What makes a good QB?

[MahiMike]

What makes a good QB?


ok, I was gonna reserve this for the draft but since we can't stop talking about QB's and the combine is happening, I thought I'd throw this out there for discussion...

What makes a good QB?

This is kinda like asking, "What makes a good Miss America?". In a way, they're exactly the same. They're both beauty contests in their own context. And, much like the saying, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", multiple men can look at women and pick out totally different favorites. Why? It's about the body parts baby! Some guys like boobs, some legs, some eyes, etc.

The same deal holds true for QB's. Some think the arm is the only body part needed. They can point to Marino in his last days being wheeled out on a cart and the guy kept on winging it. Those folks would have a good argument, I suppose. But there are many other body parts to consider. And just like Miss America, they too have a question and answer section at the combine. The NFL even added a cute little IQ test called the Wunderlick (let's see Miss South Carolina take on that thing!).

So without further ado, I'd like to break down those aforementioned body parts and explain how I see them fitting into the overall product known as the NFL QB. I've ranked them in the order I think are most important.

#1 - BRAINS:

The position of NFL Quarterback is the most mentally demanding in all of (American) sports. It's basically the combination of a major league pitcher and manager. Not only does he have to hurl the ball, he has to know where the other 21 players on the field are located. He has to memorize 100's of plays and adjust them at the drop of a hat. He also must know where his teammates are supposed to be and lead them accordingly. Basically, the hurling of the ball is secondary (or even tertiary in my rankings). This is not a position for dummies. If you're uncertain, see Vince Young's Wunderlick score.

#2 - EYES:

The eyes are an overlooked body part but to me the 2nd most important one. I'm not just talking about their 20/20 vision here but the quickness of their eyes. It truly amazes me how these guys can see 40 yards down field with 20 guys in front of them and can hit a rabbit running thru a hole. A QB can't throw what he can't see. Watching the superbowl, I noticed how both Roethlisberger and Warner had incredible eyesight. Both of them made throws that couldn't even be seen by most people.
The final throw of the game showed that Ben has eyes as big as his helmet.

#3 - ARM:

Ah yes. The all important arm. I'm sure it's #1 on many folk's list. Kinda hard to play the position without one of these. It is indeed a thing of beauty. Put an Under Armour shirt on one and it's just like the Miss America bikini contest. Truly the sexiest of the body parts for an NFL fan.

There are 2 measurements of an arm; strength and accuracy. Most guys have one or the other. The ones that have both – watch out! I believe a strong, accurate arm is like speed. It's either God-given or not. As many passes as these guys have thrown since they were in Pop Warner, they're not getting any stronger or any more accurate than when they were 12. For this reason, I've ranked it #3. Sure, it's important but it's really not that difficult to be strong and/or accurate because it's not something you can practice and get better at. Hell, I even won football tickets once for throwing a football thru a hole from 20 yards out. But you don't see me playing on Sundays. However, while the arm is overrated, it still justifies the #3 slot.

#4 - LEGS:

A Quarterback doesn't need to possess 4.5 speed (though it doesn't hurt). The legs just have to move quick enough to avoid a rush. That's easier said than done, of course. You really don't want a Michael Vick guy that runs too much. But you do need to make the defense respect your scrambling abilities. The legs keep them guessing. Actually, the best guys at this are the ones that played flag football. They have to scramble to avoid a rush without blockers and get the pass off within 7 seconds. Only the ones with nifty legwork can do that.

BONUS: As a bonus to this body part, it determines the height of the QB. Seeing over those big uglies makes it easier to throw. That's why it ranks above the next 2 body parts.

#5 - INTANGIBLES:

Of all the body parts listed here, Joe Montana lacked in most of them. However, he excelled so much in this one aspect that he was able to overcome these obstacles. There's only one Joe, but there have been some QB's that made their living off of this one aspect. I can also mention Jim McMahon with the Bears, Doug Flutie, and Trent Green. These guys were all average athletes that excelled by will and determination. For whatever reason, they were winners.

#6 - HANDS:

Another overlooked body part by many. The Miss America equivalent to the calf muscle. But think about it. How many QB's have had hands that were too small? I haven't seen them up close, but I'd venture to guess that Dave Krieg had really small hands for a QB. Why else would he have led the league in fumbles? Then look at Brett Favre. The dude’s hands are massive! He makes a football look like a softball. He can grip it even when wet with no problems.

Well, that’s my take on the subject. What’s your rankings?