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What do we really know about eccentric (lowering) work? The eccentric phase causes most muscular soreness. This causes much of the burn that bodybuilders talk about. The eccentric phase, when performed slowly, greatly contributes to muscle hypertrophy (growth). We also know that in an attempt to raise absolute strength, eccentric training alone fails miserably. In the late 1970s, Mike Bridges experimented with eccentric bench pressing. He told me that the only result he got from eccentrics was a pec injury. This is confirmed by research that shows that most injuries occur during the yielding, or eccentric, phase. Vince Anello also experimented with eccentric work, doing eccentric deadlifts with as much as 880. When he returned to conventional deadlifts, to his dismay his deadlift had decreased. Vince told me that anything will make your deadlift go up--except eccentrics. What does this mean? Are eccentrics a waste? Well, yes and no. Eccentric training alone is a waste. However, a strength-shortening cycle, eccentric training followed by a concentric phase, can be very beneficial when done correctly, i.e., with optimal speed.

But isnt he supposed to go a bit deeper/closer to the floor?

For what? The lowest IQ?

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the achilles tendon will take over any time in the rom when you bounce out of the bottom (however low you go).  This is one of the main reason a lot of athletes dont feel like they are gaining much calf size when doing calf raises, if you pause in the bottom, the gastroc/soleus will take the brunt of the work, if you bounce or rebound out, the achilles tendon dominates.  Both methods are good, but starting out controlled and slower is the way to go, once you have that base you can get more explosive with them.