You are correct that Favre does throw deep a lot more than Chad but I disagree with you that Chad is better at the long ball. The Jets have played primarily a short passing game with an equal amounts of runs. The deep ball is rarely thrown even though the D doesn't play the deep ball against Chad. In fact Chad usually only throws the deep ball on a play action fake when the D is playing the run only, smart and a high percentage but why is Chad considered a smart QB for not throwing deep more often against Defenses that don't play the deep ball against him? Maybe that's why the Jets don't score a lot of TD's with Chad as QB? To put it another way, why is it smart to throw the ball in front of the D on third and long's but not smart to throw behind the D on 1st and 2nds when the D is pinching up? Based on the way defenses have played the Jets with Pennington, it's almost a crime that Chad has less than 3 attempts over 20 yards per game. Don't confuse playing it safe or having a lack of confidence in your own ability to get the ball deep as being better at throwing the deep ball.
Favre 05 16 games 372/607 (61.3%) 3,881 yards 20TD 29INT 70.9 rating Penny 06 16 games 313/485 (64.5%) 3,352 yards 17TD 16INT 82.6 rating Much better? Possibly an exaggeration there. FWIW, in Brett's other "terrible" year of 2006 he threw for 3885 yards 18TD 18INT. Seems pretty comparable to Chad's perfect year to me.
Chad has always thrown it well down the field so I know he had confidence to do so he just wasn't a risk taker. Whether that was instilled in him by Hackett I don't know but he didn't take alot of risks. it doesn't eman I'd rather have Chad throwing the ball down the field than Favre, they play 2 different games. Favre will throw it more and have less success compared to his attempts but he gets it downfield alot more. Favre is all about arm strength, Chad was all about timing and accuracy. Unless the D was aligned perfectly Chad didn't take chances, favre will b/c he believes in his arm so he'll throw some INTs down the field that Chad would enevr have attempted but he'll also complete some down the field that Chad never would have attempted.
Chad throws his INT's on short out routes. Most of his bombs to the side lines end up out of bounds. Chad's long balls tend to be straight down the middle on play action where he has a clear shot and it's a relatively short pass.
wrong, he hasnt "always" thrown it well down the field, he was unable to throw it down the field effectively after his surgery. I'm sorry but if he had confidense he would throw alot more deep balls when teams are playing him 8-9 in the box all game. He was unable to put anything behind his passes which is why he throw 10 yrd floaters and shovel passes all year long. he didnt take the chances because he is physically unable to.
Why does 2007 erase everything Chad had done prior? He struggled last yera as any QB would have struggled w/ that OL and lack of running game but he's always thrown it well down the field he just rarely took those chances- even last yera he had some moments like that great pass to Coles splitting the defenders at Cincy.
One thing that people fail to consider is that having a strong arm doesn't necessarily make you a great at completing deep passess. Since all Quarterbacks in the NFL DO have the armstrength to throw the ball far enough to throw bombs (Yes, even Chad does), it's more a matter of how accuarate you are when you throw them and WHEN YOU DECIDE to take a shot downfield. (i.e. decision making) Favre takes a lot more shots than Pennington down the field. Thus, more of them are picked off. He throws a lot more into double coverage, thus, more of them are picked off or incomplete. Brett also gets the ball there a lot QUICKER than Chad does. His superior arm strength also allows him to lead the receiver and put the ball in a position where the receiver can catch the ball in full stride and get the maximum possible yardage after the catch. In my opinion, what arm strength helps quarterbacks with the most, are the INTERMEDIATE throws. Throws in that 15-30 yard range where a quarterback has to thread the needle by either throwing it behind the linebackers and in front of the safeties, OR by throwing it across the field and/or to the OPPOSITE sideline (deep slants, deep outs, medium-deep hooks, medium-deep curls, 15 yard down and ins, medium-deep semm routes by the TE, etc). It is in these instances, where chad's armstrength has always held him and the jets back the most. He either lays his receivers out ot dry or throws floaters that ARRIVE LATE and are incomplete, or worse yet, picked off as a result. Generally speaking, Chad's lack of arm strength just limits the number of plays he can make beyond 10 yards or so down the field, and this INCLUDES, the much overlooked INTERMEDIATE routes that I speak of.
Also, generally speaking, Chad's lack of armstrength killed him whenever he tried to make an improvisational play. (i.e. plays that Brett is great at) These are plays where the original play breaks down and the quarterback is either forced to scramble out of the pocket to by extra time and throw on the run or he is forced to throw QUICKLY and ON A LINE down the field. Also, Chad's lack of armstrength caused him to have a very slow release because he always had to make sure to get his entire body into the throw. Meanwhile, Favre has an ultra-quick release (almost Marino-like) because he can just flick his arm and get enough on it for the ball to travel 30 yards on a tight rope.
