Happy Independence Day. Today, we talk about rhythm.
Throwing on rhythm is beneficial for the following reasons:
Beats pressure
Ball out before the defense can react
Get the QB through the read on time and helps eliminate holding on to the ball
And throwing on rhythm is more than just throwing the ball at the back of your drop. I argue that it’s sticking to the schedule more than anything else. Rhythm is continuous and something that is a part of every play’s nature like a song has a particular rhythm. For example, deep play action shot is a little more slow, it takes time to develop. Whereas a quick game check against the blitz plays with fast rhythm. And while play calls have certain rhythms, they can and must adapt based on what the defense does.
The ability for the QB to understand the rhythm of a play and then play on that rhythm is ket to his success because different rhythms change things for him. Football is reactionary, and understanding rhythm can help the QB get through tough plays.
Beats Pressure
Throwing on rhythm beats pressure. When the QB commits to being ready to get the ball out at any time, he is more dangerous against the pressure than the pressure is dangerous against him. Sometimes too dangerous even for his WR:
Ole Miss is showing a Cover 0 6-man pressure pre-snap. This is the type of pre-snap look the defense gives to get the QB to panic. The QB must assume at some level that all six are going to come in the mindset of it’s better to prepare for the worst. Getting the ball out fast has the ability to beat these looks, and doing so on rhythm will ensure he has a good base and in a position to throw.
That doesn’t mean he won’t need to change his drop or change his read. And talking leverage again: the slot receiver at the top of the screen is facing a defender with hard inside leverage — perfect opportunity for the out route. So throwing on rhythm isn’t just about throwing at the back of your drop, it’s about throwing in the best possible position and the QB’s drop on this play gets him to a great base fast.
With a free runner in his face, Georgia QB Carson Beck delivered a strike. This is the type of play that makes you want to shout for joy. The QB has every reason to do something wrong, but he’s plays in the rhythm of the play and knows exactly where to go with the ball and how to get it there.
Ball Out Before The Defense Can React
What a beautiful sight to behold when the QB takes advantage of the small piece of leverage his WR has because he gets the ball out on time. This clip below shows the wide and end zone shot for your viewing pleasure:
Ole Miss is playing a MOFC defense and the corner is bailing against a curl route by the WR right in front of him. However, he’s not the defender with the tiny piece of leverage. The overhang really has nobody to cover because Ole Miss drops their defensive end into coverage which leaves two defenders in the flat. And so the overhang is left with nothing to do but cover the flat and somehow Beck makes the play work. Why? Because he throws on rhythm. Even with his eyes looking left the whole time, Beck’s ball is out so fast that the defender isn’t able to react in time.
Get The QB Through The Read On Time and Helps Eliminate Holding On To The Ball
The QB can sometimes face the challenge of getting lost in the rhythm. I’m sure you have seen the QB who sits in the pocket and can’t make a decision. There are a couple reasons this happens. First, he doesn’t know what he’s seeing because he isn’t applying a pre-snap process. Second, he is locked on a certain route just begging it to work with his eyes (unlike the play we just saw above).
But the rules of football dictate that there are certain routes that are only available at certain times and if the QB can’t make a decision on time, then the play is no good. But when the QB understands the rhythm of the play, he can get through plays faster than ever. This faster speed not only means he’ll get the ball out fast like we saw in the two examples prior, but also that if routes aren’t open, he’ll get to the check down or scramble quicker. Evidence:
The Bulldogs are running a Double Post-Sail concept against a MOFC structure. Who knows the read, but Beck doesn’t like it. No problem because he makes this decision on time after he went through the read and took off for a big gain. You could make the argument that the out route gets open to the bottom of the screen, but it takes forever. I find it a good thing for Beck to be decisive and not wait for this route. If he’d taken it and made it work, great. However, he doesn’t and that works too.
Get Rhythm
Throwing “on rhythm” is fluid because every play can be different. A drop back wiht a three step drop might be called but a certain pre-snap pressure look might make a quick one step drop the right answer. The QB’s ability to understand how to see this is obviously important, but so is his ability to mechanically work through it. Understanding rhythm is a big piece to that. Final point: playing on rhythm allows the QB to never be early and never be late.
Until tomorrow,
Emory Wilhite
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