Analysis of AJ Feeley's throwing

[LarryFinFan]

OK, this is not a thread to argue for the billionth time about who should be the damn QB. Mods, if this occurs please edit or close!!


Anwyay, in looking over AJs play more I think I know why he has some inconsistencies. It's his throwing motion. This came to mind after watching Peyton Manning's "In their Own Words" last night. BTW, Peyton is the next Marino IMO, the guys a class act and helluva QB. Peyton said tapping the ball and not following through is something he has always paid attention to in order to not get those bad habits. He said the ball needs to be up high, with 2 hands to protect, and ready to fire.

Anyhow, if you watch AJ his problem is in his follow through. Well, actually, the lack thereof. AJ drops from center fine, his release speed is average, and his release point is good as well due to his height. But watch his lower body, hips, and chest once the ball comes out. A majority, if not almost all, of his throws do not include a follow through. AJ points his left foot toward where he wants to through, but then drives off his rear foot and only turns his upper torso 90degrees (from facing the sideline toward where he is throwing) and his arm crosses his chest.

I think what AJ needs to be doing is stepping more into the throw and bringing his right shoulder all the way over to his left hip (if that makes sense and you can visualize what I am trying to say). Right now he is twisting at the chest due to his arm coming acrossed it. I think he would be more accurate and even stronger if he stepped onto his left foot off his back foot, brought the arm through over top, and carried the thumb over and down toward his outside left thigh. Similar to what a baseball pitcher does. Aside from this current style being OK in short throws (which we have seen he has no trouble on), I think a better motion would help his longer throws.

I have seen the same things this preseason in particular...this is just a question, but that buttocks injury he had last year, could that be still affecting his throwing motion...the reason I ask this is that Tedford (his college coach) is a stickler for mechanics and complete follow thru on throws...Anyone else thinking this way ??

 

[Schleprock]

I have seen the same things this preseason in particular...this is just a question, but that buttocks injury he had last year, could that be still affecting his throwing motion...the reason I ask this is that Tedford (his college coach) is a stickler for mechanics and complete follow thru on throws...Anyone else thinking this way ??

I don't think it is just this year. I recall thinking last year that something was just "off" about AJ's throwing. He had the size and arm, but for some reason things just didn't look "fluid" and they obviously weren't consistent.

To me, it seems like if you were to do this: Assume the position a QB would take to throw a pass (I am sure all of us here have thrown a damn football). Now, find what you want to hit, and throw at it by only ****ing the arm and following through with your throwing hand to the opposite sides hip bone. That's what AJ looks like to me. You can feel the weight being put on your back foots heel and the only torso motion there is, is the abdominals turning your upper body. The arm is providing all the OOMPH.

But what do we know, as has been stated already in the thread...we're just pathetic for talking about this now

 

[djfresh47]

I'll give you One Word ....TEDFORD.

Check all of his former QB's. They all throw the same way. Tedford spends hours on re-doing all of his QB's Mechanics before they even see the field. He completly rebuilds their throwing motion. It's easy to recognize a tedford QB. Look at where they hold the ball. If they hold it high up in the air, then tedford was their coach.

Didn't Rodgers get criticized for being too mechanically sound? I think AJ looks stiff when he's on the field, he just doesn't seem to look smooth, in his motion and dropback. I think Tedford is criticized for making good QB's, but I think it's the mental aspect of the game they can't get. Joey Harrington has looked very impressive this preseason, Kyle Boller still looks inconsistent, and Feeley seems to be improving.

 

[LarryFinFan]

I don't think it is just this year. I recall thinking last year that something was just "off" about AJ's throwing. He had the size and arm, but for some reason things just didn't look "fluid" and they obviously weren't consistent.

To me, it seems like if you were to do this: Assume the position a QB would take to throw a pass (I am sure all of us here have thrown a damn football). Now, find what you want to hit, and throw at it by only ****ing the arm and following through with your throwing hand to the opposite sides hip bone. That's what AJ looks like to me. You can feel the weight being put on your back foots heel and the only torso motion there is, is the abdominals turning your upper body. The arm is providing all the OOMPH.

But what do we know, as has been stated already in the thread...we're just pathetic for talking about this now

You're probably right, I didn't pay too much attention last year, but I watched him several years ago with the Eagles and don't recall him being so stiff in the pocket..in fact, I thought he was very adept at moving around in the pocket and throwing on the run as well. That has been missing from him, in particular, this year..as I said, I didn't look at his motion much last year, he was usually running for his life...

 

[Rhody Phins Fan]

That is one of his problems as a quarterback. Until he consistently has good mechanics his throwing will obviously be inconsistent.

 

[FinInYpsi]

I actually see the problem in his feet. He moves them way too much. Actually, I see that in pretty much every Tedford quarterback. Harrington and Boller both have happy feet in the pocket.

 

[MarSly]

I see Feeley as a better backup than Freotte.I'd go with the more potential guy inn Feeley and let him learn the position.He might have a semi-bad year but he could improve all year.I don't see Ferotte improving at all due to his age.

 

[Dol-Fan Dupree]

I actually see the problem in his feet. He moves them way too much. Actually, I see that in pretty much every Tedford quarterback. Harrington and Boller both have happy feet in the pocket.

You know who else does? Peyton Manning. Another name of a person with "happy feet", Steve Young. That guy never stopped moving his feet in the pocket.

 

[jaxdolfan]

So what about locking in on his primary receiver and then getting happy feet when the first man is covered?

 

[bakedmatt]

OK, this is not a thread to argue for the billionth time about who should be the damn QB. Mods, if this occurs please edit or close!!


Anwyay, in looking over AJs play more I think I know why he has some inconsistencies. It's his throwing motion. This came to mind after watching Peyton Manning's "In their Own Words" last night. BTW, Peyton is the next Marino IMO, the guys a class act and helluva QB. Peyton said tapping the ball and not following through is something he has always paid attention to in order to not get those bad habits. He said the ball needs to be up high, with 2 hands to protect, and ready to fire.

Anyhow, if you watch AJ his problem is in his follow through. Well, actually, the lack thereof. AJ drops from center fine, his release speed is average, and his release point is good as well due to his height. But watch his lower body, hips, and chest once the ball comes out. A majority, if not almost all, of his throws do not include a follow through. AJ points his left foot toward where he wants to through, but then drives off his rear foot and only turns his upper torso 90degrees (from facing the sideline toward where he is throwing) and his arm crosses his chest.

I think what AJ needs to be doing is stepping more into the throw and bringing his right shoulder all the way over to his left hip (if that makes sense and you can visualize what I am trying to say). Right now he is twisting at the chest due to his arm coming acrossed it. I think he would be more accurate and even stronger if he stepped onto his left foot off his back foot, brought the arm through over top, and carried the thumb over and down toward his outside left thigh. Similar to what a baseball pitcher does. Aside from this current style being OK in short throws (which we have seen he has no trouble on), I think a better motion would help his longer throws.

if i'm understanding what you're saying then there's something very wrong. you don't want to throw a football like a pitcher would. the arm motion is very differnt, and your arm shouldn't end up across your body. at least that's not any part of the dominant part of your throwing motion, by then, you're winding down. now, i don't have any video of aj in front of me, and that may lead to some misunderstanding. if he's jarringly stopping his arm or twisting it away from a natural throwing motion than there's a big problem, but your comment of following through and liking it to a pitcher's throwing motion irked me.


EDIT: after reading once again, i can say i'm thoroughly confused, and i can't tell if you're trying to explain what i'm visualizing or not. Particularly the thumb movement comment isn't clear. the thumb should be pointed away from the body at the point of release. please clarify :)

 

[bakedmatt]

You know who else does? Peyton Manning. Another name of a person with "happy feet", Steve Young. That guy never stopped moving his feet in the pocket.

Marino had a dance. I can do the same dance.

 

[Schleprock]

if i'm understanding what you're saying then there's something very wrong. you don't want to throw a football like a pitcher would. the arm motion is very differnt, and your arm shouldn't end up across your body. at least that's not any part of the dominant part of your throwing motion, by then, you're winding down. now, i don't have any video of aj in front of me, and that may lead to some misunderstanding. if he's jarringly stopping his arm or twisting it away from a natural throwing motion than there's a big problem, but your comment of following through and liking it to a pitcher's throwing motion irked me.


EDIT: after reading once again, i can say i'm thoroughly confused, and i can't tell if you're trying to explain what i'm visualizing or not. Particularly the thumb movement comment isn't clear. the thumb should be pointed away from the body at the point of release. please clarify :)

I don't mean for him to throw like a pitcher, but the necessary body movements are the same as pitching. The leading shoulder should point the target. When the throwing hand comes through the ball should be released at its highest point in the arc and as you continue after the release your left shoulder and arm should follow back along the left side of your body as your right arm and side come through and toward the target. It seems AJ ends with his right arm going across his body and his shoulders are both pointing at the target, instead of the left being slightly back and the right slightly towards it.

As for the hand. It should release similar to a good basketball jump shot. Releasing a good jump shot should make the index finger point right down into the ground. In basketball they teach it as following through and pointing the ball in the basket. If you can, watch a clip of Jordan's final shot with the Bulls in Utah, when he holds his follow through. You'll see what I mean. Since your wrist is turning over more with a football your thumb and index finger drive its flight and should be the ones "pointing down into the basket"

I apologize, this stuff is hard to explain in written word.

P.S. And yes, there is nothing wrong with keeping your feet active a la Manning, or even Vick. It is actually good from what Peyton and others have said. It's the difference between keeping on your toes and being skittish though that makes the difference. I wouldn't say AJ and Harrington are similar to Manning/Vick/Young.

 

[bakedmatt]

I apologize, this stuff is hard to explain in written word.

no you did a good job clarifying and with all that i agree. the basketball reference was the clincher. both sports have a commonality with where your fingers and thumb point after the throw/shot.

 

[Strangeworld]

Guys, the man has ZERO pocket presence which I believe you either have as an inherent trait or you don’t. The crux of the deal is that the man cannot to save his life, come off his primary read when covered and go through his progressions in the least! All I see is stares and scares!

Bottom line I am convinced that the man does not have “IT” and whatever the fallout of this years QB carousel, he’ll be gone at years end one way or the other.

 

[phinphan11]

Maybe it's as simple as, 'He needs glasses'...