We’re four games into the Avery Johnson Experience, so we’ve got some good data points to discuss the sophomore.
We’re four games in to the Kansas State football season, which means we’re also four games into the full Avery Johnson experience with no more bowl game honeymoon. So our staff roundtable for this week focuses on the sophomore signal caller.
Topic
We’re 4 games into the Avery Johnson experience, if you had to describe his game based on the first 4 games to someone who understands football but had never seen him play, what would you say?
Jon Morse
He’s 19, he still makes mistakes, and he needs to learn how to throw accurately from the pocket. But he does have an arm, and he’s really fast and has jukes!
Luke Sobba
Avery’s speed and elusiveness are incredible. He has undeniable arm talent but struggles reading defenses and pairing his vision with the proper passing touch. He has been prone to forcing throws when a running opportunity seems like the better option and sometimes appears to telegraph the designed run. All of these problems will improve with experience. There is every indication he will address his deficiencies because he has been unflinchingly accountable from day one, even when Coach Klieman has tried to shield him from blame.
Wildcat00
Avery Johnson is fast. FAST This has been on special display when the play breaks down and he has to make up for it with his legs. He has a great arm too, but as a pocket passer, he still has a long way to go. He’s young and I have confidence he’ll learn as he goes.
JT VanGilder
Avery is a great athlete, but young. He’s lightning fast and has the arm to make “all the throws”, but still needs work on reads and timing. The game hasn’t “slowed” for him yet, at least in some ways. A change at QB coach and OC during the off-season also altered the clock some. But his floor is very high, and his ceiling is the stars. K-State fans have justifiably high expectations, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s 19, making his first starts, and with a receiving crew that isn’t always his best friend (drops, jogging, etc).
Eric Rubottom
I’ll make this pretty quick. He’s got great physical tools – arm strength, quickness, speed…but he’s as raw as a garden salad without dressing. Great athlete, not so great QB. Yet.
Drew Schneider
Avery has all the physical tools, but he’s still adjusting to the speed of the game.
In the run game, he’s always been the most athletic guy on the field, and now he’s having to adjust to defenders being able to keep up.
In the passing game, he still looks like an elite high school quarterback. He’s still waiting for guys to get open, and that rarely happens in college football.
I’ve been trying to come up with a recent player he reminds me of, and the best I can come up with is he’s currently a smaller version of Anthony Richardson at Florida. You see the talent, but the product is hit and miss at the moment. I understand that Anthony Richardson guy did OK for himself.