Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
19 Skelton, John, QB, (6-5, 244, 2, Fordham).
Hey 19,
You were one of the very few bright spots during what was an agonizing season. You made the last four games interesting and fun to watch and I cannot thank you enough for that. Here are the aspects about your game that I believe make you stand out:
* your size and big-time arm
* your surprising mobility
* your calm under pressure
* your fearlessness (you are the first rookie Cardinal QB I have ever seen who did not look like a deer in the headlights in his first few games and I have been a Cardinals' fan since 1963---I cannot tell you how pleasantly surprised and impressed I was with this---especially under the circumstances of having no reps with the first team prior to your first week as starter).
* your ability to throw tight spirals into small windows
* your skill at laying the deep balls up there with good touch and air time (but don't be afraid at times---when called for---to throw the deeper passes on a rope---I thought you could have on a couple of occasions to Breaston).
* your penchant for leading your receivers both left and right---especially to the left, which is the one of the bigger challenges for right armed QBs (This, ironically, is what led to several of the drops---because the other QBs were not leading the WRs nearly as well and thus the WRs started slowing their routes in the event that the ball would be thrown directly at or behind them).
* your strength in bull-rushing the ball ahead on QB sneaks on 3rds and short and to plunge the ball into the end zone in the red zone.
Here are the areas I hope you work quickly to improve: (basically areas that all young NFL QBs need to focus on)
* chemistry and timing with your WRs
* getting the ball out faster when called for
* following your progressions
* reading the defenses accurately and quickly
John, I admire the way you handled yourself at the end of the season. It showed me a great deal about your character when you said you were not happy about being pulled in the last game and that you want a legitimate chance to compete for the starting job this year.
I believe that you not only deserve that opportunity, I believe that regardless of what veteran QB the Cardinals sign that you can win the starting job sooner rather than later.
But, you will likely need two main things for that to happen: (1) a continuation of your fast learning curve---which students at Fordham are famous for; (2) a willingness to accept Coach Whisenhunt's exacting manner and impatience in dealing with QBs---and use this as a motivator the way Kurt Warner did. Once you win Whiz over, you are golden.
Have you thought about sitting down with Kurt Warner? I imagine he would be happy to share his thoughts with you about his keys to the following:
* how to run and take command of Whiz's offense
* when to audible
* how to know, spot and hit your "hot" reads
* how to develop chemistry with #11, #15 and #80 and what their preferences and quirks are
* effective game preparation
* how to attack the Rams, Seahawks and 49ers
* how and why he and the offense became so productive and efficient in the red zone
* what it takes to establish trust with Whiz and Miller
* what he looks for when he breaks down film
Hopefully you and Warner can have a few tape sessions. Absorb as much as you can, John. Once you learn these keys, I like your chances a lot. It's because of you that I have no interest in drafting a QB early in this year's draft. I think you can be better than all of this year's top prospects---and with 4 games already under your belt, which incuded that stunning comeback win over the Cowboys on Christmas night (the happiest moments of this season on the happiest day of all)---you are already miles ahead of them.
Don't buy into the "Skelton is a project" rhetoric. Last year, sure. This year, no way. I wish you all the carpe diem, diligence and resolve you need in order to win the starting job. It is my hope that you will be our QB for many, many years to come.
Hey 19...please make this year "a wonderful thing!"
Sincerely yours,
Mitch
Hey 19,
You were one of the very few bright spots during what was an agonizing season. You made the last four games interesting and fun to watch and I cannot thank you enough for that. Here are the aspects about your game that I believe make you stand out:
* your size and big-time arm
* your surprising mobility
* your calm under pressure
* your fearlessness (you are the first rookie Cardinal QB I have ever seen who did not look like a deer in the headlights in his first few games and I have been a Cardinals' fan since 1963---I cannot tell you how pleasantly surprised and impressed I was with this---especially under the circumstances of having no reps with the first team prior to your first week as starter).
* your ability to throw tight spirals into small windows
* your skill at laying the deep balls up there with good touch and air time (but don't be afraid at times---when called for---to throw the deeper passes on a rope---I thought you could have on a couple of occasions to Breaston).
* your penchant for leading your receivers both left and right---especially to the left, which is the one of the bigger challenges for right armed QBs (This, ironically, is what led to several of the drops---because the other QBs were not leading the WRs nearly as well and thus the WRs started slowing their routes in the event that the ball would be thrown directly at or behind them).
* your strength in bull-rushing the ball ahead on QB sneaks on 3rds and short and to plunge the ball into the end zone in the red zone.
Here are the areas I hope you work quickly to improve: (basically areas that all young NFL QBs need to focus on)
* chemistry and timing with your WRs
* getting the ball out faster when called for
* following your progressions
* reading the defenses accurately and quickly
John, I admire the way you handled yourself at the end of the season. It showed me a great deal about your character when you said you were not happy about being pulled in the last game and that you want a legitimate chance to compete for the starting job this year.
I believe that you not only deserve that opportunity, I believe that regardless of what veteran QB the Cardinals sign that you can win the starting job sooner rather than later.
But, you will likely need two main things for that to happen: (1) a continuation of your fast learning curve---which students at Fordham are famous for; (2) a willingness to accept Coach Whisenhunt's exacting manner and impatience in dealing with QBs---and use this as a motivator the way Kurt Warner did. Once you win Whiz over, you are golden.
Have you thought about sitting down with Kurt Warner? I imagine he would be happy to share his thoughts with you about his keys to the following:
* how to run and take command of Whiz's offense
* when to audible
* how to know, spot and hit your "hot" reads
* how to develop chemistry with #11, #15 and #80 and what their preferences and quirks are
* effective game preparation
* how to attack the Rams, Seahawks and 49ers
* how and why he and the offense became so productive and efficient in the red zone
* what it takes to establish trust with Whiz and Miller
* what he looks for when he breaks down film
Hopefully you and Warner can have a few tape sessions. Absorb as much as you can, John. Once you learn these keys, I like your chances a lot. It's because of you that I have no interest in drafting a QB early in this year's draft. I think you can be better than all of this year's top prospects---and with 4 games already under your belt, which incuded that stunning comeback win over the Cowboys on Christmas night (the happiest moments of this season on the happiest day of all)---you are already miles ahead of them.
Don't buy into the "Skelton is a project" rhetoric. Last year, sure. This year, no way. I wish you all the carpe diem, diligence and resolve you need in order to win the starting job. It is my hope that you will be our QB for many, many years to come.
Hey 19...please make this year "a wonderful thing!"
Sincerely yours,
Mitch
Whiz, what are ya thinkin, get DA out of here before he takes his check seriously.
