So after watching yesterday's game I couldn't help but come up with the same thoughts I've been having since game one. It seems like Jeff Sims hold on to the ball way too long, almost to the point where he's starting to remind me of James Blackmon at FSU. Can someone with better football acumen than me plz help me to see the light with Sims? Am I wrong in my assessment? Is it because the receivers aren't getting open soon enough? Is it the playcalling that causes him to hold the ball too long?
I'm not sure how you came to those thoughts early in the year. If anything he was a but too quick at times getting rid of the ball to the point of missing defenders but it did have the effect of us allowing only one sack in the first 4 games but also had the effect of leading to some INTs as he didn't take the time to see the defense clearly before making a pass.
But I'm guessing the reason you think he holds onto the ball to long is because of the recent sacks. But the problem is that just because a sack happens doesn't mean the QB held the ball too long. Lets look at the sacks from the ND game.
Sack 1 - 4 man rush, DE just beats the OT. He's hit just over 2 seconds after the snap.
Sack 2 - Option play where the defender who showed to the back did a great job recovering to get a hand on Sims and then didn't let go and got him down.
Sack 3 - 4 man rush. DE beats the OT again. Not as egregious but still about 3 seconds after the snap. The problem here was less holding on too long and more just not stepping up in the pocket but even then he was likely going to be hit from behind shortly after anyways.
Sack 4 - Pseudo roll out play where a blitzing safety gets by Gibbs way too easily. Honestly, this was a very good D call for what we were doing and the Safety hid the blitz well.
Sack 5 - Looked like a LB blitz but one of their DEs dropped. Still just a 4 man rush. DE beats the OT and hits QB
None of those sacks were the result of holding on to the ball too long. Against Clemson.... (I can't get BC easy because watch espn doesn't let me)
Sack 1. DE beats the OT to the inside, Sims tries to avoid, and the defender knocks the ball out of his hands. Again, under 3 seconds.
Sack 2 - DE again beats the OT, this time to the outside. Sims has to avoid the DE 2 seconds after the ball is snapped, steps up, tries to step up and then take off but their spy forces him wide before another defender makes the play.
Sack 3 - 4 rush, Offensive guard gets beat by the LB. Sims has to avoid the defender within 2 seconds of the snap. Other defenders finish the play shortly after.
Sack 4 - Completely unblocked blitz right up the middle. Absolutely no chance.
Now those aren't the only plays, but they are the ones easiest to track down. That isn't really holding onto the ball too long. That's the OL not being able to block.
I can't speak to the WRs because most shots don't show the entire field. as far as the playcalling goes, that certainly plays some part. The problem is that if you can only call passing plays designed for the QB to get rid of the ball in 2 seconds, you have big issues. Now, the OL isn't getting beat like that every time. In general they are more consistent than last year and I think against weaker DLs especially they are improved. It's not an every play problem, but when pressure is getting to Sims it has usually been blocks being beat rather than him holding the ball too long and defenders being able to make multiple moves to get to the QB.
