2020 NFL Draft: Breaking down Joe Burrow’s dominant CFP performance

In Joe Burrow’s second to last game before the 2020 NFL Draft process, he absolutely dominated the Sooners in the Peach Bowl.

It’s been an amazing season already for Heisman trophy winner Joe Burrow, but things are getting even better down the stretch as we get to the 2020 NFL Draft process. Burrow and the LSU Tigers made it to the College Football Playoff, and they took on the Oklahoma Sooners this past Saturday.

Burrow made the game look like an exhibition for the Tigers with his dominant performance. He completed 29 of 39 for 493 yards and seven touchdowns, and the wild part is he threw for all seven touchdowns in the first half alone. The Tigers led 49-14 at halftime and didn’t look back in an astonishing 63-28 victory. But Burrow is the one we are focusing on here.

The early thoughts from his chart show how dominant he truly was, no matter what situation he was in. He was exceptional once again on throws 20+ yards down the field, completing 6/10 passing and throwing for three touchdowns, all to Justin Jefferson. Burrow’s first deep ball touchdown to Jefferson had great touch on it and hit Jefferson in stride for the score. He threw another one to Jefferson’s back shoulder towards the center of the field where he could make a play.

This final deep ball touchdown was a special one. Burrow was flushed from the pocket and threw a dart on the run, once again targeting Jefferson’s back shoulder. Jefferson made the adjustment for the score. We talk sometimes that Burrow doesn’t have the strongest arm, but it’s plenty good enough to make these plays.

Burrow’s efficiency in key spots was also outstanding. He completed all three of his red zone attempts, and all went for touchdowns. Burrow was money on play-action, completing 7/10 and throwing for three touchdowns. He was also 4/4 on third downs and delivered a first down on three of those four attempts.

Burrow did have a lot of time to make throws in the pocket and dice up the Sooners defense, but it was his ability (once again) to avoid pressure and make plays out of the pocket that made his game so impressive. He made a couple plays rolling left, including an early red zone touchdown to Terrace Marshall that was perfectly placed.

No throw looked uncomfortable for him in this game. He was poised, confident, and made great throws to every level of the field. It’s likely he will chart out as the best passer by far of quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft, especially in the 20+ category. Watching him play against Clemson’s defense will be a treat.