Why You Can’t Let Young QBs Learn from the Bench

[Hammock Parties]

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2017/05/17/n...-practice-time

Every year we see NFL teams draft an unready quarterback in the first or second round, with the intention of having him learn from the bench as a rookie. The Bears (Mitchell Trubisky), the Texans (Deshaun Watson) and especially the Chiefs (Pat Mahomes) will toy with this idea in 2017. It’s a logical and admirable approach. Every team wants its guy to be like Aaron Rodgers emerging from Brett Favre’s shadow, turning an apprenticeship into stardom. The only problem: that never happens anymore.

Literally. It … does … not … happen. Since 2006, no team that drafted a quarterback in the first two rounds sat him for the entirety of his rookie season and then saw him become a long-term franchise quarterback. In fact, only two QBs in that time who sat out their entire rookie seasons have even gone on to start at least 48 games: Colin Kaepernick, with the 49ers, and Chad Henne, with the Dolphins.

The previous generation of quarterbacks saw a handful of highly drafted players sit and learn. The best examples were Carson Palmer in Cincinnati, Drew Brees in San Diego, Philip Rivers in San Diego, and, of course, Rodgers in Green Bay. There were also the unique cases of Tony Romo and Tom Brady, guys who were brought in to fill the back of the roster and wound up developing well enough to become quality starters once they took the field. (Incidentally, both permanently replaced Drew Bledsoe.)

But those quarterbacks were all drafted at least 12 years ago. No one has followed that path since.

What’s changed in those dozen years? You can start at everyone’s favorite place and blame the culture. The NFL is an impatient, win-now league more than ever! There’s some truth to that, plus the simple fact that teams who draft a quarterback in the early rounds usually do so because they didn’t have a good one to begin with. The Favre-led Packers selecting Rodgers is an extreme outlier. Many teams with highly drafted QBs don’t have a solid starter for him to sit behind.

But the bigger issue is time. In 2011, the current collective bargaining agreement significantly reduced practice hours, both during the season and and during the offseason. Naturally, it’s the backup players’ reps that disappear. There’s barely enough time for the first-teamers to practice.

Which means the only way to evaluate a QB and let him learn kinetically is to put him with your first team. And voila! There’s your new starting quarterback.

Eventually, something will give. Stylistically, the NFL and college games are drifting farther and farther apart. Incoming NFL quarterbacks are less prepared each year. With fewer chances for them to practice, young quarterbacks must continue to learn under the fire of live games. This diminishes the NFL’s product and can help ruin careers.

There is, however, one saving grace. The nature of today’s pass-happy NFL is prolonging quarterbacks’ careers. The days of repetitive deep dropback passes are practically over. Teams now regularly throw the ball quickly after the snap. Quicker, shorter passes place a greater emphasis on the intellectual side of quarterbacking and less on the physical side.

A quarterback no longer has to consistently throw the ball as far or hold it as long. Instead, he’s reading the defense more before the snap, which is how he’s able to throw so quickly after it. (This is how most college offenses operate, but they’re executing many of those quick throws differently than what you see in the NFL. In college, the hash marks are spaced farther apart, which allows for wider formations. The wider side of these formations create more defined, almost indefensible quick throws. Everything becomes easier for the quarterback.)

Look at all the thirtysomething quarterbacks who are still performing at their highest levels:

Tom Brady, almost 40
Drew Brees, 38
Carson Palmer, 37
Eli Manning, 36
Philip Rivers, 35
Ben Roethlisberger, 35

Peyton Manning threw for 5,477 yards at age 37 and, after finally getting pushed up against the ropes by Father Time, still won a Super Bowl at age 39.

The NFL no longer gives young quarterbacks enough time to develop, but at least more stars at this position are staying around a little longer. At some point, of course, new quarterbacks will be needed. Hopefully in the next CBA teams can get back to practicing more. Developing QBs from the bench needs to be a real option rather than the pipedream that it has become.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Derp. I can't read.

It's all right. Your heart is in the right place with this battle.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by jjchieffan

I'm good with him sitting or with him starting.

Pretty much THIS. Would make for an exciting season to see what Mahomes has... Smith's already paid, and doesn't want to take the hits anyway.

It's whatever.. just want football back!

[RunKC]

If this was the 2014 Chiefs team with Donnie Avery, Dwayne Bowe and an OL composed of early years Eric Fisher, Donald Stephenson and Mike McGlynn, I'd not want 2 PM in any game for the entire season at any point, but this team is ideal for him.

The HC/ OC have been together for years, no new starters are expected aside from possibly 2PM and 8 of the 10 starters aside from QB have been here for multiple years in the same system.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by RunKC

If this was the 2014 Chiefs team with Donnie Avery, Dwayne Bowe and an OL composed of early years Eric Fisher, Donald Stephenson and Mike McGlynn, I'd not want 2 PM in any game for the entire season at any point, but this team is ideal for him.

The HC/ OC have been together for years, no new starters are expected aside from possibly 2PM and 8 of the 10 starters aside from QB have been here for multiple years in the same system.

Also agree with this. If the team talent was shit on offense, do not start him.

I'd still prefer he sit and truly absorb the playbook.. and all the in-game nuances.. for the first year.

.. but if his mentality is genuinely viewed as strong enough to endure some tough showings and learning curves early on? fine... throw him out there on a strong team.

[dlphg9]

Who ****in cares about "mechanical issues" if they were such a big deal he wouldn't have been drafted so high. Only reason he shouldn't be starting is if he doesn't fully know the playbook and he is a smart guy who works hard. He's going to figure it out. I hope he opens the season as starter.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

Who ****in cares about "mechanical issues" if they were such a big deal he wouldn't have been drafted so high. Only reason he shouldn't be starting is if he doesn't fully know the playbook and he is a smart guy who works hard. He's going to figure it out. I hope he opens the season as starter.

The more the topic is discussed and new information brought to light, the more I begin to lean in your direction.
Ultimately, I trust the coach and staff to make the call.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

Who ****in cares about "mechanical issues" if they were such a big deal he wouldn't have been drafted so high. Only reason he shouldn't be starting is if he doesn't fully know the playbook and he is a smart guy who works hard. He's going to figure it out. I hope he opens the season as starter.

Wrong!! He was drafted so high because that is what was required to get a QB that has all of the talent that he has. If he didn't have those mechanical issues he would have went in the top 5or #1 overall. He has what seems to be everything except for those issues.
Those issues will lead to more INTs in the NFL than it did in college. An NFL QB cannot throw off his back foot constantly as Mahomes did in college and have success. This has all been covered ad nasium by those that know exponentially more about playing in the NFL than anyone on this board.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

Wrong!! He was drafted so high because that is what was required to get a QB that has all of the talent that he has. If he didn't have those mechanical issues he would have went in the top 5or #1 overall. He has what seems to be everything except for those issues.
Those issues will lead to more INTs in the NFL than it did in college. An NFL QB cannot throw off his back foot constantly as Mahomes did in college and have success. This has all been covered ad nasium by those that know exponentially more about playing in the NFL than anyone on this board.

I expect interceptions. I don't care if he throws a few because he throws off his back foot because he's going to be throwing touchdowns.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

And now in certain circles, his mechanics are being touted as part of his game and not something that necessarily has to be corrected top to bottom.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Hate

And now in certain circles, his mechanics are being touted as part of his game and not something that necessarily has to be corrected top to bottom.

The guy has the arm strength to make up for the bad mechanics. It's not like hes Alex Smith throwing up ducks off his back foot.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

The guy has the arm strength to make up for the bad mechanics. It's not like hes Alex Smith throwing up ducks off his back foot.

Word.

And thank god for that.

[Nickhead]

imagine this, with all the talk of poor mechanics, think with refinement how much BETTER he could be.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

I expect interceptions. I don't care if he throws a few because he throws off his back foot because he's going to be throwing touchdowns.

The point is it won't be a few. It will most likely be a lot. Players that don't throw off their back foot throw a few. When he is throwing a lot then he will be told he has to cut those down and it will most likely make him lose some confidence in his arm ability. None of which is a good thing for him or any QB.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

The guy has the arm strength to make up for the bad mechanics. It's not like hes Alex Smith throwing up ducks off his back foot.

That is the reason he threw double digit INT a year in college. He will be throwing almost twice as many in the NFL where the players are faster, better and better coached.

[JakeF]

Where are the stats about QBs that started their 1st year and got destroyed? Cleveland alone should balance it out.