And an option. You can feel that he is correct or incorrect. Numbers don't lie and Watson's numbers say he is above average. However, they show a trend of the same thing week in week out. That trend is not being able to make the play to win. As well as doing the same thing it says in his scouting report (bad D reading, not throwing it away, always looking for a big play vs what is called and not doing well running left).
I hope he can get better but have doubts.
There are a lot of things I want to respond to here, but let's take one thing at a time.
Holding on to the ball?
No improvement?
The numbers don't agree with your assessments.
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These are official stats from the NFL.
You can change the year to 2018, 19, and 20.
For simplicity sake, just look at the column that says TT (Time to Throw).
I know that there are lots of things that may affect this number.
For example, a slow poke like Manning, Schaub, Savage would either eat it or throw it away, thus shorten the time to throw.
Guys like Wilson, Rodgers, Watson, Mahomes would try to extent plays and keep the ball longer.
Guys that favor a quick passing game (like Brady, and Prescott of the last few years) would require less time to throw the ball.
But also, a QB that throws a lot of screen passes or dump offs, would also need less time to throw the ball, like Derek Carr and a few young guys right now, even Dak Prescott (in his rookie year).
1. You can see that Watson's time to throw has decreased from 3.10 to 2.82
There's the improvement that does not support your claim.
2. Compare that number with Wilson's and Mahome's.
Compare it with the rest of the league.