Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson - Legit alternative to Jared Goff in 2017?

Originally posted by jcs:

This is a PFF article from 2015...

1. He Excels on Downfield Throws

Watson's late-season exploits included a number of long touchdown throws, with the QB consistently making big plays in the clutch. Overall, Watson was accurate on 47.5 percent of his deep targets, throwing for 1,196 yards and 18 touchdowns on passes of 20-plus yards. Only Bowling Green's Matt Johnson found paydirt on more occasions in 2015. Watson was a little aggressive on occasion, throwing seven picks on deep targets, but he made many more positive plays than mistakes, especially late in the year.

Watson's arm talent is very impressive (more on that below), but he isn't just a fastball thrower, as he shows impressive touch down the field. Clemson's postseason run started in the ACC Championship game, with Watson leading the team over North Carolina in a shootout. The play below illustrates the type of plays he can make down the field. The location on this deep sideline throw is perfect.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/college-what-makes-deshaun-watson-a-2016-heisman-front-runner/

Originally posted by HarbaughzDeep:

Originally posted by zonkers:
IMO he has the tools for it. The big questions are if he can transition to a pro offense and make all the required throws. Clemson did stretch the field horizontally, so maybe that helps with learning the WCO. But, I'm not sure how Watson will fare on longer throws - it didn't seem to be something he had down in college.

From all accounts he is very intelligent. Graduated in 3 years. I know coaches talk up their players but Swinney has stated that Watson is the smartest player he has ever seen at that age. I don't think he will have to hard of a time adjusting and/or learning a new offense.

Originally posted by jcs:

Winners find ways to win...we just saw that last night with Brady. Watson has elements of this in his blood...don't know how his NFL career will turn out but I'm certain he's going to do everything possible to succeed and that's what makes him special.

I can't find the article but there is one out there quoting Dabo that has Watson and his roommate sneaking onto the practice field during the night his first week at Clemson to practice the playbook and getting caught by a security guard.

Here's another regarding his life and work ethic....

http://www.si.com/college-football/2015/12/10/clemson-qb-deshaun-watson-has-come-long-way-and-carried-tigers-him

Originally posted by genus49:
We need to make sure he's closer to Brady than Tim Tebow...who was also a winner.

Watson's intangibles are off the charts. We neee to make sure he has the passing ability for NFL high level play and the mental aspect of it.

Originally posted by jcs:

To me he's night and day compared to Tebow and Young....Watson is a passer first then a runner not vice versa like those others. Same intensity but of the three he's shown consistency passing the ball.

Originally posted by genus49:

My biggest worry with him is the turnovers and lapses in accuracy. Lots of stuff high. That's typically danger zone in the NFL. Maybe it's because he had a guy like Mike Williams who could go up for those high throws but I'd love to see him show consistent accuracy.

Originally posted by HarbaughzDeep:

Originally posted by genus49:
My biggest worry with him is the turnovers and lapses in accuracy. Lots of stuff high. That's typically danger zone in the NFL. Maybe it's because he had a guy like Mike Williams who could go up for those high throws but I'd love to see him show consistent accuracy.

But in the NFL there are athletes on every single roster just like Mike Williams who go up and get the ball. The talent around Watson will be better in the NFL. Don't really see the argument of having Mike Williams being a main reason as to why Watson thrived. If I'm not mistaken, Watson shredded 'Bama by hitting up Renfroe for multiple big scores. Renfroe is not a top notch NFL prospect.

Originally posted by HarbaughzDeep:

Originally posted by genus49:

My biggest worry with him is the turnovers and lapses in accuracy. Lots of stuff high. That's typically danger zone in the NFL. Maybe it's because he had a guy like Mike Williams who could go up for those high throws but I'd love to see him show consistent accuracy.

But in the NFL there are athletes on every single roster just like Mike Williams who go up and get the ball. The talent around Watson will be better in the NFL. Don't really see the argument of having Mike Williams being a main reason as to why Watson thrived. If I'm not mistaken, Watson shredded 'Bama by hitting up Renfroe for multiple big scores. Renfroe is not a top notch NFL prospect.

Originally posted by JBrack:

Originally posted by jcs:

This is a PFF article from 2015...

1. He Excels on Downfield Throws

Watson's late-season exploits included a number of long touchdown throws, with the QB consistently making big plays in the clutch. Overall, Watson was accurate on 47.5 percent of his deep targets, throwing for 1,196 yards and 18 touchdowns on passes of 20-plus yards. Only Bowling Green's Matt Johnson found paydirt on more occasions in 2015. Watson was a little aggressive on occasion, throwing seven picks on deep targets, but he made many more positive plays than mistakes, especially late in the year.

Watson's arm talent is very impressive (more on that below), but he isn't just a fastball thrower, as he shows impressive touch down the field. Clemson's postseason run started in the ACC Championship game, with Watson leading the team over North Carolina in a shootout. The play below illustrates the type of plays he can make down the field. The location on this deep sideline throw is perfect.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/college-what-makes-deshaun-watson-a-2016-heisman-front-runner/

Perfect? It was thrown late and short. That was a very bad example!!! Not only that but he had all day and still didn't throw a good ball. In the NFL thats a pick because the defender was actually in pretty good position.

Originally posted by birdie2bogey:

Originally posted by JBrack:

Originally posted by jcs:
This is a PFF article from 2015...

1. He Excels on Downfield Throws

Watson's late-season exploits included a number of long touchdown throws, with the QB consistently making big plays in the clutch. Overall, Watson was accurate on 47.5 percent of his deep targets, throwing for 1,196 yards and 18 touchdowns on passes of 20-plus yards. Only Bowling Green's Matt Johnson found paydirt on more occasions in 2015. Watson was a little aggressive on occasion, throwing seven picks on deep targets, but he made many more positive plays than mistakes, especially late in the year.

Watson's arm talent is very impressive (more on that below), but he isn't just a fastball thrower, as he shows impressive touch down the field. Clemson's postseason run started in the ACC Championship game, with Watson leading the team over North Carolina in a shootout. The play below illustrates the type of plays he can make down the field. The location on this deep sideline throw is perfect.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/college-what-makes-deshaun-watson-a-2016-heisman-front-runner/

Perfect? It was thrown late and short. That was a very bad example!!! Not only that but he had all day and still didn't throw a good ball. In the NFL thats a pick because the defender was actually in pretty good position.

The corner is not in good position

• Perfectly thrown 50 yard bomb that he never gets to see completed because he gets laid out by the blitz. He steps into the throw regardless and absorbs the contact and makes what the announcer described in the full game as a "open up the shirt pocket and perfectly drop it in" throw.
• UNC sends another blitz up the gut and he rolls out to his right and throws a perfect strike 30 yards downfield to Mike Williams who has beaten man coverage. So smooth.
• Maneuvers in the pocket and steps up while using a pump fake to influence the coverage downfield, then throws a 35 yard dart into the window his pump fake has created (actually three defenders close by but not in a position to pick the ball). From there Artavis Scott makes a great effort play to power into the endzone. The way Watson moves around the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield and then pumpfakes would make any NFL scout proud, especially coming in his first start.
• Final TD is a perfectly thrown fade to a well covered Jordan Leggett. He puts the ball up where only Leggett has a chance to make the play, and Leggett plucks it over the defender.