Mellott's Progress

[Lord Vigo]

With Chambers' graduation, Cat fans knew that this season was going to ride almost exclusively on Mellott. He would need to make progress as a passer and in terms of protecting his body and remaining healthy/available.

Six games in, here are the results to date:

68.7% completion rate (career best by 5.7 points)

9.4 YPA (career best by 0.4 yards)

12 passing touchdowns (2 more already than in previous seasons); 10.4% touchdown rate (career best by 2 points)

0 interceptions (matches 2021 when he only attempted 53 passes)

On 79 completions, no pass catcher exceeds 15 receptions; on 12 TD's, no pass catcher exceeds 4 touchdowns

Averaging 5.5 rushes per game, which is roughly half as often as last season-- still providing 7.3 YPC and 5 rushing TD's. In 2022, he was the leading rusher by over 200 yards, in 2023 he was 2nd by only 32 yards, and now in 2024 he's 3rd by 165 yards already through just six games.

His pass efficiency is 181.12, which is 3rd in the FCS behind Cam Miller of NDSU and Sam Vidlak of SFA (LOL).

Here is Tommy's projection based on this pace for the rest of the season:

158/230, 68.7%, 2162 yards, 24 TD, 0 INT, 66 rush attempts, 482 yards rushing, 10 rushing TD

[RockyBearCat]

nice breakdown. Thanks.

[MSU01]

Great numbers and so far they haven't let Tommy really use his full abilities yet. Somehow I think that's about to change this week.

[Lord Vigo]

Great numbers and so far they haven't let Tommy really use his full abilities yet. Somehow I think that's about to change this week.

Yeah I will be interested to see. I know that stasticially Idaho’s rushing defense is strong, but there have been a couple FCS games where the traditional RB rush attack was pretty efficient against them.

[RickRund]

With Chambers' graduation, Cat fans knew that this season was going to ride almost exclusively on Mellott. He would need to make progress as a passer and in terms of protecting his body and remaining healthy/available.

Six games in, here are the results to date:

68.7% completion rate (career best by 5.7 points)

9.4 YPA (career best by 0.4 yards)
By
12 passing touchdowns (2 more already than in previous seasons); 10.4% touchdown rate (career best by 2 points)

0 interceptions (matches 2021 when he only attempted 53 passes)

On 79 completions, no pass catcher exceeds 15 receptions; on 12 TD's, no pass catcher exceeds 4 touchdowns

Averaging 5.5 rushes per game, which is roughly half as often as last season-- still providing 7.3 YPC and 5 rushing TD's. In 2022, he was the leading rusher by over 200 yards, in 2023 he was 2nd by only 32 yards, and now in 2024 he's 3rd by 165 yards already through just six games.

His pass efficiency is 181.12, which is 3rd in the FCS behind Cam Miller of NDSU and Sam Vidlak of SFA (LOL).

Here is Tommy's projection based on this pace for the rest of the season:

158/230, 68.7%, 2162 yards, 24 TD, 0 INT, 66 rush attempts, 482 yards rushing, 10 rushing TD

You gotta think that, very quietly, Vidlak is laughing at his good fortune..

[seataccat]

I'm no coach but I think Tommy's strongest assets are his speed and his decision making abilities. He's a damn smart player. It seems that so far they have game planned the offense to develope his throwing ability and keep him healthy for a long season. Winning games through the weaker stretch of the season with a strong ground game behind a really good OL and physical RB's. Now I'm hoping to see the offense utilize more RPO and let Tommy take over games like we know he can.

[Lord Vigo]

I'm no coach but I think Tommy's strongest assets are his speed and his decision making abilities. He's a damn smart player. It seems that so far they have game planned the offense to develope his throwing ability and keep him healthy for a long season. Winning games through the wesker stretch of the season with a strong ground game behind a really good OL and physical RB's. Now I'm hoping to see the offense utilize more RPO and let Tommy take over games like we know he can.

He has had flashes this season of throwing really well on the move, even rolling to his left. That’s huge for a shorter passer.

[catatac]

I'm no coach but I think Tommy's strongest assets are his speed and his decision making abilities. He's a damn smart player. It seems that so far they have game planned the offense to develope his throwing ability and keep him healthy for a long season. Winning games through the wesker stretch of the season with a strong ground game behind a really good OL and physical RB's. Now I'm hoping to see the offense utilize more RPO and let Tommy take over games like we know he can.

He has had flashes this season of throwing really well on the move, even rolling to his left. That’s huge for a shorter passer.

And his fakes have been deadly, whether it's a play action fake, or option pitch, fake, etc... he sells it so well it's almost impossible to stop when he makes the right read. He's either breaking into the secondary when we all know can easily be a TD for him, or he's hitting a wide open receiver or pitch man.

[KIX]

Great numbers and so far they haven't let Tommy really use his full abilities yet. Somehow I think that's about to change this week.

Hopefully. My gut says they have been holding onto the reins a bit, so to speak.

[gtapp]

He looks "Polished" this year. Smart, clean, efficient and productive. Just a great all around performance. And this does include his leadership abilities. leads by example is an understatement.

[St George]

I just watched the vandal coach discuss this weeks game. The one thing Eck said that stuck out, he said “I’ll be glad when Mellot is done”.

[cats2506]

I just watched the vandal coach discuss this weeks game. The one thing Eck said that stuck out, he said “I’ll be glad when Mellot is done”.

Interesting statement on this being a late ESPN2 game. "I hope other coaches will see and like our players."

It seems like Eck's strategy in recruiting is that they will play early at UI and can use the portal to move up to FBS in their later years.

[MSU01]

I just watched the vandal coach discuss this weeks game. The one thing Eck said that stuck out, he said “I’ll be glad when Mellot is done”.

Interesting statement on this being a late ESPN2 game. "I hope other coaches will see and like our players."

It seems like Eck's strategy in recruiting is that they will play early at UI and can use the portal to move up to FBS in their later years.

Smart move by Eck and it's working for them, every year they appear to be decimated by the Transfer Portal but every year they have been able to reload with more talent.

[coloradocat]

He looks "Polished" this year. Smart, clean, efficient and productive. Just a great all around performance. And this does include his leadership abilities. leads by example is an understatement.

He looks like a real QB out there. Sure, there are still the occasional poorly thrown balls, but in general he's looked much improved over the "running QB" he was in previous seasons. He's making more throws more consistently than ever before.

[tetoncat]

I just watched the vandal coach discuss this weeks game. The one thing Eck said that stuck out, he said “I’ll be glad when Mellot is done”.

Interesting statement on this being a late ESPN2 game. "I hope other coaches will see and like our players."

It seems like Eck's strategy in recruiting is that they will play early at UI and can use the portal to move up to FBS in their later years.

I thought he said hopefully they don't like our players

[TomCat88]

With Chambers' graduation, Cat fans knew that this season was going to ride almost exclusively on Mellott. He would need to make progress as a passer and in terms of protecting his body and remaining healthy/available.

Six games in, here are the results to date:

68.7% completion rate (career best by 5.7 points)

9.4 YPA (career best by 0.4 yards)

12 passing touchdowns (2 more already than in previous seasons); 10.4% touchdown rate (career best by 2 points)

0 interceptions (matches 2021 when he only attempted 53 passes)

On 79 completions, no pass catcher exceeds 15 receptions; on 12 TD's, no pass catcher exceeds 4 touchdowns

Averaging 5.5 rushes per game, which is roughly half as often as last season-- still providing 7.3 YPC and 5 rushing TD's. In 2022, he was the leading rusher by over 200 yards, in 2023 he was 2nd by only 32 yards, and now in 2024 he's 3rd by 165 yards already through just six games.

His pass efficiency is 181.12, which is 3rd in the FCS behind Cam Miller of NDSU and Sam Vidlak of SFA (LOL).

Here is Tommy's projection based on this pace for the rest of the season:

158/230, 68.7%, 2162 yards, 24 TD, 0 INT, 66 rush attempts, 482 yards rushing, 10 rushing TD

That's good statistical progress and I don't think it's entirely due to playing weak competition. The progress I've noticed is his ability to get rid of the ball faster, his play fakes are sold better and he's more mature, meaning he gets down sooner when he runs and doesn't force things, which is something he's aways been pretty good at. I think these things are why his numbers are improving.

[JDoub]

Tommy Touchdown represents all that is good about Butte America

He is seeing open WR better this year so far, esp. on RPO. He might have the best WR room he's ever had.

As we start what I think is the middle third of this season - it's time to kick it up a notch. Starting Saturday night.

[Lord Vigo]

With Chambers' graduation, Cat fans knew that this season was going to ride almost exclusively on Mellott. He would need to make progress as a passer and in terms of protecting his body and remaining healthy/available.

Six games in, here are the results to date:

68.7% completion rate (career best by 5.7 points)

9.4 YPA (career best by 0.4 yards)

12 passing touchdowns (2 more already than in previous seasons); 10.4% touchdown rate (career best by 2 points)

0 interceptions (matches 2021 when he only attempted 53 passes)

On 79 completions, no pass catcher exceeds 15 receptions; on 12 TD's, no pass catcher exceeds 4 touchdowns

Averaging 5.5 rushes per game, which is roughly half as often as last season-- still providing 7.3 YPC and 5 rushing TD's. In 2022, he was the leading rusher by over 200 yards, in 2023 he was 2nd by only 32 yards, and now in 2024 he's 3rd by 165 yards already through just six games.

His pass efficiency is 181.12, which is 3rd in the FCS behind Cam Miller of NDSU and Sam Vidlak of SFA (LOL).

Here is Tommy's projection based on this pace for the rest of the season:

158/230, 68.7%, 2162 yards, 24 TD, 0 INT, 66 rush attempts, 482 yards rushing, 10 rushing TD

That's good statistical progress and I don't think it's entirely due to playing weak competition. The progress I've noticed is his ability to get rid of the ball faster, his play fakes are sold better and he's more mature, meaning he gets down sooner when he runs and doesn't force things, which is something he's aways been pretty good at. I think these things are why his numbers are improving.

He really struggled with the blitzes that New Mexico was throwing at him in the first half of that week 1 game. He took 3 sacks.

Since then, they've really cleaned some things up-- 2 sacks in 5 games.

[Lord Vigo]

Tommy Touchdown represents all that is good about Butte America

He is seeing open WR better this year so far, esp. on RPO. He might have the best WR room he's ever had.

As we start what I think is the middle third of this season - it's time to kick it up a notch. Starting Saturday night.

The deep completion to Garrigan this last week was one of the better balls I've seen him throw.

[wbtfg]

Tommy has been very good this season.