Double Deuce !!!!!!
Pros:
- Poise: The number one thing I like about Skelton is his poise. He just does not get rattled. I have seen him mad, maybe twice. Yet, I can say the same thing about when he is successful, that he doesn't celebrate either. He is even keeled through the entire game. So steal a cliche', The game is not too big for him.
- Humble: Even after wins Skelton admits he has to play better, that he is missing throws during the game, and that the team is helping him win these games. Furthermore, he supports the team in whatever decision they make about who is going to start each game at QB, and supports Kevin Kolb as the named starter.
- Physical Size, Strength, and Age: 6'6", 244lbs. The reality is, that this helps. He easily sees over the offensive line, and he is able to take hits from the defense. Its allows him to "avoid" the pass rush with a step here or there, and break arm tackles. Yet, with this size he still has adequate ability to run with the ball. It is nothing special, and he is not too fast, but he can make a play on his feet need be. Finally, he is only 23 years old. For a QB, if he develops, he has 12 years in front him.
- "Pocket Passer": Skelton stays in the pocket. He has the courage to take a hit for the sake of getting a pass off [think the pass in Philly to Fitz at the end of the game]. Now, he doesn't do it EVERY time, but more in more when he has to avoid a pass rush he will step up into the pocket to try and create a small amount of time to get a pass off. Plus by doing so, when he does take a sack (and he does take too many sacks) it is not for minus 20 yards, but usually less then 10.
- Passing Skill: Skelton has an NFL arm. I don't worry about him not having the ability to make a throw anywhere on the field. Furthermore, he is not scared to make NFL throws in tight windows. On the other end of the spectrum he also has a very rare ability (at least rare from what I have seen) to throw really nice touch passes [think Fitz in OT vs. the Browns]. While there is no doubt that his accuracy MUST improve, it is not like he has not shown any ability to make a good accurate pass, he just has to be more consistent. There are a hand full of passes that he has made, that have been a thing of beauty. He will fit a pass into tight spaces, and do so with confidence [think the long TD pass to Doucet against SF].
-He wins games & is clutch: The record speaks for itself. The guy is a winner, and makes clutch passes in crunch time. He can drive this team to score in crunch time. He has had some really beautiful passes for the Cardinals. In Philly, the pass to LSH (4th down), and the pass to Fitz. Last year against Dallas, the pass to Fitz (4th down). The pass to Fitz to win it in OT against the Browns. Not to mention some great drives, etc., etc. As I stated above, the game never seems to get too big for him. To put it bluntly, I don't feel out of a game with Skelton at QB, and always think he could come back from a deficit, or make that 3rd down/4th down pass to continue a drive.
Cons:
-Decision Making: This is Skelton's #1 problem as a NFL QB. I would dare to say that a majority of his INT's are because he made horrible decisions. He walks that fine line of squeezing the ball into a tight space, and throwing a throw into a poor situation. It is the INT's that he has thrown against Philly to Asumagha, or the INT he threw in the SF game down the right sideline that are so concerning. Those are horrible decisions, and setup huge returns. Those come back to kill you. Those can be corrected with time, but the QB has to work on it, or he will just repeat the same mistake when the heat is on. The 2nd type of bad decision making INT, is Skelton doing too much. You can see he wants to extend plays, and make something out of nothing. This is the old Brett Farve syndrome. Just stupid decisions, trying to make something happen when he should throw the ball away or eat it. Think of that horrendous pass attempt to Larry Fitz in the middle of the field in the SF game. Can't do that.
- Passing Accuracy: He has the ability to be an accurate passer. He has shown it. But, he still has to improve. There are about 5 to 6 passes a game that he either throws too high, too low, or, and this is his worse attribute, behind a receiver going across the middle. I would hope with time, work, and experience he would improve these throws. At least the ones across the middle he is not missing by much, but they seems to always be a bit behind the receiver.
- Reading the field after the snap: I am OK with how Skelton reads the field pre-snap. But, post-snap he is 50-50 at best. Holds the ball a little to long at first, and will miss throws to open receivers. He makes up for it with a run here, and a decent dump off pass there, but he has to improve. The guy can make a seam pass better than most I have seen, but he has to "see it" to throw it. He is not there yet.
- Slow Starts: Again Skelton walks that fine line between even-keeled and not competitive enough. I believe this is why Skelton starts so slowly in games. Part of this position is being competitive, and having a little bit a fire. One thing about competitive and overly-physical sports is some times you have to wake-up. Sometimes it takes talking, and "hyping up" for the games. For some it is a big hit that will take you up and get you in the zone. I think Skelton has to find a way to get into game mode before the ball is kicked off. You cannot continue to put yourself in a hole during a game, wake up, and come back. Jake Plummer did this as well, and while he was a good QB, he could never make the step to be a great QB cause he constantly put himself behind the eight-ball, thus regardless of how well he could play, he never had the success he could have had because he never "woke up" in the beginning of games. It is great to come back against playoff contenders, but you gotta put the bottom-feeder teams away early. Close games are fine against competitive teams, but not against poor teams. No need to play a close game against 1-__ teams.
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Pretty much, as expected, I see a lot in John Skelton that would allow him to be a very good QB in the NFL. Everyone looks down on this guy, "a 5th round pick from Fordham". And ? Who cares? From what I have heard, Skelton LIT IT UP in Fordham. He has thrown for 400 yard games, broken passing records, etc., etc., etc. He has the experience of taking a team on his back and being the offense. He is certainly not there yet in the NFL, but I think with some work, and experience he has the tools to light it up in the NFL.
The guy is 23 yrs old, hand picked by our organization, Head Coach, and Offensive Coordinator. Why is it such a ridiculous idea to play Skelton, and develop him ? Because we signed Kolb to a big contract, and gave up a really good CB prospect ? Who cares ? I understand, accept, and even congratulate the Cardinals for going out, and getting a QB they thought could help this team. It is not working out the way they planned that is for sure, but nothing in the NFL is 100% fool proof. So, you the QB you had on your roster is showing promise over the high priced guy. So what ? It happens, it is not the front office's fault, they did what they had to do. Just take the success, and don't worry about the fact you couldn't see the future and made a move that very few were against at the time.
Obviously I am all for going with John Skelton as the starter.
