OT -- Wow! AWESOME article on quarterback play from Grantland

[kerouac9]

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9590729/how-new-class-promising-nfl-quarterbacks-reach-greatness

Unbelievable stuff here from Chris Brown.

Often, we associate being great with being spectacular, but that's the secret about playing quarterback — great quarterbacks seek the banality of perfection. It's about avoiding the bad play, hitting the right receiver, making the right read, and throwing an accurate pass, every time.

 

[Darkside]

That's a great read dude. Thanks for sharing. I would add that in my opinion the most oft overlooked quality in QB's is consistency. Everyone talks about intelligence (making the right reads), arm strength, footwork, pocket presence, etc. Lots of QB's have some or all of those, but what separates good from great and great from spectacular is consistency. Tom Brady is consistently great no matter who he plays with. So are Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. They take no-name receivers and turn them into house-hold names.

Inconsistent QB's are the most frustrating, even if they have all the other measurables, because they look horrific one play and make a beautiful back-shoulder throw the next. So they fool you into thinking you can coach them up, when really they're going to stay inconsistent forever.

 

[Duckjake]

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9590729/how-new-class-promising-nfl-quarterbacks-reach-greatness

Unbelievable stuff here from Chris Brown.

Amazing. I would have never thought of that.

Especially after watching Warner and then the 6 stooges that came after him.

That's why I'm concerned after watching Palmer and Stanton do their Skelton and DeWreck imitations last weekend.

 

[SportAnding]

Quarterback play is about avoiding mistakes? Who knew?!?!

 

[Phrazbit]

Reading that makes you wonder how many guys would have totally different careers if they'd been with the right... or wrong coach during the key developmental stages of their careers.

A frequent target for abuse like Alex Smith for example, he spent his first 5 or 6 years with a revolving door of sup par coaches. Clearly had a lot of natural talent but seemed mired in mediocrity, or worse, most games. Under Harbaugh he became a solid player, how much better would he have been if Jim had gotten hold of him as a 21 year old rookie?

 

[Mulli]

So really good QB's try to do everything really well all the time? Ok, that is wonderful analysis.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I haven't read it yet, but am fully expecting a whole section on John Skelton, Kevin Kolb, and Max Hall.

Elite of the elite.

 

[Mulli]

After reading the article, I like it.

According to Bill Walsh, "because of the dynamic role he plays on the team, a quarterback must have physical, mental, emotional and instinctive traits that go well beyond the mere ability to pass a football." If the league's young quarterbacks want to be truly great, they'll have to master something that comes from the combination of all those traits, something that can't really be coached, something Brady and Manning have both done for years.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Pretty Cool.

That is going to ruin the preseason games for me. I will spent all night looking at lanes, and depths, coverages, etc., etc.

Great stuff.

 

[Cardiac]

Great read K9, thanks for sharing.

It's articles like this that illustrate how complicated and intricate the game of football is.

Couple of things come to my mind:

Warner (as we all know) was a master of pre snap reads and that's one of the reasons he was quick to get the ball out and was very accurate. Also explains why he hated flee flickers as his back was to the D for too long so he couldn't confirm his pre snap read.

IIRC he wasn't a big fan of play action and that would be for the same reason. Just let him get his pre snap read and watch the D truly reveal itself so he could pick it apart.

When we see a QB throw a "stupid" interception it could be that the D was very deceptive on that play.

The game the Cards simply owned Eli on Monday Night? when Dansby was dropping back into the Safety position. Brilliant D scheme that had Eli dazed and confused.

Watching Warner and Whiz take notes during the Packers game before their playoff game in 2009. Warner had arguably his best game ever against the Packers the next week.

All this thinking/timing/reading D's is why Bones struggled so much.

 

[Duckjake]

If you can watch some games with Warner and then watch our preseason game against Green Bay. Look how they operate out of the shotgun. They catch the ball at their right shoulder and in one continuous motion get the ball out to a receiver. It's almost like they use the momentum of the football to help get into throwing position. Impressive to watch.