In Reply to: I think your Point #2 is key. posted by ThreeDegreeBruin on September 15, 2026 at 20:50:25
Last year, the OL was so danged bad that he had to be ready to run at almost the snap of the ball on a pass play, but it is much better this year, and Nico can finally learn how to show pocket presence and awareness and manipulate the pocket.
Garbers was great at this, making tons of subtle moves with his eyes downfield to buy himself and his receivers that extra half second it can take for a play to come open, and then bolting the pocket if it didn't happen. But so many times, he would just take a half step while keeping his feet ready to throw which would turn a sack or a run into a big pass play.
I don't expect Nico to immediately get there, but I do want to see him start to do a bit better at manipulating the pocket for that small bit of extra time which can mean the success or failure of a pass play without needing to just run.