Semi-serious NFL question

[Aske]

With practice... do you think you could complete a swing pass to the flat?  Seems like I see 1/3 of 1/4 of these incomplete every week nowadays.

[Fuzzy]

In the heat of the battle?  Is it the #1 option or have you checked down through the receivers and it's your out unless you want to get smoked?   All things considered, overall QB play in the NFL has been down the past few years. There are a couple young ones now that seem like they'll be good so maybe there is hope.

Plus, at least for the Vikes, they call a swing pass in the flat on 3rd and 12 and pick up 4 yards. I have a deep hatred for the swing/dump pass.

[Aske]

In the heat of the battle?  Is it the #1 option or have you checked down through the receivers and it's your out unless you want to get smoked?   All things considered, overall QB play in the NFL has been down the past few years. There are a couple young ones now that seem like they'll be good so maybe there is hope.

Plus, at least for the Vikes, they call a swing pass in the flat on 3rd and 12 and pick up 4 yards. I have a deep hatred for the swing/dump pass.

Yeh,  I dont know, I'm not saying while you're running for your life or being half-way dragged down, more like just you can't find anyone , have 1-2 seconds before getting hit, and want to get rid of it it.    I know I'm harsh about commenting about the NFL, and 1/2 the time I'm only kidding, but I really don't see how THE 32 best QBs in the world can't do a better job with possibly the 2nd simplest pass they have.
 

[Fuzzy]

I agree.

And fwiw, I still find it hard to believe Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson are among the 32 best QB's in the world. 

[stroh]

Without question! 

The other thing I could do is stand in the pocket(and yes maybe get destroyed) and wait for a receiver to open down field.  Read:  The "check down" has ruined football.

I could do it.

[MFAWG]

Answer to the original question is 'Yup'

I agree.

And fwiw, I still find it hard to believe Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson are among the 32 best QB's in the world. 

Also 'Yup'

The West Coast offense and it's derivatives have made QB stats meaningless and pretty much destroyed football as anybody over 40 once knew it.

Montana would have been just an 'OK' QB a decade before. Hell, Steve Young WAS just an OK QB for a decade, maybe even less than 'Just OK'.

[Uisce Beatha]

With practice... do you think you could complete a swing pass to the flat? 

Nope, not with my cadet medium paws.   Throwing a full size football is a thing of toughiness.  And methinks with the proliferation of hobbits on this board I'm not the only one.

Am I allowed to punt the ball to the flat?

[Teed]

I think w/ practice I could get it done.  However, w/ defenders arms and bodies blocking that passing lane I can see why the % rate is low.

[Spanky]

I could. Don't ask me to launch it more then say 30 yards down field though, 20 if it's to the sideline.

[Clive]

Give me a baseball and I could do it.  I'd be screaming like a little girl and the front of my pants would be wet, but I could do it.

With a football?  Nope.

[Walfredo]

I could okay but I think the swing pass is harder than you think to complete.  The guy is running out and away from you at an awkward angle.  Much harder than a crossing route IMO.  And I also have girlish size hands that ruined my NFL QB career before it started.

[gleek]

A couple of things to remember...

An NFL field is 50 yards wide. Swing passes don't go upfield much but they're still 15 to 25 yard passes depending on which hash mark you start on and how long it takes the play to develop.

Swing passes require a rare combination of touch and zip. You need need touch because the RB is running practically straight away from you and the timing needs to be just right. So you do have to float it *a little* to give the RB time to run under it, but if you float it too much, it's pick 6, baby!

[Aske]

A couple of things to remember...

An NFL field is 50 yards wide. Swing passes don't go upfield much but they're still 15 to 25 yard passes depending on which hash mark you start on and how long it takes the play to develop.

Swing passes require a rare combination of touch and zip. You need need touch because the RB is running practically straight away from you and the timing needs to be just right. So you do have to float it *a little* to give the RB time to run under it, but if you float it too much, it's pick 6, baby!

This is exactly why I added "with practice".  It is* a timing touch throw with some distance.

[spacey]

Maybe. Maybe not.