Bo Nix is the last word drawback solver within the NFL Draft

When it comes right down to it, a big a part of the sweetness and artwork to taking part in the quarterback place stems from the truth that as a QB, you’re tasked with fixing advanced issues.

After all, you’re tasked with doing that as a handful of huge human beings try to place you within the hospital, others want to embarrass you, somebody by yourself sidelines is probably going hoping to take your job, and the world is watching.

Maybe the newest description alongside these traces got here in the course of the previous NFL season, from then-Minnesota Vikings QB Joshua Dobbs. Within the midst of his unimaginable stint with the Vikings Dobbs, who majored in aerospace engineering at Tennessee, graduated with a 4.0, and has interned at NASA, in contrast the 2 disciplines alongside the traces of drawback fixing.

“Engineering and quarterback have quite a lot of crossover, simply within the psychological facet,” Dobbs stated final November. “Once you’re an engineer at school, you present up day one as a freshman they usually simply throw a ton of issues at you. You need to critically consider how one can remedy these issues,” added Dobbs. “Soccer is similar manner… As a quarterback, it’s important to get your staff in the appropriate play. Critically consider ‘am I in the appropriate play now?’ or ‘what play do I must get to assault this protection?’ and repeat course of.”

That leads us to Oregon quarterback, and potential first-round choice, Bo Nix.

Nix is certainly one of many polarizing prospects on this yr’s draft class. Those that are followers level to his manufacturing at Oregon, alongside together with his expertise, athleticism, and arm expertise. Those that have considerations argue that he’s on the older aspect of the ledger — and it took awhile for him to interrupt out — and his manufacturing at Oregon was largely depending on scheme in addition to the expertise round him.

Wherever you land on Nix, and there are legitimate arguments for each camps, one factor that does stand out is his potential to resolve issues. Like different quarterbacks on this class, Nix has the athleticism to resolve issues by escaping from stress, throwing on the transfer, and creating off-structure.

However what stands out to this analyst is how typically Nix solves issues together with his thoughts.

Let’s begin with this play in opposition to California. With the Geese dealing with a 2nd and 37 — due to an offensive go interference penalty together with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty — Nix aligns within the shotgun with the soccer on the appropriate hashmark. Oregon runs a stick/seam mixture to the left aspect, with the inside and outside receivers operating stick routes, and the center receiver operating a seam route.

California muddies the defensive look presnap, placing each safeties in direction of the hashmarks. However because the play begins, the Golden Bears spin into single-high man protection, and the rotation duties the post-safety to get to the center of the sector from exterior the hashmark.

This offers Nix a golden alternative:

Nix will get his eyes to the three-receiver idea on the left, however as quickly as Tez Johnson will get inside leverage on his seam route, as a substitute of throwing one of many stick patterns Nix lets the seam ball rip. Right here is the state of play when the Oregon QB decides on throwing the seam route:

Each the within and out of doors routes are open, however that is 2nd and 37, and Nix sees an opportunity for an enormous play. He is aware of that Johnson has the leverage, he is aware of that the within defender goes to stay on the within stick route, and he is aware of that the protection has a protracted technique to go if he desires to make a play on the seam ball.

The issue? A 2nd and 37 state of affairs. The answer? A fantastic learn of a rotation within the secondary, an anticipation throw up the seam, and a landing for Oregon.

Anticipation throws are a method Nix solves issues, they usually possible stem from his expertise in faculty. Nix heads to the NFL with 61 collegiate begins underneath his belt, essentially the most from a QB in faculty soccer historical past. That have exhibits on throws like this one in opposition to Arizona State, the place he solves the issue of zone protection with an anticipation throw that leads Johnson to security:

Maybe my favourite instance of Nix fixing an issue with anticipation — and thus his thoughts — comes on this throw in opposition to Washington within the Pac-12 Championship Recreation. With the Geese trailing by ten late within the fourth quarter, Oregon faces a 1st and 10 in their very own territory. The Geese empty the backfield, whereas the Huskies drop eight into protection?

How does Nix remedy the issue of “5 versus eight” within the secondary? With a pristine anticipation throw. Traeshon Holden runs a deep dig route working from the left aspect of the sector, and that is the route Nix targets. However with two threats looming — the beneath linebacker in the course of the sector and the hook/curl defender squatting on the numbers — there may be virtually no margin for error on this throw.

Virtually:

That is a type of performs that definitely profit from some “screen-shot scouting.” Let’s first take a look at the sideline view of when Nix begins to throw:

You’ll be able to see two threats Nix has to navigate, first within the type of the defender squatting on the midfield brand, after which the hook/curl defender squatting on the numbers to the appropriate aspect of the sector. Nix has a lane to throw the dig route, between these two defenders, however he must be virtually good. If he waits to throw this, he’ll deliver the defender on the numbers into play.

However throw this too early, and the defender in the course of the sector goes to be an issue.

Nix then places this throw on Holden, giving him an opportunity to catch and cradle as the surface defender breaks on the go. Holden does the remaining, turning this right into a 63-yard TD.

However it begins with Nix and his potential to resolve issues.

Whereas these examples discover Nix making throws deeper downfield, typically as a quarterback drawback fixing occurs nearer to the road of scrimmage. On this play in opposition to Washington State, the Cougars present Nix two deep safeties earlier than the play. However proper forward of the snap operating again Bucky Irving goes in movement, and a linebacker trails him. That provides Nix a clue that the Cougars could be in man protection.

It’s true that Washington State is doing one thing surprising, however the Cougars have a couple of extra methods up their sleeve. As they spin into single-high protection, additionally they deliver a slot blitz from the appropriate aspect of the offense.

Regardless of. Nix will get his eyes to the slant route, changing the blitz with the ball. The issue? A slot blitz from a rotating secondary. The answer? A fast throw to exchange that blitz with the soccer:

The following play is one other private favourite from Nix, however earlier than diving into the instance we are able to talk about a little bit of a foundational idea. The play in query comes from Oregon’s second recreation in opposition to Washington, and duties Nix with studying out a three-level flood idea to the appropriate aspect of the sector.

A play that usually appears to be like one thing like this instance from Oregon’s recreation in opposition to California:

On this instance, the operating again releases to the flat, one receiver (the receiver in movement) will get to the surface after which runs vertically, whereas the opposite receiver runs the deep out route. The operating again serves because the low learn, pulling defenders in direction of the road of scrimmage, whereas the vertical route stretches the protection deep, with the aim opening up the deep out/sail route:

That’s precisely what occurs on this play.

Now, let’s flip to the instance of this idea in opposition to Washington. This time, the Huskies are prepared. The setup from the offense is a bit totally different, with the tight finish coming in movement from the surface to set the sting, however the three routes are the identical: A operating again to the flat, a vertical route from one receiver, and the deep out route from one other.

However take a look at the protection as Nix units within the pocket:

The Huskies have this coated, and there’s a defender on the surface — standing on the 35-yard line — simply ready for Johnson’s out route. So how will Nix remedy this drawback?

By throwing Johnson again in direction of the center of the sector, which is essentially open:

That is such an excellent instance of expertise, and high-level drawback fixing, from Nix. One thing that can definitely endear him to NFL coaches.

Lastly, when all else fails Nix can, like others on this class, remedy some issues with athleticism. Watch as he spins out of stress in opposition to USC, and creates an enormous play:

Nix could also be seen as a QB within the second tier of passers on this draft class, behind Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and J.J. McCarthy. However with sentiment rising that the 2024 NFL Draft may see six QBs within the first spherical — with Nix and fellow Pac-12 passer Michael Penix Jr. becoming a member of these 4 on Thursday night time — how effectively Nix may translate to the NFL turns into an even bigger query.

However it’s his potential to resolve issues, together with his thoughts as a lot as together with his athleticism, that can endear him to the NFL.