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Cam Ward inside the pocket vs outside the pocket

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CANESCANES

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Jeff Brohm talked yesterday about the importance of keeping Cam Ward in the pocket, which I found interesting, so I dug into the numbers. Is Brohm right (statistically speaking)? It's complicated.

Now this is a bit of a self-referential metric. If Ward is out of the pocket, by definition, he's under duress, and QBs under duress are less successful. His OOP stats are good; his in-pocket stats are other-worldly.

It's not that Ward is *better* when he's outside the pocket. It's that, when he does something good outside the pocket, there appears to be a real impact on the defense -- which makes sense, because his magic acts are just agonizing for the other team.

Some numbers: Ward has made an outside the pocket play with positive WPA (i.e. a "successful" play) on 22 different drives this year.Miami has scored TDs on 13 of them, FGs on 3, 1 turnover on downs, 2 INTS (both in red zone) and 3 punts.So basically 19/22 of those drives scored or could've easily.

Moreover, all 6 of the drives that didn't end in points came in the first halves of the last two games (VT & Cal). In the 2H of those games:TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD

And keep in mind, those OOP plays aren't all big plays -- just are just turning a sack int a 2-yard gain. But consistently it seems to frustrate defenses beyond just that 1 play.So the lesson isn't so much "keep contain" as "have a short memory" with Cam.

 
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CANESCANES said:
Jeff Brohm talked yesterday about the importance of keeping Cam Ward in the pocket, which I found interesting, so I dug into the numbers. Is Brohm right (statistically speaking)? It's complicated.

Now this is a bit of a self-referential metric. If Ward is out of the pocket, by definition, he's under duress, and QBs under duress are less successful. His OOP stats are good; his in-pocket stats are other-worldly.

It's not that Ward is *better* when he's outside the pocket. It's that, when he does something good outside the pocket, there appears to be a real impact on the defense -- which makes sense, because his magic acts are just agonizing for the other team.

Some numbers: Ward has made an outside the pocket play with positive WPA (i.e. a "successful" play) on 22 different drives this year.Miami has scored TDs on 13 of them, FGs on 3, 1 turnover on downs, 2 INTS (both in red zone) and 3 punts.So basically 19/22 of those drives scored or could've easily.

Moreover, all 6 of the drives that didn't end in points came in the first halves of the last two games (VT & Cal). In the 2H of those games:TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD

And keep in mind, those OOP plays aren't all big plays -- just are just turning a sack int a 2-yard gain. But consistently it seems to frustrate defenses beyond just that 1 play.So the lesson isn't so much "keep contain" as "have a short memory" with Cam.

Click to expand...

i heard that comment too ... not sure how you keep a kid in the pocket when his out of pocket plays aren't scripted ...
 
Like a recent poster said. Jalen rivers will be huge for us. Losing your left tackle is literally the worst possible outcome. Are rivers and Francis the best tackle duo in the nation? If they’re not they’re high up
 
Kn[]_[]ckles3o5 said:
"...The answer is not keep Cam in pocket it's keep Cam on sideline..."
Click to expand...
And that is how you win in today's college football.

The antidote to air raid "go fast offenses".

Your offense stays on the field and chews up the clock.

TUFF AND FYZICAL.
 
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CANESCANES said:
Jeff Brohm talked yesterday about the importance of keeping Cam Ward in the pocket, which I found interesting, so I dug into the numbers. Is Brohm right (statistically speaking)? It's complicated.

Now this is a bit of a self-referential metric. If Ward is out of the pocket, by definition, he's under duress, and QBs under duress are less successful. His OOP stats are good; his in-pocket stats are other-worldly.

It's not that Ward is *better* when he's outside the pocket. It's that, when he does something good outside the pocket, there appears to be a real impact on the defense -- which makes sense, because his magic acts are just agonizing for the other team.

Some numbers: Ward has made an outside the pocket play with positive WPA (i.e. a "successful" play) on 22 different drives this year.Miami has scored TDs on 13 of them, FGs on 3, 1 turnover on downs, 2 INTS (both in red zone) and 3 punts.So basically 19/22 of those drives scored or could've easily.

Moreover, all 6 of the drives that didn't end in points came in the first halves of the last two games (VT & Cal). In the 2H of those games:TD, TD, TD, TD, TD, TD

And keep in mind, those OOP plays aren't all big plays -- just are just turning a sack int a 2-yard gain. But consistently it seems to frustrate defenses beyond just that 1 play.So the lesson isn't so much "keep contain" as "have a short memory" with Cam.

Click to expand...

Just keep his uniform clean. Give him time in the pocket let him be a statue he will pick you apart.
 
Yea, the only thing I can think is if he's out of the pocket it means you missed on a potential big play by your DL or a blitz. But realistically if the ball is leaving his hands it means good things for us far more often than not.

It's actually the opposite experience of the previous 10 years (except D'Eriq). I always assume when Cam throws it's a good thing and I'm thoroughly enjoying this season and watching him play.

The main story is in by in large when we have a black QB wearing number 1 it means good things for the University of Miami.
 
Louisville fans seem to believe he meant not letting him run when referring to keeping him in the pocket, since they’ve gotten destroyed with QBs running all over them
 
I hope they do keep him in the pocket. Cam takes himself out of the pocket to extend plays for what looks like no reason. I don't want another 2.5 quarters of me saying "why are you doing this again" every play.

Really looks like a person playing NCAA where they immediately drift back with the QB waiting on WRs to do a scramble drill.

In the pocket means quicker decisions. Most of his great throws happen in "normal mode."
 
If he'd take the checkdown out of the pocket more often, the stats would be even better.

The comeback against Cal... that's about as fine a QB performance I've seen at the college level in a long time.
 
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