FAST EDDIE--THE EARLY LINE ON KURT WARNER
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Green excelled because he saw the whole field and he made his reads very quickly. The situation is not analogous to Trent with the Redskins last year because Green emerged after two years in the scheme. Warner doesn't have that luxury. I have no idea how Warner will do. I've watched him alot and he does certain things well and he does seem like a very strong character and a potential leader, but he's nowhere near as quick in the pocket or efficient as Green because he still has to think too much. That will take some of the edge off Martz' offense because that quickness is the key.
Warner has the arm to get the ball down the field. I've seen him underthrow the deep ball more often than he should, but I don't believe that is because he lacks arm strength. I think it's probably a symptom of still having some problems with the timing of the offense. He gets good velocity on his throws, but he holds it too long. If you don't make the right read soon enough and let it fly when the receiver is exactly 20 or 21 yards down the field, then it will appear to hang up and he'll have to wait on it, giving the defensive back time to get back into the play. I think he's going to struggle to some extent because this offense is not second nature to him yet the way it is for Green.
On the quick timing patterns and the slants a lot is based on the pre-snap read and this may be even more important than the speed with which he gets through the wheel. In that regard, it's obvious to me that he's not getting through it quick enough because very often you'll see him not even look to his blind side. Once he does get to that 3rd or 4th option, it's too late and the timing of the entire play is thrown off. Then he has to force things and that's when you'll see him go down the field when he should be content to look for his safety valve... the screen to the back in the flats.
None of this is intended as a criticism of Warner because it's simply inexperience in the system. Charley Armey hit it on the head I thought when he said Warner is very intelligent and a very accurate passer, he has all the tools, but he is not going to be Trent Green because it is his first year in the scheme.
Warner is more mobile than most give him credit for. And he does have the intangibles. I have spoken with him on a couple of occasions and he is very mature and confident. He has the personality to be a leader. He will need that confidence and charisma to overcome his inexperience. Mike Martz can help him a lot I think and now we'll see just how effective he can be as a coach and as a teacher.
It won't be easy or smooth however because the power of Mike Martz's offense is the speed of the game... and that's Warner's greatest weakness at this point.
I listened to Snow and Balzer talk about Warner this morning (Aug 30). They said a lot of the same things I did. They also mentioned the dropback. It's an area that Green excelled in--he got back very fast and saw the field while he was doing it. Warner is still working on his mechanics in this area. He needs to get back quicker and more fluidly.