nfl 12/13

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Very good performance.

Vereen was superb, the running game really opened up the passing for Brady. The pass to Vereen was :drool:

D was decent for most of the game. To hold them to a FG after a very good opening game KO return was arguably the most important play of the game.

Only downside were the injuries to Woodhead and Gronk. Gronk is a huge loss, second season in a row where injury fecks up his post season :(
 
So I've slept on it, and this Divisional round was amazing. I don't really care what happens from this point because the teams I like are out, but hopefully New England can beat the Niners in the Superbowl - Kaepernick looks like a great player but his face annoys me. :p

I'm not really a team supporter when it comes to the NFL, mostly follow great players, so yesterday's Seattle @ Atlanta game was great to watch as Wilson just looked amazing. I have no idea how Atlanta managed to shut down Seattle's run game in the first half, but the way he carried the offense in the second was incredible. I can't figure out how a player with such a ridiculously high all-round skillset managed to drop to the third round (75th overall!) simply because he's 5'10. Of the 'Big Three Rookies', he looks the best one so far. Speaking of which, Indianapolis will need to get a defense... and an OL. Washington might struggle next season if RG3 doesn't expand his game because without him... they really don't have much.

Disappointed for Aaron Rodgers though, he's the best quarterback in the league and needs a better supporting cast. They need to draft/trade really well on the defensive side of ball and they'll be back around the playoffs.

Not worried at all about Pittsburgh. They still have a feckload of talent and a fit Roethlisberger over a season would get them back where they belong. And yes, I only talk about teams that I like, don't care about the rest! :p
 
Pats again then. Shit. Unless Lewis and co shows up big time I have little faith in a victory.
 
If Pats offense stay in the rhythm they are in they should be able to put more than 40 past the Ravens next week.
 
I think the Niners will do it. The bye week they had last week gave them time to get a couple of key players back healthy. Kaepernick looked other-worldy.

My only concern is that the 49ers have not managed to win 3 consecutive games this season, and they have won their last two game...

But I think they are the toughest team to prepare for right now, so am confident next week against the Falcons.
 
49ers have so many options offensively, that I think it will all boil down to how good the defence performs. Justin Smith is as important to this team as Vidic is to United. We don't look the same without him. So glad he's back.
 
Woke up and spent 20 minutes refreshing Ticketmaster.com to buy NFC Championship tickets... the cheapest seat in the nosebleeds is $159 at face value.


feck. Off.
 
ha_rooney said:
Ponder is inactive for Minnesota in the second wild card game. Not sure it makes much difference anyway as their chances rely entirely on how AD does.
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It did make some difference, didn't it? fecking hell. Not saying we would have won with him, but it sure as hell wouldn't look as bad as with Webb out there. That being said though, why the hell drop the read option after the first drive? It was bloody working (as seen by Kaepernick absolutely dominating them with it). Webb will never be a drop-back passer. He has a huge arm, but that doesn't help with zero accuracy.

ha_rooney said:
Another game where defense was dominating until the Packers' final possession of the half which resulted in a TD.

The Vikings QB needs to start making passes (he makes Tebow look like Brady) otherwise the Packers will win without having to get out of 2nd gear. AD has not had the same impact as he did last week.

If the Packers get a TD to start the second half, it will be game over.
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:mad:

MrMarcello said:
The first part is typical fanatical response when it comes to Romo and other criticized players. He's proven plenty of times he can get that TD when the team needs it - evident by his 5 game-winning drives this year (led or tied the league if I'm not mistaken) and 31 in his career (9th amongst active QBs). He makes mistakes too, they all do, some more than others, but when a player draws a certain reputation the overreaction is always myopic. Not every final drive results in a win for a QB - plenty come up short.

Romo is basically a Brett Favre clone - a gunslinger that makes plenty of mistakes and he's never had the great supporting cast Favre did. And for all the hype Favre drew he only won a single championship and had plenty of abysmal performances in big games. If the Dallas defense could get eight defensive TDs next season perhaps Romo could go on a Brees-esque playoff run as well. Lost in that Saints championship run was how many bounces went the right way for the Saints defenders, often bailing them out of holes.

Romo is the 5th highest rated passer in NFL history (I'm not a huge fan of the statistic but lots of people are), 6th all-time in completion percentage (not too shabby for a guy that throws interceptions, I mean he's no Tebow out there completing sub 50%). He has a better career INT % than such luminaries as Eli Manning and the aforementioned Favre. He's also top ten in a bunch of other minor statistical categories like yards per attempt. No one argues he's in the greatest ever category but the anti-Romo's act as if the guy can't play at all, as if he's a scrub like Scott Mitchell or Rex Grossman, or even believe Joe Flacco is better.

I hope you are aware the number of QBs that have "the mentality to be the Dallas QB" can be counted on one hand. And not a single one of them will be leaving their current club. Granted there could be more in another person's view but we'll never actually know. Bledsoe, Henson, Carter - those guys didn't have the mentality yet Romo certainly does or he'd have performed like those clowns and would have been replaced long time ago.

There's also not a single player in the 2013 draft that is what one would label "a lock" to be a franchise QB. I would like to see a guy like Geno Smith get drafted in the 2nd rd and groomed to possibly take over in a couple years if necessary, but that's unlikely and not necessary. Smith will probably be gone by late first round/early second round and there are far more crucial areas for Dallas to address than backup/future QB in the draft.

Trading Romo will get no value in return for a player of his caliber. Go out and get Flynn, Sanchez, Smith or Vick - feck no - he's far better. He could easily lift a team like the Chiefs or Cardinals into relevancy yet it still takes a collective effort to make the playoffs and win, and believe me if Romo were a free agent there would be a caravan of teams inquiring to sign him.

As Eric Mangini and Steve Young have stated, fans get too caught up in QB wins/losses and completely miss the crucial aspects of the game. Plenty of all-time greats were crucified for not winning the big games until they either did or retired without doing so. Marino never won out, Fouts and Tarkenton as well, and yet they were outstanding QBs and among the best of their eras, and they now get free passes by critics but it wasn't always the case. And you can bet your house if any had been a Dallas QB the criticism would have been through the roof.

Elway and Young were crucified for years until a team effort won championships and took the proverbial monkey off their back, and it took Elway fifteen years to win the big game (I was never one that criticized - he guided three average Broncos teams to SBs in the 80s, partly because of him but also partly because of an extremely weak AFC - they'd have been perennial one-and-done in the NFC playoffs). Peyton choked routinely in the postseason until one great January run, and how fortunate his opposing QB in the SB was Rex Grossman (!). It took Peyton nine years to win - Romo will be in his eighth year as a starter in 2013 - time is still on his side but it takes a team effort to win. Very few teams win championships, some haven't in decades, some never.

Romo is a current top ten QB and whether he leads Dallas to a championship or not will not diminish how good he actually is. He could win a Super Bowl and he'd still be hated and crucified - it's the nature of being the QB of the most hated club in the NFL, and arguably only behind the Yankees on the national hate scale. Aikman won three championships and the anti-Cowboy fans blasted about how crap he was, how he was lucky he had Emmitt and Irvin, his lack of game-winning drives (they were often winning), and how he was a statistically poor passer, completely missing the offensive scheme employed was run-run-pass, that Aikman was the most accurate passer of his era, and that he was capable of winning games and leading. Mike Martz stated that had he been Aikman's OC/QBC that he would have passed for 4000 yards every season in his offense nullifying the statistical criticism.

It should also be noted that Aikman had a superior collection of players to surround him, which doesn't belittle his greatness, but Romo has never had that save the 2007 season and arguably in 2009 - both years the club bombed out in the postseason but not because of Romo (he did torch Philly in 2009 before the Vikings pounded Dallas). The dropped FG hold in 2006 started the reputation and has been blown way out of proportion. One may also cite his last minute interception against the Giants in 2007 but completely ignoring the touchdown pass drop in the 3rd quarter of that game which would have put Dallas up 21-14, they eventually settled for a FG... final score, 21-17. So it would have been 21-21 on the final drive and there would have been no interception - Dallas was in position to attempt a winning FG in a tie-score.

These are things critics miss - they just latch onto the reputation and certain performances. Yes he's fecked up in big games but he's won games to put Dallas in those positions. I'd still have him over 20 other starters in the league, arguably as high as 26.
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Excellent post.

ha_rooney said:
Baltimore wins an epic game. Ray Lewis plays one more week, Flacco is elite (for one week at least) and the Peyton-Brady dream matchup is dead.

Superb game, credit to Baltimore's D for keeping them in it and making plays. Flacco made the play but the coverage on the final regulation TD was a joke - what the hell were they doing? And then to take the kneels when you have two TOs and Peyton Manning!! The Broncos imploded in that final minute.

Then Peyton does his Favre impression to set up the winning field-goal :lol:

Hopefully the packers game is just as good, currently 7-7...
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That was a great game to watch. Don't get Fox' decision to kneel at all. Why the hell not go for it? Oh well, Lewis is a cool story to follow as well, hope it will be a close game vs the Pats (and not a boring blow-out).

Falcons - 49ers will be interesting. If Falcons can continue running the ball as well as they did vs the 'Hawks and Ryan hits the big plays to White and Jones it can turn out to be an awesome game.
 
I somehow managed to pick all the games correctly.

The Ravens are a tough (physically and mentally) team and deserve to go to the Super Bowl after being close on other occasions. Just as I feel the Post 2007 Patriots deserve to win one. I see it being close for the majority of the game as usual. They go into other teams stadiums in big spots, believe they can win, make you earn everything and punch you in the mouth. Gronk being out is good for them match up wise, especially with their best corner (Webb) injured. Brady could easily go off of course but this is not a good match up historically in terms of scheme.

I would favour SF over both AFC teams in the big one right now as well. NE and to a lesser extent BAL would force the Falcons into nickel and run the ball all over their front for me. Even with them just keeping Lynch relatively in check.
 
KeyserSoze said:
I somehow managed to pick all the games correctly.

The Ravens are a tough (physically and mentally) team and deserve to go to the Super Bowl after being close on other occasions. Just as I feel the Post 2007 Patriots deserve to win one. I see it being close for the majority of the game as usual. They go into other teams stadiums in big spots, believe they can win, make you earn everything and punch you in the mouth. Gronk being out is good for them match up wise, especially with their best corner (Webb) injured. Brady could easily go off of course but this is not a good match up historically in terms of scheme.

I would favour SF over both AFC teams in the big one right now as well. NE and to a lesser extent BAL would force the Falcons into nickel and run the ball all over their front for me. Even with them just keeping Lynch relatively in check.
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I don't see either AFC defense giving Kaepernick that much space to rush, and I don't think he can outpass Brady or Flacco.
 
The thing with Ravens is their defense is alright. But they are not winning the Superbowl with Joe Flacco as their QB. I really hope Brady and co step up next week and have a good 1st half and take a good lead going into half time.

The 49ers are of course favorites on the other side to reach the playoffs. I don't think the Falcons defense will be able to the handle the running game of Kaepernick and Gore.
 
adexkola said:
I don't see either AFC defense giving Kaepernick that much space to rush, and I don't think he can outpass Brady or Flacco.
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Outpass Flacco? Its not like he is an elite QB. Based on the 2nd half of the season, I would have Kaepernick over Flacco any day of the week. Colin's return is so much higher right now and is only going to get better from here on in.
 
Eboue said:
Flacco is not elite but worse QBs have won the SB
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At least not in the last 10 years. Its Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Big Ben, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Eli Manning who have won this past decade. Its becoming increasing important to have a really good QB to win you championships nowadays.
 
I've not caught many 49er games with Kaepernick at the helm (instead Smith), but I've not seen much that suggests his passing is top drawer, is the point I was trying to make.

Flacco isn't top drawer/elite, but he outperformed Manning 2 days ago, and Brady last season in the AFC championship game, only to be denied by the idiotic kicker.
 
Matt Hasselback lost a Super Bowl. The Steelers won it with Rapelesberger going 9/21 for 123 yards with 0 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Rex Grossman and Jake Delhomme made it, Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer won it.
 
I think Smith for now is a better passer as well and I wasn't convinced Kaepernick (until this weekend) was the right choice for them when he took over from Smith. I thought Smith did not want do anything wrong to be dropped. It was his ill timed injury that cost him his place. But the thing with Kaepernick is that what he does not do with his passing, he more than makes up for with his running game and the really good play action plays where he fakes players out like a BOSS!
 
Billick tipped for the Eagles vacancy. Now there's a vastly overrated coach. Supposed offensive genius that hardly got any offensive production while coaching Baltimore and his lone Super Bowl win came courtesy of arguably the greatest defensive unit ever.
 
Billick was the one who suggested that if the Seahawks failed on 3rd and 5, they should kick the 40 yard field goal and then go for the onside kick with 45 seconds left.


I can't get over it. It's possibly the dumbest thing I've ever heard an announcer say. And I've listened to Joe Morgan and Tim McCarver for years.
 
Kaepernick has a bullet arm IMO and that opens up the deep pass, something smith never did. Also, a few of the mammoth runs he made at the weekend weren't designed runs or option plays - he didn't have anyone to pass to and decided to pick up the first down himself.

Very impressive performance and he justifies Harbaugh picking him as starter.
 
Jim Harbaugh is a great QB coach it seems. He has developed quite a few QBs over the last few years - Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick and Andrew Luck.
 
Eboue said:
It is the new type. Every few years you have people that say how the new thing won't work and then it comes along and becomes the standard for a while until the league figures it out and it moves to something else.

For defense, it was the 4-3 for many years until the 72 Dolphins went undefeated with the 3-4. That became all the rage until the 86 Bears popularized the 46 defense. After 86, 3-4 died out almost entirely and the Steelers were the only ones to run it. Since then, the Tampa 2 became popular under Dungy and Kiffin and Lovie Smith ran it in Chicago last year. All of these changes were derided as gimmicky until they became popular.

The same thing happens with offense and opposition to the spread. Almost every college team runs a form of the zone read. The zone read became popular back in the late 90s at Northwestern under guys like Randy Walker. Rich Rodriguez and Urban Meyer made their names using many of the same concepts. Chip Kelly has taken the concept to the next level in establishing a dominant Oregon program that had him being offered 3 NFL HC jobs in the past two seasons. Other people talk about how the spread won't work but the Patriots have run spread offenses for years. Peyton Manning had huge success with no huddle ideas that used to be called gimmicks.

The NFL is going to use the quarterbacks that college gives them and the trend is clear. Griffin, Newton, Wilson, Kaepernick can run. Luck, Rodgers, Romo, Raplesberger, Smith run less often but certainly have the ability. Ryan, Dalton, Freeman and Locker aren't statues either. In the college ranks you have the likes of Manziell, Mariotta, Boyd, Scott, Robinson, Manuel, Florence, Shaw who can all run with the ball.


Obviously to be a quarterback in the NFL you need to be able to throw the ball but it is wrong to think that guys like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady will always be the standard for quarterbacking in the league. If there is a new type that works, the NFL will adapt to it. They already are and I think it will just continue to spread throughout the league. Further, there isn't much evidence that running quarterbacks miss more time to injury than pocket QBs. Manning and Brady have both missed full seasons with injury and I'd venture that blindside hits from massive lineman can cause more injury than non-head-on collisions from linebacks and defensivebacks.
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It isn't a new type. I mentioned some in my previous post from a while back. College has been throwing them for a while but how many have been successful? I wonder where Chris Leak and Brain Bromh are these days. College throws more run first QB's than this new type, how many have been successful? Pat White says hello from the minors. We all know the fate of Heisman winning Tebow and National championship winning Vince Young.

Manning and no huddle is an exception. How many others have been successful doing the same? Brady and Manning should not be used in these discussions. It's not that they can't run, they dodn't not to. They have so much belief in their arms and their abilities.

Ability to run is a good attribute but you don't get QB's with 400 yds throwing and 100 yds running numbers each week, not yet. Some very good but not elite QB's in the past used the run to get out of situations. Warner is one that comes to mind. You mentioned Big Ben in your post above. It's not something new or has been discovered and used recently.

Throwing QB's have and will succeed for the foreseeable future. There are going to be exceptions along the way but teams will never miss a chance a sign a luck before a RGIII in the same draft.
 
Forevergiggs said:
It isn't a new type. I mentioned some in my previous post from a while back. College has been throwing them for a while but how many have been successful? I wonder where Chris Leak and Brain Bromh are these days. College throws more run first QB's than this new type, how many have been successful? Pat White says hello from the minors. We all know the fate of Heisman winning Tebow and National championship winning Vince Young.

Manning and no huddle is an exception. How many others have been successful doing the same? Brady and Manning should not be used in these discussions. It's not that they can't run, they dodn't not to. They have so much belief in their arms and their abilities.

Ability to run is a good attribute but you don't get QB's with 400 yds throwing and 100 yds running numbers each week, not yet. Some very good but not elite QB's in the past used the run to get out of situations. Warner is one that comes to mind. You mentioned Big Ben in your post above. It's not something new or has been discovered and used recently.

Throwing QB's have and will succeed for the foreseeable future. There are going to be exceptions along the way but teams will never miss a chance a sign a luck before a RGIII in the same draft.
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:lol: What? Brian Brohm was never a running quarterback.

Look, there will always be busts that can't make it to the next level. You still need to have a strong arm to make it in the NFL, what I'm saying is that the best athletes were molded at a young age to play quarterback so now you have strong, fast runners who also have NFL caliber arms. Throwing out Pat White and Chris Leak to say that running quarterbacks aren't the new generation is like bringing up Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez to say that passing quarterbacks are outdated.

I don't have to make the case that there are a bunch of running QBs in the college ranks who are going to be successful in the NFL because the previous generation of speedy QBs are already in the NFL. Of the top 15 QB by performance this year (ranked by Football Outsiders), Brady (1), Peyton (2), Brees (3), Stafford (7), Eli (9) and Schaub (12) are the only classic pocket passers. Schaub is the second youngest of the 6 at 31. The changing of the position is clear, as you see with how highly sought after Chip Kelly is.

Also, Kurt Warner was never in any way mobile. He had less rushing yards per game than Stafford, Ryan, Bradford, Peyton, Rivers, Brees, Palmer, Sanchez, Eli, Brady, Flacco, Cassell, Cutler, Ponder, Tannehil, Weeden, Dalton and Schaub. Those are just some pocket passers from the last few years. I honestly haven't found a quarterback with less rushing yards per game than Kurt Warner. Saying he "used the run to get out of situations" makes me question how much you actually watched him.
 
I hardly saw Oregon in full this year, so can you explain the part about the supposed changing of the position leading to Chip Kelly being more sought after. Is their QB seen as a legitimate first/second round prospect? I got the impression the interest was more related to scheme and offensive speed/philosophy as a whole rather than the running ability of the QB. There was an excellent article a few months back from Greg Bedard to do with Chip Kelly and what the Patriots have done this year.

Or what Brendon Ayanbadejo would call a gimmick or cheap shot.

Link
 
I can explain in more detail later but the basic idea is that Kelly's quarterbacks don't run all that often but they need to do it 6-8 times a game in order to keep the defense honest. The concept is that the QB blocks a defender by optioning him off even on plays he doesn't run the ball.
 
Imagine having to defend against a mobile quarterback running a high tempo no-huddle offense with elements of the read-option it. Would be a nightmare.
 
Guys like Cunningham, Young, Staubach, Tarkenton, or even a guy like Joe Gilliam (whom initially started over Bradshaw in Pittsburgh) would thrive today. Rodney Peete was made for today's spread option. Kordell Stewart, Vince Evans, Steve McNair (pretty dang good anyhow), possibly more might have blossomed.
 
ha_rooney said:
Kaepernick has a bullet arm IMO and that opens up the deep pass, something smith never did. Also, a few of the mammoth runs he made at the weekend weren't designed runs or option plays - he didn't have anyone to pass to and decided to pick up the first down himself.

Very impressive performance and he justifies Harbaugh picking him as starter.
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Completely agree. His passing is also very accurate.

Over the past few seasons my biggest frustration with the Niners has been that they haven't tried the deep pass more. Admittedly, they have not had the best group of receivers (until this year), but Smith rarely even tried to throw it downfield.

I think Kaepernick has a stonger arm, but also more willingness to take a chance on a pass.

Just hope he can continue thie vein of form, because he is looking very impressive.
 
swooshboy said:
I think Kaepernick has a stonger arm, but also more willingness to take a chance on a pass.

Just hope he can continue thie vein of form, because he is looking very impressive.
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He looks like a complete Ihni binni dimi diniwiny anitaime with those ridiculous tattoos and for that reason, and the fact I have 7s about the Pats, NE will win it all.
 
KeyserSoze said:
I hardly saw Oregon in full this year, so can you explain the part about the supposed changing of the position leading to Chip Kelly being more sought after. Is their QB seen as a legitimate first/second round prospect? I got the impression the interest was more related to scheme and offensive speed/philosophy as a whole rather than the running ability of the QB. There was an excellent article a few months back from Greg Bedard to do with Chip Kelly and what the Patriots have done this year.

Or what Brendon Ayanbadejo would call a gimmick or cheap shot.

Link
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Mariota, Oregon's QB is only a freshman so he has a few more years before the NFL. The only site I saw him rated on had him as the #3 QB prospect but it is all so early that it is hard to tell. I could see him as the next Russell Wilson. Kelly's two previous QBs at Oregon were Darron Thomas and Dennis Dixon. Thomas left after his junior year and went undrafted. There are strong rumors that he left because he knew how good Mariota would be and that he would lose the starting job. Dixon was a 5th round pick in 2008 and is still in the league. Mariota is a much better throw than Dixon and I think he'll become a better runner too.

Chip Kelly's scheme makes him highly sought after but he can only run that scheme as well as he does with a quarterback who is a threat to run. This picture shows the basic play that sets up everything. The Oregon offense is incredibly simple when you break it down.

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The first read is the middle linebacker. If he sits, as it looks like he is, the quarterback should handoff to the running back on the left who has a hole opening up to get him to the second level and from there only one man to beat. If the MLB comes in to shut that down, the quarterback then pulls the ball back. The leftside RB continues through the hole as misdirection and it becomes a option play to the left side with the rightside RB as the pitch man. With a quarterback that can run, a 2 v 1 option in that kind of space is a dream come true. That should go for big yards. The diagram also points out the safety. If the defense gets tired of being gashed on the run, they will bring the safety up in the box, which then opens up the passing game. Oregon can audible to a pass very easily and have a numbers advantage. The advantage is clear, the quarterback is a part of both options (the leftside RB as option 1 and the rightside RB as option 3 (QB keeper is option 2). With a running QB, you've got 3 players against 2 and a significant numerical advantage for fast athletes in space.

Here is a video that shows the play I just described.


This link explains the inside zone read in much more detail.

Then once you've established that everyone in the backfield is a threat on every play, you can just run it down the defense's throat like this.



And when teams are afraid of the run, you can start passing the ball out of play action.




Finally, here is a fantastic article on Kelly and his progression as a coach.


From your article... "That’s the talent pool, and you should accentuate the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of that talent." That statement refers to the increasing prominence of quarterbacks who can run and how they will affect the NFL. (and already are)
 
Eboue said:
:lol: What? Brian Brohm was never a running quarterback.

Look, there will always be busts that can't make it to the next level. You still need to have a strong arm to make it in the NFL, what I'm saying is that the best athletes were molded at a young age to play quarterback so now you have strong, fast runners who also have NFL caliber arms. Throwing out Pat White and Chris Leak to say that running quarterbacks aren't the new generation is like bringing up Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez to say that passing quarterbacks are outdated.

I don't have to make the case that there are a bunch of running QBs in the college ranks who are going to be successful in the NFL because the previous generation of speedy QBs are already in the NFL. Of the top 15 QB by performance this year (ranked by Football Outsiders), Brady (1), Peyton (2), Brees (3), Stafford (7), Eli (9) and Schaub (12) are the only classic pocket passers. Schaub is the second youngest of the 6 at 31. The changing of the position is clear, as you see with how highly sought after Chip Kelly is.

Also, Kurt Warner was never in any way mobile. He had less rushing yards per game than Stafford, Ryan, Bradford, Peyton, Rivers, Brees, Palmer, Sanchez, Eli, Brady, Flacco, Cassell, Cutler, Ponder, Tannehil, Weeden, Dalton and Schaub. Those are just some pocket passers from the last few years. I honestly haven't found a quarterback with less rushing yards per game than Kurt Warner. Saying he "used the run to get out of situations" makes me question how much you actually watched him.
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I threw out Leak and White, as they were Meyer and Rodriguez quarterbacks respectively. If I am not wrong, White is the all time leading QB rusher at college level. Also, they were winning QB's at college level. Leak won the national championship with the Gators. I don't remember correctly but White would have won or at least featured in a BCS bowl. I remember the hype for him, Noel Devine and Rodriguez from that Mountaineers team.

It's good that you read football outsiders and are presenting arguments from there but the point is that it is not a "New Type". There have been QB's in the past who have used the run as an effective weapon. McNabb had a great arm and also did his share of running. Roethlisberger has used it in two Superbowl winning campaigns (Though I would personally give Steelers defensive solidity more credence). Warner was plenty mobile. The fact is that run has been always used by QB's as an effective weapon. Calling it a "New Type" is incorrect. Exceptions like Brady and Manning do not use it often because they are amazingly good and accurate throwers.

If you look at the last 10 Superbowl winners:
(1) Brad Johnson - 2003
(2) Brady - 2004
(3) Brady - 2005
(4) Big Ben - 2006
(5) Manning - 2007
(6) Eli - 2008
(7) Big Ben - 2009
(8) Brees - 2010
(9) Rodgers - 2011
(10) Eli - 2012

7 teams have QB's with excellent arms. 2 teams won with Big Ben and one with Brad freaking Johnson.

The importance of a good throwing arm has/will trump everything when picking a QB. Like I mentioned before, that is why Andrew Luck will always get picked ahead of RGIII.
 
Thanks Eboue, more detail than expected. I should have explained I’m already familiar with most of the spread, read options, play action etc. I just wasn’t aware of the tweaks specific to Kelly and what he wants from his QB. I had Tebow in my mind for some reason and the power running they did to move the ball against the Pats in the first game last year and the adjustments made in the Playoffs. These parts of your article sums it up:

"I look for a quarterback who can run and not a running back who can throw. I want a quarterback who can beat you with his arm," Kelly explained at a coaches clinic in the spring of 2011, emphatically adding, "We are not a Tim Tebow type of quarterback team. I am not going to run my quarterback 20 times on power runs."

Kelly explained that he merely needs a quarterback who, if the defense "forces" him to run, "can do it effectively." Although this rules out some of the NFL's best quarterbacks — from Peyton Manning to Tom Brady — it doesn't mean that his offense requires Cam Newton or RG3.
 
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