From: rjk@dino.qci.bioch.bcm.tmc.edu (Raymond K)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Aikman a weakness?!? (was Re: It wasn't Pretty (49ers WON))
Date: 23 Dec 1992 20:13:38 GMT
Organization: X-Ray Crystallography / Atomic Biophysics H.H.M.I.
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: dino.qci.bioch.bcm.tmc.edu

In article <1992Dec23.181006.391@titan.tsd.arlut.utexas.edu> alan@tsd.arlut.utexas.edu (Alan Martin) writes:
>
>I like Troy, too, and I'll bet there are some Washington fans that
>would like to have him right now as well.  I think he does a fine
>job of reading coverages with some notable boneheaded exceptions.
>Dan has mentioned his interception problems (and he's far from alone
>in that department; Kelly throws some doozies as well), but I've
>noticed something else this year:  he doesn't seem to have a great
>arm for the long pass.  All of his "bombs" seem to have too much air
>under them, allowing beaten defensive backs to get back into the play.
>Am I alone in this observation?  That's the one area where Mark Rypien
>excels.  His long passes have tremendous zip; dubious accuracy, but
>lots of speed and a reasonably low trajectory.  You almost never
>see a beaten defensive back run up and make a play on a long Rypien
>pass.  Fortunately for Redskin opponents this year, he *missed* most
>of his open receivers, so the backs didn't *have* to make a play.

First off, we all agree about Troy's interceptions.  You make a good
point, Alan, about a QB like Kelly throwing INTs also.  So does Marino,
Montana, and lots of other "good" QBs.  It comes with the territory.  
But, one point that nobody has mentioned is the number of INTs Troy throws
that come from balls that have bounced off the intended receiver.  Because
Aikman throws pretty hard *and* because he throws medium range passes, he
gets quite a few of those.  This year he's also had a couple of end-of-the-
half bombs picked off, and one against Wash (the first game), that actually
bounced.  I know every QB has his share of INTs that aren't his fault.  I
mentioned Troy's only in regards to accusations that he has some problems
reading coverages.  With the type of QB Aikman is, and the type of passes
in the Dallas offense, interceptions WILL occur.  

About your other comments, I had to check the date of your post.  It
would have been very appropriate *last* year.  I think Aikman has made
very significant progress in throwing the long ball this year.  This
is evident by the number that they have called this year.  Troy *used
to* put too much air under his balls, but now he has realized that he
has the arm strength to throw a long ball pretty much on a line and it
has really helped.  Rypien, as of last year, threw some of the nicest
long balls in the NFL.  This year however, he is candidate for Scud of
the Year.  He's lost a lot of accuracy.

>Bye the way, this complaint isn't really much of a condemnation for
>Aikman.  Critics have said the same thing about one Joe Montana.

Agreed.  Personally, I can't think of a better QB for the Dallas
offense than Aikman.  Physically, he's got all the tools you want
in a prototype QB (he can run too!!), and mentally he's always
learning more.  Oh yeah, he's a fierce competitor and team leader too!!



Ray     GO COWBOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro