Arkansas Needs to See NFL Quarterback Draft Prospect KJ Jefferson Run Less

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – It has been a season of non-public battle for Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson.

NFL scouts wish to see him settle in additional within the pocket and present he can work by progressions so he can show he can consider the sector at NFL pace and accuracy.

Arkansas followers wish to win, and the way in which they see that taking place is by Jefferson making the fast resolution to run and get assured yards as an alternative of ready to see if a tightly coated receiver is finally going to return open and whether or not he’ll catch it if he does.

NFL scouts wish to see whether or not Jefferson has the accuracy to suit the ball into tight home windows the place receivers can be thought of open within the NFL, however too coated to danger it often in faculty. 

Followers need Jefferson to run the ball except somebody is huge open. No have to danger an interception on a bobbled ball as a result of the defender was too shut when there’s one other traditional Jefferson spotlight reel of him operating the ball available.

NFL scouts wish to see Jefferson slide and handle his physique earlier than he bangs himself up an excessive amount of to be price a late decide to tackle as a venture. They’d find it irresistible much more if he did all the above at a excessive degree and compelled them to take him third spherical or larger.

Arkansas followers wish to see him struggle for that further yard. As long as Jefferson is not diving into or over something, his physique is a weapon to be utilized to the fullest extent as a result of it places worry in opponents and brings power to the workforce.

Pull up the headlines from this previous season. From the primary week of October throughout to the tip of the season, two full months, the headlines had been about how Jefferson will miss or may miss the sport and that Arkansas cannot win with out him.

Sandwiched in between Sam Pittman harm updates on Jefferson caught on repeat is a headline that reads “Should See: KJ Jefferson Will not Go Down.” 

However apparently he ought to have as a result of all of the headlines after which might be about how he is out or they’re looking for a method to pressure Jefferson into the sport.

When Jefferson tried to chop down on operating the ball to spend extra time within the pocket, followers complained. Nevertheless, now that the complete season will be checked out from the highest down, reducing Jefferson’s rushes had a optimistic impact.

In 4 video games, Jefferson restrained himself, maintaining his carries all the way down to 8-10 makes an attempt. Arkansas received all 4.

The Razorbacks solely received two video games the place their NFL linebacker sized quarterback ran 16 or extra instances, each of which had been to open the season when his physique was totally rested and wholesome.

Jefferson’s three highest quarterback rankings got here when he hung within the pocket and gave his receivers an opportunity. He additionally solely threw considered one of his 4 interceptions whereas being extra dedicated to the pocket. 

Three of Jefferson’s 4 highest yards per carry got here throughout video games the place he ran the ball much less as a result of linebackers needed to maintain again in protection longer. 

In a dominating win over Ole Miss, Jefferson averaged 5.9 yards on eight carries, his fewest of the 12 months.

Video games with carries of 10 or much less additionally embody two of his three longest carries with runs of 25 and 23 in opposition to Auburn and Ole Miss respectively. 

Solely a 26 yard run in what ought to have been a win over Texas A&M was longer. Mockingly, it was Jefferson operating the ball as an alternative of handing it off or passing it that resulted within the Aggies presumably touchdown the play of the 12 months whereas handing Arkansas a loss.

With Jefferson coming again, there are three issues that ought to happen.

1. He ought to get to work on positioning himself for the NFL draft one of the simplest ways attainable. Persistently placing quarterbacks within the NFL must be a precedence for this program as it’s a vital recruiting instrument desperately wanted for stabilization of this system.

It also needs to be famous that three of Jefferson’s 4 greatest passing video games from a yards standpoint had been when he ran the ball much less. That features his prime two of 385 in opposition to Missouri State and 367 in opposition to BYU.

Three of his 4 most prolific video games for passing touchdowns got here in these video games, together with the highest two with 5 in opposition to BYU and three in opposition to Ole Miss.

Jefferson solely took 4 sacks throughout these video games and had his season excessive dashing landing whole in opposition to Auburn as a part of that set.

Each quantity says Jefferson ought to run much less and get the time to become an NFL quarterback.

2. Nobody ought to ever have to jot down that Arkansas cannot win if the quarterback goes down ever once more.  It is unfair for Jefferson to place his well being and future in danger due to poor employees evaluations or incapability to develop the expertise on the roster.

If Jacolby Criswell and Malachi Singleton do not seem like they’ll be able to get the job performed, then this employees must run out and seize Braylon Braxton, defensive signee Jaylon Braxton’s older brother, out of the switch portal.

The child is a stud who performed approach above his station at Tulsa and solely ended up there as a result of he did not have sufficient 7-on-7 and camp publicity. If this offensive employees cannot maintain the practice rolling lengthy sufficient to let Jefferson correctly heal with that degree of expertise within the quarterback room, then it might be time to look the switch portal for offensive coaches.

3. Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, AJ Inexperienced, and Rashad Dubinion are three of the perfect backs Arkansas has been in a position to placed on the sector on the identical time. Solely the trio of Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis surpass it. 

The additional touches make an enormous distinction within the offense. Jefferson’s passing success theoretically ought to have meant much less manufacturing out of the backfield, however, as an alternative, it maximized manufacturing. 

Sanders had touches of 24-242 in opposition to Missouri State, 16-179 in opposition to BYU, 17-177 in opposition to Auburn and 30-261 in opposition to Ole Miss. As a complete, the trio had 28-250, 41-331, 32-213, and 42-317 respectively.

There are whole offenses not placing up these numbers, a lot much less operating again teams whereas their quarterback has large days additionally.

So, if Jefferson spends the Liberty Bowl and all of subsequent season hanging within the pocket making an attempt to provide his receivers an opportunity whereas engaged on his NFL expertise, give the call-in exhibits and message boards a break. 

Even when it weren’t damaging to his physique and the Razorbacks’ hopes of placing one other quarterback within the league, it isn’t what’s greatest for successful.

And successful is one thing this employees and Jefferson have to do plenty of subsequent season.

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