Why Will Howard’s Preseason Masterclass Proves He Is the Most Underrated Quarterback Story in the NFL

When the dust settled following the high-stakes preseason clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers, the sports media landscape reacted with its customary predictable flair. Highlight reels were flooded with flashing plays, social media feeds buzzed with hot takes, and headline writers fixated almost exclusively on Drew Allar’s eye-catching throws. Allar undoubtedly put on a show that justified his surrounding hype, but behind the headline-grabbing spotlight lies an extraordinary story that has been inexplicably overlooked by national pundits: the quietly dominant performance of quarterback Will Howard.

In an era of football reporting where viral moments often overshadow systematic excellence, Howard’s preseason outing was a masterclass in modern quarterback play. Analyzed in exhaustive detail by football analyst Mattydubs in his recent game-tape review, Howard demonstrated a level of poise, field vision, eye manipulation, and pocket presence that resembled that of a polished multi-year NFL veteran rather than a signal-caller making his functional preseason debut. For a player who missed critical preseason action last year, Howard’s seamless navigation of head coach Mike McCarthy’s complex offensive system was nothing short of miraculous. It is time to step into the film room and answer the burning question every true football fan should be asking: Why is nobody talking about Will Howard?

The Architect Behind the Renaissance: Mike McCarthy’s Offensive Design

To fully appreciate Will Howard’s breakout performance, one must first recognize the tactical brilliance of head coach Mike McCarthy. Entering this preseason matchup, McCarthy faced the daunting task of preparing a quarterback room with limited prior game reps within his system. Yet, when Howard and Allar took the field, both quarterbacks looked effortlessly confident, processing reads smoothly and executing with crisp timing.

McCarthy’s offensive philosophy in this contest centered on building high-leverage opportunities through play-action pass designs, deceptive backfield movement, and layered route concepts. By incorporating pre-snap eye candy and heavy line movement, McCarthy created favorable coverage looks that allowed his quarterbacks to read defenses with crystal clarity. Howard, in particular, operated as an extension of the coaching staff on the field. His ability to execute play-action fakes with total commitment, coupled with his understanding of defensive flow, turned McCarthy’s playbook into a devastating weapon.

Film Breakdown: Deception, Decision-Making, and Unshakable Poise

A granular look at the game tape reveals that Howard’s stat line was not the product of luck or broken defensive assignments; it was the direct result of deliberate, high-level quarterback mechanics.

1. The Play-Action Bootleg & Distraction Mechanics

Early in Howard’s second drive of the game, the offense lined up to execute a play-action bootleg off a heavy run fake. Pre-snap motion provided immediate “eye candy,” forcing all three opposing linebackers to shift laterally before the snap. As the ball was snapped, Howard faked the handoff to the right, prompting the linebacker corps to bite hard toward the line of scrimmage.

The play concept established three distinct receiving levels: a flat route from the inline tight end, a deep corner route to clear out secondary coverage, and a crossing route sweeping across the face of the linebackers. The unblocked edge rusher was forced into a classic high-low dilemma—either commit to the quarterback or retreat to cover the flat. When the defender chose to rush, Howard calmly evaluated his options. Although the flat route was wide open, Howard recognized the crossing route offered a higher-reward opportunity. He delivered a strike in stride, picking up nine crisp yards on his second attempt of the game and setting an aggressive, rhythmic tone for the drive.

2. Veteran Poise Under Miscommunication

Perhaps the mark of a truly elite quarterback is not how he handles plays when everything goes right, but how he reacts when a play breaks down. On a subsequent third-down attempt, Howard lined up in shotgun for what appeared to be a designed two-step quick drop targeting wide receiver Germie Bernard.

Upon planting his back foot, Howard immediately prepared to release the football. However, Bernard did not make his expected route break, revealing a clear miscommunication on the option route against off-coverage. While an inexperienced passer might panic and force a throw into tight coverage or hold the ball too long and take a sack, Howard displayed remarkable composure. Recognizing the breakdown instantly, he aborted the throw, bought time by rolling outside the pocket, and safely threw the ball out of bounds. By prioritizing ball security and living for the next down, Howard proved his decision-making is guided by high football IQ rather than reckless ambition.

3. Full-Slide Protection and the 17-Yard Strike to Ben Skowronek

Howard’s mastery of play-action reached a crescendo on a beautifully designed full-slide rollout. The offense faked a stretch run to the right with the entire offensive line sliding in unison, while a tight end came across to pick up the backside edge rusher. The aggressive run-action sucked three defenders down into the box, opening up massive passing lanes behind them.

Rolling out to his right, Howard was presented with three distinct open receivers. Demonstrating sharp field vision, he bypassed the short options and targeted wide receiver Ben Skowronek on a deep corner route. Howard placed the football high and out of harm’s way, allowing Skowronek to elevate and make a high-point catch for a 17-yard gain. The throw highlighted not only Howard’s arm strength, but also his understanding of ball placement relative to incoming coverage.

Eye Manipulation and Field Vision: The Robert Tonyan Connection

While Howard’s arm talent was on full display throughout the evening, his ability to manipulate secondary defenders with his eyes was his most lethal attribute. His chemistry with veteran tight end Robert Tonyan provided some of the most thrilling film clips of the preseason.

1. Exploiting Cover 3 Through Eye Discipline

Facing a classic Cover 3 defensive structure, Howard dropped back with a clear intention: manipulate the deep safeties. Upon taking the snap, Howard immediately turned his head and eyes toward the left side of the field. This subtle movement held the deep safety and hook-curl linebackers in place, creating a micro-window over the middle.

As receiver Germie Bernard drew coverage attention on an in-route, Howard held the intermediate defenders with his gaze until the last possible second. The moment the linebacker bit forward, Howard layered a delicate pass over the second level of the defense, finding Robert Tonyan in stride behind the linebackers for a massive 17-yard gain. It was a textbook demonstration of using eyes to open up passing lanes in zone coverage.

2. The Masterful Slip Screen Sell

On a key first-down play, the offense lined up in 11 personnel with trips to the right. Pre-snap motion indicated potential perimeter screen action. At the snap, Howard executed a dramatic body turn toward the boundary, selling a swing screen with total physical commitment.

The defensive linebacker read Howard’s sudden shoulder turn and aggressively triggered forward to blitz the backfield. The moment the linebacker committed, Howard dropped back slightly and lofted a delicate slip screen to Tonyan, who leaked out into open grass with three offensive linemen paving a clear alley in front of him. The perfect sell job by Howard transformed what could have been a minimal gain into an explosive 15-yard pick-up.

3. Pocket Movement and the Laser to the One-Yard Line

Howard’s finest play of the night showcased his elite pocket presence under duress. Operating out of a five-man slide protection scheme against tight man coverage, Howard took a deep drop as the pass rush began to collapse the pocket from the edges.

Rather than panicking or dropping his eyes to the rush, Howard maintained his vision downfield, stepped up cleanly into the muddy pocket to reset his feet, and delivered an absolute dime to Robert Tonyan along the seam. The pass hit Tonyan in stride, layered perfectly over the defender, resulting in a chunk gain that fell just inches short of the goal line at the one-yard mark. The play exemplified everything scouts look for in a franchise quarterback: toughness, footwork, rhythm, and precision under pressure.

Why the National Media Needs to Pay Attention

When analyzing preseason football, it is easy to get blinded by draft pedigree or viral highlights. Yet film study consistently cuts through the noise to reveal true operational competence. What Will Howard displayed in his preseason outing against Green Bay was not a collection of lucky plays; it was a systematic demonstration of high-level quarterbacking.

Howard’s accuracy on intermediate throws, his instinctual pocket movement, his discipline in ball security, and his seamless command of pre-snap motion indicate that he is far ahead of the typical development curve. In tandem with wide receivers like Germie Bernard and Ben Skowronek, and backed by a versatile security blanket in Robert Tonyan, Howard gives the offense an enviable depth of firepower.

As the regular season draws near, the narrative surrounding this quarterback room must evolve. Drew Allar may continue to command headlines for his arm talent, but Will Howard has officially placed the NFL on notice. His film speaks for itself—and if his preseason debut is any indication of what is to come, Howard won’t be flying under the radar for much longer.