Had to come back for this. Absolutely needs to be taken with a grain of salt given personnel and schemes, however...
Milton also played against guys for Buffalo who played a lot of snaps this year, like Hamlin (100% game, 79.2% year 2nd highest on Bills), Rapp (the one who was beaten on the Boutte TD who was a starter on the Rams during their SB winning season, 42% game, 70.5% year 4th highest on BIlls), starting CB Douglas (25% game for at least 1 TD, 75.2% year 3rd highest on Bills). There were also other starters who made more than a token appearance which would've coincided with Milton's 11 consecutive completions to start his career.
For his TD to Boutte, there were FIVE 3rd stringers on the Pats offense and arguably the worst OL and WR corps in the league. Imho, Maye, while strong, can't make that (ill advised and bad QB play per Milton himself) throw. Milton is on an historic level arm strength wise. For the 2 TDs, there were only 2-3 third stringers on the Bills' D and 4 starters (at least for 1 TD... at least 3 starters for the other - can't tell).
Please note that the vast majority of the Chargers' starters on D only played a little over half of the game (with a couple in the ~70% range), and their secondary is so beat up that a lot of 3rd stringers were playing. Maye should've done significantly better than a goose egg in the 2nd half. There is no QB controversy, as Maye is the guy, but I couldn't be happier to have Milton as the backup (which was my dream really coming into the draft). Milton is extremely run averse contrary to his label, and Maye has been reckless with his body, so unless someone gives up a 1st or very very high 2nd, keeping him is a no brainer, as we may need to have the backup step in very early like for 2 of Maye's 3 official wins.
The guys on the field for the first TD and snaps played vs Pats in the previous game when starters played
Carter-0
Solomon-2
Jeferson-14
Toohill-0
Williams-49 (Plyed 14 snaps week 18)
Andreesen-2
Ulofoshio-1
Ingram-15
Elam-73
Hamlin and Rapp-0 but likely injury related
7 scrubs and 4 guys that get real playing time.
Second TD that was wiped out, same people, No Williams and Rapp but Lewis and Bishop were in who started due to injury but are normally second string, So second TD really on 2 guys that were starters and 2 other guys that have played as starters filling in a few games.
Each play was 7 complete scrubs and 4 guys with meaningful minutes.
In early 4th quarter Chargers: Tony Jefferson for the Chargers was the only equivalent Scrub on the field for the Chargers, the rest were regular contributors every week, playing 20-50 snaps every week. So 10 guys with meaningful minutes and 1 scrub.
You judge QB's by film. Yes, The Boutte TD was a bad QB play. Against starters he's sacked or picked or runs out for minimal gain. He should have thrown to the open reads. College and against scrubs that worked. Not a recipe for success in the NFL.
Even the scramble and almost TD play, I have less issue with this but still not smart QB play. It's 3rd and goal from the 24. The play call would be to take a quick shot to EZ or drop to the underneath to make field goal easier.
He has DD open top left, Safety to right is moving in, Milton's not (I don't think) actually looking there even though he looks there first, my guess is play was to the right and looked left to move safety? He had DD in the window but did not throw it so either came off read too fast or was not the actual first read. He was slow to come off right side read so now pressure is there but all he had to do was step up and Gibson as the dump off is wide open, should have thrown it there. He scrambles and makes the throw which was actually caught out of bounds.
So how would a coach judge this play? Great scramble and rifle throw but window so small he catches it out of bounds. The proper play was DD or the dump off. Against starters might have been sacked or picked.
Solomon and Jefferson are the 2 guys he escapes from. Solomon averaged 3 snaps a game. Jefferson 9.
