TotalBroncos

It’s no surprise that Green Bay Packers superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers is rated as the best quarterback in the NFL by ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski — after all, the season Rodgers had in 2011 was one of the best in NFL history. What makes Jaws’ opinion a little more substantial than those found in your standard vote is the fact that he’s watching game tape all the time in his role as an advanced football geek — quite often in conjunction with our buddy Greg Cosell, who produced all of the segments ESPN recently ran in “Jaws’ QB Countdown.” Jaworski will give his reasoning for Rodgers as the NFL’s best signal-caller on Tuesday, but since so much of the analysis has the Cosell stamp on it, we thought it would be interesting to give you a glimpse of the film-based takes on Jaworski’s 2-7 quarterbacks. No. 2: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints: “Brees is the only quarterback in NFL history with two seasons in which he completed more than 70 percent of his passes. Most people use the word ‘accuracy’. With Brees, it’s really all about ball location. “No quarterback is as consistently precise with his throws as Brees. Throughout his Saints career, Brees has thrown the seam routes as well as any quarterback in the NFL. In fact, those vertical seams have been a foundation of the Saints’ passing game, especially effective in scoring territory. There’s ’sluggo’ — slant-and-go at the top of the screen with Marques Colston running the seam from the slot. It’s a staple Saints route combination. And Brees is a master at his precise timing. “Brees is not a power thrower. He does not have top-level arm strength, although his arm is better than many think. But his touch and his accuracy, especially on deep throws, is outstanding. Brees sets the ball right on the receiver’s hands. He does not just throw to his receiver; he hits a smaller, more defined point. It’s simple math. The margin of error decreases the smaller the target at which you aim. Brees controls his throws better than any quarterback in the NFL. “Brees’ last three seasons have been the most accurate stretch any quarterback has strung together in NFL history. What have I always said is the most overlooked element of quarterbacking? Accuracy. Brees possesses many attributes of high-level quarterbacking. But there’s no question that his consistent success over time has been mostly a function of his remarkable ball control.” No. 3: Tom Brady, New England Patriots: “Brady is outstanding in so many areas, but what really stands out is his total command in the pocket. Few quarterbacks in NFL history move within the pocket better than Tom Brady. Pocket movement is an essential attribute to play NFL quarterback at a consistently-high level. Think of it this way: the ability to move within an area no larger than the approximate size of a boxing ring. Sometimes it’s a strain, just a step here or a step there. Other times, it’s more pronounced. The corollary, and it’s equally as important, you must maintain your downfield focus while you’re moving. You cannot look at the rush. It’s a far more important trait than running out of the pocket. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more comfortable pocket quarterback than Brady. There have been times over the years he’s literally been a statue in the pocket — static, stationary, motionless. I can tell you from experience that’s a rare trait. Everything is happening very fast. The ability to slow down your body like that, that’s remarkable. “Another attribute that Brady has mastered is controlling the game at the line of scrimmage. Brady is outstanding at the subtle nuances of quarterback play. It’s a highly-disciplined craft, and Brady has expertly refined the small details. His ability to immediately locate mismatches in man coverage, like Wes Welker on a linebacker, and to move defenders in zone coverage is as good as it gets. Manipulating and controlling the defense is advanced quarterbacking. “I’m not necessarily a big stat guy, but how about this? In Brady’s last four full seasons — now remember, he missed the 2008 season with an injury — he has thrown 153 touchdown passes and only 37 interceptions. Brady is No. 3 on my big board right now, but he could easily move up to number one.” No. 4: Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos: “I know he missed an entire season, but I am confident he will return at an elite level. I have never seen a quarterback defeat the defense before the ball is snapped better than Peyton Manning. No quarterback controls the game at the line of scrimmage as well as Manning. Instant recall and application from the classroom to the field, that’s Manning’s game. The Colts rarely shifted or motioned. Manning wanted the defense set, static. He trusted he could beat them mentally before the snap and physically after the snap. It will be the same in Denver. This offseason, the focus has been the Broncos’ coaches learning Manning’s playbook. “In his last two seasons with the Colts, 2009 and 2010, Manning dropped back more than any quarterback in the NFL, and he was sacked the fewest times. The result: both his pre-snap brilliance and the most finely-calibrated internal clock I have ever seen. One element of Manning’s play that is rarely talked about is his ability to avoid pressure, most often with subtle movements. “Often overlooked is Manning’s ability to break down a defense calling a running play. We know he recognizes fronts, coverage, and he understands when a run call is the correct call. Here was the pre-snap look for Manning: two deep safeties, six defenders in the box. There was no box defender outside the tight end. The corner and the safety were not primary run-support players. They were too deep. Manning recognized the front and the coverage perfectly. The running call beat the scheme of the defense. “I’ll be looking closely at two factors with Manning: can he still make those outside throws, those deep comeback throws that he was so good at, and can he drive the ball at the intermediate and deeper levels. Now I believe he will. I expect him to have an outstanding season with the Broncos.” No. 5: Eli Manning, New York Giants: “You know where I saw significant improvement in Manning last season? Progression-reading. Was there any better example than the biggest play in Super Bowl XLVI ?

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Aaron Rodgers is Ron Jaworski’s #1 quarterback (Shutdown Corner)

Here are some Whispers we’ve been hearing from our sources around the NFL:• Colts MLB Pat Angerer has been terrific in his first two years in the league, showing great versatility and a knack for tracking down ball carriers and tackling well. But it remains to be seen how he will transition to Chuck Pagano’s base 3-4 defense, which typically calls for bigger, stouter run defenders. At 6-0, 235 pounds, Angerer is definitely a bit undersized, but he fit right into the Colts’ old scheme that valued speed and quickness more than brawn. …

Originally posted here:
How will undersized LB Angerer fit in Colts’ new scheme? (Pro Football Weekly)

Denver Broncos “If (Peyton) Manning is anywhere close to what he used to be, he’ll be the best signal-caller the Broncos have had since No. 7,” says …

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AFC West links: Chiefs QB Cassel booed