Mobile QBs are here to stay…
Why am I one of the only people who can see the “Changing of the Guard” at the QB position? Yes, I get it. Tom Brady and his inside-the-pocket conventional style is still winning Super Bowls. However, one day when he’s done throwing check-downs from his walker, we are going to have to look for game-changing offensive players. While up and coming players like Pat Mahomes and Baker Mayfield will still be in the pocket slinging it, players like Kyler Murray, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson will lead the new age of Quarterback.
Low passing yards? So what. Did they win?
Statues in the pocket will still be a welcome part of the game. However, with the way the young mobile QBs can use their featured threat, their legs, the stock on pocket passers will go down. So what if your signal caller only totaled 180 yards passing during the game. How many yards did they put up on the ground? More than likely the total will be close to the century mark if coordinators are using them correctly.
More prone to injury…nope
I’m guessing at this point you’re going to use the excuse of RGIII and other mobile signal callers like Michael Vick who were hurt in the past as your go-to for rejecting the change. Well, I say hogwash, Sir (or Ma’am)! Greg Roman’s explanation was amazing when explaining this in an interview with Baltimore Ravens reporters concerning mobile vs. pocket passers and injuries. Please see below.
“One thing I’ve learned — I’ve worked for quite a while with very athletic quarterbacks that could impact games with their legs — is I think it’s a little overrated, the whole danger thing. Why? Because, and this is empirical data here, over the years you kind of realize that when a quarterback decides to run, he’s in control. So now if he wants to slide, he can slide,” Roman said. “If he wants to dive, he can dive or get out of bounds. All of those different things. He can get down, declare himself down. A lot of the times when there’s more danger are when he doesn’t see what’s coming — my eyes are downfield, I’m standing stationary from the pocket, somebody is hitting me from the blindside.”
Boom! There you have it! Roman believes that mobile QBs are safer on the run because they have more control. Cam Newton has been able to show that control when running and for the most part has been just fine. The times where he was seriously hurt have been in the pocket. Russell Wilson is a great example of dual threat and has the ability to be very dangerous in open field. The Seahawk is smart and knows when to get down or out of bounds. This intuition will be the norm for the new age mobile QB.
Mobiles with bigs
This new age QB can change the game forever because defenses are no longer covering ten men on the field. They no doubt have to spy the signal caller with a LB or Safety and hope that all of the 1-on-1 matchups stay locked down. With the build of the 2019 top WR draft class, there are going to be mismatches. Adding a 6’3 (on average) target to any of these mobile signal callers is going to be a headache for sure.
We’re here we’re mobile get used to it!
Pundits can ramble on about mobile signal callers and how it is a gimmick but what they have to realize is more, and more of the college systems are being deployed into the pro stage. Not only are those systems coming up to the NFL level, but those same college players and their coaches are also being put on the display to play out these packages. The game has changed. You can either get on board or go watch baseball or something. Mobile QBs are here to stay…