We don't necessarily need a "deep ball" threat. What we need with the new offense is a QB who:
1. Knows the offense;
2. can read the D before the snap,
3. Can check through multiple options (rather than obviously locking on just a primary target), make a quick decision after the ball is snapped and pull the trigger, rather than holding the ball for more than a few seconds;
4. and can throw the ball to short (i.e., screens, flares, etc) and medium (i.e., slant, crossing, etc.) routes with some degree of consisitency; and
5. an added plus would be some mobility.
I don't think that RJ has a cannon for an arm, but he doesn't throw a lot of wounded ducks, either. The only thing that RJ really struggled with at times (sometimes critical times) last year was requirement number 3, but that is of course a critical requirement in the new offense. Whether or not that problem stems in whole or part from "Dooleyphobia" (i.e., the inordinate fear of making a mistake that manifests itself into playing not to lose, rather than playing to win) has yet to be seen. We shall see soon enough.
I can't really form an informed opinion regarding the other QBs save for CC, and even his time was too limited to really get a feel one way or the other. There is no way to know which of the QBs has that innate sense that will be required under the new system, until we give them all multiple chances to pick up the basics of the system and prove themselves.
What we desperately need at a minimum is a "system QB"; i.e., a QB who picks up and thrives under the new system. That may or may not be the prototypical dropback passer or the prototypical scrambler. The real issue will not be one of who's got the biggest arm or the fastest feet; rather, the issue will be: Who makes the right call from multiple options, while thinking on his feet?
Anything beyond a system QB is just lagniappe that increases the effectiveness of our offense (perhaps dramatically).
Given the choice between:
1. A QB with a cannon for an arm, but who often holds onto the ball most of the time and gets sacked, who occasionally can deliver the "home run" but whose most consistent plays are: 1. leading the offense onto the field; and 2. the play three plays later, where he leads the offense right back off of the field; or
2. A QB who can consistently pick the correct receivers and deliver the ball on most (i.e., slant, crossing, etc) routes and who doesn't get sacked, and keeps the chains moving, but who has less of an arm -
Who do you think SD and Franklin will pick?
I'm not saying that that is the choice we have - it's not necessarily an "either/or" proposition. We may or may not have a QB who can both throw the deep ball consistently AND can run the offense and not have it sputter with 3 and outs. We'd like to have it all - we may or may not actually have it all in one package. Heck, while we're filling out our Christmas list, why don't why ask for a QB who can do all of the above AND is faster than greased lightning?
I'm just stating what the MINIMUM and MOST IMPORTANT requirement is for this new offense.
I agree that the threat of a deep ball does a lot to keep the defense honest. So does the ability of a QB to take off and pick up huge chunks of yardage on foot. That being said, the threat of consistently delivering the ball to a WR - wherever downfield he may be as long as he gets good, positive yardage, does even more to keep a defense honest overall.
I love the deep ball. I'm sure that we will use it as much as our scheme, our talent, and the opposing D allows us to. However, it cannot win games by itself, if the remainder of our pass oriented offense is inefficient.
Bear in mind that I'm not talking about us starting a QB with a limp noodle for an arm. Honestly, I don't think any of our QBs have a "weak" arm, but I'm sure that of some of our QB's arms are stronger than others. I'm simply stating that we are not going to hand over the reins to a QB simply because he throws the longest deep ball in a glorified version of a punt, pass and kick contest.
Last edited by cherokeedawg; 02-22-2010 at 02:11 PM.
I agree that our QB needs to be able to throw the long ball but it's not the most important skill for a QB to have. Brett Favre made a hell of a career off throwing slants. Besides, don't wanna be like this guy who has a man crush on QB's who throw the long ball....
We need to have the capability to go deep when the opportunity is there and to keep the defense honest. We don't want to live and die on the long ball. Reliable ball movement down the field is a must.
WWDog
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