– Why do NFL teams basically play one quarterback all/every game, while MLB teams play multiple pitchers?
In: 11
I didn’t see anyone in the comments mention this, lots of comments about reps, strength, frequency of play, etc.
In Football the most successful QB/WR pairings are _precise_. The QB is throwing a ball to where the WR _will be_, which might include turns in the route, or even deceptive jukes, running off-speeds, etc.
Any pass further than a shovel or screen usually has the WR totally blind to what the QB is doing when the ball is released – they’re turning to it, and finding it in the air.
As you can imagine, it is really difficult to throw a ball to a player who isn’t looking and is probably actively trying to deceive the other team as to where he will be. The absolute best QBs ever only do this right about 2/3rds of the time.
Furthermore, each play is slightly different, even if the exact same routes are run, depending on your field position, position between the hash marks, and options called at the line, etc.
So take all that, which basically relies on extensive practice and drills until the WR and QB are instinctually sync’d up on their rhythm, timing, position, etc., and substitute one QB for another mid-game.
Now there’s a new drop step pattern, a new throwing rhythm, a new preference for options, a new ball speed, throw strength, loft height, as each QB has a different and distinct throwing and style that at best has been adapted and ingrained over years of play, sometimes working with several different offensive coaches and play calling styles, or at worst is influenced by the QBs bad habits or injuries.
Imagine how hard that would be as a WR to adapt to, especially if your Coach is switching QBs in the middle of a drive or play sequence.
Anyway, that’s the main reason they don’t do it. There’s already too many variables, and swapping QBs would just make the inconsistency worse. If the QB can do the whole game, it makes offensive plays easier to execute, which is necessary because they’re already insanely hard to pull off.
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