Someone educate me...

When Ben threw the Gatorade ball last week, he said it wasn't his fault. He said the play was designed to go to the right and he was following his progressions. That sound logical to me at the time. I didn't think anything about it.

But last night something hit me.

First, wouldn't AB have known the play and the direction it was going? He certainly ran that route as if he didn't know Ben wouldn't be looking his way.

Second, with his experience, wouldn't (or shouldn't) Ben be able to deviate from progressions? I mean, it seems like progressions are for less experienced qb's who can't make quick decisions?

I'm sure you continue to keep them as part of the plays, almost like a security blanket for when a play breaks down. But it just seems like Ben, at this stage in his career, should be relying more on instinct than script.

I'm coming at this from a fan's perspective. I have no qb experience to fall back on other than what I've watched for the past 40 years.

 

Ben is a physical giant but a mental midget on the football field. I don't think he's a quick decision maker and anticipatory passer in the mold of Brady and Manning. His physical gifts have thrilled us over the last decade and a half but now his mental deficiencies will frustrate us from this point on. Defenses know that he can no longer extend plays the way he once did so they scheme for that.

 

I think Brown didn't end up running the route as intended. He made a move, and got open. Then was mad that Ben didn't see him open.

But, Brown improvised the route, and ran it differently, than intended.

 

Well to Bens defense as you age you do loss brain cells so maybe that's what's going on!!!

 

You have to remember, Brown draws double and triple coverage, a play designed to go to the right would naturally have him go left and cut right if he isn't the number 1 target. The problem is our other receivers can't seem to get much, if any separation and Ben doesn't seem capable of throwing it in a tight window anymore.

 

I think AB's route took a while to develop. By the time it did Ben was fleeing pressure from the left forcing him to rollout to the right. He was never gonna be able to throw back across his body forty yards downfield. I figured once AB saw the film he realized that.

 

I think there are serious problems that have been allowed to enter the locker room. Brown didn’t throw the fit because of one play, it was the situation. This all should come back on the offensive coordinator, he has some of the best plays in their position and they are struggling to perform. The Bengals made a change at OC and they benefited from a fresh start.

 

AB would know the play yes.
QB's always go through their progressions, regardless of experience. That's the whole point of a play. Otherwise, it's just sandlot football. If Ben sees Brown is open, of course he can stop his reads right then and there and throw it to him, if he sees him. He didn't see him though so had no reason to go to him. Progressions are not for when a play breaks down, not at all, it's actually the opposite. Once a play breaks down, progressions go out the window because all routes have been run and players are now just trying to get open any way they can. The QB will have either gone through all his reads or no longer has time because he's scrambling.

Play calls aren't static though. Many of them give the WR's and QB some discretion depending on what the D is doing. One play call can have the QB doing a 3, 5 or 7 step drop, with the WR running a deep or shallow route depending on the drop.

If you want to learn this stuff, I highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed

 

Good call, shaner. That's a great book. PK is the man.

 

Thanks, $4 on eBay

 

Seconded. I may have said this before but I read the book on Shaner's recommendation and was well worth it.