Chris Landry former Pro Scout - NFL Analysis

[Big Score 1]

By Chris Landry

October 17, 2006

 

Why are defenses unable to contain Steve Smith even though everyone knows Jake Delhomme is looking for him?

 

Baltimore played way too much man coverage against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, and Smith and Delhomme made them pay. Teams normally either roll a safety to help the cornerback on Smith or bracket him to the sideline, making it a difficult throw to the perimeter.

 

When coverage is properly executed on Smith, it leaves fellow wide receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Drew Carter in single coverage, which both can take advantage of. The Panthers' ground attack has a better chance to excel when Smith is in the game because opponents can't keep that safety in the box to defend the run.

 

Offensive coordinator Dan Henning deserves credit for creating ways to get Smith the ball and allowing him to create after the catch. Screens, shallow crossing routes, quick slants and fades are just some of the ways they get him the ball – even with tight coverage. By working the shorter routes and getting defenders to play tighter coverage, it sets up Smith to blow by defenders on the deep vertical routes.

 

Despite his lack of size (5-foot-9, 185 pounds), Smith's ability to extend and make leaping grabs allows him to be a bigger target and beat defenders to the ball. Conversely, some bigger receivers must cradle the ball, making themselves a smaller target.

 

In essence, opponents are left to pick their poison when the Panthers have all their components in place offensively, with Smith being the biggest threat and the toughest matchup.

 

What did Jon Gruden see in Bruce Gradkowski that made the coach so confident in his ability to succeed?

 

Gradkowski is physically tough and very capable of handling the mental pressure that Gruden puts on his quarterbacks. He is patient and poised and understands how to protect the ball. His mobility allows for some designed rollouts and sprint actions in the passing game. He also is an accurate short- and medium-range passer, a must for Gruden's horizontal passing attack.

 

Gradkowski still has a long way to go, as does any rookie quarterback, but the Bucs' offensive staff, led by Gruden, has done a very good job giving him half-field reads and slowing the game down to increase his chance for success.

 

A big key for Gradkowski's recent success has to do with the improved play of the Bucs' defense, which is keeping the team in games. As a result, Tampa Bay has made the running game a staple of its offense. Earlier this season, the Bucs fell behind early and struggled with pass protection while playing catchup.

 

Are Michael Jenkins and Roddy White behind in their development or is Michael Vick the bigger problem in the Atlanta Falcons' passing attack?

 

The passing game is about rhythm and timing. Route progressions coincide with the depth of the quarterback's drops or rollout position. In other words, a receiver runs a route to a certain pre-determined destination with the knowledge of when and where the ball is scheduled to arrive.

 

So much of the Falcons' passing game is dictated by Vick's improvisational athletic skills. Vick excels in buying time and creating movements in coverage, so receivers have to adjust on the fly and work their way back to the quarterback. So, Falcons' receivers often run good routes and get open, but Vick may be in avoid-the-rush or run mode and might not deliver the ball on time.

 

What Vick does very effectively is create space in coverage with his running skills. Defenses must often come off their coverage in an effort to defend Vick as he approaches the line of scrimmage, only to give enough space in a throwing lane to make for an easy throw that does not have to be as precise into a peeled-off coverage situation.

 

What do the Arizona Cardinals take out of a tough loss against the Chicago Bears Monday night?

 

It is important that coach Dennis Green shows his team in film study why they have failed to close out games. Their offensive design on first downs with a lead has to be evaluated, and the quick development of quarterback Matt Leinart will allow for greater flexibility in this area.

 

The Cardinals outplayed the Bears in almost every facet and there is a lot to build on. They have many of the components in place to take it to the next level, but first they must take the toughest step for a losing organization – learning how to win. That happens when players buy into that which is allowing them to successfully compete. When they desire to deliver the knockout punch instead of fearing making the mistake that could cost them the game, winning becomes a reality.

 

The Cardinals have the poise and leadership at quarterback that the New England Patriots possess with Tom Brady. How they continue to build personnel and leadership around Leinart will determine if they can have similar success.

 

Do you think the NFL should have full-time officials? What could be done to improve officiating?

 

I believe that new officials should be full-time. Current officials should be grandfathered in because if they were forced to choose between their business opportunities and the NFL, the league would lose too many of its top officials.

 

I believe all officials should be given full-time salaries with health benefits and an NFL pension like any other NFL employee. They would work year-round as a staff like coaches, players, scouts and front-office personnel do. During the offseason, I would have them work through film sessions and with computer-simulated programs where they can better understand positioning and angles that are crucial to an official's success. I would have them work as crews at all NFL mini-camps and training camps to foster a greater understanding with coaches and players. I would also have crews rotate in NFL Europe during the offseason.

 

I would have a full-time strength coach and trainer working with officials all year to ensure that they are in top physical condition. This is crucial with the increased speed of the game.

 

I would also use instant replay differently. I am against coaches' challenges. It's not a coach's responsibility to help get the call correct. That is the officials' job. So I would put the most experienced official that may not be an ideal fit for the playing field in charge of the replay crew. He would have two video technicians and could examine all angles of a play in the most efficient manner. Because of his experience and full access to information, the replay official would have the final call through a direct link with the referee on the field. This would create the best opportunity to get the call right.

 

What are the pros and cons of pocket passers versus rollout passers?

 

Pocket passers have a greater opportunity to deliver the ball to all areas and are in a better position to go through progressions and options. This is the most difficult thing to defense coverage-wise because the entire field must be accounted for.

 

Rollout passers help with protection problems by avoiding the rush. The defense is not sure where the pressure point will be, as opposed to a quarterback who predictably stays in the pocket. On a rollout pass, you eliminate half the field that the defense needs to cover, but it gives your quarterback a much easier read.

 

Ideally, you want a pocket passer with enough athleticism to avoid the pursuit when he needs to and pick up yardage as a runner. You can also use a quarterback with more athleticism in designed runs in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

 

Why haven't the athletic running-style quarterbacks had more success at the NFL level?

 

Having athletic ability is only a deterrent to good quarterbacking when a player allows his athletic ability to replace or special r-e-t-a-r-d the development of more important attributes, such as passing accuracy, excellent field vision and decision-making.

 

A strictly running/athletic quarterback can get his team out of jams, make an occasional big play and may pull out a game here and there. But to advance in the playoffs and win championships against the best defenses in the league, the big quarterback plays start in the pocket and are made with accurate throws into tight spots.

 

A distributor of the football is tougher for a defense to defend because he can get the ball to all parts of the field which spreads out the defense, making all aspects of a team's offense more effective.

 

A quarterback who is strictly an athlete and not an effective passer is easier to defend by good defenses because even though they present problems athletically, you don't have to cover the entire field. You're also able to focus on confining the quarterback as a runner.

 

EDIT: Had to go back in to the article & fix the Huddles automatic politically correct language filters error in word substitution.

 

Special just didn't cut it in that sentence on athletic running-style QB's development.

Edited October 18, 2006 by Big Score 1

[Caveman_Nick]

The Cardinals have the poise and leadership at quarterback that the New England Patriots possess with Tom Brady. How they continue to build personnel and leadership around Leinart will determine if they can have similar success.

 

 

After 2 games...

 

[Big Score 1]

 

After 2 games...

 

 

To be fair, that is Chris Landry's opinion after 2 Pro games AND 30+ College games.

 

How Lienhart performed in College, is a major reason for him being selected in the 1st round dontcha' know.

[gd74]

Didnt Ryan Leaf have the same things said about him ??????

[schadenfreude]

Didnt Ryan Leaf have the same things said about him ??????

 

 

Are you alluding to the fact that Landry was employed by the Chargers as director of scouting when they drafted Leaf second overall?

[xMRogers]

Didnt Ryan Leaf have the same things said about him ??????

 

 

I really don't think the works "poise" and "maturity" were ever used when describing Ryan Leaf. Rocket Arm and Size were his attributes

[Caveman_Nick]

To be fair, that is Chris Landry's opinion after 2 Pro games AND 30+ College games.

 

How Lienhart performed in College, is a major reason for him being selected in the 1st round dontcha' know.

 

 

 

All quarterbacks taken in the first round were studs in college. And not all of them were on a powerhouse team with the talent that USC had. Succeeding at quarterback in college has no translation in the pro game. Just look at all the Heisman winners who were losers in the NFL.

 

 

What he said.

 

It's moronic to compare Leinart, or any young QB, to a player like Brady, P Manning, Elway, Marino, etc. I thought it was stupid when the comparisons between Brady and Montana were popping up in his first season.

 

I like Leinart a lot. I think he has the chance to be as good as or better than Palmer. But 2 games and an 0-2 record isn't time to start measuring for his HOF bust