Here is the thing that kills me with the criticizing of John Parker Wilson.
What have been Wilson's problems so far this season? Some I've seen.
1. Making reads. Will Oakley was wide freaking open in the FSU game. A few more times receivers had to slow up because Wilson didn't see them in time to hit them in stride.
2. Throwing off of his back foot. This is mechanics and I realize that.
3. Hitting routes behind the first down marker on 3rd down. This drives me insane.
Now, let's look at these 3 problems.
1. How many reads did JPW have to make in Shula's offense? How many receivers did we have on each play? Our TE position was primarily blocking. Our FB position was primarily a blocking position. Most times(if I remember correctly) we lined up in I formation and had DJ and Brown as wide-outs. We tried to play a slot guy, but the OL was so terrible that most of the time a TE was in to help the o-line. NOW, how many reads does JPW have to make this season? How many times have we passed with only 2 or 3 options available? We have guys running deep. Guys running across the middle. Guys running underneath routes like McCoy. Guys coming out of the backfield. When the TE's are in the game they are on pass routes. That's a ton of reads to make and a short time to learn them in. That's why I think JPW has missed some open receivers and thrown some short balls. If I remember correctly, that playaction pass to DJ for a TD in the Arky game was out of the I wasn't it? Maybe I'm wrong on that.
2. Throwing off the back foot. How many screens did we have last season? As a qb, how do you play the jailhouse break screen? You run backwards and float the ball off of your back foot. Now, how many times have we ran screen plays this season? I'm not making an excuse here, because mechanics are a problem that JPW can control. I'm just saying that he's learning a whole new system. It most likely has something to do with this.
3. Dumping the ball on short routes on 3rd down. How many times on broadcast can you watch the QB make his reads AND see all the receivers down field? If the kid makes a dump route pass to McCoy on 3rd down...just maybe the other passes were covered? I'd rather him complete the pass and give McCoy a chance at the first down than I had him throw an interception into double or triple coverage.
Finally, JPW's problems all come down to confidence in my opinion. It's hard to be comfortable while learning a new scheme with soooo many different passing looks. I think he'll be fine.
Just my thoughts here guys.