Film Talk, Week 4

Photo: USA Today Sports

I decided to watch the Green Bay at Tampa Bay and the Atlanta at Seattle games because I wanted to see some of the young skill position players. However, the difference in quarterback play between the tier of Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers versus Geno Smith and Marcus Mariota was vast. Being a Quarterback is the most difficult job in the NFL. I decided to peel back the layers of it to start this week’s film talk.

In 2008, I was an eager young coach and blessed to have an internship at Montana State University for Spring football. I learned from every coach on their staff, but I devoted most of my time to being with Jim Svoboda because he coached quarterbacks. He’s currently the offensive coordinator at Tulane, former Head Coach at Central Missouri, former offensive coordinator at UCLA, and has won several national championships. I was a sponge with coach Svoboda and still own three legal pads full of his answers to all of my questions. One answer is etched into my mind more than others. I asked him, “What separates good from great quarterbacks?” Without hesitation, coach Svoboda replied, “The ability to process information quickly.”

Quarterbacks have to remember the play, call out the play to their teammates, know their job, know the job of the other 10 offensive players, line them up correctly, remember the down and distance and situation, remember the snap count, get a pre-snap read of the defense, call out alerts, adjust the protection, audible the play, change routes based on defensive alignment or leverage, shift or trade or motion offensive players, remember their technique to execute the play and then get the play snapped before the play clock expires. After the ball is snapped, the other 21 players all move, and it may not be in ways that were hypothesized before the snap. It is constantly processing information, making decisions, and then executing in short periods of time. The great ones are making correct split-second decisions, while others struggle with their internal processor.

What I constantly saw from Brady and Rodgers is they’re just many levels ahead of Smith and Mariota. If the play design had the initial read open, then all four players could execute. Brady and Rodgers had better timing and accuracy. However, a gap existed when it came to making multiple reads or playing off script. Smith could do it occasionally, and Mariota could rarely. But Brady and Rodgers could do it consistently. If the defense presented a challenge, then they would counter with throwing to that receiver. Brady and Rodgers took advantage of the weaknesses within defenses and didn’t try to do too much or force it. They have the ability to throw receivers more open by throwing the football to the side of the receiver away from the defender. Lastly, Brady and Rodgers threw to their check downs on time to allow them some run-after-the-catch opportunities. Those may appear like wasted pass plays, but it keeps the offense on schedule. Second and 6 has more options available than 2nd and 10, which creates more indecision for defensive play calls, personnel packages, pass rush, and time needed in the pocket. All in all, it’s really just a masterpiece to watch how in control Brady and Rodgers are of the entire field and everything that happens within it.

Disclaimer: Coaches are critical by the nature of the profession. I will reveal the good and bad about players. It doesn’t mean I’m a homer or a hater, so the kids say. It’s just honesty.

Green Bay at Tampa Bay

This was a hard-fought game between two potential playoff teams. Both had injuries to key offensive players, which made moving the football more difficult against these very good defenses. Turnovers in key situations kept the scoring down, as did negative plays and penalties. For example, Tampa Bay needed a touchdown in the 4th quarter and started the drive with a 25-yard gain to midfield. Then on 1st and 10, ran a double reverse, which was fumbled. The result was a loss of 12 yards, and the drive stalled. Green Bay came out of the gates hot with touchdowns on their initial two drives of the game and was up 14-3 at the half. Tampa Bay rallied to bring the score to 14-12 but failed to convert the two-point conversion.

Tom Brady

The Good

• Throws the football on time, which helped combat the lack of separation from his receivers

• Still showed plenty of zip on the football

• Very accurate

• Shows touch on passes

• Smart player who takes what the defense gives him

The Bad

• Delay of game on the two-point conversion may have cost them the game

• Moves in the pocket to buy time, but he can’t avoid rushers very well with his lack of athleticism

Takeaway

• Brady played well without Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Julio Jones, and being down some offensive lineman. He played within the scheme and kept them in the game. Brady hasn’t lost much of anything and could play longer than this year if he wanted.

Leonard Fournette

The Good

• Patient runner, who will let holes develop

• Powerful player

• Good hands and an asset in the passing game

• Better playing north and south

The Bad

• Not overly quick and might’ve lost some quickness

• Missed a few holes trying to do too much or bounce outside

Takeaway

• Fournette didn’t have a great game; part of it was due to vision and not running downhill quickly enough. He’s a good player, but he could’ve played better. Chicago ran all over Green Bay’s defense, which is why it’s a little concerning. If he strings a few of these games in a row, it might be time to move on from Fournette.

Aaron Rodgers

The Good

• Very quick processor of information

• Takes advantage of the space the defense gives him

• Got his weapons involved with easy receptions

• Quick release

• Good ball fakes make the outside zone and run action tough to differentiate

• Takes smart, calculated risks for shots down the field

The Bad

• Stared down a read, and the safety read his eyes and intercepted the pass

• Offense only accounted for 149 yards after the initial two drives scored touchdowns, and he’s got to help dig them out of that

Takeaway

• Rodgers is a fantastic player who is in complete control on the field. He misses Davante Adams, but he’s efficient with the weapons around him due to timing and accuracy with his passes. He may not be a top fantasy asset this year, but he’s still a good quarterback.

Aaron Jones

The Good

• Good burst and contact balance

• Makes correct reads in the zone scheme

• Patient runner, who will set up blocks and maximize runs

• Weapon in the receiving game

The Bad

• Lost a fumble near the goalline due to a big hit from Vita Vea and Lavonte David, which was a turning point in the game

Takeaway

• This could be a hot take, but Aaron Jones is the most important player in that offense right now. Looking at the season-long numbers, he’s head, shoulders, knees, and toes above Dillon. Jones is a master at the outside zone scheme, and his numbers should pick up when he’s not playing a great defense like the Bucs.