Foles' Mechanics are Way Off

[SuperMan28]

No!!!!!!!!!!:eek::eek::eek:

Well that's about what his contract is.

 

[Stranger]

It's pretty evident that the constant pressure has gotten to him. Just go watch him in week 1 compared to this past week. He rarely (a large amount of the time because he can't) steps up into his throws. There's just no time for him but he's also not making much of an effort to move around to let him do that. It's very much a team sport and I can't lay all the blame on Foles, our o-line and receivers have not helped him at all this year so far, but he has to take care of himself first and hope the others fall into place. And unfortunately he's having a hard time of it and it is showing as the OP and others here have stated.

You could have written this post anytime during the last 4-5 seasons and it would have been accurate. What's the one constant?

 

[DCH]

The passing game has been going to pot quite obviously and for some obvious reasons including less than stellar receiver play and untimely penalties.

What hasn't been discussed too much is Nick Foles' mechanical issues.

The most egregious is that his hand is too far under the ball, especially as he transitions to a throwing motion from sliding around the pocket. Because he's not coming over the top on his throws as he should (others like @jrry32 who also break down QBs can verify this), his hand ends up under the ball and his accuracy is diminished. When he steps into the ball, it can sail on him. If he tries to arm throw it, it'll likely be short or late.

This is EXACTLY what we are seeing. The good news is that it's correctable. I dunno if it's correctable totally in season, but I know Chris Weinke can correct that if they make that a point of emphasis. Some folks here have good luck in reaching out (I dunno if I could get anyone's attention if I had the cure...).

If Foles can tighten up his mechanics, it's possible we could see a substantial improvement at the QB position in short order. It won't be perfect, but we know we don't need perfect from that position to win.

If you look back at his earlier play this season and preseason, did he play well despite the poor mechanics, or is this something that has developed over the course of the season?

 

[Mackeyser]

Developed... He's dipping his shoulder and getting his hand under the ball. The elbow gets too far forward and the ball sails.

His mechanics haven't ever been awesome, but they've been getting worse as he got hit.

 

[Stranger]

Developed... He's dipping his shoulder and getting his hand under the ball. The elbow gets too far forward and the ball sails.

His mechanics haven't ever been awesome, but they've been getting worse as he got hit.

I don't understand how this can be happening under Weinke?

 

[DR RAM]

I don't understand how this can be happening under Weinke?

Happy feet can't be coached.

 

[jrry32]

You sit rookies for that reason. You have to break them of bad habits. Can't do that while they're on the field. Because when the heat is on, bad habits come back.

 

[jrry32]

I don't understand how this can be happening under Weinke?

What's Weinke supposed to do? As long as Foles plays, the bad habits will be reinforced.

 

[RamWoodie]

The guy is sailing balls too many times...it goes to being fearful back there if you ask me. Foles best game was the opener against Seattle....after that, it's pretty much "Foles gold"...get my drift?

Foles has to be gritty back there and realize he has to deliver the ball. He can't get his feet set.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Wow, not sure why this is National Security, but Homeland has been shutting down my Internet all day. No joke. Go after terrosist's you retards, and not someone who would kill, or die for America! freak.

Not kidding.

It's all the porn. Don't worry about it.

 

[Mojo Ram]

My take on Foles pre-Ram was that he was too slow in everything he does, but he could protect the ball and hit the deep throw.. I didn't know his reads were slow too. He's just SLOW.

 

[Stranger]

What's Weinke supposed to do? As long as Foles plays, the bad habits will be reinforced.

Shouldn't this have been recognized and addressed in the off-season? At what point do you put this on the coaches?

 

[jrry32]

Shouldn't this have been recognized and addressed in the off-season? At what point do you put this on the coaches?

Not if it's a new issue. I put bringing in Nick Foles entirely on the coaches (and FO).

But attacking Weinke when this might be completely out of his hands seems pointless to me. You don't have enough information to play the blame game. It's just pointless finger pointing. We can all agree that Foles isn't getting it done. And that falls on the coaches and management. But fixing mechanical issues during the season is pretty much impossible if the guy is playing.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

The passing game has been going to pot quite obviously and for some obvious reasons including less than stellar receiver play and untimely penalties.

What hasn't been discussed too much is Nick Foles' mechanical issues.

The most egregious is that his hand is too far under the ball, especially as he transitions to a throwing motion from sliding around the pocket. Because he's not coming over the top on his throws as he should (others like @jrry32 who also break down QBs can verify this), his hand ends up under the ball and his accuracy is diminished. When he steps into the ball, it can sail on him. If he tries to arm throw it, it'll likely be short or late.

This is EXACTLY what we are seeing. The good news is that it's correctable. I dunno if it's correctable totally in season, but I know Chris Weinke can correct that if they make that a point of emphasis. Some folks here have good luck in reaching out (I dunno if I could get anyone's attention if I had the cure...).

If Foles can tighten up his mechanics, it's possible we could see a substantial improvement at the QB position in short order. It won't be perfect, but we know we don't need perfect from that position to win.

This is troubling because hand placement is the very first thing we teach kids when they first throw a football. I play catch with my son and I always ask him what happens when he throws a bad ball. It is never hand placement. It is always footwork. How does a QB not recognize the feel or grip he has on the ball. That is usually instinctual.

I currently do not believe the Rams have a franchise QB on the roster and pray they get the wisdom to make it a priority. Fisher said the reason he chose the Rams over Miami was Bradford, suggesting that he places a priority on having a top QB. Maybe he needs reminded.

 

[jrry32]

This is troubling because hand placement is the very first thing we teach kids when they first throw a football. I play catch with my son and I always ask him what happens when he throws a bad ball. It is never hand placement. It is always footwork. How does a QB not recognize the feel or grip he has on the ball. That is usually instinctual.

I currently do not believe the Ams have a franchise QB on the roster and pray the soo the wisdom to make it a priority. Fisher said the reason he chose the Rams over Miami was Bradford, suggesting that he places a priority on having a top QB. Maybe he needs reminded.

I think he chose the Rams because Kroenke would stay in the background while the Dolphins have an outspoken, meddling owners.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I think he chose the Rams because Kroenke would stay in the background while the Dolphins have an outspoken, meddling owners.

Could be right. Might have been hyperbole.

 

[Rmfnlt]

But attacking Weinke when this might be completely out of his hands seems pointless to me. You don't have enough information to play the blame game. It's just pointless finger pointing. We can all agree that Foles isn't getting it done. And that falls on the coaches and management. But fixing mechanical issues during the season is pretty much impossible if the guy is playing.

This just isn't logical to me.

Sure, we don't know what happens during the week, but I have to assume they go over the tapes of the game in detail.

If Weinke is doing that, surely he sees the same things guys on this site see. And, if the guys here are wrong, I'd still have to believe Weinke would see the mechanics that are getting in the way.

And that last sentence really confuses me... why would it be impossible to correct mechanic issues during the season? They don't have enough time? Not making sense to me.

To me, Weinke might not be able to correct his psyche or confidence, but it's his job to correct any mechanical flaws - be it during TC or during the season on the fly.

I pointed it out once before but feel it's worth mentioning again:
NONE of the offensive coaches have ever coached at the level they are currently in (in the NFL).
And, Weinke and Garcia have never coached in the NFL, period.

I'd hazard a guess that might be a part of Foles problem (inexperienced coaches not helping as much as an experienced coach would).

Doesn't matter now... Foles confidence is shot temporarily.

 

[jrry32]

This just isn't logical to me.

Sure, we don't know what happens during the week, but I have to assume they go over the tapes of the game in detail.

If Weinke is doing that, surely he sees the same things guys on this site see. And, if the guys here are wrong, I'd still have to believe Weinke would see the mechanics that are getting in the way.

And that last sentence really confuses me... why would it be impossible to correct mechanic issues during the season? They don't have enough time? Not making sense to me.

To me, Weinke might not be able to correct his psyche or confidence, but it's his job to correct any mechanical flaws - be it during TC or during the season on the fly.

I pointed it out once before but feel it's worth mentioning again:
NONE of the offensive coaches have ever coached at the level they are currently in (in the NFL).
And, Weinke and Garcia have never coached in the NFL, period.

I'd hazard a guess that might be a part of Foles problem (inexperienced coaches not helping as much as an experienced coach would).

Doesn't matter now... Foles confidence is shot temporarily.

It makes perfect sense. They don't have enough time. Because it takes a lot of reps to break a QB of mechanical deficiencies. And each time they go out there and play a real game, you undo all the work you've done. Because when they're playing a real game, they're not thinking. They're reacting. Which means that they will instinctually do what their muscle memory tells them to do. And since those bad mechanics are ingrained in muscle memory, it's going to be what they do when they rely on instincts. Which reinforces the bad habit.

You need time and practice reps with the coaches staying on top of Foles to get his mechanical issues fixed. It takes time. More time than you have in a week between games. And each time Foles plays a game, he starts the process over.

None of the offensive coaches? Boras, Boudreau, and Sherman have a lot of experience in the NFL. Boras has been a NFL coach for over a decade. Boudreau and Sherman have been coaching in the NFL for nearly three decades.

 

[Stranger]

I put bringing in Nick Foles entirely on the coaches (and FO).

I thought that's what I said.

Shouldn't this have been recognized and addressed in the off-season? At what point do you put this on the coaches?

 

[jrry32]

I thought that's what I said.

Not quite.