Peter King: GMs hesitant on mobile QBs

[mr. smoke weed]

If you play QB you're going to be very conducive to getting injured that's it end of story bottom line. Pocket passers vs. Mobile QB's really isn't a good argument because; mobile qb's haven't been prevalent for as long and pocket passers face the same issues. It's very much reliant on the coaches to throw wrinkles in the passing game to disrupt the defense, via route trees and schemes or plays centered around QB running and reliant on blocking.

 

[FTBS]

The bottom line is that the primary role of the NFL QB is to deliver the ball, mainly from the pocket, to open receivers. Necessary skills to accomplish this include: understanding the playbook inside and out, reading defenses, quickly going through the progression, being able to see the open guy, making the right decision of where to go with the ball (or to just throw it away or take a sack), and accurately delivering the ball.

There are many places throughout that chain where the play can break down for the QB. Maybe he is good at lots of things but panics in the pocket and/or lacks the proper footwork leading to bad pocket presence (RGIII). Maybe he has a tendency to not see open guys (Ben Roethlisberger). Maybe he is the perfect physical specimen but lacks accuracy or touch (Christian Hackenberg). Maybe he has everything else you look for but regularly makes bad decisions with the ball (Jay Cutler).

The problem with a lot of these mobile QBs being drafted now is not they are "mobile". Mobility in and of itself is never a bad thing. It helps any QB -- AS LONG AS they already have the skills necessary to succeed if you were to take the mobility away. Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, and Andrew Luck are mobile QBs. But they have all the other skills necessary so the mobility just makes them better.

In college, a lot of QBs eat off their mobility but at the same time it masks their deficiencies in the areas necessary to succeed as an NFL QB because the college game is different. But because they were SO successful and SO hyped, teams are afraid to pass on these guys, knowing they lack certain skills, because they don't want to be the team that passed on a future star (even if the possibility is remote).

It may be for others, but to me it's not even a race thing. Johnny Manziel and Tim Tebow are two QBs who would never have been half the players they were in college without their running ability. They got drafted high because of the hype, and then Tebow was exposed. Manziel hasn't been yet, and as much as I love him for elevating my school to new heights, the odds are against him too. I will say he has much better arm talent than he is given credit for and is deadly accurate. But I'm not sure he possesses the decision-making ability required because he is so used to relying on his scrambling and/or throwing it up to Mike Evans.

The NFL game has changed in a lot of ways, but one thing that will probably never happen is "running QBs" who lack pocket passing skills surpassing the guys that do have those skills at an elite level.

This isn't limited to running QBs though. Plenty of "pocket passers" lack pocket passing skills and they have gotten by on superior arm strength *cough* Matt Stafford *cough* their entire lives. The appeal of running QBs has always been the potential to run AND pass not running INSTEAD of passing. I don't think anyone in their right mind has ever suggested that a running QB that lacked passing skills would surpass elite passers.

 

[LastEmperor2k2]

We're legitimately arguing about what it takes to play QB in the nfl when there is a starting QB who hasn't thrown a TD to a WR the entire season and NO ONE is calling for him to be benched

What's the different between throwing one to a TE or a RB or DE, they're all worth 6.

 

[Bone$]

It wasn't about changing the game 3 years ago with "mobile" QBs, the excitement was an influx of capable black QBs whom traditionally have been siphoned to other positions, due to cism and the age old inability to lead argument... Please someone tell me another reason why qb has seen so black QBs.. It started at the pee wee then later hs and college level..and on to the qb gm.. I can't do nothing but laugh at 6 4 slew foot QBs that continue to get chances because they look the part... Absolutely ur qb has to be able to get his playmakers the rock, and that requires an ability to pass.. But if we talking about winning super bowls and playoff games, it's about making plays, whatever it takes, and a very solid surrounding team as well.. Qb position is a little overrated as well imo.. And gruden mnf argument was hilarious, will you pay a black qb to be ur 15 year qb, the window to win chips is usually not more than 5 years at a time anyway.. #blackexcellence

 

[resurrection]

This isn't limited to running QBs though. Plenty of "pocket passers" lack pocket passing skills and they have gotten by on superior arm strength *cough* Matt Stafford *cough* their entire lives. The appeal of running QBs has always been the potential to run AND pass not running INSTEAD of passing. I don't think anyone in their right mind has ever suggested that a running QB that lacked passing skills would surpass elite passers.

I'm saying exactly the same thing though. In my post, I called out guys like Jay Cutler and Christian Hackenberg (in college) have also gotten by on their physical abilities but lack other skills - Stafford is another. There are LOTS of things that go into making a QB successful. But my point is that when we build a hype machine for these college QBs based largely on their running, it masks obvious deficiencies in those skills that get quickly exposed when they enter the NFL which is just a different game.

 

[FTBS]

I'm saying exactly the same thing though. In my post, I called out guys like Jay Cutler and Christian Hackenberg (in college) have also gotten by on their physical abilities but lack other skills - Stafford is another. There are LOTS of things that go into making a QB successful. But my point is that when we build a hype machine for these college QBs based largely on their running, it makes obvious deficiencies in those skills that get quickly exposed when they enter the NFL which is just a different game.

What hype machine? Dudes get hype for putting up numbers (both running and passing) and/or winning games in college. How many QBs have received hype largely because they can run? I can assure that number is smaller than the number of guys that have received hype for having a cannon arm.

 

[NYC Rebel]

Bottomline, at the point where young NFL qbs meet struggle as do MOST young NFL qbs, it's the mobile qbs only whose style that gets criticized, even when proven that they don't get the "tar beaten out of them" anymore than a struggling young pocket passer.

 

[resurrection]

What hype machine? Dudes get hype for putting up numbers (both running and passing) and/or winning games in college. How many QBs have received hype largely because they can run? I can assure that number is smaller than the number of guys that have received hype for having a cannon arm.

What do you mean "What hype machine?" ?! You made my point for me with the part I bolded. Dudes can put up insane numbers and win games IN COLLEGE by doing different things than what is required to put up huge insane numbers and win games in the NFL. But they get hyped anyway.

Tebow, Manziel, RGIII, and Cam Newton are all recent first round picks who were insanely successful in college largely due to their ability to run. Sure they put up great passing numbers too, but their other abilities made it a lot easier for them and could mask their deficiences passing. Cam is the only one of those 4 whose passing is even close to his running, and even he has never won anything meaningful in the league. This year doesn't count because the whole offense around him is trash. But even when it wasn't, he still hasn't elevated them to any new heights like he was able to in college. Because, again, the two games are played differently.

 

[LastEmperor2k2]

Bottomline, at the point where young NFL qbs meet struggle as do MOST young NFL qbs, it's the mobile qbs only whose style that gets criticized, even when proven that they don't get the "tar beaten out of them" anymore than a struggling young pocket passer.

Geno Smith gets criticized.

Blaine Gabbert got criticized.

Don't act like only mobile QB's get shytted on.

And getting the tar beaten out of you doesn't always mean injured. Kaep's been sacked more than anyone in the league.

 

[resurrection]

Bottomline, at the point where young NFL qbs meet struggle as do MOST young NFL qbs, it's the mobile qbs only whose style that gets criticized, even when proven that they don't get the "tar beaten out of them" anymore than a struggling young pocket passer.

fukk Jeff George, Jay Cutler, and Matt Stafford too.. There are far too many QBs getting too many chances in the league based on their physical abilities but lacking elsewhere. "He's got a cannon though!" is in the same conversation as "Look at him run though!" in my opinion and it has nothing to do with taking hits

 

[NYC Rebel]

Geno Smith gets criticized.

Blaine Gabbert got criticized.

Don't act like only mobile QB's get shytted on.

And getting the tar beaten out of you doesn't always mean injured. Kaep's been sacked more than anyone in the league.

I'm speaking on Peter King's point dog. Not your defensive posturing.

No need to save him. Locker is still "interesting"

 

[NYC Rebel]

fukk Jeff George, Jay Cutler, and Matt Stafford too.. There are far too many QBs getting too many chances in the league based on their physical abilities but lacking elsewhere. "He's got a cannon though!" is in the same conversation as "Look at him run though!" in my opinion and it has nothing to do with taking hits

Who cares? The "nature" of their style isn't what's getting shyt on....the point of this thread.

 

[LastEmperor2k2]

I'm speaking on Peter King's point dog. Not your defensive posturing.

No need to save him. Locker is still "interesting"

Locker is garbage.

Peter King is a fukking moron and a douche bag.

I`m just speaking more on how GM's shying away from the mobile QB at this point would make sense, because this always happens.

 

[resurrection]

Who cares? The "nature" of their style isn't what's getting shyt on....the point of this thread.

When a running QB (black or white) actually becomes consistently successful with any kind of longevity beyond making an early splash and then tanking, then the "nature of their style" will stop getting criticized.

 

[NYC Rebel]

When a running QB (black or white) actually becomes consistently successful with any kind of longevity beyond making an early splash and then tanking, then the "nature of their style" will stop getting criticized.

It won't. You're way too trusting. Mobile qb just won a super bowl and King is quick to say he's treading water.

Bottom line, where struggle and style meet, it's the style of the mobile qb that's gets battered.