QB Tyler Watts

[rgw]

Tyler Watts was a great competitor that was high on intangibles and low on technique. He was barely passable (pardon the pun) as a passer, but he was gritty and was not afraid of contact when running the option or draw. He had zero arm strength and didn't trust his ability enough to do more than one read and run, but he always competed. If you had a team full of guys with Tyler Watts' intangibles you'd win more often than not.

 

[Capstone46]

Now that we have established the fact that Tyler is pursuing a career in sports broadcasting, I will offer an opinion. My opinions are frequently wrong, but I think he will make it. To me making it regionally should be considered a success. I can think of only one in SEC broadcasting who also works in national broadcasting and that is Eli Gold. Yet, in my opinion there are many others in the business I would call successful. Many of them still supplement their incomes with other endeavors throughout the year. (commercials, speaking engagements, and whatever). Tyler may be one who sells insurance but I think he will be successful in broadcasting.
There is a tremendous amount of opportunity within the SEC. There will be even more this fall and in the near future with Alabama broadcasting.

 

[Mke4Bama]

I despise option qb's with a passion. For that reason I try to never talk about Watts bc I don't think I can give a fair assessment without my bias kicking in. There is a position on the field for option qb's- it's called running back. I like mobility when a play breaks down but I prefer a guy who can sling it. I do remember Tyler being tough and having a lot of heart. I also remember saying a few things and throwing a lot of things at the tv while he was qb.

Wow, I guess those NC's in the 70's with option qb's would have really caused you grief then, if you're old enough to remember them, that is.

1973, 1978, 1979

 

[crimson_blood]

I'm guessing we're getting out the rose-colored glasses.

That's kinda what we do here.

Watts, the pride of Pelham, AL, was tough as nails. Poor man's Tebow.

 

[Tideup]

Wow, I guess those NC's in the 70's with option qb's would have really caused you grief then, if you're old enough to remember them, that is.

1973, 1978, 1979

Tyler played with great heart whether are not you like the option or not. He will always be one my favorite player of alltime. I remember him getting hit on a run once and turning a flip landing and holding onto the ball for a first down if I'm not mistaken. Besides my grandson's named for him and the Bear Tyler Bryant my daughter thought he was a hottie LOL.

 

[davefrat]

I despise option qb's with a passion. For that reason I try to never talk about Watts bc I don't think I can give a fair assessment without my bias kicking in. There is a position on the field for option qb's- it's called running back. I like mobility when a play breaks down but I prefer a guy who can sling it. I do remember Tyler being tough and having a lot of heart. I also remember saying a few things and throwing a lot of things at the tv while he was qb.

well, all i can say is that you need to expand your horizons regarding the college football offensive game.

bottom line is that a great option football team (standard set, spread set, whatever) can be almost unstoppable at the college level.

and some of the greatest football teams in the history of the college game have been option teams, and not just from 30 years ago. the 90's era nebraska teams were dominant, and they were as predictable and vanilla i- formation option as they come. and with the contemporary spread option becoming so common, we'll see even more teams with run-first pass-second qbs.

like it or not, at the college level, a qb who can simply keep the d honest with his arm while terrorizing the d with his legs can still be an incredible threat and total game changer.

we're in an era in college (and the pro game to a lesser extent) that the mobile qb is taking over the game, like it or not.

 

[mailman]

His toughness was his best asset.

 

[gmart74]

Wow, I guess those NC's in the 70's with option qb's would have really caused you grief then, if you're old enough to remember them, that is. 1973, 1978, 1979

I would have been 5 in 1979. So no, the style of the 70's was completely lost on me. It's not that I hate running plays. I loved our 92 team. I just would rather see a tailback demolish a defense.

well, all i can say is that you need to expand your horizons regarding the college football offensive game.

I liked watching nebraska run an option bc it worked. I hated watching Vick play in the nfl bc it didnt work. I generally despise a run-first qb bc so often it results in a crappy offense. So my feelings on an option qb are entirely based on the success rate of that offense. I hated watching the Tyler Watts offense bc it was ineffective so many times. If we had run for 500yds a game and scored 50 every time I would have loved it. However I remember so many 3 and outs it just drove me nuts. I used to room with a guy from philly that would take great satisfaction at yelling at me during bama games. In disgust i would get up from watching the game and go into another room for a couple minutes. at that time he would yell "hey gmart, 3rd and 5, what's going to happen?" My reply-"Called pass play, Tyler pulls it down, runs for 2yds before receiving a bone-crushing tackle that fires up the other team."
....... and this would happen more times than I can count.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

we're in an era in college (and the pro game to a lesser extent) that the mobile qb is taking over the game, like it or not.

That concept is true for the short term but I think it won't be permanent. Just look at Terrell Pryor's comments as to why he chose OSU over Michigan. It was directly related to becoming a more complete quarterback and being able to be more of a passer than a runner.

One thing about the NFL game that will not change is that a qb's chances of lasting in the league drops significantly the more he runs. The reason that will not change is because players aren't going to start getting smaller and slower. The trend has been and will continue to be players are getting bigger, stronger and faster. Which means they can deliver bigger and more forceful hits at impact which results in more potential damage.

QB's are going to have to continue to do more passing and handing off rather than running if they want a lasting productive career in the NFL. So they're going to be forced (to some degree) to acquire these skills in college to be better prepared. Michael Vick is a great example. He had a tough tough time learning to be a passer in the NFL because he never was required to do that at the college level. A lot of kids will see that and not make the same mistake. Pryor seems to be one of those kids.

 

[GrayTide]

That concept is true for the short term but I think it won't be permanent. Just look at Terrell Pryor's comments as to why he chose OSU over Michigan. It was directly related to becoming a more complete quarterback and being able to be more of a passer than a runner.

One thing about the NFL game that will not change is that a qb's chances of lasting in the league drops significantly the more he runs. The reason that will not change is because players aren't going to start getting smaller and slower. The trend has been and will continue to be players are getting bigger, stronger and faster. Which means they can deliver bigger and more forceful hits at impact which results in more potential damage.

QB's are going to have to continue to do more passing and handing off rather than running if they want a lasting productive career in the NFL. So they're going to be forced (to some degree) to acquire these skills in college to be better prepared. Michael Vick is a great example. He had a tough tough time learning to be a passer in the NFL because he never was required to do that at the college level. A lot of kids will see that and not make the same mistake. Pryor seems to be one of those kids.

Good post Bb. The history of running and option style QBs making it in the NFL validates what you have said. You have to look no farther than the University of Alabama to see that, Ray Perkins' first order of business when hired to replace Coach Bryant was to junk the Wishbone. He played and coached in the NFL and knew what the future held for option QBs. I personally love the triple option offense but in this day and age it is difficult to recruit the type player to excel in that offense.

 

[bamanut_aj]

I was always a fan of Tyler.

 

[gmart74]

slightly off-topic but for those of you who love crazy option offenses then do whatever you can to get some game tape of the wofford college terriers. i went to undergrad there and i still have no clue what they are doing. it has to be one of the most confusing option attacks i have ever seen.

 

[crimsonaudio]

slightly off-topic but for those of you who love crazy option offenses then do whatever you can to get some game tape of the wofford college terriers. i went to undergrad there and i still have no clue what they are doing. it has to be one of the most confusing option attacks i have ever seen.

Wishbone/gun offense. Not that common nowadays but very common 30 years ago. Tough to defend if you aren't accustomed to playing against it...

 

[gmart74]

the nearest thing i can compare it to is putting 11 cats in a big ball of yarn and then spraying them with mace. its just legs and bodies going all over the place.

 

[rgw]

In the NFL, they want athletes at QB just like colleges...but they want them to use their feet to allude hits and buy time to make passes downfield. Tucking the ball should be QB's third or fourth "read" in the NFL and he should do it heading towards the sidelines while advancing the ball as much as possible...just AVOID THE HIT.

McNabb is probably the best example of what teams would like from an athletic QB. Vick and Young (so far) are too scary for many franchises.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Vick's mighta, oughta, coulda, shoulda will forever remain a question mark, since it's doubtful he ever sees the field again. He has too many problems dogging him, aside from his legal problems. I think he'll be looked back upon as a failed experiment. BTW, don't use this post as an excuse to veer off into the rights and wrongs of dog fighting...

 

[LCN]

In the NFL, they want athletes at QB just like colleges...but they want them to use their feet to allude hits and buy time to make passes downfield. Tucking the ball should be QB's third or fourth "read" in the NFL and he should do it heading towards the sidelines while advancing the ball as much as possible...just AVOID THE HIT.

McNabb is probably the best example of what teams would like from an athletic QB. Vick and Young (so far) are too scary for many franchises.

I'll go with the "real" Young . IMO , another Steve Young is what they're after .

 

[davefrat]

That concept is true for the short term but I think it won't be permanent. Just look at Terrell Pryor's comments as to why he chose OSU over Michigan. It was directly related to becoming a more complete quarterback and being able to be more of a passer than a runner.

One thing about the NFL game that will not change is that a qb's chances of lasting in the league drops significantly the more he runs. The reason that will not change is because players aren't going to start getting smaller and slower. The trend has been and will continue to be players are getting bigger, stronger and faster. Which means they can deliver bigger and more forceful hits at impact which results in more potential damage.

QB's are going to have to continue to do more passing and handing off rather than running if they want a lasting productive career in the NFL. So they're going to be forced (to some degree) to acquire these skills in college to be better prepared. Michael Vick is a great example. He had a tough tough time learning to be a passer in the NFL because he never was required to do that at the college level. A lot of kids will see that and not make the same mistake. Pryor seems to be one of those kids.

i'm pretty sure i said "to a lesser extent" regarding the pros.

it's also more than a short term development. if you look around the league, there are almost 0 of the 80's and 90's style cement footed qbs in the troy aikman mold. even the big qbs like rothlesberger (sp?) are mobile, with the exception being (i'm choking back vomit) peyton manning, who may be the greatest pure passer in the history of the game.

bottom line is that a qb who is a great runner and decent passer is nearly an ultimate weapon in the college game...just look at pat white from west virginia.

and as for kids looking to the nfl, that's certainly true, however, there are also many other run-first qbs who simply want to play qb in college who refuse to change positions...again, see pat white, who is from alabama but was only recruited by sec schools as a db.

after all, kids like white will have a chance to play in the nfl, just not at qb. someone, however, will draft him even if it's in the later rounds to take a shot at him transitioning to wr, db, kick returner, etc.

the option has been a very productive offense since it was first conceived decades ago, and although it's gone through changes over the years, it remains productive and very hard to defend.

it will probably never work in the pros, though, because the defenses are too fast and too disciplined. and we probably lost the best chance to see it tested in the pros when vick tanked himself, because if anyone could run it in the nfl, it would have been he, or maybe steve young, who is probably the greatest dual threat in the nfl i've ever seen.

i agree that vick was always way overrated as an nfl qb...his passing was atrocious at times, but his college career illustrates my point about running qbs in college. he was nearly unstoppable at va. tech. remember the national title game where he juked two fl. state players so badly on one play that both of them blew out their knees?

 

[Bamabuzzard]

i'm pretty sure i said "to a lesser extent" regarding the pros.

My point was that you're not going to see a total take over of running qb's such as Pat White and Michael Vick in college though it may seem that way. Rather you're probably going to see a trend that veers back more to a "going through the reads then run if need be" type approach. The Rich Rod spread is a fad right now and many teams that have traditionally not run it are doing it because it's "new".....to them.

However, over the long haul most of your qb's that have ANY desire to play in the NFL (which will a lot) will begin having thought processes much like Terrell Pryor and will gravitate toward an offense that will prepare them for the NFL. I'm sorry but spread option offenses and spread offenses that feature a lot of running by the qb won't do that.

 

[davefrat]

My point was that you're not going to see a total take over of running qb's such as Pat White and Michael Vick in college though it may seem that way. Rather you're probably going to see a trend that veers back more to a "going through the reads then run if need be" type approach. The Rich Rod spread is a fad right now and many teams that have traditionally not run it are doing it because it's "new".....to them.

However, over the long haul most of your qb's that have ANY desire to play in the NFL (which will a lot) will begin having thought processes much like Terrell Pryor and will gravitate toward an offense that will prepare them for the NFL. I'm sorry but spread option offenses and spread offenses that feature a lot of running by the qb won't do that.

i know sparring is not allowed, and i'm not trying to do that. but the option will always be a part of college football. i don't think i said it was going to take over the game, but it's here to stay and will have a lasting impact on the college game. bottom line is that a great athlete under center in college can terrorize defenses.

what percentage of college qbs go to the nfl? i don't know, but i'm sure it's appallingly low. that in mind, there are lots and lots of college coaches who will be more than happy to run option and spread option packages that utilize raw athletic talent than rely on the great skill and precision required of pro-style qbs...which is rare and hard to find. just look at the nfl and think about how many starters who a mediocre at best.

the college game is different from the pro game, and the qb position is probably the most different of all. great college qbs can have next to nothing for the pro game, the same can't be said for the other positions. so, in that respect, it's actually more likely that we'll see more college teams rely on running qbs for a longer time.

although college football is a developmental ground for pro players, i think it's fair to say that, overall, it's less so for qbs because the requirements and demands on the position are relatively so vastly different from other positions vis a vis the pro game, and the availability of roster slots at the pro level are so more restricted as well.