Purdy could run the frost/AM offense
but those throws didn't look effortless - he really loads up, looks like he's giving it all he's got - and they definitely didn't look fast
Because Nikki and I are typically aligned on most opinions, I slow framed that throw in the Spring game to make sure I wasn't shortchanging Chubba's throw. After watching the play a couple times, my viewpoint is correct.
For those that want to, slow the play down at 46:57 to .25 playback speed. You can see the throwing lane is clearly open.
Within 3 seconds of the snap (47:00) both Manning and Yant are wide open. The ball that Purdy threw went 18 yards in the air.
On the view of the replay, it is clear the receiver has Gifford beat by 2+ lengths. With the ball in the air the receiver is still open by 1+ yards. In the time the ball was in the air, Gifford closed on the ball to arrive in time to make a helluva play on a ball he was beaten on.
As I mentioned in the Chubba/Florida State film, he tends to throw high when throwing left. The throw we have been talking about was thrown from the right hash to closer to the left hash. It's a nitpicky point, but Chubba needs to master throwing to his left without the same elevation.
That same ball thrown with more arm strength/more velocity and not as high is an easy touchdown in P5 level. The more Chubba develops arm strength, the more he will able to throw on a line on this type of play.
I'm hopeful, as time goes along, Chubba will continue to develop arm strength, and I think he will. He still tends to throw the ball a little too high on a lot of his throws. If they change his release point, just a touch, that ball gets there earlier and we're not having this discussion/disagreement.
I'm not a pro-Thompson, or anti-Chubba or any NU QB guy. With NU's schedule of several heavy hitters, it's not conceivable one guy will be able to go all year and not have game issues.
I'm not an analyist like Nikki, but I know one thing. In football, just like in basketball, if you have a guy who is less effective or shows a weakness throwing left, you can expect to see defenses force those throws to the left and take away some of his strength.