We’ve all heard of the epic duels of the wild west — but we never expected we’d be able to bear witness to such a duel in the modern era. Oxford, Mississippi, may not be quite as far west as we were expecting, but the battle between 2022 NFL Draft prospects Matt Corral and Malik Willis already has the hype — as both QBs battle for the QB1 mantle.
The long-awaited Matt Corral vs. Malik Willis duel
You might not see cacti on the side of the field, but there’s a decent chance of fireworks in this battle. Both Ole Miss QB Matt Corral and Liberty QB Malik Willis have had no trouble slinging the football down the field this year. In fact, from an NFL Draft perspective — especially in Willis’ case — one could argue they’ve been too boom or bust.
Nevertheless, both quarterbacks remain in the QB1 race, and Corral is still a top-five contender for the Heisman Trophy. Corral has completed 161 of 244 attempts (66%) for 2,202 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just 2 interceptions through eight games. He’s also amassed 519 yards and 10 scores on the ground.
The output has been similar from Willis. The Liberty star has played in nine games thus far. Over that span, he’s completed 140 of 210 passes (66.7%) for 1,986 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. On the ground, he’s gone for 684 yards and 9 TDs.
On the stat sheet, each quarterback’s dual-threat dynamism is clearly evident. But to find a more detailed rundown of each passer’s game, you ultimately need the tape. Looking at the tape, let’s answer one question: What does each quarterback need to show on Saturday to win the duel and make another bid at QB1?
Matt Corral’s claim to QB1 thus far
Above anything else, Corral has done one thing few other quarterbacks can boast this year: He’s improved. The growth hasn’t always been completely linear, and last week’s loss to Auburn felt like a minor setback. But Corral was dealing with an ankle injury in that game, so it makes sense that his decision-making faltered when his comfort decreased.
When he’s comfortable and healthy, however, Corral has proven he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft. Right now, he’s the QB1 favorite for many — myself included.
Last year, he effectively established his talent. Although he was volatile, Corral showcased an exciting, twitchy brand of athleticism, as well as a crisp, elastic arm. His arm talent is more elasticity than strength, but he can still drive the ball into tight windows.
The key for Corral in 2021 was toning down that oft-observed volatility. And so far this year, he’s done exactly that. There’s always a bit of luck that goes into interceptions, but that alone doesn’t account for the positive swing Corral has seen. He’s generally been smarter with the football, and that progression is a great sign for his stock.
What does Corral need to do to lock down 2022 NFL Draft QB1?
As mentioned above, of all the 2022 NFL Draft quarterbacks, few have helped themselves more than Corral this year. His frame is a little smaller than the prototypical mold, but that’s one of the least important factors for QB evaluation.
Outside of that, he’s a great athlete with great arm talent. He’s an all-out competitor and has shown a great deal of mental and mechanical growth over the past couple of months.
Related | 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Is Matt Corral the new QB1?
Having said that, there are still things Corral can work on. Corral has proven he can run RPO’s effectively and quickly identify opportunities in the passing game. He’s also flashed the ability to run through his progressions swiftly. When there’s nothing there, Corral can see that, and he doesn’t waste time getting to his checkdown.
However, while Corral has shown flashes, he can still be more consistent with his progression work and his eyes overall. Sometimes his eyes stick to receivers through progressions as he waits for them to get a notch more separation. This can slow his movement and leave him in a tough spot if he doesn’t pull the trigger.
Corral must improve decisiveness
Corral has the athleticism to create beyond that, but that indecisiveness won’t fly at the NFL level. He’s shown he can take those calculated risks, but consistency is still being sought out as he finds his balance.
Going further, Corral’s eyes can settle on receivers downfield, leading safeties to the play. I want to see Corral engage in more eye manipulation. He’s a solid QB in structure, and he uses his two best tools — his arms and his legs — very well. But the eyes are tools, too. And right now, Corral can still improve at using those.
Malik Willis’ claim to QB1 thus far
Willis has constantly been orbiting the QB1 conversation, but he hasn’t yet done enough to earn a consensus there. He’s always had the tools. That’s something evaluators quickly identified off his 2020 tape. Like Corral, Willis is one of the highest-upside QBs in the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s an elite short-range athlete who can evade pressure and create for himself. On top of that, he has a strong, elastic arm.
Willis has some eye-popping throws on tape, which seamlessly mix velocity and touch on a perfect trajectory. His motion is incredibly natural, and he fits the ball into tight windows, outside the numbers, and on the run. Off-platform throws are no problem for the Flames’ passer. Willis has the physical talent to produce amidst adversity — a trait that earns him some confidence as a 2022 NFL Draft prospect.
However, the problem with Willis is that his style has always invited more adversity than what’s necessary. With his elusiveness, he sometimes works himself into unsavory situations. While he’s an elite positional athlete, Willis hasn’t quite learned to navigate the pocket consistently with those traits. His mechanics can be inconsistent, as can his progression work.
Willis can find those tight windows downfield. However, too often, he makes the easy throws look hard. As we’ve seen recently with quarterbacks like Zach Wilson and Sam Darnold (Sorry Jets fans), converting on the easy throws is an underrated but necessary component of NFL quarterback play.
What must Willis show to get back in QB1 contention?
It’s simple but also complicated for Willis. The Liberty QB has to show more consistency in structure.
That one sentence can describe most of his flaws, but there’s a lot that goes into performing well in structure. Pocket manipulation, mechanics, progression work, and decision-making all hold weight in that equation. And while Willis has shown flashes in many of those areas, QBs need consistency to make it work at the NFL level.
The Ole Miss defense presents a good test for Willis. It’s not an overwhelming SEC defense, but there is some NFL talent to take into account — notably, edge rusher Sam Williams, cornerback Miles Battle, and safety AJ Finley. It’s a good enough defense where Willis will be tested at times — but also flawed enough that he’ll have his chances to exploit them. Willis has to take those chances and capitalize on them.
Willis has the physical tools to win this pseudo-QB1 battle, but Corral isn’t far behind him in that department. And to this point, Corral has shown more on the operational side. Will Willis close the gap today, or will Corral effectively clamp down the QB1 mantle? Whatever the case, one thing is certain: Many eyes will be watching.
