Perhaps the biggest knock against Paxton Lynch so far in his young NFL career has that he, like many young quarterbacks, is either too quick to run or too slow to pull the trigger. In short, his progressions need work.
Lynch said following Tuesday’s joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers that he’s already seeing a difference between his progressions now and at the start of this year’s training camp.
“Just my progressions and being comfortable in the offense I think is growing over time and day in and day out with these guys,” Lynch said.
He went on to expand on his comfort in the offense, including his ability to change plays at the line.
“Knowing where they’re going to be,” Lynch said of his receivers, “knowing when to adjust plays and fix protections, and having the ability to change the plays. I know that [Offensive Coordinator] Coach [Mike] McCoy is starting to have some trust in us and give us the ability to go up to the line of scrimmage and get us in the right look.”
McCoy and Head Coach Vance Joseph will get another look at Lynch on Saturday as the starter against the 49ers, trying to determine if he’s the right man for the job at quarterback.
In the first preseason game, playing in relief of Trevor Siemian, Lynch was 6-for-9 for 42 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He added 11 yards on four rushes, as well. In four full possessions, he produced zero points.
The bar wasn’t set too high, however, by Siemian. In his three drives, Simian generated only a field goal in his start against the Bears.
Putting points on the board will be key to either player winning the job. Lynch is well aware. Yet after failing to score against the Bears’ second-team defense, he’s still not necessarily willing to call Saturday’s game a make-or-break. He’d rather focus on progression.
“I don’t know if it’s last chance or make or break,” he said. “Right now, I know the coaches are just expecting the quarterbacks to go out there and move the ball and score points. So that’s what I’m really focused on and that’s what I’ve been focused on since I’ve had the opportunity to play quarterback here. It’s just getting better and progressing, then seeing the progression in me.”
Most experts considered Lynch a two-to-three year project coming out of Memphis. Now in year two, progressions are the real key to his taking the next step. General progression as a young quarterback in the league, and those progressions on the field to find his open man. Because finding that open man will ultimately lead to his becoming the man under center.
