Well, after two weeks of virtually flawless performances, I am coming around to the belief that Peyton Manning has achieved a new level of mastery of the QB position, and is taking the art of confusing, then reading, then slicing open defenses to a new level. See: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/13/s...4e1b8ad0809b39&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE His coming to line with a dozen seconds left, gyrating and kicking and pointing and moving under center than back than under center again has defenses completely flummoxed...while he's been reading them like a book. Some highlights: "As an ex-quarterback," said Phil Simms of CBS, an unabashed admirer who will call the Indianapolis-New England matchup with Greg Gumbel in the American Football Conference championship game, "I find it embarrassing to see him prepare and wonder why I didn't do what he does." (I think Phil meant to say HE was embarassed, not remarking on Manning's behavior). and... Simms said that teams tried to break down Manning's hurly-burly style and defend against it. Two years ago, Miami linebacker Zach Thomas came to a pregame meeting with the CBS crew and went through his analysis of the Manning oeuvre, as if he had translated the Book of Kells. "I said, `That's awesome,' and sure enough, he had him," Simms said. "He'd studied him, got TV tapes, listened closely to the audio and figured him out. But this year, Zach didn't have the same read on Peyton that he did then."
The guy is so smart and he's been the best game manager to come around since probably Joe Montana. I don't know if he's revolutionizing the position though........that may be taking it too far. I chuckled out loud yesterday when the smug Mike (not Golic) finally admitted that Peyton Manning might be better than "Chad". He was of course talking about Chad Pennington. He also said that it might be time for Chad to take three plays to the line of scrimmage ala Manning and manage the game from there. If he could do it, wouldn't he already been doing it? Peyton has been doing this since he entered the league, surely someone else would have caught on by now and tried it.
I don't think he's revolutionizing the game, he's just one of a dying breed. Think of what he is: smart, quick thinking, has common sense and has all the skills to make the plays. Whereas most QBs these days are machines, Manning is a man of his own. If you think back to Unitas, Young, Montana, Marino, Kelley, Elway, Bradshaw, among others, they all had these qualities. They used common sense. Two prime examples from the Chiefs game: 1) Manning calls two slants in a row to his left. Then on the following play, with the CB cheating the inside Manning calls a fake slant-go route that finds the WR wide open in the end zone. A few QBs might have seen the opportunity if it presented itself on its own, but very few are smart enough to set it up and then execute. 2) The quick snaps while the Chiefs were substituting players on defense. The only stop the Chiefs had on third down was nullified because Manning got his guys to the line quick and snapped before all the defenders could get off the field. Most QBs would have just gotten a play call, walked to the line and ran the play allowing plenty of time for the subs to get off the field. I think the QBs I mentioned before all did these things, calling their own plays and controlling the game. But Manning is definitely one of two currently in the NFL who can do these things.
I agree with the above two posts, that he's not so much revolutionizing the position as he is simply taking advantage of superior football IQ. QB is arguably the most mentally demanding position in team sports, and while top level quarterbacks tend to be cerebral, they are at the limit of how much information they can process. Manning is simply ahead of his peers in his ability to think on his feet.
That was the most beautiful play I've ever seen. He set that play up the whole time and was probably thinking about it down the field. Here's the amazing part, he did it in a 3rd and 4th situation with the Chiefs fans yelling at full throttle and he still had the poise to audible to Reggie Wayne, all of his linemen, Edgerrin, and Marvin. The pass was then perfect.
Is this the same Peyton Manning who lost every big game of his career until two weeks ago? I still think he has a ways to go before we hail him as a revolutionary.
Yes.......the same guy that took a hard look at Texas but didn't want to get his butt kicked by the Sooners every year.
More like a counter-revolutionary with the NFL's new infatuation with the "mobile" quarterback. With guys like Vick, Culpepper, and McNabb being hailed as the future, just as McNair was until he settled down to be a successful pocket passer, guys like Manning, Brady, and Favre are still the quarterbacks of today. Favre may have lost last week, but that was arguably more on Mike Sherman (two bad 4th and short calls) than on Brett. Three of the four QBs in Conference Championships are pocket passers. The last four super bowls were won by teams with average to good running games and solid pocket passers (Johnson-TB, Brady-NE, Dilfer-Bal, Warner-StL etc.). Even Elway by the time he won his rings had settled to a pocket passer who lived by his running back, Terrell Davis, famous run for touchdown against GB notwithstanding. So Manning may be the future, but he is hardly revolutionary. The projected top picks for next year at the QB position are guys like Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, and more of their type. The running quarterback is fun to watch, but rarely successful before switching to a pocket passer.
Yep, he's definitely on a hot streak, but it's a little early to hail him as revolutionary. I'd say what Mike Vick has done in Atlanta is more approaching revolutionary, just with the athleticism he has brought to the position. Not to say that Peyton isn't on a super hot streak, it's definitely worth noting, but he's still got to win two more games (and continue to play at a high level next season - winning the next two games is the hard part) before he will really start to get his name mentioned with the Elways, Montanas and even Jim Kellys of postseasons past. I do think, when his career is complete, he may be mentioned along with those names... Without Peyton's hot streak, the Colts probably aren't playing in the AFC Championship. Most likely, they would have made it past Denver (with the pathetic display of football that the Broncos put out there... ugh.) but KC put 31 on Indy's defense and without Peyton driving Indy to all of those touchdowns, KC might have been able to pull the win off.
Totally agree with you. But I think Peyton is the NOW quarterback for about 5 to 7 more years and when Vick starts playing like a Steve Young.....watch out.
In 1993 (@Peyton's last HS season)? Yeah, I know you were responding to Gringo Tex, but really- was OU beating Texas regularly back then? Nebraska was the team he'd have been worried about in the Big XII. As it was, he got his butt kicked by the Gators every year. No difference. But best of luck to him Sunday. And happy belated Kwanzaa to you, my bruthuh
The Big XII wasn't formed until 1994 (so Peyton was looking at the Texas, the SWC and frequent appearances in the Cotton Bowl), so I'm not sure he was even thinking Big XII back then, and the SEC was the power conference, he has southern roots, I doubt he looked beyond the powers that be of Tennessee, Florida, and maybe Archie Mannings alma mater (Ole Miss). Then again, I don't know the full story, so I'm just speculating.
Actually, I'm not sure if I would even call that a stop, as it seemed like he called that play with the sole intention of getting a penalty called on the Chiefs. IIRC, a little earlier in the game, the Chiefs burned a timeout because they had too many men of the field and the Colts were ready to snap. I got the impression that Manning recognized how Chiefs were making substitutions even when the Colts were in hurry-up mode.
Malaga Fan..... Manning had Texas in his Top 5. The final to were Ole Miss and Tennessee. Eli had Texas and Ole Miss as his final two. It's all in their most recent book from 1999.
I would agree w/BenC13. Watching him play, the one thing I began to wonder was in time, he may be allowed to call his own plays-which in a retro kind of way is radical. I think Jim Kelly was the last QB allowed to call his own plays, yes? The stuff at the line drives me a bit crazy-like batters who have to adjust all of the equipment after each pitch. But the combination of his ability and his study of the games is amazing to watch.
I really admire the way Peyton revolutionized those four interceptions. Another big game, another big bust. You want a real revolutionary? How about Troy Aikman. Three Super Bowl titles and the best post season QB rating of all time.
And that had nothing to do with an amazing offensive line, Emmitt Smith in the backfield, and decent weapons like Michael Irvin, Novachek and Harper? Aikman was good, but he had a great supporting cast, which is what all QB's need to win. I wouldn't call him revolutionary, but he was a winner, no doubt. Just look at Donovan McNabb yesterday, his whole team let him down, dropping passes left and right. How can you put up only 3 points on your home field in a championship game?
Don't forget the Defense. That's what everyone forgets about those Cowboys teams The Defense on those teams were spectacular.