Tag: Passing Chart

A look at LSU quarterback Max Johnson’s passing chart

Breaking down Max Johnson’s passing chart from the UCLA game.

LSU Tigers sophomore quarterback Max Johnson got his first start of the year against the UCLA Bruins this past Saturday. While his final stats don’t look terrible, he was inaccurate at times when they got out of rhythm.

Overall he didn’t look comfortable in the pocket, had to move around quite a bit. That isn’t an issue for a mobile quarterback, even at 6’5″. However, when you don’t trust what is around you, the technique can break down. You might hurry through progressions and make a terrible decision. Much like his interception when he overthrew tight end, Kole Taylor.

A dive into his passing chart will reveal a few things when comparing it to Johnson’s 2020 campaign. How does he look throwing left, over the middle, and to the right? What about his deep-ball accuracy? There is also how did he handle pressure?

This is only game one of the season but something we will continue to monitor to look for trends in Johnson’s game throughout 2021.

Texas Football: A look at Sam Ehlinger’s passing chart

A look at Sam Ehlinger’s passing chart to find any issues with the Texas Longhorns offense. It is clear he struggles throwing downfield.

The Texas Longhorns enter their final scheduled bye week with a 5-2 record. After three straight wins over Baylor, Oklahoma State and West Virginia the team is sitting near the top of the Big 12 standings. Despite the three wins they have their fair share of issues on the offensive side of the ball. They haven’t moved the ball with same regularity as they did earlier in the season. Checking Sam Ehlinger‘s passing chart to find any issues in his game this year.

Ehlinger Comp Att Comp % Yards YPA TDs INTs
Deep 14 55 25.5 480 8.7 6 3
Intermediate 27 39 69.2 562 14.4 6 1
Short 59 81 72.8 601 7.4 8 1
Behind LOS 47 51 92.2 216 4.2 2 0

Looking at the numbers for Ehlinger, he does well throwing from behind the line of scrimmage to 19 yards down the field. Anything beyond 20 yards is less successful. It has shown to be a regression from last year. Is the receivers? It is his inability to make the throws? Or is it the fact that he is so banged up that Ehlinger just can’t complete them?

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Looking back at his deep throws from last year, it has been a significant drop off. Losing Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay definitely hurt this team, but Ehlinger has missed quite a few throws down the field.

Season Comp Att Comp % Yards YPA TDs INTs
2019 33 83 39.8 1,129 13.6 13 3
2020 14 55 25.5 480 8.7 6 3

Factoring in the loss of two NFL wideouts it has been clear this offense has missed them. However, just how healthy Sam is would be another factor. He has been banged up with the amount of punishment he takes from the pocket and on his designed quarterback runs.

Over the last three games, it has been noticeable with his accuracy issues downfield. Drops also factor in but too often Ehlinger is missing on these opportunities.

Opponent Comp Att Comp% Yards YPA TDs INTs
BU 3 7 42.8 161 23 0 1
OSU 1 4 25 41 4.1 1 0
WVU 2 10 20 54 5.4 1 0

Against Baylor was the only game  in which one of these deep throws were caught when throwing outside the numbers to his left or his right. He has struggled in this area of his game throughout his time in Austin, but it has been worse this year. As the offense continues to struggle, this is one area you can point to.

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Texas Football: Sam Ehlinger’s passing chart through 4 games

The Texas Longhorns have had their struggles on offense in two losses, could that be a direct reflection of quarterback Sam Ehlinger?

A vast majority of the success that the Texas Longhorns have had this season can be directly attributed to the quarterback. Sam Ehlinger is a senior and the leader of the football. While the success can be attributed, could you also make a case that the failures fall on him as well? Based on the game against the Oklahoma Sooners, absolutely. While the defense wasn’t able to slow down the offense in the overtime, the failures in the second and third quarters weren’t helped by Ehlinger.

Going back to the Texas Christian game as well, there were instances where if Ehlinger played a bit better maybe the outcome is different. The loss doesn’t fall directly on the shoulders of Keaontay Ingram’s fumble. The team had ample opportunities to put points on the board and couldn’t come through. While four touchdown passes against a TCU defense should be enough, the untimely penalties and turnovers are to blame as well.

For Ehlinger, the biggest knock on his draft stock has been his ball placement and deep ball accuracy. In the two losses, it has been increasingly noticeable. Throwing beyond 20 yards down the field against the Sooners, Ehlinger was 0/11 with one interception. That came on a pass to Joshua Moore where Woodi Washington climbed the ladder to take away an underthrow pass.

Against the Horned Frogs he was 1/4 with one touchdown and one interception. All in all it hasn’t been good in the losses. We break down the deep passes for Ehlinger in the wins and in the losses.

Game Result Deep Left Deep Middle Deep Right Yards TD-INT
Wins 1/7 5/9 1/2 179 3-0
Losses 0/4 1/7 0/4 45 1-2

The Longhorns essentially have no deep ball game especially when throwing outside the numbers from their senior quarterback. Ehlinger needs to get better in this aspect if offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich is going to continue calling the deep routes on offense. Overall, Ehlinger has completed just 24.2% of his passes on the throws beyond 20 yards.

It hasn’t just been the deep throws on the outside that have been the issue, Ehlinger also struggles when throwing beyond the sticks. On passes from 10-20 yards, he again hasn’t been able to connect consistently. Another issue when trying to keep drives alive for the offense.

Left Middle Right Yards TD-INT
2/6 14/21 3/8 418 4-1

Most of the damage through the air from 10-20 yards came in the wins against UTEP and Texas Tech.

Results Left Middle Right Yards TD-INT
Wins 1/2 6/10 2/3 194 3-0
Losses 1/4 8/11 1/5 224 1-1

Throwing behind the line of scrimmage to 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage has never been an issue for Ehlinger. However, if this team wants to win consistently in the conference, the quarterback play needs to be better. There are other instances where the offense can improve but the focus here is on the quarterback throwing the ball.

The full breakdown on Ehlinger

Distance of throw Left Middle Right Total Yards TD-INT NFL Passer Rating
20+ 1/11 6/16 1/6 8/33 224 4-2 69.7
10-20 2/6 14/21 3/8 19/35 418 4-1 123.3
0-10 7/10 29/36 5/8 41/54 425 6-1 127.5
Behind LOS 9/10 16/16 6/6 31/32 144 2-0 106.3