The issue is that it took until a very cold (hard ball) and very windy (ball probably moving like a knuckle ball) day for Mac to finally hit TT in the hands on a deep throw (unless I'm forgetting a previous attempt). I still put most of the blame (randomly picking 90% but that's harsh) on Thornton. Given the conditions, I thought it was a great throw. A perfect throw (rare) is right in the hands, in full stride, with no acceleration changes. A great throw is one with slight acceleration changes. This would've been a "good" throw if the conditions were good, but as such, imho, it was a great throw.
This would've been a 57 air yard pass if completed, which would've been Mac's longest by far as a Patriot (52.2yds). Thornton did have to decelerate rapidly (imho but I'm biased as a slow sprinter/runner), course correct to move left, and dive. If he didn't choose "poorly" (tough in those conditions), then the catch could've been "in stride." The problem with Mac to Thornton (which I'll keep saying until they figure it out), is that Mac is releasing the ball too late. This is even with TT's strangely really slow time to start horizontal movement (which I figured out and will analyze in more detail in the TT thread) - he's that fast. It would've been late even to Agholor, who's very fast in his own right. If it's a single high safety with both Agholor and Thornton in there, I say just look off the safety and chuck it up with release at 2.5s with decision to throw at low 2s. If Thornton cleans up his start (and yes yes catch the ball blah blah) - another .15s - then Mac can decide/commit to throw at around 2s with release at 2.35s for a 57 air yard throw.
2.93s snap to release
3.07s release to TT
I don't think velocity is an issue if he can get the timing right. Not sure one wants to put a throw like this on a rope anyway. As analyzed previously, even Josh Allen will sometimes have throws of this length take that much time (so same velocity) to get the right arc on it.
View attachment 48522
If a neanderthal like me can figure it out, a f*cking rocket scientist shouldn't have a problem. FFS.