Sometimes its a little too easy to fall in love with a QB's arm talent

[RS12]

 

[RS12]

This year that guy is Davis Webb.

 

[diefree666]

that is why I am always shocked at how supposedly smart people slobber all over a guy with a cannon for an arm and a empty head.

 

[Teague31]

This year that guy is Davis Webb.

Mahomes

 

[RS12]

Mahomes

Yeah, I think I read he could throw it 70 yards with ease.

 

[Blast From The Past]

Jeff George all day long

 

[DFWJC]

Mahomes

85 yards in the air with out much trouble.
He even demonstrated it on TV
Definitely a cannon.

Last guy that I can recall the throw it that far, that easily, was David Garrard.

 

[NIBGoldenchild]

There is certainly something to be said about QBs who have great arms, but little understanding on how to play the position. I believe the theory that a great arm is a problem in the development of QBs, because they tend to force things in double coverage because they trust their arm too much. It seems like just having a "good" arm, but solid mechanics and powering your throws through your lower body results in a player who is forced to learn how to dissect coverages.

 

[sean10mm]

Once a QB prospect is "good enough" physically, EVERYTHING is about the mental aspect. Almost everybody who fails as a pro does so because they couldn't learn a pro offense, or couldn't make accurate decisions fast enough in live NFL action, or had glaring character flaws (lazy, drunk, dumb as all hell, cowardly, etc.)

 

[revospeed]

Kyle Boller supposedly threw the ball 65 yards from one knee and was picked in the first round despite not being able to hit the broad side of a barn and he still stuck around in the league for a while. Teams are willing to overlook a lot of flaws for pure arm talent. Teams will blindly hand out huge contracts to strong arm QBs who have serious flaws in their games, like Cutler, Stafford, Osweiler, Rob Johnson back in the day, Culpepper, Kaepernick, ect., while teams eschew quality, smart, accurate QBs like Cousins, Brees (SD), and Alex Smith.

Just goes to show you what the guys at Pardon My Take say, "If a QB has a decent arm and looks good in shorts, he'll stick around in the league for a while." And with Matt Barkley, Mark Sanchez, Matt Cassell, Zach Mettenberger, Josh McCown, ect... still on NFL rosters, it's tough to argue against that.

 

[joseephuss]

Kyle Boller supposedly threw the ball 65 yards from one knee and was picked in the first round despite not being able to hit the broad side of a barn and he still stuck around in the league for a while. Teams are willing to overlook a lot of flaws for pure arm talent. Teams will blindly hand out huge contracts to strong arm QBs who have serious flaws in their games, like Cutler, Stafford, Osweiler, Rob Johnson back in the day, Culpepper, Kaepernick, ect., while teams eschew quality, smart, accurate QBs like Cousins, Brees (SD), and Alex Smith.

Just goes to show you what the guys at Pardon My Take say, "If a QB has a decent arm and looks good in shorts, he'll stick around in the league for a while." And with Matt Barkley, Mark Sanchez, Matt Cassell, Zach Mettenberger, Josh McCown, ect... still on NFL rosters, it's tough to argue against that.

Very good points although I don't agree with all of your examples.

I've never been impressed with Osweiler's arm strength. Maybe it's he because he is so tall and has poor mechanics, but his throws don't seem to have great zip. He is not weak armed, but I wouldn't say he was a strong armed guy, either.

I also have never been impressed with Alex Smith's accuracy. Considering he mostly throws short passes his accuracy is lacking. He needs to be far more accurate to make up for his weak arm.

Drew Brees has good arm strength. He is no Jeff George, but I would say his arm strength is at least average or better. Stronger than Alex Smith and Brees is extremely accurate and throws downfield more often.

 

[revospeed]

Very good points although I don't agree with all of your examples.

I've never been impressed with Osweiler's arm strength. Maybe it's he because he is so tall and has poor mechanics, but his throws don't seem to have great zip. He is not weak armed, but I wouldn't say he was a strong armed guy, either.

I also have never been impressed with Alex Smith's accuracy. Considering he mostly throws short passes his accuracy is lacking. He needs to be far more accurate to make up for his weak arm.

Drew Brees has good arm strength. He is no Jeff George, but I would say his arm strength is at least average or better. Stronger than Alex Smith and Brees is extremely accurate and throws downfield more often.

You're right. I was thinking more of their perception. Osweiler is a big QB, so there is a perception that he has a gun. Smith is thought to be pretty accurate between the hashes. He's moreso the smart QB who runs when he has room and makes the smart throws.

Brees is thought of as the most accurate QB in the game (or near the top), not as the guy with big arm. Especially when he was a free agent. Kind of like how Tom Brady isn't thought of as the strong arm guy either, but I've seen him make throws that have amazed me. Like his hail mary to Randy Moss in the first NYG-NE Super Bowl.