Looking at that first video, my guess is the way the OL and RB were charging downfield to block, this was QB Draw all day. I'm also 1000% sure there are better examples of a one read and go they could have used to make his point. So I'm not disputing the point, I just think they picked a bad example.
EDIT: The next video was a much better example, but I stand by my point that the first video was straight QB Draw.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Drones was probably never going to be an NFL QB, but having Tyler Bowen play make-believe "QB Coach" with zero experience was a total disservice to him.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I thought Drones looked serviceable with Bowen?
It was the last year with Monty that he lost the ability to throw. Am I the only one that thought Bowen was actually pretty good?
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Bowen hand-picked Drones was (nominally) QB Coach in '23 and '24 after Glenn left. In '23 Drones showed some promise, but clearly had mechanical issues and consistency that we assumed would be ironed out.
Welp...they weren't....like at all. Bowen and Brian Crist (who became QB Coach in '25) really either didn't teach even basic technique or didn't enforce it. Not patting the ball and avoiding the sliding into your plant are basic, basic teaching points that start at the Junior High level. Rather than demanding proper technique and reinforcing timing, Bowen went with smoke and mirrors.
Monty's offense was particularly poorly suited for Drones as the smoke and mirrors were largely gone. And Drones had neither the accuracy nor nearly enough protection to make a Deep Passing attack have any hope. But even if he had a rock-solid OL, his dismal mechanics would have limited his ability to be an efficient passer in most schemes.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I think designing an offending is different from developing a player/qb. I think Bowen was creative and good at working around a line that couldn't pass protect, finding creative ways to run the ball, creating confusion, etc. I think he was bad at developing a passing qb/game.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
This was a great article and really brought back a lot of memories of Drones play at VT. This wasn't all VT either Baylor didn't fix some of the basic issues either.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I feel like was never really given the right tools to work with to even have a chance to succeed in training, scheme or personnel. Asking him to step up and do it in the pros after not getting what he should have in college is going to be a big hill for him to climb.
If he can make it work though, good for him. That would be a monumental achievement
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
The mechanics things are interesting. Watching it, I see the out of sync that I saw a lot, but with a little more explanation on why he looks so out of sync. To the point earlier, that feels like the kind of thing that a more experienced QB coach might have helped to drill out of him.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
He had 3 different QB coaches between VT and Baylor. Maybe it was not the coaches? Some people just struggle to break a habit. When it is a drill and you are focusing on it, you can do it fine. But when you are focused on something else, you just revert because you have done it that way for years. Especially if you have some success doing it wrong.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
My completely untrained eye: you don't have 11 guys trying to kill you at camp. I imagine that's why he got a good look in the nfl. Under pressure he's got no instinct and his form folds into bad habits. Worked for him when he was the best athlete on the field in hS not so much in college and a long way to go in the nfl.
He knows what he has to do and how to do it right but entraining it so that's what he does when it's crunch time isn't coming as easily
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Comments
Pretty much as expected.
Sounds about right
Looking at that first video, my guess is the way the OL and RB were charging downfield to block, this was QB Draw all day. I'm also 1000% sure there are better examples of a one read and go they could have used to make his point. So I'm not disputing the point, I just think they picked a bad example.
EDIT: The next video was a much better example, but I stand by my point that the first video was straight QB Draw.
Drones was probably never going to be an NFL QB, but having Tyler Bowen play make-believe "QB Coach" with zero experience was a total disservice to him.
I thought Drones looked serviceable with Bowen?
It was the last year with Monty that he lost the ability to throw. Am I the only one that thought Bowen was actually pretty good?
Bowen called better plays for Drones to execute, but he didnt fix anything that would have led to Drones executing monty's plays
Bowen hand-picked Drones was (nominally) QB Coach in '23 and '24 after Glenn left. In '23 Drones showed some promise, but clearly had mechanical issues and consistency that we assumed would be ironed out.
Welp...they weren't....like at all. Bowen and Brian Crist (who became QB Coach in '25) really either didn't teach even basic technique or didn't enforce it. Not patting the ball and avoiding the sliding into your plant are basic, basic teaching points that start at the Junior High level. Rather than demanding proper technique and reinforcing timing, Bowen went with smoke and mirrors.
Monty's offense was particularly poorly suited for Drones as the smoke and mirrors were largely gone. And Drones had neither the accuracy nor nearly enough protection to make a Deep Passing attack have any hope. But even if he had a rock-solid OL, his dismal mechanics would have limited his ability to be an efficient passer in most schemes.
I think designing an offending is different from developing a player/qb. I think Bowen was creative and good at working around a line that couldn't pass protect, finding creative ways to run the ball, creating confusion, etc. I think he was bad at developing a passing qb/game.
This was a great article and really brought back a lot of memories of Drones play at VT. This wasn't all VT either Baylor didn't fix some of the basic issues either.
Which really raises the question - wth were his HS coaches doing?
winning by having the beat athlete at QB
I feel like was never really given the right tools to work with to even have a chance to succeed in training, scheme or personnel. Asking him to step up and do it in the pros after not getting what he should have in college is going to be a big hill for him to climb.
If he can make it work though, good for him. That would be a monumental achievement
This is where I'm at.
The Packers can afford to put him on the practice squad and give him the coaching. If he can make something of it will be up to Drones.
The mechanics things are interesting. Watching it, I see the out of sync that I saw a lot, but with a little more explanation on why he looks so out of sync. To the point earlier, that feels like the kind of thing that a more experienced QB coach might have helped to drill out of him.
He had 3 different QB coaches between VT and Baylor. Maybe it was not the coaches? Some people just struggle to break a habit. When it is a drill and you are focusing on it, you can do it fine. But when you are focused on something else, you just revert because you have done it that way for years. Especially if you have some success doing it wrong.
Plus the coaches at camps.
Didn't KD (and Cam Ward) spend the summer before his last year with a QB coach in Miami? Seems those bad habits would have been low hanging fruit.
My completely untrained eye: you don't have 11 guys trying to kill you at camp. I imagine that's why he got a good look in the nfl. Under pressure he's got no instinct and his form folds into bad habits. Worked for him when he was the best athlete on the field in hS not so much in college and a long way to go in the nfl.
He knows what he has to do and how to do it right but entraining it so that's what he does when it's crunch time isn't coming as easily