. 3) As a segue from #2, insomuch as he's not concerne about mechanics, he has a better grasp on reads because despite the offensive philosophy, strategy, and execution differences, he still runs through his reads, gaining patience, confidence, and presence in the pocket...not to mention a solid grasp of his ability to get his own [deleted] outta trouble.

c) The kicker here is this: Mitchell now knows that Padron can run the offense...and Jones does too. That competition will provide both relief and drive improvement as they will push each other. That means Jones can have less tolerance of BLM's "mentally taking plays off". Change that, and BLM wins at least one OT game, maybe two.

Win-win guys...you can opine as much as you want about who is better. I'm just tickled to death that there are two available.

[westexSMU]

The long pass Padron threw in the 4th quarter today (incomplete pass) went over 50 yards in the air.

[mrydel]

The one 96 yarder that Mitchell threw to Robinson (complete) went over 60 in the air. I think Mitchell at this stage has the stronger arm. I am intrigued by Padron, however. When he gets time he delivers a good ball. OL was not real strong today, but they are banged up pretty badly.

[SMU Hockey 2010]

Padron has had a few "show me" plays that I think are indicative of QB excellence beyond question, as far as intangibles go:

1) His TD pass against Tulsa to Shawnbrey. He easily had the first on the scramble if he tucked and run, maybe a yard or two more. He kept his head up and changed the angle he was running at to stay parallel to the line of scrimmage and not cross, in order to complete what should've been a meager 7-yard pass.

2) The YAC yards in the 3rd quarter of the Tulsa game came from crossing routes and slants where Aldrick and E-Man were running full speed East-West routes. If that ball doesn't hit them EXACTLY in stride, those big gains don't happen. You lose a step against D-I defensive backs and it's just over. Eight yard gains are great and all, but perfect ball placement on crossing routes allows for much more.

3) This isn't a single play...look at the reception spread from Padron's games compared to BLM's games. The distribution is different to a statistically significant degree. Terrance Wilkerson and Cole Beasley should be grateful young gentlemen. And our fan base should be as well.

[jimhagle]

If Padron keeps performing like he has and gets better[which I think he will] we will never see BLM on the field again except for mop up or injury. Padron seems to have that x factor that BLM doesn't.

[JasonB]

Padron simply has a better feel for the game. he did quite well today for ayoung player behind a very raw and banged up offensive line.

[35straight]

Agree. Still, he needs to have a little more awareness and release the ball quicker.

[davidpaul123]

another thing is we are converting more 3rd down attempts with Padron under center.

[peruna81]

Something that was mentioned a short time ago was BLM's need to move in/out/around the pocket in order to see downfield...height has it's advantages, and Padron seems to get an EARLIER and CLEARER view of the developing reads.