McCaffrey #5 overall QB Elite 11 final ranking.
I wonder what this "glaring technical flaw" is. Doesn't matter. Whatever it is I'm sure Harbaugh can help him get it together and McCaffrey's elite so I'm sure he'll get a curb on it in no time.
Perfect technique is awesome, but glaring flaws are just as good.:)
According to the writer, Tom Luginbill, McCaffrey's release point never changes though a situation may call for something different.
I'm certainly no QB, but this seems wierd. Why would you ever want to change the release point of a throw, which would seem to change the mechanics of it? Maybe you do if a 300# DT is coming up through the middle, or a 6'7" DE is blocking your throwing lane... But those things don't happen at a camp! What reason could there be to change your mechanics just to show off that you could? Doesn't make sense...
But if that is a "glaring technical flaw", so be it. I'm sure JMFH can fix that without even thinking about it. (Probably by not even thinking about it...)
In reading over your question, you ask, "Why would you ever want to change the release point of a throw?" The answer is you don't. I think you are confused and believe different release points are for different throws. And you never change your mechanics. Takes a long time to get them down. The flight of the ball can change a lot just by releasing a bit early, overstepping, throwing off the back foot - body wide open is what they're talking about usually here, therby eliminating forward momentum - and using all arm hoping somehow release point is in right directing because it can accidentally happen at times, see Denard. He actually threw a very good ball, but didn't have the RS year so desperately needed to make a habit of doing it by habit.
I played the position, eons ago, but the best of us then -without the specialized training - just did 98% of what they teach - naturally. When you hear they want the release point changed means he's releasing at the wrong point on every pass. You would want to change the release point on the pass thrown agains us in the Citrus Bowl, that being a forward lateral.
My question would be which qbs were they speaking about? Seems strange that a qb that was at the opening was not using proper mechanics. My guess is it is someone who is very close but has been working on it. My guess, also, is it is someone who is destinred for a RS year.
I think I get your point - that he has consistently been making bad throws? I know releasing early makes for a hig throw; tossing off the back foot makes for a weak throw; etc... But McCaffrey has been consistently outstanding as a pro-style QB. I can't believe he's been a highly rated pro-style passer since he started HS ball as the starter 3 years ago with consistently bad mechanics. Just don't see it...
Lucky throws can happen, but poor mechanics lead to wild, irratic, inconsistency. Though I do have no doubt that Harbaugh and Fisch will make changes (subtle, tweaks, whatever) to his mechanics, he's got to be starting from a good place when he arrives on campus. He's had too much success as a QB to have poor, inconsistent, mechanics.
I agree. I think there are likely a lot of technical "flaws" you can adjust in football like how a ball carrier holds the ball, how a lineman uses his hands or pad level, etc. But, how you throw is something you've done hundreds of thousands of times and it's highly unlikely to change. This is one of those things where you have to let the athletes be athletes and don't try to change them. I am highly skeptical of how much you can change how a QB can alter their throwing motion.
He did have four INTs. Maybe he was telegraphing his throws (lots of young QBs struggle with that)?
I guess it's fun to speculate, but do these events really project success on the college level? Some of these QB's may never have the level of talent on the next level to throw to, and without a D end breathing down their necks, do we really know how they will react to pressure?
Just not the ability to respond to someone trying to legally kill you.
Just imagine what he'll be when JH is done coaching him up.
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I have no worries about either Peters or McCaffrey being ready in 2018 - none. Harbaugh will see to that. But what I do question is why would Tug Tagovailoa comment to Alabama, and Myles Brennan to LSU?
Yeah, I get Bama wins championships by the sackload, but Saban hasn't developed a decent QB in the history of ever. I mean, yeah, I get why anyone would commit to Bama - they just win. And I'm sure he was sold on being Saban's 'first' legit NFL QB. But he has to know he isn't going to be groomed into the NFL, right?
And while I love me some Les Miles, I really don't think he understands what position a QB plays. I think he's groomed less QB's than I have... But, I guess, there's always the first, and being 'the guy' that brings the NC back to Baton Rouge is as good a selling point as any other.
Because they can't all come to Michigan. So they had to settle for Alabama and LSU.
Sucks for them.
It very well may be the case that Alabama hasn't in the past groomed NFL-style QBs. The history, however, does seem to indicate that Lane Kiffin has/does. So we may see Alabama with a better roster of QBs going forward, which is somewhat scary considering what they've done in the past with game managers. I'm just glad that it appears that UM is back on the right track and after a few years of stocking our cabinets full of top tier recruits and with this competent coaching staff, we should be quite competitive for the foreseeable future.
I thought about Kiffen, and he is the only reason I can see (other than the crazy winning percentage). But even then, Kiffen has had fairly generic game plans in line with Saban's philosophy. And the QB's they've had have all been 4-star types, so they haven't exactly been dead arm stiff''s!
Oh well, as M-Dog said - they can't all committ to UM!
But entirely meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Harbaugh and Fisch (assuming Fisch is still at Michigan next year) need to get their paws on him to mold him. What he does have are intangibles YOU CAN not teach and all things point to him have tons of success if all goes according to plan.
For comparison,
Last year's #5 was Jarrett Guarantano. 2014 Brady White.
Mechanics can be tweaked. It's very hard to teach size, speed, arm strength, and ability to read a defense. Dylan seems to have the important things.
I believe Harbaugh is on record of not being a fan of tweaking throwing mechanics, specifically the players grip/release. I believe he feels that if a person has been successful with an unconventional release that they shouldn't have to change that. Now, he has been known to tweak their feet, hips and timing.
I had never heard previously that McCaffrey had an unconventional release. I reviewed Magnus's committment post, and according to him McCaffrey "has a nice, over-the-top delivery." I realize not everybody agrees with Magnus, but whether a player has an unconventional release seems to be more in the realm of empirical observation (rather than the more disagreement-prone area of projecting future performance). So if that's what the scouts from The Opening are saying, I just find that odd.
Unless a qb's release is one that is way too slow - which would prevent him from getting to this point - this is correct, with success being the chief criteria, of course. He will, like he did with Jake is do some tweaking, but even there I think a lot of it had to do with timing and I think a lot of what Jim does is between the ears. He does make actual adjustments. I'm not doubting that. But when the qb steps on the field on Saturday, I think Jim has him so confident, due to telling him over and over, "Now that's much better," and while they are receiving some mechanical tweaks, that tweak between the ears is what made him so much better with the deep ball as the season moved on. One smart cookie, that coach of ours.
He does seem to let a players natural throwing motion stay largely intact. Even with Kaepernick! But he teaches the mental aspect - thinking through options based on what the defense is telling you - better than anyone I've ever seen. Even whan a play goes south, the QB pretty much knows that's going to happen before the snap. Sometimes, there's just nothing you can do.
Oppose JMFH's QB teaching to the way Mike Martz teaches! Martz will totally destroy a players natural motion and force him to learn something new and different, just because he can. I've never been a fan of Martz, though he did run a decent offense with the Rams back in the day...
Agreed. I'm not a fan of changing one's throwing motion or shooting motion for that matter, unless the player is really young. In my experience (while limited) it often does more harm than good.
So romantic...
I'll be honest I've noticed the issues with his high and upright release point. I don't think it's a big deal and while I coached football and work with former college and pro football players daily on things like this I don't spend a ton of time on QBs. Still he has this high and then almost over the top, weight shifting to his far left, that seemed odd to me.
Nothing so odd that I had a real concern but it did make me wonder about his accuracy on shorter routes, like check downs and dump offs, and the quickness of his release.
I think the point of Tom's "release point" always being the same is a fair comment but it's also picking hairs. He did rank him #5 after all. Still it's something that coaches want to see, that you can drop you arm angle when needed.
My repsonse to that would be that's why our coach makes QB's throw baseballs. He can see their natural arm talent and not just drop back QB throwing. I don't think this will be an issue but probably will need to be something that gets looked at and worked on in time.
McCaffery will learn from the best in the business on how to be the best QB he can be. Seems like all of McCaffery's areas of concern can be taught.
Looking forward to see what Harbaugh can do with him.
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He's a pretty tall kid and sometimes tall QBs have that issue with release because they're not facing Top Tier College level DLs in high school. I think his form looks a bit like Peyton Manning. He sort of tap dances and then stands upright and throws over the top.
Absolutely nothing I am conerned about in the least. He has a full year at Valor Christian before even stepping foot in A2 on the roster and enrolled.
Surrounded by the talent and coaches and we're fine.