Geno Smith: A Tale in Accuracy
Geno Smith: A Tale in Accuracy
By JayhawksNChiefs on Jan 10, 4:04p 422 http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2013/1...le-in-accuracy http://cdn2.sbnation.com/uploads/cho...dard_709.0.jpgJustin K. Aller I’m not going to sit here and say that I can predict the future, because I can’t. But I’m pretty sure what the talk on AP will be about for roughly the next three months. There will be an endless discussion (which will end in 3 months) on what the Chiefs are going to do with the number 1 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. While perusing through the limitless comments on AP, one voice prevails through the masses. That voice says, "Draft Geno Smith." The numbers are impressive. In his career, Mr. Smith threw for 11,662 yards, tallied up 98 touchdowns to only 21 interceptions, and completed 67% of the passes that left his hand. But, many believe those impressive stats are a result of the system he played in. Short screen passes and two explosive receivers that warrant draft talk of their own undoubtedly could inflate any QBs success. After going through the AP scouting process (YouTube), many can form their own opinion of what they like and don’t like. Depending on the observer, things like arm strength, footwork, poise, accuracy, release, and pocket awareness can all be discerned from prospect to prospect. Opinions are formed and debates ensue on exactly what each prospect can offer. It was my attempt, in this post, to stray from this type of analysis. I wanted something more objective. You can show 10 different people tape of Geno throwing the ball and you will get 10 different opinions. Some may be similar, but all will vary in one degree or another. Specifically, I wanted to tackle the debate on Geno’s accuracy. As stated earlier in the post, Geno has a very impressive career completion percentage, one that he was able to increase every year as a starter. Also stated earlier, this percentage is said to be due, in large part, to the short and "easy" passes that he was asked to make. To explore this idea, I observed 8 games from Geno’s 2012 campaign. Those games were Texas, Texas Tech, Maryland, Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Iowa State, and Kansas. I used the YouTube videos of Geno Smith vs. insert opponent here in my research. The goal of this research was relatively simple. One comment in particular sparked the idea when a user stated that, "90% of his passes were screen passes." Well AP, were they? I present the following chart: http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_as...60c_medium.jpg via i1257.photobucket.com As I watched the games, I charted where each completion and incompletion were in regard to the line of scrimmage. It didn’t matter where the receiver ended up, all that mattered is where he caught it or attempted to catch it. After completing 8 games and 300 throws, I felt I had an adequate and representative sample size. The double lines running down the middle of the chart can pretty much be thought of as the hash marks on a football field. With the exception, for example, that sometimes the ball can be located on the right hash pre-snap and a pass will be completed with the receiver going over the middle. The receiver might catch it outside of the hash marks, but for all intents and purposes it was a pass over the middle. I thought this better represented the types of throws that he was either missing or hitting. The “NLOS” (Near Line of Scrimmage) is any pass that is generally within 3 yards of the LOS (i.e. screens, swing passes, and maybe a few shallow drag routes). The “4 to 9” section refers to passes that were completed/attempted within 4 to 9 yards of the line of scrimmage (usually outs, ins, and slants). The farther up the chart you go, the farther the passes were from the LOS. From there, I think most get the idea. To give an example on how to read the chart, the bottom left section describes that Geno completed 41 of 46 passes (89.1%) that were directed to his left and were near the line of scrimmage. The far right column gives totals for each “level.” Interesting Notes:
The overall results of the research seem promising. Initially, I defined 15 parts of the field. I had 5 levels of the defense separated by 3 sections. Through my evaluation, Geno was able to effectively attack each of these 15 parts. Not all equally, but he made the defense account for the whole field. Do the screens inflate his completion percentage? Yes, but those passes are hardly a given… cough*Matt Cassel to Eric Weddle*cough. The percentage of those he completes is beyond impressive by itself (88%). And those passes can travel around 20 yards in the air, at times. The only way those plays work are to get the ball there very quickly and very accurately, which Geno does nearly robotically. I was a Geno Smith fan before I put this together, and this did nothing but confirm my thoughts on him. I have nothing to compare these numbers to, so I’m thinking about doing a similar evaluation on a couple of the other quarterback prospects. In the end, I hope people find this interesting and can find a way to use this information in their own evaluations. |
This joker only used 'highlight' videos/frankie
|
Great work Laz, and very interesting reading! It would be neat to see the same type of analysis, with Wilson, Glennon, and a few others.
|
Good stuff, thanks for posting.
|
most impressive from that, imo, is his accuracy in the 10-20 range
and he throws almost as many in that range as as any other |
|
Somebody email this to Dorsey and Reid.
|
Would like to see that compared to other guys that had NFL success, but it does pwn people that say he only can dink and dunk.
Thanks for posting Laz. |
It is an interesting article, but the data seems kind of wonky. According to the article, Smith completed 205 out of 297 passes in those games for a 69% completion percentage. On the ESPN website, however, he completed 216 out of 307 passes for a 70.3% completion percentage. I wonder where the discrepancy arises from and how where the missing passing attempts/completions would map out according to the article.
I would also really like to see how this compares to other top notch QBs not only in the draft, but in the NFL as well. You know the scouts have mapped out all his completions for every game, and this may be why the brain trust in the FO aren't sold on him being a franchise QB. That said, where Geno is extremely accurate seems to be ideally suited for a WCO that Reid likes to play. |
Quote:
|
Many thanks.
|
Quote:
He passes the eyeball test. |
Quote:
|
Out of all the Geno footage that I've watched I rearely see him drop 5 yrads behind the LOS and then throw it on a line 20 yards past the LOS. I also feel like he has a hair to much arch on some of the 10-15 yard outs he throws. Don't get me wrong I still like Geno but this is what I see. I also see him throw a really pretty deep ball to and of course he's really accurate within 10 yards of the LOS as the chart showed.
|
Quote:
That would be an ass load of research, but interesting to see. |
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:17 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.