Ask anyone and they could name you a handful of elite quarterbacks past and present, but what they cant tell you is why. What makes a terrific quarterback? many people would say "oh he has a great arm" but if it were that simple Brady Quinn would be one of the best quarterbacks ever. Other people would say it's outstanding athleticism, or accuracy, or smarts but Michael Vick, Chad Pennington, and Andy Dalton respectively have one of these traits but they are not elite. Every quarterback in the NFL has a good arm, and can make all the throws, So what is it that makes Brady elite? I'm here to tell you that what makes Brady elite is his unique ability to throw the receiver open.
Throwing the receiver open is a trick that every NFL quarterback uses at times to get a completion to a well covered receiver. Whether it's throwing a back shoulder ball, leading the receiver, throwing a jump ball to a bigger receiver, or throwing it where only the wide out has a chance of getting it every QB does this but none quite like Brady. Brady consistently throws his passes purposely wide,low,high,or unnecessarily fast to a receiver so that the receiver is the only man who can make a play on it. Several examples this season come to mind, the first is looking back at the game winning drive against the saints. On the final game winning reception Kembrell Thompkins was in the corner of the end zone literally with a Saints player right next to him but Brady threw a ball where if Thompkins doesn't extend and jump for the pass it sails through the end zone harmlessly. yet the Saints player could never make a play on it. An incredibly tricky throw that required a lot of brass and ended with a unlikely win for the Patriots. The second example of Brady throwing a player open is Arron Dobson's first TD catch vs the Steelers. On this play Dobson streaks down the left sideline. Brady looks his way but Dobson has a corner back glued to his hip, textbook coverage. However Brady delivers a nearly perfect back shoulder ball that allows Dobson the chance to make a play on the ball. Brady's great throw results in Dobson's falling TD catch in the front corner of the end zone.
Every elite Quarterback has one unique thing that makes him great. Brady's ability to throw receivers open has been one of the main reasons why even with awful or inexperienced wide receivers Brady still puts up points. The wide outs don't have to get open. Brady makes them open with his outstanding throws.
