Regardless of PJ Walker I saw DTR do some of the most absurdly awful shit in that Baltimore game I’ve seen from a QB at practically any level.
I’m fine with going back to him if KS prefers to. I’ll trust Kevin on that.
But it was more than just “he’s a rookie”
Eh, I think a lot of it had to do with him being a 5th round rookie in his first NFL start.
- Unprepared
- Not given nearly as much help from a play-calling standpoint (compared to PJ)
- Not given much help by the o-line (which was pretty bad)
- 2nd worst rushing performance by our team (the worst was against the Titans but Deshaun lit them up in the air)
- Against the (checks notes) #1 defense in the NFL
I rewatched that game and yes, while he was awful, a lot had to do with the fact that he was a rookie. A lot of his bad plays were made from two different reasons:
1. He didn't seem accustomed to NFL-level speed and tried to fit balls into tight windows.
2. Many plays were made out of desperation, trying to extend these plays and just being overall careless with the ball. And it got worse in the 2nd half when we were down 18 points and he was clearly trying to be a hero.
This is all EASILY fixable.
And believe it or not, I saw some positives. I saw the ability to extend plays, I saw zip on some of his shorter to intermediate throws, ability to carry out RPOs, and I saw something that PJ will never have - the ability to scan the field and hit the open target.
We got decimated by the Ravens and our 5th round rookie not only made some big mistakes, but some EGREGIOUS-LOOKING mistakes and now the fanbase believes he's irredeemable this year. Give him more clean pockets, screens, improved running game (the bye week REALLY helped with this), simpler plays, a full week of practice, non-Ravens defense, and I think he's capable of being an okay backup.