12 Comments
Jul 29, 2022Liked by Ian Boyd

As a long time student of the OODA Loop, it’s exciting to see it applied here. And it even gets curiouser and curiouser as you dive deeper.

OODA training teaches “getting inside your opponent’s OODA Loop”. Speed of seeing, processing and reacting (OODA) are obviously huge factors in elite QB play, as you point out. But timing is critical, too. You’re trying to catch your enemy on their half-beat. The best QBs are probably doing this.

This military piece explains it way better than I can:

https://thestrategybridge.org/the-bridge/2020/3/17/the-ooda-loop-and-the-half-beat

The line in your essay that caught my eye re Brady: “…but it was his willingness to patiently and consistently take what defenses gave him…”. The word 'patiently' is key, and recognizes Brady not only going through OODA fast, but timing it to his opponents’ loops and catching them on the half beat, patiently.

Very cool stuff, Ian. You and your "great-uncle" John really has us thinking here.

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Makes me think Sam Ehlinger’s ability to execute OODA was dramatically underrated.

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I tried to argue as much at the time.

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It was abundantly clear that he was saving our bacon presnap

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Ian… great article! One question…as you know, a starter will arise from the QB competition at UT this August. Which 2 or 3 specific things are you gonna be watching for in the first 2 games from the starter? Pocket presence? Completion percentage? Hitting some big shots? Staying alive(in reference to week 2)?

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Unlocking the downfield potential of this wide receiver corps I think is the big thing.

Texas has TWO high levels, downfield threats. If you can credibly involve both on the same play on opposite ends of the field, the run game gets an awful lot easier for Bijan and Roschon and then you're playing offense on easy mode.

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Interesting…then maybe check down to Sanders if the safeties bail?

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Yeah, or run the ball.

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Jul 29, 2022Liked by Ian Boyd

“RPO heaven”

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Calvin Johnson didn’t play in an option offense. He played in a pro style offense under Chan Gailey. D Thomas did play for Paul Johnson for two seasons. He had 1154 receiving yards and averaged 25 ypc. He wasn’t wasted either.

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Definitely wasted but I misremembered the evils of that offense.

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Jul 29, 2022Liked by Ian Boyd

C Johnson was wasted because of Reggie Ball not the design of the offense.

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