Sawyer Robertson, QB vs Auburn 2025
Player: Sawyer Robertson, QB, Baylor
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 220 lbs
Class: Senior
Opponent: Auburn
Year: 2025
Final Stat Line:
27/48, 419 YDS, 3 TD, 0 INT, 4 Sacks
Film Link: Watch on YouTube
Overview
The yardage pops; the execution wobbles. Robertson flashes two real NFL traits—downfield placement when his base is right and enough RPM to drive an in-breaker through linebacker depth—but too much of the production comes from coverage busts and YAC. Pocket habits are the limiter: he drifts to depth and width when he should climb, turning neutral downs into negatives.
The good news: he’s tough, will hang for hits, and shows leverage-aware placement in the red zone. The bad: a near-INT on 4th-and-short and multiple drift-induced sacks that kill drives. Clean up the pocket discipline and you’ve got a spot-starter profile. Leave it as-is and you’ve got volatility.
Film Review - Key Plays
Play 1) 8:45 1Q, 2nd & 10 — 55-yard sideline shot
Pocket compresses from depth and the edges widen; Robertson keeps a stacked base through the fake, and releases before the WR fully stacks the corner. Eyes hold the post safety just long enough, and the ball is layered outside-shoulder—high enough to clear the CB, flat enough to keep the safety from overlapping—so the WR stays in stride and adds YAC. This is Sunday-adjacent vertical placement when his feet are right; keep the front shoulder down or this turns into a sail-and-pray.
Play 2) 15:00 2Q, 2nd & 8 — Sack
Standard U-shaped pocket with a clean interior lane; instead of two quick hitches up, Robertson floats left, lengthening the arc and walking into the DE. Eyes stay downfield but the feet don’t match the picture, turning a checkdown/throwaway into a punt. This is the swing trait in his profile: climb and you’re still alive on 3rd; drift and you’re gifting the defense a drive-killer.
Play 3) 3:28 2Q, 4th & 9 — 33-yard TD
Play-action freezes the hook and the seam opens wide; he plants and fires to the WR in stride across the goal line. Credit for recognition and trigger, but the coverage bust does the heavy lifting—this pads the 419 without proving he can win the same throw against NFL leverage. The takeaway is decision speed when the picture is clean; can he keep that tempo when the window is half as big?
Play 4) 0:31 3Q, 2nd & 10 — 20-yard slant
The ball is out as the WR crosses the LB’s face; placement is chest-high on the front number and the velocity beats the close while protecting the WR from an inside shot. It’s his cleanest rep of sequencing—eyes disciplined, feet married to the read, and the ball drives through the window. This is a translatable intermediate timing/ball speed.
Play 5) 11:56 4Q, 3rd & 3 — 5-yard TD
Empty declares pressure, he immediately IDs the one-on-one and throws high-and-away where only the big TE can climb; he knows contact is coming and still prioritizes placement over velocity. That’s a sustainable red-zone process—leverage, matchup, percentage ball.
Final Thoughts
There’s enough arm and situational poise to work with, but the floor stays fragile until some of his pocket habits change. The path is simple: climb, don’t drift; kill predetermined MOF throws on money downs; keep the base alive when the picture muddies. Fix that, and the flashes look like a plan.
Strengths on Display
Vertical Shot Placement & Timing: Layered 55-yard sideline strike off PA; outside-shoulder, in-stride placement that protects from the safety and preserves YAC.
Intermediate MOF Drive & Anticipation: 20-yard slant thrown on time through LB depth; chest-high, front-number location with enough RPM to beat the close.
Red-Zone Leverage ID & Ball Placement: Empty vs blitz, isolates the TE and puts it high-and-away—percentage throw your guy can win without added turnover risk.
Competitive Toughness & Hit Tolerance: Hangs in vs pressure and still delivers; willing to take shots to access sideline and intermediate windows.
Areas for Improvement
Pocket Climb Mechanics & Depth/Width Control: Eliminate drift to 9–10 yards; hitch up to 7–8 to preserve the arc, keep outlets alive, and convert sacks into checkdowns/throwaways.
Late-Down Leverage & Risk Management: Don’t predetermine MOF throws (near-pick on 4th-and-3); use eyes/shoulders to move underneath defenders before pulling the trigger.
Pre/Post-Snap Rotation Sync & Footwork Sequencing: Faster adjustment when the picture muddies; keep the base active so the front shoulder doesn’t fly open and balls don’t sail.
Negative-Play Mitigation & Clock Management: Earlier throwaways and hot/auxiliary access to reduce sacks (4 in this game) and keep the offense on schedule.
