Player Game Footage Review: Ben DiNucci

[xwalker]

Note: DiNucci is not my pet cat and I was neutral about him as a draft pick.

This review is just for fans that are interested to know what actually happened in the preseason games.

• Pro/Con:
  • Con: DiNucci's overall performances were bad.
  • Pro: His physical ability is very good.
    • He made some throws that I don't think Rush can make.
    • Very athletic and accurate when rolling out.

• Bad Reads not Poor Accuracy
  • Bad reads made physically good passes appear inaccurate.
  • Without defenders in the way, most passes would have been on target to the WR.

• Passing Mechanics NOT the problem
  • The announcers loved to ramble on about his passing mechanics.
    • In reality that was never really the problem.
  • If a QB makes the wrong reads his passing mechanics don't matter.
    • I think his ability to throw from multiple arm angles is an advantage, not a fault.
  • His passes have more velocity with tighter spirals as compared to Rush/Gilbert.

• Actual Inaccurate Passes
  • There was 1 pass on a crossing route that was behind the WR.
    • The pass was off due to pressure in DiNucci's face.
    • He should have thrown it away.
  • There was a deep sideline pass that was underthrown.
    • Anticipation vs Physical Passing Accuracy
    • The QB must "guess" where the WR will be located when the ball arrives.
    • This requires many repetitions with specific WRs.
  • The vast majority of his passes were very accurate.

• Bad Reads part 2
  • The pass to the WR in the flat area that got picked was really not an accuracy problem.
  • The problem was that he didn't read the coverage correctly.
  • The outside CB covering that WR dropped and the Nickel (slot) CB came underneath.
  • The route by the slot WR make it easy for the NCB to be in that spot.

• DiNucci vs Rush/Gilbert
  • Physically DiNucci is much better than Rush/Gilbert.
    • DiNucci would win a passing skills competition over Rush/Gilbert.
    • There no NFL DBs on the field for those competitions.
  • Gilbert: 7th year hanging around the NFL.
  • Rush: 5th year hanging around the NFL.
    • Rush only has value if he is the #2 QB on the depth chart.
    • Rush has no upside. If Grier moves to #2, then no point keeping Rush.

• Summary:
  • It would be dumb NOT to keep a physical upside player like DiNucci on the practice squad.

 

[Hagman]

He'll make some lucky organization a fine regional manager someday.

 

[cowboys1981]

I don't mind him on the PS and give him another year to develop. Luckily his poor performance in the preseason all but assures us he won't be poached.

 

[Zman5]

So throwing off his back foot isn't a problem? LOL. Well OK. That's good to know.

 

[Whyjerry]

Note: DiNucci is not my pet cat and I was neutral about him as a draft pick.

This review is just for fans that are interested to know what actually happened in the preseason games.

• Pro/Con:
  • Con: DiNucci's overall performances were bad.
  • Pro: His physical ability is very good.
    • He made some throws that I don't think Rush can make.
    • Very athletic and accurate when rolling out.

• Bad Reads not Poor Accuracy
  • Bad reads made physically good passes appear inaccurate.
  • Without defenders in the way, most passes would have been on target to the WR.

• Passing Mechanics NOT the problem
  • The announcers loved to ramble on about his passing mechanics.
    • In reality that was never really the problem.
  • If a QB makes the wrong reads his passing mechanics don't matter.
    • I think his ability to throw from multiple arm angles is an advantage, not a fault.
  • His passes have more velocity with tighter spirals as compared to Rush/Gilbert.

• Actual Inaccurate Passes
  • There was 1 pass on a crossing route that was behind the WR.
    • The pass was off due to pressure in DiNucci's face.
    • He should have thrown it away.
  • There was a deep sideline pass that was underthrown.
    • Anticipation vs Physical Passing Accuracy
    • The QB must "guess" where the WR will be located when the ball arrives.
    • This requires many repetitions with specific WRs.
  • The vast majority of his passes were very accurate.

• Bad Reads part 2
  • The pass to the WR in the flat area that got picked was really not an accuracy problem.
  • The problem was that he didn't read the coverage correctly.
  • The outside CB covering that WR dropped and the Nickel (slot) CB came underneath.
  • The route by the slot WR make it easy for the NCB to be in that spot.

• DiNucci vs Rush/Gilbert
  • Physically DiNucci is much better than Rush/Gilbert.
    • DiNucci would win a passing skills competition over Rush/Gilbert.
    • There no NFL DBs on the field for those competitions.
  • Gilbert: 7th year hanging around the NFL.
  • Rush: 5th year hanging around the NFL.
    • Rush only has value if he is the #2 QB on the depth chart.
    • Rush has no upside. If Grier moves to #2, then no point keeping Rush.

• Summary:
  • It would be dumb NOT to keep a physical upside player like DiNucci on the practice squad.

I totally agree. Plus his game is similar to Dak’s. Would not have to switch up offense so much. Definitely worth trying to develop but not a backup now.

 

[xwalker]

I don't mind him on the PS and give him another year to develop. Luckily his poor performance in the preseason all but assures us he won't be poached.

If they wanted to keep him on the practice squad, then they wouldn't want him to look good in the preseason games...

In the Garrett era they almost always gave each QB at least a quarter with at least 2nd string OLinemen.

- More often the 3rd QB got some time with some 1st string OL plus 2nd stringers.​

- This preseason DiNucci played with the 4th string OL (And 4th string WRs, TEs, RBs).
- He generally didn't even get the 3rd OT or top backup interior OLineman.
- Even in the Parcells era, the 3rd QB got some snaps with 1st or 2nd string OL.

He didn't get much in the way of receiving options either.
- He generally didn't even get Cedrick Wilson or Noah Brown.
- Simi Fehoko has interesting upside but he was completely lost this preseason.
- The TEs that played most of the snaps with DiNucci at QB didn't even make the practice squad.

RBs were a similar issue.
- None of the RBs that played with DiNucci made the 53 man roster.

 

[IceStar-D7]

This can't be a serious thread....

 

[xwalker]

So throwing off his back foot isn't a problem? LOL. Well OK. That's good to know.

The ball was on target with tight spirals and better velocity than passed thrown by Rush.
- Throwing from his back foot is not the reason he threw into triple coverage...

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I'll disagree about the mechanics not being an issue. Yes, there are a few times when he can make a throw from an awkward angle that most couldn't. But the flaws in his mechanics often show up when he is all alone in the pocket without pressure. As the poster above mentioned the back foot throwing has to be corrected. Romo threw from multiple angles but when he had time in the pocket he was very consistent in his motion.

I think the reading the defense is much, much, much more important than the whole physical tools thing. And I am really not sure how much better a guy that throws a lot of interceptions is going to get in that regard. Seems a lot of the guys who start off as high interception guys tend to stay high interception guys for their entire careers. Guys like Vinny Testaverde, Jameis Winston, Drew Bledsoe, Brett Favre, etc

Comparing him to Rush and even Gilbert really doesn't say much, because you are talking about guys that are really borderline NFL guys. They will never be starters, they are only finish the game type of QBs. And putting Rush and Gilbert's arms in the same class is not really realistic. Gilbert's arm has a much better arm than Rush. Brandt made note of the strong velocity and accuracy in Gilbert's throws when he scouted him before the draft. ( https://www.nfl.com/news/garrett-gi...y-will-boost-nfl-draft-stock-0ap2000000337866

I can see a place for DiNucci on the PS. I doubt he will ever make it up the ladder...I just don't see an NFL caliber QB when he is on the field. But it doesn't hurt to give him some more time just to make sure you don't give up too early.

 

[Praxit]

....besides mechanics, physical ability and such. I always search for the poise (affirmative look) in the QB. Dinooky was the worse. He flat out looks scared and outgunned. Rush was standard (Red Baron).

Gilbert carries much better buffer feeling in the pocket.

Dinooky almost has reminiscent poise as Romo.

 

[xwalker]

I'll disagree about the mechanics not being an issue. Yes, there are a few times when he can make a throw from an awkward angle that most couldn't. But the flaws in his mechanics often show up when he is all alone in the pocket without pressure. As the poster above mentioned the back foot throwing has to be corrected. Romo threw from multiple angles but when he had time in the pocket he was very consistent in his motion.

I think the reading the defense is much, much, much more important than the whole physical tools thing. And I am really not sure how much better a guy that throws a lot of interceptions is going to get in that regard. Seems a lot of the guys who start off as high interception guys tend to stay high interception guys for their entire careers. Guys like Vinny Testaverde, Jameis Winston, Drew Bledsoe, Brett Favre, etc

Comparing him to Rush and even Gilbert really doesn't say much, because you are talking about guys that are really borderline NFL guys. They will never be starters, they are only finish the game type of QBs. And putting Rush and Gilbert's arms in the same class is not really realistic. Gilbert's arm has a much better arm than Rush. Brandt made note of the strong velocity and accuracy in Gilbert's throws when he scouted him before the draft. ( https://www.nfl.com/news/garrett-gi...y-will-boost-nfl-draft-stock-0ap2000000337866

I can see a place for DiNucci on the PS. I doubt he will ever make it up the ladder...I just don't see an NFL caliber QB when he is on the field. But it doesn't hurt to give him some more time just to make sure you don't give up too early.

The lack of an clear cut #2 QB this preseason forced the coaches to give all 1st half reps to Gilbert/Rush.
- If Grier wins the #2 spot, then next preseason DiNucci will likely get some 1st half reps in the preseason.

 

[charron]

His reads and decision making is where he needs to really focus and get better.

 

[Zman5]

The ball was on target with tight spirals and better velocity than passed thrown by Rush.
- Throwing from his back foot is not the reason he threw into triple coverage...

Comparing Dinucci's pass to a noodle arm QB as a proof that throwing from his back foot isn't an issue is ridiculous.

I'm sure Dak can throw a better pass with his left arm than Rush. It doesn't mean that's not an issue if he keeps doing it.

 

[Cowfan75]

This can't be a serious thread....

He just needs time to "develop". We love that word around here. It's up there with "gel".

 

[rags747]

If they wanted to keep him on the practice squad, then they wouldn't want him to look good in the preseason games...

In the Garrett era they almost always gave each QB at least a quarter with at least 2nd string OLinemen.

- More often the 3rd QB got some time with some 1st string OL plus 2nd stringers.​

- This preseason DiNucci played with the 4th string OL (And 4th string WRs, TEs, RBs).
- He generally didn't even get the 3rd OT or top backup interior OLineman.
- Even in the Parcells era, the 3rd QB got some snaps with 1st or 2nd string OL.

He didn't get much in the way of receiving options either.
- He generally didn't even get Cedrick Wilson or Noah Brown.
- Simi Fehoko has interesting upside but he was completely lost this preseason.
- The TEs that played most of the snaps with DiNucci at QB didn't even make the practice squad.

RBs were a similar issue.
- None of the RBs that played with DiNucci made the 53 man roster.

Agreed, next year let him start with the 1’s in a preseason game. Give him something to work with instead of a bunch of scrubs. It just might make somewhat of a difference!

 

[Creeper]

I pretty much agree with this assessment of DiNucci. He has some tools but needs to pick up the mental part of the game. For a QB, that is as important, maybe more important the the physical tools. Some guys just never get that part. Dinucci may never get the reads right, or become poised in the pocket. But experience is the best teacher of both of these qualities. Maybe another year on the PS and another set of preseason games will help him develop in these areas.

I have no problem keeping him on the practice squad. But he needs to show some improvement year over year. Throwing him into a game situation last year, for whatever the reason may have been the worse possible thing to do with him.

 

[xwalker]

Comparing Dinucci's pass to a noodle arm QB as a proof that throwing from his back foot isn't an issue is ridiculous.

I'm sure Dak can throw a better pass with his left arm than Rush. It doesn't mean that's not an issue if he keeps doing it.

When the receivers were open and remained open, his passes were on target.

When he didn't read the defense correctly, defenders stepped in front of the receivers.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

....besides mechanics, physical ability and such. I always search for the poise (affirmative look) in the QB. Dinooky was the worse. He flat out looks scared and outgunned. Rush was standard (Red Baron).

Gilbert carries much better buffer feeling in the pocket.

Dinooky almost has reminiscent poise as Romo.

How can you say in one sentence Dinuuci was the worst in poise to then say he had as much poise as Romo?

 

[Zman5]

When the receivers were open and remained open, his passes were on target.

When he didn't read the defense correctly, defenders stepped in front of the receivers.

 

[buybuydandavis]

• Pro/Con:
  • Con: DiNucci's overall performances were bad.
  • Pro: His physical ability is very good.
    • He made some throws that I don't think Rush can make.
    • Very athletic and accurate when rolling out.

• Passing Mechanics NOT the problem
  • The announcers loved to ramble on about his passing mechanics.
    • In reality that was never really the problem.
  • If a QB makes the wrong reads his passing mechanics don't matter.
    • I think his ability to throw from multiple arm angles is an advantage, not a fault.
  • His passes have more velocity with tighter spirals as compared to Rush/Gilbert.

• Summary:
• • It would be dumb NOT to keep a physical upside player like DiNucci on the practice squad.

Bad mechanics are a problem whether or not you have other problems. DiNucci's sidearm gots to go.

I do like him on the move, though. Much like Romo, can move *and* think at the same time. It's not just "oh, gotta run now".

I like him. He's not just worth a PS spot, it's a deal to get to keep him on the PS. We spent a roster spot last year.

McCarthy is supposed to be the QB Whisperer, and we should have been spending more money and roster spots to develop QBs over the years anyway. I really like that we've got 2 young guys with a little juice on the PS. Let McCarthy prove his reputation.