My Qb mobility chart

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Qb mobility, my chart

Of course a quick release, and good pocket mobility is key to avoiding a sack. Just look at Dan Marino. He was sacked 9-12 times a year ( which is amazing ) , throwing many deep passes. 95% of the public doesn't understand that a quick release, which Marino had a lightning quick release, and good pocket mobility combined with a good feel for the rush is key to avoiding sacks. Being good with the hot reads and audibles helps too.

But what about beyond that? Here is my chart for running qb's.

5.0 - 5.2 - Qb is slow and not a threat to run the ball. But he can be a good QB sneak artist if he is big and he has the right feel. Otherwise he is not a runner and can not be a RPO type of guy, or really buy himself a second chance with his feet. A slug.


4.8 -4.9 Qb can beat the slower DL men in foot races and if he has a quick release can be hard to sack. Outside of a QB sneak and man defense vs. 4 or 5 wide receivers he is generally not a threat not to run the ball. Can be easy to sack IF his release isn't fast AND he is not good reading a defense / knowing this hot reads.


4.6 - 4.7 Qb is semi mobile and can run the ball , but he is not a running QB in zone defense. He is a threat to run the ball in man defense if the defense loses containment. The QB can run for 5-10 yards and needs to be accounted for on downs like 3rd and 5. Generally this player is faster than all but the most speedy DL men, and some Linebackers. The QB can run for first downs and beat defenders to the sticks. It is important to factor in quickness, acceleration and the ability to make a man miss to determine what type of running threat he is, but this player is not going to produce many 15 + yard runs!


4.5 - 4.59 Now this player can run faster than all DL and most LBs. He can beat some DB's in footraces and is a threat for long runs. Rush containment is a must for this type of player. A truly mobile QB. A threat for big runs. You can game plan this mobility and the player can average 30 yards a game. Qb leads run, naked boots, and RPO's is a real threat.


4.41-4.49 Now this QB is FAST. Game planing for him as a runner is a must!


4.3- 4.4 QB has very rare speed can take a run the distance and out run most of the Db's.


IMO the offense coaches are ahead of defense coaches. They understand spacing better and how to use these types of players. This combined with the rule changes and referees to protect running QB's have given us the game we have today. And the bogus fines for hitting a qb legally and the threat of being kicked out of a game given has allowed mobile qb to shine as runners more. But I think in time the defense will simply assign a man, a hybrid LB/DB to mirror and spy the QB's that are truly mobile ( 4.59 and below ) for most of the downs, mitigating the 30-50+ yards so and so gets while running the ball as a QB. The defensive coordinators will adjust and the better head coaches will adjust... I think.

I have not seen an article like this in a football magazine or the web so I reserve the right to edit this! Just my .02 sense from a guy who used to coach an old wing T type of offense. To say the game has changed a lot since then is an understatement.

-JB

[Joel Buchsbaum]

This is a continuation of what I think makes a good draftable QB. Above I offer a take on QB mobility. No one has replied to it yet. Aside for that what do I look for?

Firstly competition played and who you played with matters. This is not to say that every once in a while a very good to great NFL QB comes along ( Ben Roethlisberer ) that played in a non-power five school in the MAC but such examples are rare. And when such a player comes along he is usually very big, and has a strong arm with good accuracy in college.

What else should one look for?

1. A high amount of passing attempts that indicate the player is not a game manger type, but a QB who can throw the ball often.

2. A competition percentage of at least 62%. Accuracy matters. Though Josh Allen did not shine here he also had special tools such as excellent size, a rocket arm capable of zipping down the field throws, good feet and really was playing with poor talent, He is the exception to the rule. Good accuracy prospects generally complete 67%+ of their passes. Very good accuracy is 68-69 %. and an amazing Joe Burrow like QB prospect completes 70% of higher.

3. A good yards per pass attempt. Under 6 yards and he is a game manger, good is 8 yards and anything over 9 years indicates a good down the field passer. Of course a good college receiver has a lot to do as part of the equation.

4. A good TD to Int ratio. Self explanatory

5. A good amount of sacks taken per pass attempt. While the quality OL has something to do with it, so does the QB! Things like quick feet, a quick release, good physical quickness, pocket presence, and QB smarts are key to avoiding 2nd and 3rd down and a longer distance. A new way to view things. Overall speed has practically nothing to do with this!

6. The wonderlic test. Name me a QB that did well that scored an 18 or less on the test in the modern NFL form 1990-2023? Okay Lamar Jackson qualifies but he is also a world class athlete. So unless you have a running qb like that it matters a lot. The low scores matter. QB smarts and learning the playbook matters! Terry Bradshaw scored low, but he had a rare arm and played decades ago so...

7. Being drurbale. The best ability they say is being availability

8. The QB is not a one year wonder. Now experience matters some but the one year wonder doing well for just one year well..make you wonder. One year wonders and are more prone to being busts.

9. Physical testing and QB results. Things like having a good arm and proving it by a radar gun ( new way of thinking ). Its more about velocity of the throw and less about the distance traveled . And yes had size you won't find many QB's in the NFL with hands under 9" and 8" and less can't grip the football by palming it. By the way the average man has 7 1.2 Inch hards, but the again no one that size every played NFL QB...at least since 1980! You want to be over 6' tall, ideally 6'4" or taller, but not spaz with height. It seems like the DQ limit is about 5'9" tall and that player better have a rocket arm and some wheels.

Find all traits in one guy is ideal.


These are all things that can be read in black and white if you have the data. Of course watching the guy play is the most important and knowing how to intepet what you see, but understanding how to interpret the video also matters. So what makes a good QB prospect? See the above. My $.02


** I reserve the right to tinker and edit this post, as I think of more I will edit it. **

[WindyCitySteel]

By your numbers save for the meaningless wonderlic, Kenny Pickett was an excellent QB prospect last year and the Steelers were smart to draft him.

[NorthCoast]

There's a difference between 'mobile QB' and 'running QB'. Sure, you want speed for a running QB but you don't need that for a mobile QB. Mobile QBs are all about pocket awareness, feeling pressure, sliding and moving away from it.

Rodgers, Watson, Wilson, Mahomes are mobile QBs.

LJ, Hurts, Fields are running QBs.

Give me a mobile QB all day long.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

By your numbers save for the meaningless wonderlic, Kenny Pickett was an excellent QB prospect last year and the Steelers were smart to draft him.

Okay then, fine care to show me a 17 or less QB that played well in the NFL besides that stupid man named Lamar that can run like a unicorn. I asking you and will give you the years darted between1990-2023. Plenty of QB have been draft since. At least 210 of them. Surely you can name one that was good. The offense is not easy to master these days. QB smarts does count.

I added more to the post you might want to check it and show me the NFL qb's who have tiny hands under 9". The list is one and he want not very good last year. I am analyzing the data If you can't name one who flunks such data in the NFL that was good, maybe you should think again. Two categories now that is a lot to overcome historically speaking and be good. Three categories? I can think of none. Small hands, a low 17 or below wonderlic and a 1 year wonder of good production? No sir I can not name one such QB that was good. Am I describing anyone you can think of? Don't the data. Just saying....

[WindyCitySteel]

Okay then, fine care to show me a 17 or less QB that played well in the NFL besides that stupid man named Lamar that can run like a unicorn? I asking you and will give you the years 1990-2023. Plenty of QB have been draft since. The offense is not easy to master and QB smarts does count.

The wonderlic has nothing to do with QB smarts, and your range excludes Dan Marino, who got a 15. So did Kelly and Bradshaw, and those guys called their own plays. Your boy Matt Corral also scored 15, didn't you call him the best in the draft? Maybe you should amend your criteria to only exclude 17's.

[Mr.wizard]

Okay then, fine care to show me a 17 or less QB that played well in the NFL besides that stupid man named Lamar that can run like a unicorn? I asking you and will give you the years 1990-2023. Plenty of QB have been draft since. The offense is not easy to master and QB smarts does count.

Dan Marino for starters, he scored a 16

[NorthCoast]

Dan Marino for starters, he scored a 16

Guess we'll be waiting for the 'yea buts'.....

[Steel Maniac]

There's a difference between 'mobile QB' and 'running QB'. Sure, you want speed for a running QB but you don't need that for a mobile QB. Mobile QBs are all about pocket awareness, feeling pressure, sliding and moving away from it.

Rodgers, Watson, Wilson, Mahomes are mobile QBs.

LJ, Hurts, Fields are running QBs.

Give me a mobile QB all day long.

good post.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Dan Marino for starters, he scored a 16

Dan Marino played years decades ago. Yes he had a 16, but he had an amazing arm, top velocity on the ball, and elite release. So....who else doesn't have that and scored below a 17? The game is way more complex now.