A Special Ability

[Wi. Mike now in Florida]

There are just a couple quarterbacks in my opinion walking this earth today
that are geniuses in the game of football, Arron Rodgers (even at 41yrs. old) and Tom Brady.

Their sense on what's happening on the field before the ball is snapped in any given game is remarkable,
almost mysterious at times.

You might think of some others, but those two are my picks.

What Say?

 

[milani]

There are just a couple quarterbacks in my opinion walking this earth today
that are geniuses in the game of football, Arron Rodgers (even at 41yrs. old) and Tom Brady.

Their sense on what's happening on the field before the ball is snapped in any given game is remarkable,
almost mysterious at times.

You might think of some others, but those two are my picks.

What Say?

I put Peyton Manning there also. And although he is ancient, Joe Montana.

 

[Wi. Mike now in Florida]

I put Peyton Manning there also. And although he is ancient, Joe Montana.

Another two good choices

 

[Thirteen Below]

No love for Favre?

 

[Magooch]

I feel like the real X-factor for guys like Rodgers, Brady, Manning, etc... is not only that they are able to assess/diagnose the game at a very high level and figure out the correct approach, but they ALSO have the physical tools to do what needs done with that knowledge, know what I mean?

There are a lot of guys who are physically gifted enough to make "NFL throws"...but might not be able to process the game at a high enough level to utilize those physical gifts when they need to be used.
In the same way there are a lot of guys who understand the game really well, have no problem processing that information quickly, diagnosing coverages/routes, etc and figuring out what needs to be done...but for one reason or another lack the capability to utilize that knowledge in a meaningful/impactful way.

For instance, a lot of the guys who are on the media shows or have a social media presence or whatever...a lot of them put on a persona for the media or play up stuff for hot takes, but a lot of those guys really know their stuff. I think of like JT O'Sullivan, Dan Orlovsky, even our own Kurt Benkert, all of whom were pretty mediocre NFL QBs but all know the game inside and out, guys like that are able to read a defense, assess the play call, predict how things are going to play out, etc at a level that most folks will only dream of. But for one reason or another they just didn't have the complete package to make it all work at an elite level. (I am also reminded that all these guys were in all likelihood probably the best football player their hometown/high school has ever seen lol)

But yeah, anyhow, for me that's what really makes guys like Rodgers and the others mentioned to be the best of the best of the best. It's one thing to know what to do, it's another thing to be able to actually do it in the heat of the game

 

[OldSchool101]

There are just a couple quarterbacks in my opinion walking this earth today
that are geniuses in the game of football, Arron Rodgers (even at 41yrs. old) and Tom Brady.

Their sense on what's happening on the field before the ball is snapped in any given game is remarkable,
almost mysterious at times.

You might think of some others, but those two are my picks.

What Say?

I would also add Peyton Manning. The guy is walking and he was a Field General out there.

A little tidbit. I cannot remember the player but his story was interesting. He said Aaron Rodgers knew the Defense so well that one time they were playing the Packers and Rodgers shouted out to the opposing DB to get back ti his assigned area because he was out of position?? Apparently they were trying to mix it up to confuse Rodgers but this player was confused on his role or something like that? (My interpretation of the interview) and he had studied the Defender so intently that Aaron recognized something was off and stopped the play for a second. He kinda barked at the Defender and told him where to go! Like he was being nice to him so ge wouldn’t get embarrassed or something?
The player said Rodgers was actually correct, his teammate was out of position. This player being interviewed had never seen a QB so on top of his game that he not only directed the Offense, he also directed some Defensive aspects! True story it was the most he was ever impressed by a QB. Aaron was playing mental chess by being nice to the guy is my opinion. That is such an Aaron Rodgers move, the guy is brilliant on a football field.

PS. HEY #23! YOURE PLAYING QUARTERS HERE… GET BACK OVER HERE!! (pointing)

 

[Wi. Mike now in Florida]

But yeah, anyhow, for me that's what really makes guys like Rodgers and the others mentioned to be the best of the best of the best. It's one thing to know what to do, it's another thing to be able to actually do it in the heat of the game

Do you feel a lot of this could be taught?
Could it be a possibly to hire a Brady or Rodgers to coach a QB if a team sees a potential
in a young QB that's just coming out of college.

I just don't understand why a great QB wouldn't want to pass on their God given talent to a younger player.

 

[Wi. Mike now in Florida]

I would also add Peyton Manning. The guy is walking and he was a Field General out there.

A little tidbit. I cannot remember the player but his story was interesting. He said Aaron Rodgers knew the Defense so well that one time they were playing the Packers and Rodgers shouted out to the opposing DB to get back in place because he was out of position. Apparently they were trying to mix it up to confuse Rodgers and he had studied the player so intently he knew his job better than the DB!
The player said Rodgers was actually correct, his teammate was out of position. True story!

Watching Rodgers all these years, I can believe your story

 

[milani]

I feel like the real X-factor for guys like Rodgers, Brady, Manning, etc... is not only that they are able to assess/diagnose the game at a very high level and figure out the correct approach, but they ALSO have the physical tools to do what needs done with that knowledge, know what I mean?

There are a lot of guys who are physically gifted enough to make "NFL throws"...but might not be able to process the game at a high enough level to utilize those physical gifts when they need to be used.
In the same way there are a lot of guys who understand the game really well, have no problem processing that information quickly, diagnosing coverages/routes, etc and figuring out what needs to be done...but for one reason or another lack the capability to utilize that knowledge in a meaningful/impactful way.

For instance, a lot of the guys who are on the media shows or have a social media presence or whatever...a lot of them put on a persona for the media or play up stuff for hot takes, but a lot of those guys really know their stuff. I think of like JT O'Sullivan, Dan Orlovsky, even our own Kurt Benkert, all of whom were pretty mediocre NFL QBs but all know the game inside and out, guys like that are able to read a defense, assess the play call, predict how things are going to play out, etc at a level that most folks will only dream of. But for one reason or another they just didn't have the complete package to make it all work at an elite level. (I am also reminded that all these guys were in all likelihood probably the best football player their hometown/high school has ever seen lol)

But yeah, anyhow, for me that's what really makes guys like Rodgers and the others mentioned to be the best of the best of the best. It's one thing to know what to do, it's another thing to be able to actually do it in the heat of the game

The game is different today. Even though plays are called on the sideline the QB has to see what is happening on the field and make changes before the snap.
To reference Bart Starr back in the day the QB pretty much always called the play in the huddle and then made changes if needed at the line. And back then the playbook was rather small, the formations were few for both the offense and defense, and the player positions were standard instead of variable. In addition teams ran the football more unless they trailed by a huge score. This is especially true if you watched a college game 60 years ago.

 

[Thirteen Below]

The game is different today. Even though plays are called on the sideline the QB has to see what is happening on the field and make changes before the snap.

This is why they were called ''field generals''. Starr, Unitas, Tittle, Jurgensen, Blanda.... could probably list a half dozen other from that era, but the common factor was that those guys truly and deeply understood every single aspect of the game, in real time. In those days, the quarterback made the coach great just as much as the other way around.

 

[tynimiller]

I would 100% say there are many QBs that over the years are as smart as both the guys you listed, BUT the greatest of the greats don't just have the smarts but the physical traits to then execute that brilliance - that is where the cream really rises.

I liken it to how my contact explained to me why the signing of McDuffie was deemed so necessary...."His football IQ is arguably one of the best in that entire defensive room...his physical skills only allow him so much, but there is no one better between the ears."

I think so often guys look at stats to express how football smart a guy is or was...I think the more you get in touch with guys in the league - you begin to see there are geniuses and savants of the game really "everywhere" (don't run with that) but so few have the perfect intersection of IQ + Physical ability + luck of the situation their in.

 

[Thirteen Below]

I would 100% say there are many QBs that over the years are as smart as both the guys you listed, BUT the greatest of the greats don't just have the smarts but the physical traits to then execute that brilliance - that is where the cream really rises.

I liken it to how my contact explained to me why the signing of McDuffie was deemed so necessary...."His football IQ is arguably one of the best in that entire defensive room...his physical skills only allow him so much, but there is no one better between the ears."

I think so often guys look at stats to express how football smart a guy is or was...I think the more you get in touch with guys in the league - you begin to see there are geniuses and savants of the game really "everywhere" (don't run with that) but so few have the perfect intersection of IQ + Physical ability + luck of the situation their in.

If this forum had a special sub-forum entitled ''and let's just carve this one in stone somewhere so that it's always there for people to look back upon and remind ourselves of it'', it's posts like this that should be archived there. This explains soooo so much about what we average fans see playing out in front of our eyes year by year and weekend by weekend, but don't always identify clearly enough to articulate.

Until someone like you nails it.

The value of a veteran player is not always identifiable in their stats, and what the ''All 22'' shows. It's sometimes expressed in how well the other 10 aways seem to play whenever he's on the field with them.

Thank you.

 

[Pugger]

There are just a couple quarterbacks in my opinion walking this earth today
that are geniuses in the game of football, Arron Rodgers (even at 41yrs. old) and Tom Brady.

Their sense on what's happening on the field before the ball is snapped in any given game is remarkable,
almost mysterious at times.

You might think of some others, but those two are my picks.

What Say?

The guys who played years ago like Bart were remarkable compared to today's greats. Back then the QB ran the entire show with not much input from his coaches.

 

[AmishMafia]

I would also add Peyton Manning. The guy is walking and he was a Field General out there.

A little tidbit. I cannot remember the player but his story was interesting. He said Aaron Rodgers knew the Defense so well that one time they were playing the Packers and Rodgers shouted out to the opposing DB to get back ti his assigned area because he was out of position?? Apparently they were trying to mix it up to confuse Rodgers but this player was confused on his role or something like that? (My interpretation of the interview) and he had studied the Defender so intently that Aaron recognized something was off and stopped the play for a second. He kinda barked at the Defender and told him where to go! Like he was being nice to him so ge wouldn’t get embarrassed or something?
The player said Rodgers was actually correct, his teammate was out of position. This player being interviewed had never seen a QB so on top of his game that he not only directed the Offense, he also directed some Defensive aspects! True story it was the most he was ever impressed by a QB. Aaron was playing mental chess by being nice to the guy is my opinion. That is such an Aaron Rodgers move, the guy is brilliant on a football field.

PS. HEY #23! YOURE PLAYING QUARTERS HERE… GET BACK OVER HERE!! (pointing)

I heard Manning asked after a game about an interception he had thrown. He said it was because the CB blew his assignment and was in the wrong spot. The CB was later asked about the play and he said he messed up the play and blew his assigned coverage.

 

[Poppa San]

The guys who played years ago like Bart were remarkable compared to today's greats. Back then the QB ran the entire show with not much input from his coaches.

In the early days of football, (maybe pre-NFL) refs stood in the huddle when there was a substitution to make sure the play did not come from the sideline. The QB HAD to call all plays.

 

[AKCheese]

A-rods ability evaporated in the 4th quarters of playoff games the second half of his career…. The numbers in the 4th quarter of his last three or 4 playoff losses, were astonishingly bad.