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Two simple rules for recruiting QBs

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DMoney said:
I've spent way too much time studying why quarterbacks hit or flop. Of course, you need baseline arm talent and size. And work ethic is another non-negotiable. But from what I've found, the separators are often athleticism and instincts.

There are so many kids with private QB coaches who flourish in camp settings, but struggle in real games. Jake Garcia is a recent example. Conversely, there are a lot of instinctive athletes who improve their passing skills with full-time coaching in college. The things you can't get by training-- reactive movement, competitive reps -- are readily available by playing other sports.

My rule of thumb is that a quarterback needs to be: (1) a multisport athlete; or (2) if he's a football-only guy, a legitimate dual-threat with major running ability. There are always exceptions, but in this case I wouldn't make many. Our most recent superstar QB was a multisport zero star (Cam Ward), and the last great quarterback we had (Ken Dorsey) got offered by Butch Davis at a high school basketball game.

The top QBs in the NFL- Pat Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, Jayden Daniels, CJ Stroud- all fit into this framework.

Am I being too simplistic here?









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I advise QBs to give up baseball as early as possible. In my experience there's been issues with footwork and throwing motion that can be difficult to correct for QBs who continue to play baseball late into high shcool.

I completely understand why you brought up Mahomes. But he's the exception, not the rule. Same thing was true about saint Elway. They both have/had the kind of elite arm talent that can overcome **** near anything.

Jameis Winston has a ton of issues. But his mechanics have always a mess. He said it himself that playing baseball played a huge part in it.

Jake Locker was another one. Playing baseball killed his footwork.
 
SCarolina Ibis said:
I advise QBs to give up baseball as early as possible. In my experience there's been issues with footwork and throwing motion that can be difficult to correct for QBs who continue to play baseball late into high shcool.

I completely understand why you brought up Mahomes. But he's the exception, not the rule. Same thing was true about saint Elway. They both have/had the kind of elite arm talent that can overcome **** near anything.

Jameis Winston has a ton of issues. But his mechanics have always a mess. He said it himself that playing baseball played a huge part in it.

Jake Locker was another one. Playing baseball killed his footwork.
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Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray been doing pretty good but i understand where your coming from i believe Stafford played as well but not in college North highlands in texas i believe
 
D.L.I.N.K.D.A.GR8 said:
Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray been doing pretty good but i understand where your coming from i believe Stafford played as well but not in college North highlands in texas i believe
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Stafford had an elite arm when he came out.

Murray and Wilson are interesting though.
 
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Da Jumbo Mutombo said:
Being a successful QB is more like a formulaic balance.

A weak armed QB, can be successful, if he has high IQ and lives in the film room.

A slow bad athlete, can be successful, if he has a rocket arm and good accuracy.

A qb who can't read a defense consistently, can be successful, if he is an elite athlete who can improvise.

There are many factors that create a balance like formula. Sticking to one data point only will lead to rigid results.

But to me, the most important characteristic, is the intangibles. IQ and leadership. As long as you have one of the other + skills, you can be a really good QB.
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This reminds me of my boys that are car guys. They would say:

If it's cheap and fast it's not reliable.
If it's reliable and cheap it's not fast.
If it's fast and reliable it's not cheap.

No one QB will be able to excel at everything. But whatever they lack, they must to excel in other categories to a point that their weakness is a non-factor.

IE: Tom Brady, slow as molasses, but his IQ and precision is on such high level that his lack of speed is a non issue.

I agree with Dmoney. I prefer my Qb to be multi-sport athletes. Baseball being the second sport.
 
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QB absolutely has baseline athletic requirements and playing multi sports definitely helps, but after that, it’s extremely nuanced, especially with unmeasureable intangibles.

I think one person already said, but if you could get inside someone head and see if/how they are able slow the game down (or watch how fast they are able to process, depending on your pov), you’d have your QBs. Some of that can be taught through film study and reps, but it obviously goes deeper than that too.

That said, way too many scouts have outdated/simplistic models.
 
SCarolina Ibis said:
I advise QBs to give up baseball as early as possible. In my experience there's been issues with footwork and throwing motion that can be difficult to correct for QBs who continue to play baseball late into high shcool.

I completely understand why you brought up Mahomes. But he's the exception, not the rule. Same thing was true about saint Elway. They both have/had the kind of elite arm talent that can overcome **** near anything.

Jameis Winston has a ton of issues. But his mechanics have always a mess. He said it himself that playing baseball played a huge part in it.

Jake Locker was another one. Playing baseball killed his footwork.
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Footwork has to be the easiest thing for any QB coach to try to actually go in and "fix" about a QB. Sure probably Fr/So yr of HS should be the last of Baseball. But There are plenty more guys I think than you list in NFL who played baseball in HS...

I mean just off top of my head: Kyler, Stafford, Goff, Russell Wilson, Josh Allen, Mahomes, JimmyG, Rodgers, among active players. Lot more among retired guys.
 
SCarolina Ibis said:
I advise QBs to give up baseball as early as possible. In my experience there's been issues with footwork and throwing motion that can be difficult to correct for QBs who continue to play baseball late into high shcool.

I completely understand why you brought up Mahomes. But he's the exception, not the rule. Same thing was true about saint Elway. They both have/had the kind of elite arm talent that can overcome **** near anything.

Jameis Winston has a ton of issues. But his mechanics have always a mess. He said it himself that playing baseball played a huge part in it.

Jake Locker was another one. Playing baseball killed his footwork.
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Tom Brady and Dan Marino were good baseball players. I didn’t mention Baker Mayfield but he is also a baseball player.
 
I remember reading about a pro baseball scout a few years back. He said he scratched off pitchers who weren’t multi-sport athletes. Other than just developing better overall balanced athleticism, it also develops muscles better that help prevent injury. So many parents drive one sport now that it overuses muscles and creates more injuries. Would bet same thing for QBs.
 
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Everyone has brought up some good points. So no quarrel with any of the qualifications discussed.

One of the things that I think is necessary to be successful at a high level, is the ability to make instantaneous, and correct, decisions on the fly.

Many plays don’t end up as scripted, or the first read many times isn’t there, so if that mental processing ability is not there, and a little bit of that panic sets in, this leads to bad decision-making.

There are guys that have tremendous physical ability and can sling the ball, can place it where they need to, but when they have to make decisions on the fly, they break down.
 
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