In The Pocket Part 1D
by Longvillian65 | 1 year ago | 0 Comments
In The Pocket Part 1D
By: Kirk Herbstreit
Good morning RedZone!! It is another beautiful day here as we get ready for the last part of season 83. One of the benefits of this job is how I get to travel to all these great cities in the league. This week we have a treat for everyone as we visited a long tenured coach who has shown he can be successful with any QB he is given. Join as we go to the Music City and talk to Coach Moji about his young QB Will Levis.
Coach Moji and Tennessee Titans
Herby- How would you rate the overall performance of your quarterback this season so far?
Coach- I am very proud of Will, when we were in the early stages of OTA’s & rookie camp, he was the low man on depth chart. He battled & just focused on improving. And it was a huge test to come in during the second half of week 1, down double digits to the Saints. That young man made throw after throw to lead us back. Honestly, I regret not starting him week 1. He has won that locker room over & he has my full trust. And you know what they say about trust, that shits earned..
Herby- With being such a young player, have there been any issues with the development this season? What kind of specifics can you share?
Coach- I wouldnt say issues, more growing pains. And those are natural. Hes been pretty great with his decision making for the most part. A couple of throws hes come to his 3rd read late & tried to force it, things you can’t get away with anymore. I think for Will, he would say his completion % is a little lower then where he wants it to be. But hes gotten better every week & has good command of the offense.
Herby- How much do you associate the success, or lack thereof, with the performance of your young signal caller?
Coach- Hes a huge piece of the puzzle for us. I think the front office did a great job adding pieces pretty late in the offseason. Hop, Patterson, Hollywood, thats pretty great. We also added 3/5 of a line to protect him. But if he doesnt make the throws, or turns it over, none of it matters. Im happy with how the offense looks right now & he deserves a ton of credit.
Herby- We have seen many young QBs come in and sit behind a mentor to develop, or some get thrown in right away without that adjustment period. Do you believe that you have adjusted the playstyle and play calling to help cater to a younger QB, or have you gone with trial by fire in hopes he fits in right away?
Coach- I think we do a good job of getting creative with the offense & setting up a lot of easy completions. We have some great playmakers that can get the ball all over. And while they are worried about the stuff outside, Henry will smash you in the mouth. As we have gone on Will has taken more & more onto his plate. Hes an athletic guy with a big arm, hes going to fit most systems & he certainly fits mine. Switching from Tanny to Will actually helped open my book up a little more, just due to that right arm.
Herby- We have seen this as a Quarterback first league so it is interesting that the younger guys just can't keep up with the veterans stat wise. Only two rookie or 2nd year quarterbacks are in the top 10 of TD thrown this season as we near the halfway mark. Do you think the efficiency of the young guys are hindered by coaching, the development, or the overall of the team so far?
Coach- As a guy with a rookie QB towards the tops of the league in passing id like to say its coaching. There are ways to scheme easy completions, and set your young qb up for success. Sure it's also on the Quarterback himself, but we have seen PLENTY of bad coaches link up with some pretty successful QB’s & there is a clear regression there. Of course, if the pieces around the QB are lacking, you're doing him no favors either. So it's certainly a mix, but coaching can overcome a lot of shortcomings on the field.
Herby- We have seen how coordinators make such an impact on total offense and the system in which younger quarterbacks struggle or flourish. Do you see any changes coming in the way you handle your young QB in development the rest of the season or next year? New offense possibly, or having the coordinator focus on bettering his own tree to help develop others better?
Coach- With Will taking over in week 1, I decided a change was necessary. I brought back my old QB coach & we have started implementing the same system that I have used for years. We have a great QB room & our coaching in that department is top tier. We think Will’s arm will continue to develop at this level & can get even stronger here. So I don't expect any more changes, I am very pleased with the change we made & how the staff is set up.
Herby- Any advice you believe should be shared from one coach to another for those who will be drafting, signing, or trading for a young QB?
Coach- Haha I don't know if I should share any secrets so early in a cycle, but I think it is vital to surround a young QB on offense. Even if its a very veteran offensive line, protecting him is imperative to his success. Wideouts that fit your scheme are also important. Get the guys who you can put where you need to create mismatches & get those easy completions. You have to think, usually these young QBs are making less then some of the top guys in the league. If that's the case then you need to spend that money to surround him with talent. Get him comfortable & give him the best chance to turn into “The Guy''. Having that guy also helps you overcome a lot of roster shortcomings.
Talking to Coach Moji is very enlightening for everyone. A coach with a track record like his should give credibility to his views and statements. He may be one of the more outspoken individuals within the league, but he is one that is always willing to sit and talk with anyone to help them. If you want honest feedback and help I would recommend going and talking to Coach Moji. He is doing great with a roster that has been lacking in certain positions, and will build a consistent contender there in Tennessee. Be on the lookout for the last installment of part 1 of “In the Pocket” as we travel and interview a coach that everyone loves and adores.