What Does it Take to Be an NFL Quarterback?

Even in the offseason, there’s always plenty of talk about when it comes to the most prominent position in football — quarterback.

Sometimes, plenty of stock is taken in a quarterback’s performance at the combine, even though quarterbacks throw in conditions different than in-game situations. As quarterbacks are analyzed under a microscope, the discourse includes terms to diminish a quarterback, which is incredible considering it is the toughest position. There are so many things the quarterback is responsible for.

Derogatory Terms

The term “system quarterback” gets thrown around loosely in football discourse.

What is the definition of a “system quarterback?” Here’s a suggestion: It can mean that a quarterback is particularly good in only one style of play. And apparently, the term is to diminish or insult a quarterback.

Or maybe throw all of that out the window.

Maybe some offensive coordinators design an offense that’s suited for the play style of their quarterback. Isn’t that the point? The term “game manager” generally describes a quarterback who plays in a run-heavy offense and is asked to play conservative football in the passing game. Basically, don’t turn it over.

Usually, this is a derogatory term to insult a quarterback. Game manager can also mean “manage the game.” They’re responsible for executing strategic plans like staying ahead of the chains, reading the defense pre-snap, and setting the protection. They have to put the offense in a position to win.

Isn’t that the point of a quarterback?

A Quarterback’s Responsibilities

There is so much information for quarterbacks to process, making it arguably the toughest position to play in all of sports. To describe the position in one word: cerebral. 

Pre-snap

Before the snap, they have to:

• Identify the coverage
• Identify the defensive front and set the pass protections
• Identify the defensive formation — base, nickel, dime, etc.
• Audible to a different play if necessary (and not just any play, it must be a play with the presented personnel on the field)
• Prepare to play off-script

Quarterbacks need to do more than make accurate throws; they are also responsible for putting their offense in the right plays. While quarterbacks only hand the ball off on run plays, they are also responsible for making sure the play call is effective against the defense.

Post-snap

When a quarterback anticipates a blitz, they have to decide whether to adjust the pass protection to make sure the blitz is picked up. Or, they can invite the blitz, make the hot read, get the ball out quickly and be prepared to take a brutal hit from a defender coming in unblocked. 

At the moment of the snap, quarterbacks are checking for a post-snap read to see if the defense disguised a coverage pre-snap and then changed it.

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As they drop back to pass, quarterbacks keep their eyes downfield, going through their reads. Sometimes, they use their eyes to move a safety and help create space for a receiver. They do all that while at least three 300-pound players try to knock their heads off on passing plays. It takes mental toughness to play quarterback.

Are wins a QB stat?

In baseball, the starting pitcher is credited with the win if he pitches for at least five innings and exits the game with the lead.

Pitchers have a win-loss record on their stat sheet, even though they have a whole team around them, just like a quarterback has an entire team around him.

Here’s a suggestion: look at the quarterback’s wins and losses based on how many points their defense gives up.

If the quarterback can overcome a bad defense, where they scored 40+ because their defense gave up 40, that’s a great quarterback. If the quarterback is spotted 17 points and he cannot lead the offense to over 17 points, that’s not a good look for the quarterback.

Now, of course, there are outliers when simply looking at points scored. Perhaps 32 points were scored, and seven points came off a pick-six or a kickoff return.

For the most part, common sense says that we don’t need to go back to every game and see which quarterback got seven points because their defense scored a pick-six, and now that has to get deducted from the average points scored by the quarterback and the offense.

Here are some notable quarterbacks’ records when their defense gives up 21 points or more:

• Tom Brady: 64-55 with New England; 12-14 with Tampa Bay
• Peyton Manning: 48-63 with Indianapolis;  16-12 with Denver
• Joe Montana: 26-39 with San Francisco; 4-4 with Kansas City
• Aaron Rodgers: 53-62-1 with Green Bay; 1-10 with New York Jets
• John Elway: 34-58 with Denver
• Brett Favre: 42-73 with Green Bay; 4-4 with New York Jets and 6-10 with Minnesota 

It’s not surprising to see seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady with a winning record.

It is surprising that he’s the only quarterback with a winning record, which shows he can consistently win in bad circumstances. 

So, considering this, it might be a good measure to see how good a quarterback is and credit them with wins and losses in this context. On the flip side, when the defense shows up and surrenders less than 21 points, more times than not, the quarterback should lead the offense to get the job done.

Offseason

In the offseason, quarterbacks try to master the playbook. If it’s a new playbook, they have to learn the verbiage. They also need to know each play’s formation and personnel.

For example, a play can be out of shotgun with 12 personnel. Shotgun means the quarterback stands about five to seven yards behind the center pre-snap. For 12 personnel, the first number indicates the number of running backs (1) and the second number indicates the number of tight ends (2). 

During training camp, quarterbacks are working with each position group

• Offensive line – communicating the defensive front presented and setting pass protections
• Running backs – mesh point, which is the timing and positioning of the handoff
• Wide receivers – the timing of the routes and developing trust in off-script plays
• Tight ends – same for offensive line and wide receivers

Quarterbacks, like most positions, also practice their footwork. It can be a three-step drop back, moving two or three yards back as they look to pass. Or it can be a seven-step drop back, moving back even further as they look to pass.

With the NFL draft over and takes are developed of what these quarterbacks are made of, remember to bookmark the tweets. These quarterbacks aren’t finished products yet, as plenty of mechanical and cerebral development is yet to take place.