For more analysis like this at every skill position, purchase the Rookie Scouting Portfolio available here on April 1, 2012.

For past issues (2006-2011) email me: mattwaldmanrsp@gmail.com

Friday’s Quick-Hitter: Miami QB Jacory Harris’ Delivery

Here are two glaring examples of a mechanical flaw in a quarterback’s delivery that contributes to inaccurate passing. These are plays during the same drive in the first quarter from Harris’ 2010 performance in a 31-3 victory over the Pitt Panthers.The first play is from a 21-personnel, 1×1 receiver, I-formation set with 8:20 in the first quarter. Harris targets the flanker on the far side of the field.

Harris sets up the pass with a play action fake to the RB.

Although the video shows that Harris’ ball fakes need some refinement, his execution gets the job done on this play. As he retracts the ball and finishes his drop, he’s looking to the right side of the field to hold the safety and the far side corner from breaking to the far side of the field where he intends to deliver the ball.

When his back foot hits in the ground to end the drop, he turns to the far side to deliver a nine-yard comeback.

The result of the play is a high-pointed pass by the WR at the first down marker with the CB three yards to his back. What you don’t see on film is the lack of strong velocity on the throw. However, the reason is clear even in still shots. Harris tends to lean towards his left hip as he begins his follow through.

Harris’ back leg comes off the ground but his hips never have a chance to fully rotate with this early lean to the left. This impacts the trajectory of the throw, aiding to create a higher arcing throw that takes more time to reach the receiver. When a quarterback can torque his hips fully, the release creates a flatter trajectory with more velocity.

If Harris were throwing a deeper pass that required a lot of arc then a partial torque of the hips is probably fine. I’ve seen a excerpt of a practice of Jon Gruden instructing Rich Gannon to throw the ball in this manner on a specific down field route. He wasn’t talking about the hips with Gruden, but the motion clearly limited the hip torque.

Two plays later, Harris’ certain touchdown-turned-interception is an even more dramatic example of his delivery issue.  The play is a 1^st and 10 from the Pitt 33 yard line with 7:20 in the first quarter. Miami comes to the line in an 11-personnel, 1×2 receiver set versus a 4-3 with the SLB over the TE on the near side wing.

Harris takes the snap, extends the ball with a straight arm towards the RB, and sells this play fake a little better than the last by bending his back and turning his body more thoroughly to the line of scrimmage during the fake exchange.

The Miami QB finishes his five-step drop and delivers a deep post 41 yards down field from release point to interception. Once again Harris’ body leans toward his plant foot.

The result was a 41-yard throw with a nice arc, but veers to the WR’s inside shoulder when the desired placement was to the outside shoulder and leading the Benjamin to the open area.

Benjamin discovers late in his route that has must adjust to the ball and turn to his opposite shoulder while on the run. The inaccurate throw causes Benjamin to lose track of the ball while making the adjustment. It also brings the trailing safety back into the play.

Here’s a closeup:

Reason No.8,342 that it’s all in the hips.

If you’re gonna get hit by a plane it might as well be in paradise, right?

I had the good fortune to move to Montego Bay, Jamaica in August of 2000. There are an island full of memories I could share, but my first was actually landing on the island 90 miles south of Cuba. The Mo’Bay airport is on the coast and my first memory was looking out the window as the pilot made his approach and wondering if commercial jets to the islands were equipped to make water landings. At least Jamaica had the good sense to build an airport that didn’t make its final approach over a public beach. As you can see in St. Maarten, playing chicken with jumbo jets is a sport.

Reads

Google’s New Glasses – We’re just steps away from a zombie apocalypse and apparently it’s not biotechnology that we should be worrying about.

Failing Up – the working title: Why Mediocre Workers Keep Getting Promoted. Author’s not so private title: The Matthew McConaughey Career Theory.

I occasionally walk to work. I need the exercise and it also gives me the chance to read fiction. Here are some recent novels I read this month and recommend. I’ve been on a mystery/crime kick:

Paris Trout by Pete Dexter: The plot centers on the shooting of a young black girl by a well to-do shop owner in a small Georgia town in the `50s. I thought the girl’s life was rough until I got to the part about the wife of the shop owner. Excellent writing that does a fine job of delving into the mind of a man suffering from extreme paranoia.

Freaky Deaky by Elmore Leonard: I thoroughly enjoy the movie Out of Sight, and Be Cool has its charms so I looked forward to reading Leonard’s novels. Leonard’s writing is effortless to read and he’s renown for his humor and dialogue. It’s the kind of read that’s perfect for a hammock and a beer, but with more substance than you think.

Black Betty by Walter Moseley: Another writer I’ve been wanting to read for years. I’m only a third of the way through the book, but love Moseley’s penchant for drawing rich characters that reveal worlds some people should pay more attention to.

Listens

Straight Out of Flint: Girl Boxer Aims For Olympics – 16 year-old Clarissa Shields is 19-0 and a favorite to land spot in London Olympics. Her audio diary is well-produced and a good, short listen.

Views

Cam Newton vs. Andrew Luck vs. Robert Griffin in the 40

Tunes