AARON MF PHILO

[thebull35]

Do some of you guys realize that he’s not even the best qb on this team? Is the potential there? Maybe, but there was also potential with Jeff Sims. So let’s slow down a bit. He had a great finish against one of the worst teams in the league so let’s not crown him yet. We all know that if Haynes is healthy he won’t see the field much next year at all.

 

[TechPhi97]

Without hesitation, he is delivering catchable balls all over the field thru NFL-tight windows.

Is it just raw instinct and he he is doing this stuff without really thinking about it or is his processing and mechanics really this polished?

If he is really this polished already, we are seeing a really rare commodity in this sport.

He has been helped by really good OL pass protection.

It will be fun to watch him against NFL level pass defenders that UGA has.

He’s thrown for more yards in HS than most college QBs have passed for in HS and college combined. Think about the number of game reps he’s had….you can’t replace that. Whoever coached him must be a pretty good coach.

 

[TechPhi97]

Do some of you guys realize that he’s not even the best qb on this team? Is the potential there? Maybe, but there was also potential with Jeff Sims. So let’s slow down a bit. He had a great finish against one of the worst teams in the league so let’s not crown him yet. We all know that if Haynes is healthy he won’t see the field much next year at all.

First thing - let us have some fun. After the prior 5 years it’s nice to have positive speculation for the team on this board.

IMO, there are two huge benefits to Philo’s performance this year. First, he’s adding serious competition to the QB room, which is only going to make everyone work harder to get better. Huge benefit. The second is that it gives us optionally for game planning next year. You say that if King is healthy we won’t see much of Philo next year, but my guess is that he will play a good bit even if King is back and healthy. He’s too valuable to keep off the field with his deep ball ability, and there will be certain opponents where it may make sense for him to take more snaps.

Anyway, that is pure speculation, but all I know is that the starting role isn’t going to be handed to King next year, he’ll have to keep working and improving to earn it. And it’s great to know we have 2 experienced and game proven QBs.

 

[57jacket]

Full circle for Aaron Philo as freshman QB leads Georgia Tech into Athens on Friday

At the season’s outset, it was unlikely that Philo would see the field in 2024 because Tech had returning starter Haynes King and returning backup Zach Pyron on the roster.

www.ajc.com

 

[GT33]

One noteworthy thing is whether it's King, Pyron or Philo the team has confidence the QB will deliver. How many teams can say that?

 

[yeti92]

First thing - let us have some fun. After the prior 5 years it’s nice to have positive speculation for the team on this board.

IMO, there are two huge benefits to Philo’s performance this year. First, he’s adding serious competition to the QB room, which is only going to make everyone work harder to get better. Huge benefit. The second is that it gives us optionally for game planning next year. You say that if King is healthy we won’t see much of Philo next year, but my guess is that he will play a good bit even if King is back and healthy. He’s too valuable to keep off the field with his deep ball ability, and there will be certain opponents where it may make sense for him to take more snaps.

Anyway, that is pure speculation, but all I know is that the starting role isn’t going to be handed to King next year, he’ll have to keep working and improving to earn it. And it’s great to know we have 3 experienced and game proven QBs.

First, I fixed the bolded for you.

Second, everyone was crowning Pyron as the next big thing when he stepped in as a true freshman and won. Many of us were surprised when King got the nod over him last year. As previously mentioned by others, everyone did the same for Sims. Does Philo look talented and like he may have potential to be really good for us, absolutely, but right now he really hasn't played anyone worth a damn, and here are the numbers: he's 38/74, 51.4% completion percentage with 1 passing TD and 1 rushing TD.

If King returns and is healthy, you'll see Philo and Pyron (assuming he returns) backing him up. Key is not going to play this multi-qb constant subbing game if he doesn't have to. An uninjured King is plenty talented as a passer and makes much better decisions in the passing game, and is a far greater threat with his legs than Philo will likely ever be.

 

[MtnWasp]

No knock against Jeff Sims or Pyron, but neither had looked anything remotely like what Philo has looked like. Philo is attacking defenses over the entire field, and is processing the field in a fundamentally quicker and more assured manner than those guys.

The interpretation that some fans are just enamored with the back-up QB is to miss the issue entirely. Philo looks like a rare natural talent so far. The upside differential between the players you are comparing Philo to is in a different tier.

Maybe he is riding raw instinct and that when he is scouted he will fold. And he has benefited from good OL pass blocking.

But I am buying stock in this guy.

 

[57jacket]

No knock against Jeff Sims or Pyron, but neither had looked anything remotely like what Philo has looked like. Philo is attacking defenses over the entire field, and is processing the field in a fundamentally quicker and more assured manner than those guys.

The interpretation that some fans are just enamored with the back-up QB is to miss the issue entirely. Philo looks like a rare natural talent so far. The upside differential between the players you are comparing Philo to is in a different tier.

Maybe he is riding raw instinct and that when he is scouted he will fold. And he has benefited from good OL pass blocking.

But I am buying stock in this guy.

I totally agree. Good post. He could be special. He seems to have it all. Arm strength, quick release, accurate throws, and seeing the field, finding the open man. I would forget RS and play him next week. Win or lose it would help provide experience for next year.

 

[cpf2001]

Philo has looked extremely promising and he should certainly play Friday because King is clearly hurt and Pyron has also looked hurt.

But he’s played in three non-VMI games and only completed >50% of his passes in one of them. So I’m gonna gripe about the “he would definitely be a better option than a healthy King” takes.

Let’s hope he destroys UGA and we all jump full on the bandwagon though.

 

[stinger78]

I think the answer here is to compare the receptions the same WRs made when King was throwing the ball. No problemo. Oth, the WRS aren't used to the velocity they get with Philo's throws.

Another comparison: his most reliable WR - after Singleton - so far has been Stockton. And I'm betting that is because Bailey is used to how he throws and is ready for it.

I don't think, iow, that Philo needs to slow down his throws. What has to happen - and it does seem to be taking place - is that the WRs need to get used to how he throws and what to be ready for. It'll probably take spring and a slightly different O to make that happen. Again, that's if Philo wins the job; he's nothing but the front runner now.

Probably a bit of both. Philo needs to learn some touch, but the WRs have to learn that a pass from Philo is coming at them with velocity and learn how to catch it.

 

[Techwood Relict]

IMHO the biggest reason for the drop was Singleton had his eyes on the defenders trying to adjust where he was going to squat for the throw.

Thought the same thing when it happened. He was quick peeking to see if he was about to get decleated and couldn't get back to the ball in time. Natural reaction in a crowded part of the field.

 

[TechPhi97]

Philo has looked extremely promising and he should certainly play Friday because King is clearly hurt and Pyron has also looked hurt.

But he’s played in three non-VMI games and only completed >50% of his passes in one of them. So I’m gonna gripe about the “he would definitely be a better option than a healthy King” takes.

Let’s hope he destroys UGA and we all jump full on the bandwagon though.

Nobody is knighting him, we’re just excited because of his demonstrated skills. I don’t think anyone is saying he’s a better option than a healthy King, maybe I missed that somewhere but I don’t think so. My assertion is that given a full off-season he could challenge King to be the starter and win that battle.

 

[awbuzz]

He did mention in the post game interview that if he continues rehab there’s a “high probability” of him being a passing threat again by the uGA game.

Don’t know if that’s mind games or for real though

I think that is more wishful thinking than being realistic. So I lean towards the "mind games" side.

 

[Techwood Relict]

I think that is more wishful thinking than being realistic. So I lean towards the "mind games" side.

I mean, the man hasn't thrown a bad pass in two games. He's a threat now, at least on paper....

 

[Chas_Jacket]

Rewatched the last drive a few times and still very impressed how calm and confident Philo was. We had not driven the length of the field all game and he had 1 minute and one timeout to do it. Calmly walking up to the line without wasting time, surveying the field and hitting Chase and Jamal in stride with perfect albeit short throws. Incredibly poised for a true freshman in a high pressure situation. His last two scrambles also seemed well thought out and timed based on the defensive position.

His overall numbers also might have looked better if he was not frequently coming in after it was 2nd or 3rd and 10 after NC state jammed the line on running plays with HK.

 

[57jacket]

Rewatched the last drive a few times and still very impressed how calm and confident Philo was. We had not driven the length of the field all game and he had 1 minute and one timeout to do it. Calmly walking up to the line without wasting time, surveying the field and hitting Chase and Jamal in stride with perfect albeit short throws. Incredibly poised for a true freshman in a high pressure situation. His last two scrambles also seemed well thought out and timed based on the defensive position.

His overall numbers also might have looked better if he was not frequently coming in after it was 2nd or 3rd and 10 after NC state jammed the line on running plays with HK.

I rewatched the Miami game, and he threw a critical 3rd down (and 17) pass on our last drive that essentially won the game.

 

[LongforDodd]

Maybe last year when he was trying to win a game on his own, but this year that is an absolutely horrible take. 72.5% completion percentage, 9 passing TDs and only 1 INT in 200 attempts says he is EXTREMELY good at not putting the ball in danger.

The top 5 passing leaders per ESPN:
1. Cam Ward throws a pick every 60 pass attempts, 66.8% completion percentage
2. Kyle McCord throws a pick every 40 pass attempts, 64% completion percentage
3. Jaxson Dart throws a pick every 75 attempts, 70.8% completion percentage
4. Chandler Morris throws a pick every 35 pass attempts, 63.7% completion percentage
5. Josh Hoover throws a pick every 47 pass attempts, 67.7% completion percentage

It seems that there is a stat for everything but I'm curious about King's throws > 7yds downfield. His high completion rate seems to be from throws to the flats behind the LOS and/or the 12" flip to the receiver running in front of him in the backfield.

 

[yeti92]

It seems that there is a stat for everything but I'm curious about King's throws > 7yds downfield. His high completion rate seems to be from throws to the flats behind the LOS and/or the 12" flip to the receiver running in front of him in the backfield.

It is, but that doesn't detract from my point that he does an excellent job of not putting the ball in danger.

 

[LongforDodd]

I rewatched the Miami game, and he threw a critical 3rd down (and 17) pass on our last drive that essentially won the game.

I think he made at least two clutch 3rd throws for 1st downs in obvious passing situations, IIRC.

 

[57jacket]

It seems that there is a stat for everything but I'm curious about King's throws > 7yds downfield. His high completion rate seems to be from throws to the flats behind the LOS and/or the 12" flip to the receiver running in front of him in the backfield.

That is correct. I think the O was designed around the running game and limiting his downfield passing, which is definitely risky given his interceptions last year. Buster has done a GREAT job designing an O maximizing his available talent. If Philo is our QB next year, I believe you will see a different O scheme.