Delhomme's Mechanics and Decision Making

[Mr. Scot]

Good photographic work.

Not to anyone specific, but there's one thing that always gets left out of these discussions. Fans tend to think a QB makes all his reads, picks the best choice and throws it there. Not so. It's a progression.

If you look at the first read, and he's open, you throw it to him. That's how the play is supposed to work. All too often a one-read play gets mistaken for 'staring down' a receiver, when it actually isn't.

Beyond that point, I'll say what I've said elsewhere. In the past, a lot of the completions to Steve Smith came because Delhomme was unafraid to throw the ball to Smith even if he didn't fit the classic definition of 'open'. this came from a trust that Smith would fight for, and nab, anything in his general vicinity.

That trust was rewarded way more often than not.

These days, I think Jake still trusts Smith, but I'm not as sure he trusts his ability to get the ball to him.

[Mesmer]

This is a very good post MurkN, and also some good insight from you too, Mr. Scot.

It's amazing and also depressing how open people get out there and they just never get any targets from Jake.

Now, I firmly believe that every 3rd receiver we've tried to draft is actually crap. However, there's no reason why any QB couldn't be expected to spread the ball the around in this exact same set of situations.

[Blitz]

Couple of things.

1. Please stop with the game manager tag for delhomme. Thats the biggest misconception in the nfl. He has never properly managed games.

2. Scott here your single read, however Jake routinely makes plays appear to be single read plays. They are not, he has a severe tendacy to, I suppose feel something preplay and lock on for the entrie play. I assure you there are not that many singular plays in the offense, regradless of how bad you think offensive scheme is.

3. Jake has always had terrible mechanics. He very rarely has proper balance when he throws. This is nothing new guys. Go back in time, take the playoff run to the superbowl for instance. Remember how we used to freak out or some of us did anyway with how high he threw the ball, feeling as though he was going to kill moose or smith? Back in the day and to this day I have always felt he was luck to complete as many of those as he did. That luck has caught up to him of late. His forcing the ball to his singluar reads are not working. Actually when Jake progresses which is rare he typically makes good plays. I believe this is a mental deal. I remember when the places was whatever its first name was bashing him for these throws, appears its finally caught up to him.

4. I also believe our simple offense is easy to obtain and gameplan for. Most of the plays center back to the inside and are short (less the swing, bubble, screens to wr (smith). Problem with this is teams are loading the box, blitzing and showing the blitz, which imo is forcing Jake to force it quicker. This is not so good. Field is cut down and loaded with defenders. Also believe his noodle is not so good at throwing the out, over the corner who is pressing or up in cover two, which even further limits his obtions.

In the end Jake has never and will never have proper mechanics, strong arm or vast game knowledge (that shows up on the field), we as fans can only hope his one assest comes back, his "grit" as the media calls it.

[carolinanimal]

jake also has a tell before he throws. rewatch some games. before he throws the ball he pats it. and he holds the football with one hand. they teach qbs to hold the ball with 2 hands until you are absolutely ready to throw it. watch PM or tom brady. they dont let that other hand go unless they are ready to throw the ball. that is how you get all those fumbles.

[Guest]

Couple of things.

1. Please stop with the game manager tag for delhomme. Thats the biggest misconception in the nfl. He has never properly managed games.

2. Scott here your single read, however Jake routinely makes plays appear to be single read plays. They are not, he has a severe tendacy to, I suppose feel something preplay and lock on for the entrie play. I assure you there are not that many singular plays in the offense, regradless of how bad you think offensive scheme is.

3. Jake has always had terrible mechanics. He very rarely has proper balance when he throws. This is nothing new guys. Go back in time, take the playoff run to the superbowl for instance. Remember how we used to freak out or some of us did anyway with how high he threw the ball, feeling as though he was going to kill moose or smith? Back in the day and to this day I have always felt he was luck to complete as many of those as he did. That luck has caught up to him of late. His forcing the ball to his singluar reads are not working. Actually when Jake progresses which is rare he typically makes good plays. I believe this is a mental deal. I remember when the places was whatever its first name was bashing him for these throws, appears its finally caught up to him.

4. I also believe our simple offense is easy to obtain and gameplan for. Most of the plays center back to the inside and are short (less the swing, bubble, screens to wr (smith). Problem with this is teams are loading the box, blitzing and showing the blitz, which imo is forcing Jake to force it quicker. This is not so good. Field is cut down and loaded with defenders. Also believe his noodle is not so good at throwing the out, over the corner who is pressing or up in cover two, which even further limits his obtions.

In the end Jake has never and will never have proper mechanics, strong arm or vast game knowledge (that shows up on the field), we as fans can only hope his one assest comes back, his "grit" as the media calls it.

3. Yes. His throws have always made me hold my breath waiting for the outcome. They used to connect, now those days seem to be gone.

4. A guy called in to WFNZ when Hurney was on Packmans's show and said he was a HS football coach and that even he could tell what offense the Panthers were running, so no surprise professional D-coordinators have figured the Panthers out.

[Cyberjag]

So why are we throwing twice as much as we run, BEFORE the game gets out of hand?

[thefuzz]

It seems to me that Jake is not processing the info quite as quickly as he once did, which could be doubt/hesitation.

And when you don't have a Cutler/Favre arm to bail you out, that split second is all a DB in the NFL needs.

[hombredeass]

if Fox only had you on staff as QB coach they would win so many games.....wow is all I can say

[hombredeass]

I can find footage over EVERY QB's bad games and critique it...this proves nothing. You could look at Drew Brees' last game and he made some bad throws off his back foot...I suppose his 'mechanics' are bad also. Wow, the snowball is gaining momentum.

[Wither]

The receiver was open when Jake threw it. The defender merely made a good play. Look at your pictures again.

I'll just say this: Jake is not a bad QB, but he's also not the best. Just look at how he got into the NFL.

Does this hamper the ability of the team? In my opinion, absolutely not. He's good enough for what he's being asked to do.

[rayzor]

jake also has a tell before he throws. rewatch some games. before he throws the ball he pats it. and he holds the football with one hand. they teach qbs to hold the ball with 2 hands until you are absolutely ready to throw it. watch PM or tom brady. they dont let that other hand go unless they are ready to throw the ball. that is how you get all those fumbles.

good catch. it's pretty obvious why he is getting so many INTs. every defense that we face knows what jake is going to be doing and when he is going to be throwing.

[rayzor]

So why are we throwing twice as much as we run, BEFORE the game gets out of hand?

the team wants to prove it has faith in ajke...or jake wants to prove to himself he can still get the job done.

whatever it is, it isn't working.

that last drive in the 1st half was done well because jake was spreading the ball around. it's just when the pressure comes he can only think of trying to find smith and then maybe moose.

someone, whether it's jake or the coaches, thinks that jake has to carry this team on his back. that's a bad idea.

[monstercat]

So why are we throwing twice as much as we run, BEFORE the game gets out of hand?

That's a damn good question. This offense is not designed to throw the ball 40 times a game. Our strength is supposed to be the O-line and running game. That's how they have been drafting and that's how they practice.

[Gscottnc5]

The receiver was open when Jake threw it. The defender merely made a good play. Look at your pictures again.

I'll just say this: Jake is not a bad QB, but he's also not the best. Just look at how he got into the NFL.

Does this hamper the ability of the team? In my opinion, absolutely not. He's good enough for what he's being asked to do.

Smitty route took him into Double coverage, even I can see that. The correct throw should have been to Moose in this case. JD stared down Smitty so your safety probably didn't even worry about Moose. BAD READ by JD