It’s no secret throughout the SEC that Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett has the ability to make opposing defenses cover the entire field. He possesses great arm strength, can spin the football outside the numbers and consistently is able to threaten defensive backs vertically down the field. And when he has his feet set and is given time in the pocket to step into throws he showcases the ability to fit the football into tight windows and consistently give his receivers a chance to make a play. However, the difference between him and top-tier quarterback prospects is that Mallett struggles with his ball placement — especially in the short and intermediate pass game — forcing receivers to slow down their routes or stop in order to adjust to the throws, as opposed to simply being able to run through it.
Also, at 6-6, Mallett isn’t a real impressive athlete in the pocket either, as he gets really lethargic with his footwork and struggles to quickly re-set his feet toward his target. But he still has the arm strength to get the football to anyone even when falling away from his target. But, when he doesn’t maintain balance into his throws his ball placement and accuracy really struggle, which has been one of the main culprits for the majority of his interceptions on the year. Therefore, the key for the LSU defense is creating pressure on Mallett and forcing him to move off his spot in the pocket, because if you can make the guy move his feet, in my view from all the games I have seen of him, Mallett simply isn’t real effective.