Why Doesn't Connor Wear Bigger Pads?

[Garnet Gamecock]

He's still wearing what look like Pop Warner pads compared to what Tajh Boyd wears, for example.

I know he needs range of motion but so do other quarterbacks that seem to wear flak jackets compared to what Connor wears.

I want Connor to truly "run" again instead of just taking off to the sideline at any hint of danger. Since he is recovering from a pretty severe injury, why aren't they changing his pad configuration to give him significantly more protection?

Connor's greatest threat is when he tucks it and runs... and cuts back upfield, making one juke to get past a defender. He hasn't been doing that for some time now because his highest priority is not taking hits.

[uscsandstorm85]

It's probably just his personal preference. It's time the coaches talk to him about it though. Both QB's need to be healthy in order for USC to make a run next year.

[Garnet Gamecock]

Originally Posted by uscsandstorm85

It's time the coaches talk to him about it though. Both QB's need to be healthy in order for USC to make a run next year.

He needs to be able to take SEC-type hits again and again and those pee-wee pads he's wearing wouldn't give me an ounce of confidence if I were the quarterback.

I think he is handicapping himself by wearing something that feels more comfortable but gives him zero psychological confidence that he could take a hit. We've got to get him back to where he will run upfield.

When he is 100% healthy next year, I hope and pray that we don't march him back onto the field with this kiddie pads again. We're just asking for trouble if we do.

[Mick Chicken]

I heard Tajh wears pads with wings

[Garnet Gamecock]

Originally Posted by Mick Chicken

I heard Tajh wears pads with wings

Now that's funny!!!

[MBGCock]

Originally Posted by Garnet Gamecock

He's still wearing what look like Pop Warner pads compared to what Tajh Boyd wears, for example.

I know he needs range of motion but so do other quarterbacks that seem to wear flak jackets compared to what Connor wears.

I want Connor to truly "run" again instead of just taking off to the sideline at any hint of danger. Since he is recovering from a pretty severe injury, why aren't they changing his pad configuration to give him significantly more protection?

Connor's greatest threat is when he tucks it and runs... and cuts back upfield, making one juke to get past a defender. He hasn't been doing that for some time now because his highest priority is not taking hits.

Mobility, throwing motion?

[Garnet Gamecock]

Originally Posted by MBGCock

Mobility, throwing motion?

Why doesn't Tajh have that problem?

Boyd's running was quite effective for a major part of the season and his throwing was just fine (except when he played us, of course).

And it's not just Boyd. Many quarterbacks seem to go with normal to OVERsized pads and still maintain a decent throwing motion and completion percentage.

I think Connor is making a big mistake by going with undersized pads. He's actually a fairly big dude, but when he wears those pads everyone has the impression that he is a midget and they get the idea that he's too short to see his receivers (and so forth).

[JohnnyB21]

He's played wide receiver most of his life, they are probably receiver pads because that's what je's used to. Idk

[MBGCock]

Originally Posted by Garnet Gamecock

Why doesn't Tajh have that problem?

Boyd's running was quite effective for a major part of the season and his throwing was just fine (except when he played us, of course).

And it's not just Boyd. Many quarterbacks seem to go with normal to OVERsized pads and still maintain a decent throwing motion and completion percentage.

I think Connor is making a big mistake by going with undersized pads. He's actually a fairly big dude, but when he wears those pads everyone has the impression that he is a midget and they get the idea that he's too short to see his receivers (and so forth).

boyd has a stronger arm than connor, I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it or not but also maybe because of the rotation of his arm? Im just guessing.

[ConwayGamecock]

Connor also wears grey or black socks, whereas Tyler Bray wears orange socks, because Bray has a stronger arm. I'm not totally sure about this, but it sounds good to me, plus I also get to bring up once again that Connor has a weak arm, so it's all good....

[ConwayGamecock]

[JAYBEZ]

Originally Posted by Garnet Gamecock

Why doesn't Tajh have that problem?

Boyd's running was quite effective for a major part of the season and his throwing was just fine (except when he played us, of course).

And it's not just Boyd. Many quarterbacks seem to go with normal to OVERsized pads and still maintain a decent throwing motion and completion percentage.

I think Connor is making a big mistake by going with undersized pads. He's actually a fairly big dude, but when he wears those pads everyone has the impression that he is a midget and they get the idea that he's too short to see his receivers (and so forth).

You should find another example. Using Tajh Boyd as the glowing showpiece he should strive for makes me immediately lose respect for your argument. Tajh wears bigger pads because he is a fat a$$. He is a big lumbering piece of Clemson filth that runs up numbers against JV competition.

Try someone else, then comeback...

[MillerTime843]

Originally Posted by JAYBEZ

You should find another example. Using Tajh Boyd as the glowing showpiece he should strive for makes me immediately lose respect for your argument. Tajh wears bigger pads because he is a fat a$$. He is a big lumbering piece of Clemson filth that runs up numbers against JV competition.

Try someone else, then comeback...

HAHAHAHAHA

[Indiana Gamecock]

I think it is just appearance. Tajh is considerably larger than Conner.

[scfanz]

Please do not compare Connor Shaw to Taj Boyd in any way. If Connor wants to wear smaller pads that's his choice.

[ZenUSC]

The Vandy player who broke Connor's shoulder bone led with his knee. The knee struck only pads but broke a bone. Different shoulder pads would not have helped. That could have been a very serious injury. I thought the SEC should have made a rule change about leading with a knee. A knee is a battering ram with the potential to do more damage than a helmet tackle.

[TStone]

Originally Posted by Garnet Gamecock

He's still wearing what look like Pop Warner pads compared to what Tajh Boyd wears, for example.

I know he needs range of motion but so do other quarterbacks that seem to wear flak jackets compared to what Connor wears.

I want Connor to truly "run" again instead of just taking off to the sideline at any hint of danger. Since he is recovering from a pretty severe injury, why aren't they changing his pad configuration to give him significantly more protection?

Connor's greatest threat is when he tucks it and runs... and cuts back upfield, making one juke to get past a defender. He hasn't been doing that for some time now because his highest priority is not taking hits.

I'm confused about what this has to do with your point. Do they make some sort of new fangled foot pads? He's coming off of a foot injury. His shoulder injury has been fine for a while now - and it was in a part of the back where heavier pads wouldn't add a lot of additional protection.

[SCohioBoy]

Simple answer, boyd gets hit by Clowney. Shaw takes hits from, well none of the tiggers

[ConwayGamecock]

Originally Posted by ZenUSC

The Vandy player who broke Connor's shoulder bone led with his knee. The knee struck only pads but broke a bone. Different shoulder pads would not have helped. That could have been a very serious injury. I thought the SEC should have made a rule change about leading with a knee. A knee is a battering ram with the potential to do more damage than a helmet tackle.

Plus the VU player didn't hit Connor on the shoulder, or where the pads are the largest. He hit Connor in the back area just below the padded shoulder....still on the pads part, but it's always the lesser padded part of the shoulder pads. Also, the UAB player that struck Connor as he was making his pass, that re-injured him and knocked him out of that game, wasn't on the heaviest padded part of the shoulder pads either, but was into his right pectoral muscle below the shoulder.

I haven't actually seen Connor get hurt in any contact where the contact was on top of his shoulders, where the pads are the thickest. I don't know that any thicker shoulder pads would've prevented Connor's shoulder blade/scapula injury...

[unmeaty]

Originally Posted by Mick Chicken

I heard Tajh wears pads with wings

Ha!

Aye larfed, muy funnyable.