Irish YJ
Southsida
- Messages
- 25,888
- Reaction score
- 1,444
This isn't something you can use stats to support or refute. It's a matter of watching games (and listening to analysts that watch the games) and seeing that good teams don't respect him throwing deep. They go man and put 8 guys in the short and intermediate area because they aren't afraid of giving up a big play.
It's not rocket surgery. Even Pitt was able to totally neuter him with this approach. It only takes beating teams deep once or twice a game to discourage stacking the box. But Book doesn't do that.
I agree with all the above. But I also think our WRs are an issue. Both can be true. While teams never respected his deep ball, he would hit an occasional one to Claypool or Finke. If we're being honest about Book, we can also be honest about guys like Javon and Skowronek. They wouldn't be starting, or maybe even not in the rotation, at any of the proverbial top 10s. I think part of it is also just BK's offense. We've never been a long ball team. In the 10 years of BK, Books AVGs are 2 of the top 3. And the only one ahead of him is by a skinny margin.