Brains or Braun?

The debate continues on what traits are most important to a quarterback’s successAs the game of football has evolved into a contest of pure athleticism and speed, many intangibles such as charisma, poise, and intellect have been slowly but surely thrown out the window. One can watch football at nearly any level these days and are likely to see the best twenty-two athletes for both teams out on the field while the remainder pour Gatorade down their throats, shine their helmets, or scribble down plays on a clipboard.

You cannot blame a football coach for wanting to utilize speed, quickness, size and strength to the best of his ability. But when it comes to the most important position on the football field, it may be a whole different story.

The quarterback has, and always will be, the most glorious and demanding position on a football team. He is expected to take the reins of his team, lead the way, and assume responsibility for success or failure. But when a single player is required to assume so large a leadership role, it makes sense that he must possess more than 4.5 speed or a rocket launcher attached to his shoulder. After all, what good is it if a quarterback throws 80 mph lasers into the chest of opposing cornerbacks, doesn’t have the football IQ to digest X’s and O’s, or lacks the heart to lead his team when they need him the most?

“Realistically, the quarterback should just be 1/22 of the team, but that’s not quite the way it works. Terry Bradshaw is a much bigger part of us than that,” said Pittsburgh Steelers coach Chuck Noll when asked who drove the Steelers’ success in the 1970’s. “He’s the one who makes us go. He’s the leader out there, the driving force.”

So when a single individual is expected to do so much on the football field, he must have some qualities that make him special. But, as football fans, players and coaches have so hotly debated over the years, what exactly is the formula for a successful signal caller?

Everyone has a prototypical mold for a quarterback: about 6’5″ 220 lbs., a cannon for an arm, 4.6 speed, and a brain that would make Einstein jealous. But for every quarterback built in that “special” mold, there is always that quarterback that only stands 5’11” or has unorthodox mechanics. Yet surprisingly, you seem to always see such a player leading his team in a national title game or all-star game. So what gives? Is athleticism and size critical for a quarterback to achieve greatness or lead his respective team to glory? Or are there other “intrinsic” qualities that turn a quarterback into a hero?

Everyone “oohs” and “ahhs” over Atlanta Falcons’ freak of nature quarterback Michael Vick. He is lightning fast, can throw the pigskin a country mile, and routinely breaks defenders’ ankles with his amazing array of running skills. But looking at his NFL resume thus far, he has struggled with injury, has been somewhat inconsistent and has not led the Falcons to the promised land yet. On the other hand you have a quarterback like former Cleveland Browns’ savior Bernie Kosar. This was a man who threw sidearm, had limited arm strength, and had the foot speed of a sloth. Yet, amazingly, he consistently led the Browns to the playoffs throughout the 1980’s. Quietly and efficiently he became one of the elite play callers in the NFL and took the city of Cleveland on his shoulders.

Look at all the “storied” quarterbacks throughout history: Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, John Elway, Brett Favre, and so forth. There is no question that many, if not all, of these quarterbacks were surrounded by fantastic teammates and coaches. Even the greatest signal caller needs receivers to throw to, lineman to block for him, and coaches to draw up successful plays. But each and every one of these men had that special “it” that you can’t exactly put a finger on. Some were quiet leaders, some were vocal. Some were tall and athletic, others undersized. But each of these men had an intrinsic ability to lead by example. Perhaps more importantly, when the game was on the line, they had the confidence in themselves and their teammates that the job was going to get done.

Former Baltimore Colts star tight end John Mackey perhaps explained it best when talking about legend Johnny Unitas. “The type of quarterback he was, the leader he was, he was totally focused on moving the football, scoring points and winning. It’s like being in a huddle with God.”

So throw away the scouting reports, tape measures and stopwatches. Who cares if he is 5’11” or 6’5″. Big deal if he is white or black. No matter whether he played at Division I powerhouse or a small D-III college. Whether or not he passed for 1500 yards or 3000 yards in a particular season is irrelevant. Rather the real traits to determine success at the QB position are poise, consistency, leadership, and most importantly, the ability to put W’s in the win column–something that can only happen when every player in the huddle has the confidence that the quarterback will find a way to make it happen no matter what the cost. That is the true mark of success.