The problem is that CiS “analysts” attribute far too much accuracy to sheer arm talent. At this level, accuracy is more than the ability to throw a ball through a tire. You don’t become a dual sport athlete at a major division one program without being able to throw.
No. At this level accuracy is more between the ears than in the arm. Understanding the play and what it’s designed to accomplish, recognizing what you’re seeing from the defense and what they’re giving you, and anticipating where to go with the ball before it’s open, weighs more heavily on accuracy than arm talent. Yeah you have to have a certain level of arm talent to work with, and some guys have it in spades over others, but I’ve seen Rosier step up into a blitz and deliver the ball 50 yards down field right through a receiver’s hands. He has enough arm talent.
His biggest problem is his elongated motion. Obviously you’d prefer a guy closer to Dan Marino than Doug Flutie, but give the guy enough room in the pocket to operate and he can be accurate enough. Rewatch the Duke game. He started that game 9 for 9 in the first quarter. He was working his progressions, taking his check downs when he had to, and hit 6 different receivers. Walton was running it well, we were balanced, and the Duke defense was off balance. It was stealing. We were even 3 for 5 on 3rd down.
Then Walton got his ankle stepped on and everything went to ****. Rosier got sacked 4 times in the 2nd—one wasn’t counted because Rosier tucked it and tried to run—and all of a sudden couldn’t hit a bull in the *** with a bass fiddle.
I cannot stress enough how much being able to run the ball and stay balanced will improve Rosier’s accuracy, or anyone’s for that matter.
I also cannot stress enough that throwing the ball is only half of being a QB in a Pro-Style offense. And that’s what we’re going to run. Whoever is under center in 2018 is going to live and die by our ability to run the football and maintain balance.