How do you defend the indefensible?
That’s what those back-shoulder throws from Fernando Mendoza to Elijah Sarratt have been this season for Indiana. Just ask Oregon. A back-shoulder toss in the end zone was the game-winner in the regular-season matchup, and the Hoosiers duo went back to the well a few times in Indiana’s Peach Bowl romp over the Ducks.
The game-winner in the Big Ten Championship game against Ohio State was also one of those patented back-shoulder throws.
With Mendoza’s supreme accuracy and Sarratt’s body control and strong hands, defenders don’t stand a chance. Those throws take perfect timing and plenty of practice. And the pair have drawn inspiration from one of the NFL’s top duos of the past 10 years.
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“It was Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, to be specific,” Sarratt said this week ahead of Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship game. “Since I’ve been watching Davante Adams and since he’s been with Aaron Rodgers, he’s done a great job of getting the release off the ball, and then around 12, 14 yards, Aaron Rodgers just throwing a laser and just falls out and it drops in the bucket.”I tend to win off the line more times than not, so I felt like I had a good chance of it. Now, I know, like, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, that’s a whole ‘nother level that I someday pray I can reach to.”But Fernando, he was with it on that, same day after practice, we got a couple reps in, just trying to work it, be similar with how they were looking with it, and just went from there. And then just communication after that. I try not to be picky, I just try to tell him let me get my hands on it, and he does a great job putting it on the money, and we just go from there.”
Mendoza leads the nation with 41 passing touchdowns and Sarratt has a nation-leading 15 scoring grabs. That duo figures to be a key for Miami to try and slow down if the Hurricanes are going to have a chance at the upset.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fernando Mendoza, Elijah Sarratt try to copy Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams
