[Goose]

When one talks about how an "elite" QB can bail out poor coaching, it is important to look at exactly what skills that QB has. Darnold was an expert at making something out of nothing. USC had elite receivers that seemed to not run good routes, or in many cases, no route at all. It was "street" football. Darnold was real good at that. You may have an elite QB that delivers the ball to a spot on time, but if the receiver isn't reliably going to be there, it won't work. Helton and the staff seem to expect that their supposed "athletic superiority" means that they don't need a game plan, don't need to practice hard, and don't need to actually coach the players. Against UNLV, they were right. Against good teams, not so much. Darnold could overcome all that with his gunslinger approach and decisive throws. Very few QBs, even great ones, can play like that.

[Goose]

When one talks about how an "elite" QB can bail out poor coaching, it is important to look at exactly what skills that QB has. Darnold was an expert at making something out of nothing. USC had elite receivers that seemed to not run good routes, or in many cases, no route at all. It was "street" football. Darnold was real good at that. You may have an elite QB that delivers the ball to a spot on time, but if the receiver isn't reliably going to be there, it won't work. Helton and the staff seem to expect that their supposed "athletic superiority" means that they don't need a game plan, don't need to practice hard, and don't need to actually coach the players. Against UNLV, they were right. Against good teams, not so much. Darnold could overcome all that with his gunslinger approach and decisive throws. Very few QBs, even great ones, can play like that.