In the beginning of the 2nd quarter and the score OSU 14 Oregon 7 Oregon has 1st and goal at the 10.On 1st down Mariota has a good play. He reads it right and it is a 3 yard gain. http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=255156&gif=RespectfulReadyArctichare Then on 2nd down and goal from the 7 it appears as if Mariota's timing is way off and he throws the ball toward his TE and way too high. This is a common theme that I find with Mariota. When he does not have a target open early, he tends to look rushed as he does on this play when he throws the ball too high. Way too high. That was a tight window throw and I wonder if he threw it high because he chickened out of the tight window, or if it was because he wasn't set and timing was off because his feet were not set? http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=255156&gif=ScarceMiserableDromaeosaur Now it is 3rd and goal from the 7. This is where Mariota has the advantage because of his ability to score from this range with his speed. But here you see a situation that nobody talks about with Mariota where his decision making comes into question. According to the pre-snap reads, this ball should have been handed off and gone left. There is a clear advantage on that side of the field, but Mariota decides to keep it and runs right where he is at a huge disadvantage in terms of blockers to defenders. He takes a huge hit on the play as well. Not very good for someone who is talked about as having superior decision making. http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=255156&gif=HonestMindlessKinglet On 4th and 3 the coach made the curious decision to run the ball and they only picked up 2 yards. Or, did Mariota call the run? Who knows? Maybe he was scared to throw it again after the horrendous high throw on 2nd down, and scared to run it because he just got lit up on the previous play? If I am the coach in that situation I would have went for 3 but they obviously went in cocky, well, the coach went in cocky, but not so much the QB. Maybe they underestimated the talent level OSU has? They have a fast defense that neutralised Mariota for the most part. If all it takes is a fast defense to stop Mariota, how is he going to adapt to the NFL?
