Bo Nix is the ultimate problem solver in the NFL Draft

After all, much of the beauty and art of playing the quarterback position comes from the fact that as a QB, you are tasked with solving complex problems.

Of course you are obligated to do it. A few big humans are trying to hospitalize you, others are trying to embarrass you, someone on the sidelines is likely trying to steal your job, and the world is watching. Because it is. .

Perhaps the most recent explanation along these lines was made during this past NFL season, and since then-minnesota vikings QB Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs, who graduated with a 4.0 in aerospace engineering from the University of Tennessee and interned at NASA, compared his two fields from a problem-solving perspective during his impressive stint with the Vikings.

“There’s a lot of crossover between engineering and quarterbacking just mentally,” Dobbs said last November. “When you’re an engineer in school, when you come to school on your first day as a freshman, they just throw a ton of problems at you. You have to think critically about how to solve those problems,” Dobbs added. Ta. “It’s the same with football… As a quarterback, you have to make your team make the right play. Think critically, ‘Am I making the right play right now?’ or “What plays do I need to make to attack this defense?” and repeat the process. ”

That brings us to Oregon State quarterback and potential first-round pick Bo Nix.

Nix is ​​one of many polarizing prospects in this year’s draft class. Fans point to his production at Oregon State, along with his experience, athleticism, and arm talent. Those with concerns said he was an older player and it took him a while to break through, but that his production at Oregon State relied heavily on the planning as well as the talent around him. claims.

No matter where Nix lands, one thing that stands out is his ability to problem-solve, even though there are valid arguments on both sides. Like other quarterbacks in this class, Nix has the athleticism to escape pressure, throw on the move, and solve problems by creating off structure.

But what’s notable to this analyst is how often the Knicks solve problems in their heads.

Let’s start with this play against California. Thanks to an offensive pass interference penalty and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, the Knicks go shotgun to the football in the right hash marks as the Ducks face 2nd and 37 points. Oregon State uses a stick and seam combination on the left side, with the outside and inside receivers running stick routes and the middle receiver running seam routes.

California confuses the pre-snap defensive look, sending both safeties toward the hash marks. However, once the play begins, the Golden Bears spin into single high-man coverage and the rotation orders their post safeties to reach the middle of the field from outside the hash marks.

This gives Nix a great opportunity.

The Knicks look to the three-receiver concept on the left side, but as soon as Tez Johnson takes inside leverage on a seam route, instead of throwing one of his stick patterns, the Knicks rip the seam ball. Masu. Here’s the state of play when his QB from Oregon decided to seam his route.

Both the inside and outside routes are open, but this one is No. 2 and No. 37, and the Knicks see a chance to make a big play. He knows Johnson has an impact, he knows the inside defender will stick to the inside stick route, and he knows he has a long way to go to safety if he wants to play a seam ball. .

problem? 2nd and 37 situations. solution? He rotated in the secondary, threw up as expected, and made a great read of Oregon’s touchdown.

Anticipatory throws are one way Nix solves problems, likely stemming from his college experience.Knicks heading to the NFL 61 Starting at University, the most by a QB in college football history. That experience is reflected in his throws like this one. arizonawhere he solved the zone coverage problem with predictive throws that led Johnson to safety.

Perhaps my favorite example of Nix solving a problem with anticipation, his mind, was this throw against Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game. With the Ducks trailing by 10 points late in the fourth quarter, Oregon State faced first-and-10 on its own. Will the Huskies drop eight in coverage while the Ducks empty their backfield?

How will the Knicks solve the “5-on-8” problem in the secondary? With pure expected pitching. Traeshon Holden runs a deep digging route from the left side of the field, which is the route the Knicks are targeting. But with two threats looming – an underlinebacker in the middle of the field and a hook/curl defender crouching above the numbers – this throw leaves little room for error.

largely:

This is one play where “Screenshot Scouting” certainly comes in handy. First, let’s take a look at the side view of Knicks when he starts pitching.

We see two threats that Nyx must deal with. First a defender crouching over the midfield logo, then a hook/curl of his defender crouching over the number on the right side of the field. The Knicks have a lane to throw DeGroot between two defenders, but it has to be near perfect. If he waits to throw this, he’s going to take the numbers defender out to play.

However, if you throw this too early, defenders in the middle of the field will be in trouble.

The Knicks then give this throw to Holden, giving Holden a chance to catch and crade when the outside defender breaks up the pass. Holden completed the rest, converting it into a 63-yard TD.

But it starts with Knicks and his problem-solving ability.

In these examples, we see the Knicks making throws deeper downfield, but quarterback problem-solving can also occur closer to the line of scrimmage.Regarding this match State of Washington, the Cougars show the Knicks two deep safeties before the play. But right before the snap, running back Bucky Irving makes his move, and the linebackers follow him. That gives Nix a clue that the cougar may be participating in human coverage.

While it’s true that Washington State is doing some unexpected things, the Cougars have a few more tricks up their sleeve. He also brings slot blitzes from the right side of the offense while spinning into single high coverage.

it doesn’t matter. The Knicks look to slant routes and replace blitzes with balls. problem? Slot blitz from a rotating secondary. solution? A quick throw that replaces that blitz with football:

The following play is also a personal favorite of Nix, but before we get into the example, let’s talk a little about the basic concepts. The play in question was in the second game between Oregon and Washington, and ordered the Knicks to read a three-stage flood concept on the right side of the field.

Typically, a play in an Oregon vs. California game would look something like this:

In this example, the running back releases flat, one receiver (the moving receiver) runs outside and vertically, and the other receiver runs a deep out route. The running back acts as a low lead, drawing defenders toward the line of scrimmage. Vertical routes, on the other hand, stretch the defense deep and open the goal for deep out/sail routes.

That’s exactly what happens in this play.

Now let’s look at an example of this concept for Washington. Now the husky is ready. The setup from the offense is a little different, with the tight end moving in from the outside and setting the edge, but the three routes are the same: running back to the flat, vertical route from one receiver, and deep from another. out route.

But look at the coverage when the Knicks are in the pocket.

The Huskies cover this and have defenders on the outside standing at their 35-yard line waiting for Johnson’s out route. So how will the Knicks solve this problem?

By throwing Johnson back into the middle of the field, mostly in the open, we get:

This is a great example of Nix’s experience and advanced problem solving. NFL coaches will definitely like him.

Finally, if all else fails, Nix, like the other students in this class, can solve some problems with athleticism. Watch him spin and create big plays under pressure against USC.

Knicks could be considered a second-tier QB among passers in this draft class behind Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jaeden Daniels and JJ McCarthy. However, emotions are running high for the 2024 NFL Draft. We could see six QBs in the first round. Knicks and fellow Pac-12 passer Michael Penix Jr. will join those four on Thursday night, and the bigger question is how well Knicks can adapt to the NFL.

But it’s his ability to use his brain to solve problems as much as his athleticism that will attract him to the NFL.