Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill: Pocket Presence Series (1 Viewer)

[Matt Waldman]

My link

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Good stuff Matt.

The story is about Tannenhill but Matt sets the table by explaining the bias against running QBs. He states a key to determine NFL QB success is how they deal with choas under pressure which leads into how the proliferation of the spread has made in college has made it difficult to see college QB prospects under pocket pressure.

The article is about Tannehill but the takeaway for me is noting that pocket passers who come in versed in a Pro-Set offense can have just as many choatic moments under pressure as a scrambling spread college QB prospect but scouts are biased to knock down the scrambling spread QB.

For me the key to evaluating any position is putting prospects in the proper context so I really like this insight by Matt.

The rest of the article delves into Tannenhill's specific attributes with lots of play-by-play photos which really help in hammering home the concepts being described.

Highlights:

- "Pat Kirwan noted ... that the only scrambling quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl was Steve Young... I think it’s probably more accurate ... as a historic reflection, but not a basic truth about today’s NFL."

- "believe the spirit of Kirwan’s statement is that a quarterback must know how to manage the pocket in order to win in the NFL. Scrambling is a bonus."

- "there’s a subtle, but important difference between playing out of control and knowing how to play when the situation is chaotic. Scrambling quarterbacks might be the easy target ... there are just as many pocket passers that cannot manage chaos well"

- "There is no better scenario to test some of the quarterback’s decision-making prowess than when he’s in the pocket and pressure is on its way"

- "abundance of college offenses employing spread passing games, there are fewer opportunities to evaluate a quarterback in a pocket under pressure that is similar to what they will experience in the NFL. Somtimes I can watch Arizona State, Texas Tech, Houston, or Oklahoma State and not even see pressure in the pocket during an entire game.

- "Texas A&M plays a pro-style offense that former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman brought to College Station. While there are spread concepts incorporated into this offense, the Aggies run personnel sets with fullbacks and tight ends and its quarterback under center. And their quarterback Ryan Tannehill put on an impressive display of what it means to possess pocket presence from both pro-style and spread concepts"

Good stuff and good insights, well worth a look.

 

[Tackling Dummies]

Thanks, well worth the time. My takeaway is that the combine is right around the corner and the insight from the article is worth more than whatever "measureables" that come from Indy.

GAME FILM ONLY

 

[Matt Waldman]

Thanks, well worth the time. My takeaway is that the combine is right around the corner and the insight from the article is worth more than whatever "measureables" that come from Indy.

GAME FILM ONLY

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Tannehill might have the best combo of pocket skills and athleticism as a runner in this draft. Griffin III is the most athletic and his pocket skills can develop, but I think Tannehill's are more polished and he's not a player you have to worry about breaking the pocket a little more than you might expect.