The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

6.9 Robert Griffin III
Talented, but yet to define himself as an NFL quarterback. He won’t have a successful career by working outside the pocket. No one at his position did or will. Too many games and too many hits keep QB’s from having a career based on their feet, rather than their pocket accuracy.

5.4 Kirk Cousins
Smart, hard working and well liked and respected. Lacks the arm talent to start and become a guy you can win with.

OldSchool wrote:What a crock. Tom Brady wasn't picked until the 6th round because he didn't have a really strong arm, not he's at the top of the stack. Bree's doesn't have a big arm either. Lots of great QB' s didn't have 80 yard arms but they have it between their ears. Conversely many busts had big arms but mediocre smarts.

Nick Foles is given a 8 for a fine year. Cousins and Foles were in the same recruiting class at Michigan State. Foles transferred after getting beat out by Cousins for the back-up job behind Hoyer. It will be interesting how Cousins does when he is finally freed from the Skins and able to compete for the starting job.

Many claim that arm strength is an overrated aspect of quarterbacking and in comparison to some of the other characteristics, such as pocket presence and accuracy, that is true. However, it's still vital to have a strong arm because it has an impact on the design of the offense.

If a quarterback has a weak arm, the offensive coordinator has to eliminate some of the passing concepts, consequently limiting the offense. When concepts are thrown out and the passing offense is more based off of horizontal routes, it can be an issue moving the ball against defenses that like to sit and jump routes.

In contrast, a strong-armed passer is able to keep defensive backs on their heels by pressuring them vertically with the deep ball. The receiver who once was simply running vertical routes to clear out space for underneath receivers becomes a threat down the field and the defense is stretched horizontally and vertically.

In some cases, arm strength is the difference between winning and losing.

DarthMonk wrote:I actually intended this thread for Around the League.

Sorry.