Easton Pace isn’t going to sneak up on opponents this season, and that’s the absolute truth for Norwalk’s junior quarterback. After blowing up last year as a sophomore, everyone knows exactly who he is, and that spotlight is the biggest challenge he’s facing right now. Forget about flying under the radar, that ship has sailed.
The Numbers Are Hard to Ignore
You want to know why everyone’s talking about Pace? Look at the tape from last season. This kid was an absolute machine. He led the Bears with a ridiculous 1,184 rushing yards, averaging 131 yards per game, and punched in 18 touchdowns on the ground. But wait, there’s more! He also chucked for 1,337 yards and threw 17 more scores. That’s a combined 35 touchdowns, folks. No wonder coaches like Mike Forget are saying they have to change things up on offense, because the league has caught up to the old playbook. Now it’s on them to make sure opponents have to catch up to *him* and the new stuff.
From Instinct to Intellect: Pace’s Big Leap
Pace and Coach Forget are both locked in on one crucial area for growth this season: reading defenses. Forget made it clear, calling it “the biggest leap” for Pace, moving beyond just pure instinct and athletic ability. He’s got all the talent in the world, that’s not even a question. But the jump from guessing to truly reading the defense? That’s where the magic happens. Pace confirmed it, crediting intense film study and the ability to recognize coverages in real time, shifting from a Cover 2 look to a Cover 6 disguise. This isn’t just natural athleticism anymore; this is a quarterback evolving into a chess master. Forget traces this back to his freshman year when he wasn’t taught to read defenses, and even as a sophomore, he could just run. But the game caught up. Now, he’s ahead of it, pulling up to throw when defenders think he’s going to run. That’s a huge step for any QB.
Trust, Discipline, and the RPO Revolution
Norwalk’s run-pass option (RPO) scheme is absolutely central to Pace’s development, and he’s pointed to trust as a major factor in making it click. “Discipline, patience and trusting your teammates” is what he said, emphasizing that sometimes the right read means letting your teammate make the bigger play. With Norwalk running both double and triple RPOs, Pace has got to process what he’s seeing at lightning speed. Coach Forget says they’re doing a ton of RPOs to force those reads and adjustments, and it’s all about repetition. Plus, the guy’s got an experienced offensive line returning, with seniors at left tackle, left guard, and right tackle. That extra time up front is going to be HUGE for him to let those new plays develop and keep defenses guessing.
Pace is focused on showing everyone he gets better every single year, proving how good he can really be. With that kind of drive and the coaching staff cooking up new schemes, get ready to see what’s next in his journey.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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