Decision-making: B
Having lived through eight seasons of Jay Cutler, one can bet Bears fans will hold decision-making to a higher standard than most other teams. This is a category that centers around whether or not the quarterback makes smart or poor decisions with the football. When he sees every receiver covered on first down does he throw into tight coverage or does he throw it away and live to fight on the next play?
This can be one of the frustrating things about Watson. Even though he doesn’t have elite arm strength he still feels he can fit the ball into tight windows down the field. It’s 2nd and 3. His team doesn’t need a big play. The last thing they can afford is a turnover in their own territory. Instead of checking the ball down for a first down, he tries to thread the needle down the sideline between two Alabama defenders in coverage. The results are predictable.
At the same time Watson is a smart kid who understands advanced intricacies of playing against top level defenses. This play isn’t a big one but it’s a perfect example. Watson examines the field and sees it’s man coverage. He finds two Ohio State defenders poised for a possible blitz from the left side. Common wisdom is to throw the ball on a hot read to a receiver in the face of the blitz. That’s exactly what Watson does. The receiver is wide open and it’s converted for a first down. Textbook.
