Searching for some perspective on this season, I went back to my pre-Holy Cross “baby steps” wish list for that game:
I freely admit that I’m not a close-enough observer to have picked up on any difference in blocking technique used in 2018, assuming that even really happened. I was relying only on what I had read in our forum discussions. As such, that influenced the way I was thinking back I August, even if it was totally bogus.
That said, I saw no signs of any hesitancy to cut-block this season, and the few times that I recall chop-block infractions being called were all verified when I saw the replay. (If I’m forgetting a bogus chop-block call or two, oh well.)
This, in turn, complemented what I saw throughout this season with respect to my other concern—Malcolm’s confidence in his pitch reads (and no, Mike, I didn’t have a similar concern with his give reads, for whatever reason). That concern was based on what I remembered from Malcolm’s QB play during 2018, namely that there were more than a few times that he kept the ball even when the pitch was both clearly there and more desirable than a keep. Again, I might have had it all wrong, but that what was in my head.
So I’ve been quite happy to see how the TO plays were largely executed all season long with respect to both the blocking and Malcolm’s distribution decisions. I really had the sense that “the triple is back” this season. Was the execution always perfect? Of course not—but it matched up with my memories of how the O ran the TO during both Keenan’s and Ricky’s tenures at QB. That definitely raised my happiness factor all season long.
That gets me to the topic of Malcolm’s overall confidence in being “the guy” at QB. Over the past month (or more), I’ve been reading and hearing reports that Malcolm admitted that he had reservations about playing QB in past years (feeling that he was best suited for slotback), and that this changed in the wake of last year’s Army loss. I’m sure that y’all have heard the story about his hotel-lobby conversation with Ivin after that game, told from both Malcolm’s and Ivin’s POV. With that in mind, here’s what was on my mind back in September after the HC and ECU games:
That earned me an “Oh lord” from Mike and “Thud, is that you?” from 86. I’ll take those hits for my “steely-eyed” description (I liked the “steely-eyed rocket man” quote from The Martian), but I’m standing by both of my assessments (of Malcolm this year versus prior seasons), as they’re backed up by what Malcolm has been quoted as saying about his commitment to being all-in on being the QB, starting right after his talk with Ivin. Everything I’ve seen in him this season (from the strength increase, option reads, and footwork on pitches and passes to the intensity and confidence in his demeanor both on and off the field) speak to how that all-in attitude fed all the hard work he did during the off-season to turn himself in the best QB he could be.
So between all that and all the improvements in the D, we’ve been given a season for the record book.
Merry Christmas to all fans of Navy football, wherever they may be.
My biggest (implied) concern at the beginning of the season came from the reports I’d read on this forum during (after?) the 2018 season that the threat of more-aggressive enforcement of the chop-block rule had led the coaches to change the way the offensive players were being taught to block (reportedly above the knees rather than below the knees), and that had a lot to do with the “failed” blocks and resultant short runs and TFLs that we saw so much of during the 2018 season.
I freely admit that I’m not a close-enough observer to have picked up on any difference in blocking technique used in 2018, assuming that even really happened. I was relying only on what I had read in our forum discussions. As such, that influenced the way I was thinking back I August, even if it was totally bogus.
That said, I saw no signs of any hesitancy to cut-block this season, and the few times that I recall chop-block infractions being called were all verified when I saw the replay. (If I’m forgetting a bogus chop-block call or two, oh well.)
This, in turn, complemented what I saw throughout this season with respect to my other concern—Malcolm’s confidence in his pitch reads (and no, Mike, I didn’t have a similar concern with his give reads, for whatever reason). That concern was based on what I remembered from Malcolm’s QB play during 2018, namely that there were more than a few times that he kept the ball even when the pitch was both clearly there and more desirable than a keep. Again, I might have had it all wrong, but that what was in my head.
So I’ve been quite happy to see how the TO plays were largely executed all season long with respect to both the blocking and Malcolm’s distribution decisions. I really had the sense that “the triple is back” this season. Was the execution always perfect? Of course not—but it matched up with my memories of how the O ran the TO during both Keenan’s and Ricky’s tenures at QB. That definitely raised my happiness factor all season long.
That gets me to the topic of Malcolm’s overall confidence in being “the guy” at QB. Over the past month (or more), I’ve been reading and hearing reports that Malcolm admitted that he had reservations about playing QB in past years (feeling that he was best suited for slotback), and that this changed in the wake of last year’s Army loss. I’m sure that y’all have heard the story about his hotel-lobby conversation with Ivin after that game, told from both Malcolm’s and Ivin’s POV. With that in mind, here’s what was on my mind back in September after the HC and ECU games:
Malcolm has been juking defenders for at least two years, so that’s not new (but yes, it is fun to watch). What was greatly encouraging for me (and new as of this season) was his decision-making in the triple, his footwork on the pitches (even though Mike’s been a bit uncomfortable with the “chest pass”), and his on-field demeanor at QB.
If you’re wondering about that last one: Just about every pre-snap close-up I saw of MP at QB the past two seasons showed me eyes that communicated either worry or confusion. Not saying that he was, but the results seemed to back up my impression. This year, I saw a completely different look from the first pre-snap close-up in the HC game—totally steely-eyed and focused—to the extent that drew a raised eyebrow and a “huh” from me. I’ve seen that same look consistently through two full games (particularly when looking to the sideline for a play call), and believe it’s no coincidence that MP’s play has looked a lot more confident and automatic with his triple reads, as well. Frankly, I’ve not seen that look from our QB since Will Worth went down in the championship game. This bodes well for the rest of the season IMO, even though it’s an admittedly subjective point.
That earned me an “Oh lord” from Mike and “Thud, is that you?” from 86. I’ll take those hits for my “steely-eyed” description (I liked the “steely-eyed rocket man” quote from The Martian), but I’m standing by both of my assessments (of Malcolm this year versus prior seasons), as they’re backed up by what Malcolm has been quoted as saying about his commitment to being all-in on being the QB, starting right after his talk with Ivin. Everything I’ve seen in him this season (from the strength increase, option reads, and footwork on pitches and passes to the intensity and confidence in his demeanor both on and off the field) speak to how that all-in attitude fed all the hard work he did during the off-season to turn himself in the best QB he could be.
So between all that and all the improvements in the D, we’ve been given a season for the record book.
Merry Christmas to all fans of Navy football, wherever they may be.
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