Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
There are two ways for a QB to be successful assuming he has reasonable talent around him. One is to be really physically gifted with size, speed and arm strength. The othe ris to be really smart and understand the intricacies of the playbook.
In the first case you can win games with amazing throws or breaking a long run. Those guys often rely so much on the big play that it's hard to win consistently but they can still win a lot of games. Guys like Allen and Jackson fall into this group.
Then we have the so called system QBs like Purdy. His understanding of the offense allows him to overcome any physical shortcomings. Guys in this grouo will win a lot of games as long as the defense plays well and keeps the score low so they don't need to make great plays all the time. That doesn't mean they can' make great throws but it's not a major part of their game. Solid, accurate and consistent. That's how they win.
Occasionally a player comes along that combines uncanny ability to make plays out of nothing and has a great understanding of the game. Those players are rare and become true franchise players. Guys that you never trade unless they're at the end of their career. Mahomes is in that category right now. Everyone else is kind of somewhere in between. Flashes of greatness mixed with mediocrity. Amazing physical plays and then a stupid bonehead mistake.
If Brock stays healthy and stays with this team he may eventually reach the point where he's untouchable. Not because of his physical skills but because he knows the offense so well that he becomes a coach on the field. He'll know instinctively where every guy is supposed to be. He won't make as many risky throws unless it's really necessary. We had that with Montana toward the middle of his career. He couldn't move like he did when he first came into the league but he was an extension of Walsh on the field.
There's more to it than knowing the offense well though. People often call it "it," but Brock has an instinctual understanding of the game and the reflexes to capitalize on what he sees in an instant. Nothing is ever off the table for him in a play; that is, he's always thinking of ways to exploit what he sees before him, and his vision, reaction time and instincts help him capitalize. It's why he does those horizontal throw-aways. As long as there is a chance to do something, Brock is considering doing it.
When I see a college QB pump fake past the line of scrimmage (like I saw Mahomes do, for example), knowing that he can't throw it, but linebackers are going to react because they can't help it, allowing the QB to get three more yards on the scramble, I know he has that guile, that instinct. And Brock has that. So, it's more than just understanding the playbook or defenses. There is another level of awareness that these special improvisors have, and Brock has that.-
[ Edited by 5_Golden_Rings on Nov 13, 2023 at 3:19 PM ]
Deal with it
