Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Past time for NFL to consider 'bullpen drive-closers' as part of QB roles? [Tebow vanity]
Colofornian | April 19, 2015 | Colofornian

Posted on 04/19/2015 8:40:28 PM PDT by Colofornian

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last
To: Alberta's Child; pieceofthepuzzle
I don't think the scenario described here by the author would work.

Why wouldn't it work?

You have...

...A coach who implemented spread-offenses with QB runs off of them in college (IoW a coach who can operate beyond the NFL "box")...

...A QB who was successful near or within the red zone, leading to 85% of scores on those opportunities? And that was as a mere rookie without an entire pre-season and exhibition season to work up an offense around his skillset.

...And you had a QB who had enough of a red-zone/near red-zone balance (8 TD passes; 6 TD runs) that defenses in those situations need to respect.

21 posted on 04/20/2015 2:03:50 AM PDT by Colofornian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Colofornian
Let's think of this in the context of the author's comparison to pitching in Major League Baseball ...

1. In baseball, changes in relief pitching took so long to unfold because there's no "free substitution" rule in baseball. Once the pitcher is removed from the game, he's done for the day. Football doesn't have this limitation, and yet this type of situational use of the QB hasn't really been used (except in rare cases) at all. So the hesitation for NFL coaches to adopt this approach has to be related to another factor.

2. Baseball pitchers decline within a game due to fatigue. You might say the same thing about football players in general, but I've never seen any evidence that a football QB is substantially less effective after 40 pass attempts than he was after his 20th attempt. So -- leaving injuries aside -- there would have to be another compelling reason to use a "relief QB" in a situational role.

3. The biggest factor would come down to a simple calculation by a head coach in any given situation: Are we more likely to be successful with a "situational backup" than with my starting quarterback? That's really all it comes down to, and in the vast majority of cases an NFL team isn't well-served by having the starting QB taken out of the game.

That last point is a critical one, for it explains why the Eagles were interested in signing Tebow after he's been out of the game for a while. They don't really have a solid starter right now that inspires a lot of confidence, so they're willing to take a look at some interesting options at the QB position that most teams wouldn't even consider.

22 posted on 04/20/2015 2:24:03 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("It doesn't work for me. I gotta have more cowbell!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

Hardly anyone is smart enough to make those adjustments.


23 posted on 04/20/2015 2:53:11 AM PDT by Vermont Lt (When you are inclined to to buy storage boxes, but contractor bags instead.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: LukeL

As long as he doesn’t have to throw.


24 posted on 04/20/2015 2:55:02 AM PDT by Vermont Lt (When you are inclined to to buy storage boxes, but contractor bags instead.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: boop
I wonder why more pitchers didn't ruin their arms back in the 30s and 40s.

Three reasons: they didn't throw as fast, they only had two or three pitches, and the strike zone was "taller" (up to the letters)--that last one forced batters to swing more often, lessening the number of pitches per inning.

25 posted on 04/20/2015 4:38:15 AM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Colofornian
It's not as crazy an idea as you think--especially if Chip Kelly--the mad scientist of offense in the eyes of many--figures out a way to use Tebow in red zone offense situations.

Bill Belichick couldn't figure out a use for Tebow because in many ways, Belichick is still a believer in a more conventional offense.

26 posted on 04/20/2015 5:10:08 AM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Colofornian

You might also want to take a look at the University Of Oklahoma’s Blake Bell. Was heavily recruited out of high school as a drop back passer. In his early years, OU had Landry Jones who set all sorts of passing records but had issues on short yard and near goal line offenses. OU substituted Bell along with a very heavy set offense. Called it the Belldozer. Bell had 24 rushing touchdowns in two years. He is a legitimate passing threat as well.

Bell makes Tebow look small. He’s 6’6 and weights 259. Last year played tight end and is expected to be drafted as such in the NFL. No question as to his durability.


27 posted on 04/20/2015 5:31:54 AM PDT by DugwayDuke
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Colofornian
Likewise, some relief pitchers in the Majors (Mike Marshall, Charlie Hough, Hoyt Wilhelm) were successful precisely because of the errant nature of their (knuckleball) pitchers and weaker arms...not because of them.

Marshall's go to pitch was the screwball, not the knuckler. When he won the Cy Young in 1974 he pitched in 106 games ... a record that probably will never be broken

28 posted on 04/20/2015 7:35:37 AM PDT by tx_eggman (Liberalism is only possible in that moment when a man chooses Barabas over Christ.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Colofornian

I would just LOVE to have you as coach on an opposition team!!! Oh, and I would VERY much hope Tebow was either your starting quarterback or “finishing” quarterback, preferably both!


29 posted on 04/20/2015 8:59:02 AM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: RayChuang88

“Bill Belichick couldn’t figure out a use for Tebow because in many ways, Belichick is still a believer in a more conventional offense.”

And how’s that been working out for him?


30 posted on 04/20/2015 9:26:56 AM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: catnipman

Of course great, because when Belichick has an all-time great quarterback in Tom Brady, you don’t need a gimmicky offense as much.


31 posted on 04/20/2015 9:30:19 AM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Dog

“Eagles have five QBs..”

MY theory about that is that Chip Kelly must think having five have-arsed quarterbacks could somehow make one good one.


32 posted on 04/20/2015 9:30:33 AM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Colofornian

Coach,you better go to the bullpen.I'm just not up to the task.

33 posted on 04/20/2015 9:35:22 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Obama;A Low Grade Intellect With Even Lower Morals)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Colofornian

“And, unlike baseball, it’s not simply for (lack of) durability or injury pre-emptive reasons...”

Look up average ERA for pitchers per times through the batting order. The more times you see a pitcher generally the easier it is to hit off him. A big part of the offensive low problems and length/pace of game problems currently in baseball are because the bullpens are generally more effective and more used than ever before, while taking more time in pitching changes.

Freegards


34 posted on 04/20/2015 9:51:28 AM PDT by Ransomed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Colofornian

That vanity screed about relief pitchers and maybe relief QBs

And no mention of

Rollie Fingers

Mariano Rivera

Or my man of my era....Goose Gossage

That’s like writing the Bible and leaving out Genesis Deuteronomy and Leviticus

It’s not the same though

QB needs to be in the game to know lay of the land and tired arm is not the same factor

Now a quick start guy trained to run play after play asap downfield

Maybe

But with the crybabies and show offs who constitute 80% these days

They’d just lie down whining


35 posted on 04/20/2015 9:53:19 AM PDT by wardaddy (Dems hate western civilization and GOP are cowards...We are headed to a dark place)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Colofornian
I don't know about this. On the last drive, with the game on the line, you want your marquee QB in the pocket.

Perhaps there is a role for a "situational" running QB, such as when you are holding a comfortable lead and need somebody who can "run off the clock" by keeping the ball on the ground with a lot of rushing and scrambling plays, while the primary QB is being rested.

36 posted on 04/20/2015 10:07:02 AM PDT by SamAdams76
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Colofornian

A short yardage QB? Given the timing and rhythm nature of the league I don’t see QB by committee happening, too many people need to think “3 1 thousand” is the same time and same distance for you to be swapping QBs in and out. And in general with less room to work tight in the end zone is considered to be the spot QBs need to be more accurate, not less, so you’re really not going to have a guy who’s not good enough for midfield but good enough to close the drive.


37 posted on 04/20/2015 10:13:05 AM PDT by discostu (Bobby, I'm sorry you have a head like a potato.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

They don’t generally make players go the distance, teams cycle players in and out constantly. That’s why there’s a 53 man roster to fill 22 starting positions. That’s one of the strengths of the hurry-up offense, makes it harder for the other team to sub players.


38 posted on 04/20/2015 10:18:08 AM PDT by discostu (Bobby, I'm sorry you have a head like a potato.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: wardaddy

Pay attention...Rollin fingers was mentioned in the article...


39 posted on 04/20/2015 3:40:17 PM PDT by Colofornian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: discostu

With the way a qb may hit a dozen receivers in a game..with half or more of them only catching 1 or 2 passes for entire game...”timing and rhythym” become overrated...especially given that many if not most teams run the ball 55 to 60% inside the opposition’s 30...see post #19 for details


40 posted on 04/20/2015 3:44:01 PM PDT by Colofornian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson