Skelton is terrible

[Dayman]

I'm sure this coaching staff is committed to Kolb because they're idiots, but it's pretty clear that Skelton has the greater potential to succeed at this level at this point.

This pretty much sums it up for me. The difference in pocket presence between the two is striking.

 

[Totally_Red]

Skelton is a good quarterback. That interception was on the receiver as were the ones last week.

The interception WAS on Doucet. But Skelton had 3 other near or shoulda been picks including the near-disaster that Sheldon Brown dropped that would have been a pick-6. Skelton has Jeckyl and Hyde levels of good and bad in almost every game. But at least he HAS the good play. Our other very expensive acquired quarterback has had mostly bad play when healthy enough to see the field.

 

[az1965]

Or even been in a professional coaching environment for a full season. He was sitting on the backburner from the end of training camp until he became the starter last year, getting few if any reps at all, much less with the first team.

This year he was injured early in training camp after not having an offseason with the coaching staff.

In college he got a quality of instruction that is likely inferior to what he would have received at most of the coaching academies in California, Texas, or Florida. And that was for four years.

Kolb's had five years under Andy Reid and a great offensive staff in Philly. He's terrible. At least with Skelton you can see the arm strength, the poise in the pocket, the toughness, and the creativity. That little outlet to the RB for the first down when he was getting tackled was better than anything that Kolb has been able to do this season.

We were finally converting 3rd downs this game, too. I'm sure this coaching staff is committed to Kolb because they're idiots, but it's pretty clear that Skelton has the greater potential to succeed at this level at this point.

absolutely...

 

[az1965]

Wouldnt change a word. Happy for the W - but I think Kolb is still the better QB at this point.

In what respect?

 

[az1965]

How many of the weak areas in his game are fixable? What is the root cause of his accuracy problems at times?

His behind the receiver passes are timing issues that can be fixed with more practice. Not sure why he starts slow.

 

[Linderbee]

He hasent played 4 Qtrs?

I think he means he tends to show up more in the 2nd half. He doesn't "actually play" in the first half. (Slow starter)

 

[dreamcastrocks]

the funniest thing about, well, pretty much EVERY Skelton game is that both the pro and anti-Skellers are seemingly always right for one half.

He's a maddening quarterback. Looks atrocious at times and looks solid at times. I have no idea what he really is, but I do know he doesn't look like a ***** out there which is the only imprint Kolb has made on me unfortunately.

Fully agree. You can't be this inconsistent and be a starting QB. It is easy to keep giving him chances while we are winning though. To me, he is a career backup who can make a difference in spot duty.

The interception WAS on Doucet. But Skelton had 3 other near or shoulda been picks including the near-disaster that Sheldon Brown dropped that would have been a pick-6. Skelton has Jeckyl and Hyde levels of good and bad in almost every game. But at least he HAS the good play. Our other very expensive acquired quarterback has had mostly bad play when healthy enough to see the field.

Are you kidding me? He forced the ball into coverage when he had a receiver to his other side so wide open, he is literally clapping his hands to get his attention. (loud enough that you could even hear it on TV) Not only that, the ball was behind the receiver. If you put it in front of him, the DB has no chance at intercepting the ball.

He has done a great job running the two minute offense though.

 

[Mainstreet]

As I see it, Skelton has looked very good for a second year QB still learning the system and forced into being a starter. I couldn't ask for more at this stage of his career. I see him as the QBOTF who just happens to be playing now.

 

[conraddobler]

He looks like a kid who is a winner that came from a very small school and has a lot to learn.

 

[Chopper0080]

He looks like a kid who is a winner that came from a very small school and has a lot to learn.

Probably the most accurate description.

 

[Totally_Red]

Are you kidding me? He forced the ball into coverage when he had a receiver to his other side so wide open, he is literally clapping his hands to get his attention. (loud enough that you could even hear it on TV) Not only that, the ball was behind the receiver. If you put it in front of him, the DB has no chance at intercepting the ball.

He has done a great job running the two minute offense though.

That ball bounced off Doucet's chest. He should have caught it IMO. The choice of targets was suspect. The pass was catchable.

 

[Mulli]

Fully agree. You can't be this inconsistent and be a starting QB. It is easy to keep giving him chances while we are winning though. To me, he is a career backup who can make a difference in spot duty.



Are you kidding me? He forced the ball into coverage when he had a receiver to his other side so wide open, he is literally clapping his hands to get his attention. (loud enough that you could even hear it on TV) Not only that, the ball was behind the receiver. If you put it in front of him, the DB has no chance at intercepting the ball.

He has done a great job running the two minute offense though.

Thought you were making up the clapping thing, you weren't.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

That ball bounced off Doucet's chest. He should have caught it IMO. The choice of targets was suspect. The pass was catchable.

So you are saying he shouldn't have thrown it there, but it wasn't his fault.... interesting.

Thought you were making up the clapping thing, you weren't.

Nope.

 

[Mulli]

So you are saying he shouldn't have thrown it there, but it wasn't his fault.... interesting.



Nope.

Nope.

 

[clif]

Not sold on Skelton. His accuracy remains horrible. So many of his passes are behind the receivers. They may still be catchable but they don't allow the receiver to maximize the play and eventually that catches up with him (as it did today - that pick was equal parts Skelton and receiver, but if that pass waa where it should have been it couldn't have been picked). That said, there's no doubt he's much more comfortable in the pocket and he certainly makes plays at the end of games.

I just have to keep reminding myself, he's young and hasn't played close to a full season of games. It may come for him.

Yep. For all those who are in love with him... you guys have some pretty low standards. We were damn near shut out in the first half. This guy is a career backup which is not a bad way to make some money, but he is not the long term answer.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Skelton does have lots of potential.

But he still can not read the defense, does not know where all his receivers are on all the plays, under throws a lot, forces throws and still stares down his passes which brings more than one DB to the ball.

I am listing the negatives to point out what I see as well as the good. Which is a strong arm, stands in pocket well, not scared, does not run back like Kolb and can run. If he learns the offense better maybe he can start to look off receivers and find the open guy. Or throw a pass so when Fitz turns the ball is right there instead of waiting for him to break because he is not sure which way he is turning. Warner was a master at that. Can we bring him in to tutor JS?

 

[Duckjake]

Yep. For all those who are in love with him... you guys have some pretty low standards. We were damn near shut out in the first half. This guy is a career backup which is not a bad way to make some money, but he is not the long term answer.

I don't know about that. 47-74-595 yards and two 4th quarter rallies is fairly impressive for a 2nd year guy from a small school with limited practice time. We were damn near shut out in the first half vs the Cowboys with Kolb as well with Kolb averaging 4 yards per attempt.

But JS does turn the ball over a lot and who knows what will happen the way things have gone with Cardinal QBs since Warner left. Skelator will probably revert back to the guy we saw in SF.

 

[Russ Smith]

Fully agree. You can't be this inconsistent and be a starting QB. It is easy to keep giving him chances while we are winning though. To me, he is a career backup who can make a difference in spot duty.



Are you kidding me? He forced the ball into coverage when he had a receiver to his other side so wide open, he is literally clapping his hands to get his attention. (loud enough that you could even hear it on TV) Not only that, the ball was behind the receiver. If you put it in front of him, the DB has no chance at intercepting the ball.

He has done a great job running the two minute offense though.

yeah it was one of those he COULD have caught it but it was a bad throw into a bad spot.

He does that alot that one completion earlier he literally threw the ball right to the defensive player who was so surprised he didn't move and it was complete.

The interesting thing is last year he never took the big play if it wasn't wide open he checked down instantly. This year he's been doing a lot more going after the big one sometimes to his demise.

He can sure rifle the ball and made some fantastic throws out there like on the first TD drive, but when he's bad he's REALLY bad, and most of his misses seem to be balls that are possible picks.

We're really lucky Sheldon Brown dropped that one it was probably a pick six.

 

[CFLredzoned]

Skelton does have lots of potential.

But he still can not read the defense, does not know where all his receivers are on all the plays, under throws a lot, forces throws and still stares down his passes which brings more than one DB to the ball.

I am listing the negatives to point out what I see as well as the good. Which is a strong arm, stands in pocket well, not scared, does not run back like Kolb and can run. If he learns the offense better maybe he can start to look off receivers and find the open guy. Or throw a pass so when Fitz turns the ball is right there instead of waiting for him to break because he is not sure which way he is turning. Warner was a master at that. Can we bring him in to tutor JS?

I do think he's getting better with this. On quite a few plays yesterday, I watched him go through progressions with his eyes. Maybe just two progressions though. Three at the most? Then other times, right off the bat, he looks right at the primary receiver, never takes his eyes off him, waits for him to get open, then throws it to him. Those are usually short throws I think.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

I like him a lot! He has a good sense for the game. He is cool in the pocket and can make all the throws. Why he starts slow,I don't have an answer for. But I would like too see a legitimate battle for the job in camp. As of now I would like him to start the last two games. All he does is win.

GBR
40

If you put a Ravens uniform on Skelton you would swear he was Joe Flacco

 

[conraddobler]

QB in the NFL is hard, very hard, so hard almost no one on the planet can do the job well.

When you look at a guy like Skelton you have to keep that in mind, and the things I like to keep in mind are:

A. Does he have the physical ability....... "IMO yes"

B. Does he have the character to do the job........"IMO yes, better in the 4th Q than the first, winner etc."

C. Does he have the brainpower to do the job......"This one is the last juror out.... IMO probably but again, dunno yet, this is where his bad throws, bad play IMO comes from and it will either stop or it won't, time will tell but I do see progress, which is good."

He plays IMO better than I would expect him to play which is I think how you sometimes find your QBOTF, by accident.


BTW by any measurement stick you want to use he's NOT terrible, not given his experience level, he's just not terrible, he's not great but he's not terrible either.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

BTW by any measurement stick you want to use he's NOT terrible, not given his experience level, he's just not terrible, he's not great but he's not terrible either.

I agree. You can't call him terrible, but he makes a few terrible, horrible decisions every game. If he can eliminate those, he would be a much better QB. When he misses a pass, he usually misses high also. Recipe for disaster.

 

[conraddobler]

I agree. You can't call him terrible, but he makes a few terrible, horrible decisions every game. If he can eliminate those, he would be a much better QB. When he misses a pass, he usually misses high also. Recipe for disaster.

I'm not at all surprised he does these things but his penchant for winning with the game on the line is surprising and IMO what people should focus on.

Obviously he has to cut down on that stuff drastically if he ever wants a real future as a starter in the NFL but those are typically the type of things QB's eventually grow out of unless their initials are DA.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

Yep. For all those who are in love with him... you guys have some pretty low standards. We were damn near shut out in the first half. This guy is a career backup which is not a bad way to make some money, but he is not the long term answer.

Pretty bold statement.. The kid is young, inexperienced and doesn't have a ton of time working on timing with our receivers.

He has everything you could ever hope for in a young QB IMO

Size
Mobility
Short memory
Huge arm

And he has shown the ability to thread the needle on several occasions.
Who really knows what his ceiling is at this point?

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I agree. You can't call him terrible, but he makes a few terrible, horrible decisions every game.

I don't know about that. Farve, Warner, and a whole mess of really good QB's had a knack for a few terrible, horrible decisions every game. As long as they won it was all good.

If he can eliminate those, he would be a much better QB. When he misses a pass, he usually misses high also. Recipe for disaster.

Personally, I think some experience, and working on his accuracy is all that Skelton is really missing as a QB.

Thus why I cannot write of John "Double Deuce" Skelton. He has as much upside or more, than any QB on the roster. Furthermore, if we are going to develop a QB, why bother with a 27 year QB with 5 years in the league, when you have a 23 year old QB with 2 years in the league.

Doesn't make much sense IMO.