The Film Room: A Closer Look At Our Signees, pt. 1
George Cafego on February 3, 2012
The fax machines are silent. Workouts are in full effect. The coaching staff has all taken a collective sigh. So what’s left? Nothing. And that’s the worst part of signing day being over. There’s absolutely nothing going, save for spring practice, until July. We might as well take a look at the young men who will be suiting up in Orange and White next year while we wait it out. Read through it, and if you have any comments, disagreements, or questions, leave them in the comments section at the bottom. Check out all the Film Rooms here.
Let’s start with QBs and RBs.
Nathan Peterman, 6’3 210 lbs
- 4 star QB out of Fruit Cove, Florida.
- His 36 TD passes in 2012 rank second all-time in St. Johns County history to Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow, so there’s that.
- He’s an early enrollee, giving him a lot of time to develop before the first game
Here’s the link to all of his highlights. The main thing that I notice is that the ball is always exactly where it needs to be thrown.
Let’s take a look at a couple of individual ones. As you watch this, notice his feet. They never stop moving, he’s always on his toes, and because of this, he escapes the pressure. Then as he throws it, he squares up his shoulders and delivers a solid bullet.
- Look at how he’s got both hands on the ball. He’s got a nice, quick, compact wind up that minimizes the risk of fumbling. This type of ball security is subconscious, and it’s hard to learn and apply if it’s not natural. Some QBs never learn it. With Peterman, that’s not a concern. He’s got the ball safely guarded as soon as it touches his hands.
- His head is always on a swivel. Staring down receivers is a major problem that young QBs have, and Peterman has managed to surpass that. Not only does he see receivers downfield, but he’s got the innate ability to feel the rush. As a QB, you can’t be looking at the line, and once you do, the play is shot. Peterman has eyes in the back of his head, and he knows when to drift and when to step up.
- His feet are always chopping, always moving, and always guiding his body. A QB’s throwing ability starts from the feet and goes up, and that’s why throwing on the run is so hard, because they try to guide it with their arm. Peterman has the footwork to step up, drift out, or take off running. When talking about a QB’s mobility, this is what that means. Not speed or agility, but his ability to move within a tight space. To see a QB put all three of these together is simply poetry in motion.
I think Peterman is as polished of a high school QB that there is. The college game, and the SEC game, are a different animal. The catch with Peterman is if he can adjust to the speed at which the game is played, adjusting to more athletic defenders, taking hits, and developing chemistry with his teammates. But if we’re talking mechanics alone, I think Peterman has the potential to make it big. His ability to move and create plays with his feet are reminiscent of Andrew Luck, and there are things that he does that cannot be taught. I think that the future is bright for Nathan Peterman.
Alden Hill, 6’1 22o lbs
- He rushed for 4,745 yards in his high school career.
- He’s a physical, downhill runner.
- I’m not sure that he knows what a smile is.
A tough, physical runner, Hill may be what Tennessee has been lacking: a short yardage situation back. Here’s the tape.
What sticks out to me with Hill is his cutting ability. Check out the play below, specifically.
A few things to take away from this play
- His burst through the line of scrimmage is solid. While not the fastest guy on the field, he gets through the hole with zero hesitation. A huge weakness any football player can have while actually executing is thinking while playing. If a lineman is thinking about who he is supposed to block, he’s not going to be as physical as he could be. The same is true for a RB getting through a hole. You have to feel the defenders around you and the hole before you, and Hill does that. He doesn’t waste time in the backfield; he gets to the point of attack quickly.
- He makes quick cuts and has good vision to find the open grass. His cuts could be more sharper, but he can work on that. He find the sideline quickly. Too many RB’s fail to utilize that. I think the 40 yard dash is one of the most overrated measurements in football, particularly at RB. Notice Hill when he gets to the sideline. He kicks it into high gear, throws his head back, and takes off. I realize he isn’t playing in the SEC here, but he’s not molasses.
Many are saying Hill becomes a fullback, but I don’t necessarily agree. Sure, that’s an option, but too often, people think a thicker running back can automatically translate into being a fullback. That’s not the case. The fullback’s primary job is to block, and Hill has never been a fullback, he never had to lead holes and block in high school, so what makes anyone think he should start trying now that he’s in the most physical conference in the SEC? It doesn’t add up. If we were to use him like we did Shawn Bryson, sure. But don’t expect him to be out there isolating on the Dont’a Hightowers of the world. I like Hill. I think he gives you a weapon that we haven’t had. And he doesn’t smile.
Davante Bourque, 6’1 210 lbs
- Three time all state selection
- He rushed for 375 yards in a single game
- He has notched eyebrows
Though listed as an athlete, Bourque is most certainly a running back. Here’s a quote from him.
I don’t see us straight up lying to a kid to get him here. Some people think that’s acceptable, but I do not, and if we are, then shame on us. But more than that, the kid is talented. He can tote the pill. Check the film out.
Look at this play especially.
A couple of things
- His team uses a zone blocking scheme, forcing him to pick his hole and use his vision. As we all know, Tennessee tried to run a variant of the zone scheme last year, and it appears we’ll keep some aspects of it. On this particular play, Bourque finds his hole and accelerates through it.
- He’s a very fluid runner. 6’1 is a bit tall for the ideal runner, but he uses his long legs to get through the defense. It’s almost like he’s gliding through the D.
- His ability to bob and weave as he’s moving at top speed is impressive.
I really like Bourque, and it appears that Jay Graham does as well. That’s the end of the argument. He’s already heavier than Marlin Lane, and he doesn’t have the injury history that Lane does. I think he can develop into an every down back. He’s quick and agile enough to get in space, and he’s thick enough to lay it to a defender. We’ll see how he’s used this year.
Quenshaun Watson, 5’9 175
- He ran for 4,072 yards and 55 touchdowns in his career at Clarke Central HS
- He was a talented track player in high school
- He has dreadlocks
“Que” Watson is the type of player that Tennessee has been missing for quite some time. Devrin Young is quick, agile, and he’s a jitterbug, but Watson is all of those and he can fly. I couldn’t find a video of him alone, but here’s a highlight from his HS team.
Look at this play.
- Oh my word at those cuts. His first one is immediately upon the handoff, and though you can’t see the whole play, it looks like the playside collapsed. He immediately recognizes it, and doesn’t dance around. He take the handoff and goes. Then when he gets to the line, he makes one cut upfield and he’s in the endzone.
- Once again, he cuts back and gets yards. He shows throughout this video that he can break simple arm tackles. He may be small, but he’s strong and he’s quick.
- THAT JUKE MOVE
I think Watson is a solid pick up. I know he didn’t have the best offer list, but he has value in this offense. Anyone like him can be used. He’ll help out on special teams, and we’ll try to get the ball to him in space. There’s no reason to think he can’t pack on some more bulk and get into the rotation. And he has some nice dreads.
Overall, I liked this class. I thought areas of need were addressed, and we signed some quality depth guys, maybe even future standouts. We’ll take a look at some more in the next article. Again, feel free to leave any comments below.
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Comments (2)
Nice work. Look forward to pt 2.
MOAR!