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How elite QBs are made

Hangman

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Most people forget how elite QBs are made. Now QBs come out of college and are expected to start and be play makers right away. QBs coming out of college in the 80s would sit for a year or 3. Then when they got their opportunity to start they were game mangers. They were game managers for a year to a year and half and bit by bit the play book would open up. Finally after a year and a half to 2 years they would become play makers and then after a year or two of being play makers they were elite.

Rodgers and Brady were treated that way. Steve Young was as well when he went to the niners. Most people forget That Brady's first year he only had 1/3 of the playbook to work with and he was a game manager only. The pats won with their great defense and special teams play. Same with the second Superbowl. Rodgers his first year starting was a game manager. His second year they opened up the book for him.

Now Harbaugh is doing what should have been done with Smith from the beginning. Game manage until he is comfortable with his presnap reads, the playbook, post snap reads, and the progression of his receivers.

People keep saying that Alex will never be elite, but that is still to be determined. I believe he is on the correct path now to becoming elite. Once he gets his confidence and learns this offense to a Tee he will be elite or close to it. I am thinking a top 10 QB next season and upwards from there if he keeps progressing like he did this past season.
 

Kinzu

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What makes QB's elite? Postseason heroics.

Eli was a fringe player considered not as good as his older brother. Then he goes off and spoils the Pats perfect season in one of the best Super Bowls ever played. That one game changed Eli's whole career path in my opinion. He was heading to a swift kick in the rear out of NY with in another 2 years until that game.

Rodgers was simply living in Farve's shadow his first year. I'm not sure how many in Green Bay felt about him during year 2, but he is now the golden child and has some saying he maybe the best QB of all-time by the end of his career. How did he rise to success so quick? He played lights out during their Super Bowl run last year.

Joe Montana, This one is easy. Joe is not the greatest of all time because of the numbers he put in the regular seasons. You can go through the books and find QB's that put up more gaudy numbers during his era, but Joe had the numbers when it mattered and the Super Bowl rings to show for it.

Terry Bradshaw, he is nothing without his postseason numbers and Super Bowl rings.

Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Steve Young, and John Elway are similar in the aspect that they were considered elite long before any playoff heroics, but all of them had the label of QB's that could not rise to the occasion. How did they forever change that? They finally won a Super Bowl and now very few if any question their status as all time greats.

I'm not saying though it's a sure thing Alex Smith will be elite if he wins the Super Bowl. It will give him the stage though to become that player by continuing to put up top 10 numbers and leading the 49ers to the playoffs and hopefully more Super Bowls. He could always end up like Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson. Those guys were at the end of their careers though. Alex is still young enough to let this catapult his career and elevate his game.
 
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