This article is a part of our series, NFL QB Archetypes.
The Play Executor is one of the primary NFL QB archetypes. It is a QB that is skilled enough to execute the play – go through the read progression (A.K.A the order in which you should look at each receiver), and throw them the ball accurately, and on time. Or, hand the ball off to the running back.
As a result, it is basically the QB’s job description, and it is what the average QB is. It is the foundational building block of the Quarterback position. The Play Executor is essentially a puppet QB. They have a good arm, some mobility, a good height, and solid mechanics and a good throwing motion.
Play Executor
To put it in more detail, a play executor QB is supposed to
- Know the read progression of the play (A.K.A. what receiver you are supposed to look at first, what receiver you should look at next, etc.), and throw to the receiver, on time, with accuracy (preferably with good footwork and mechanics).
- (Whatever the receiver’s route is, they should be to make the throw. Whether it’s a lob pass, bullet pass, deep ball, etc.)
- If the primary read isn’t there, they are expected to make the smart decision of either :
- Being able to find the secondary read (or third or fourth read) quickly and throw it to them
- Throwing the ball away
- Throwing the ball to the checkdown (a short route, usually a running back, that is close to the QB)
- Run
- Don’t turn it over or take a bad sack!
This is the bare minimum of what a play executor does well. Doing these 2 alone with some consistency is enough to make you a competent, average QB.
You just execute the play! This is literally how the QB position started off. You receive the ball and get the ball to where it needs to go based on the play.
Anything else beyond that, like:
- Much better consistency with fundamental traits (footwork, pocket presence, situational football)
- Having explosive running ability (think of Lamar Jackson)
- Having an elite arm (throwing with great distance, great velocity, or great accuracy into very tight windows) (think of Josh Allen, John Elway, Brett Favre, Tom Brady)
- Throwing accurately while on the run or under pressure (think of prime Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen)
- Avoiding sacks really well (think Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson)
- Scrambling and extending the play
- Full knowledge and command of the playbook
- Making many audibles or play adjustments pre-snap so that they can guarantee a receiver will be open (think of Peyton Manning, sometimes Joe Burrow)
- Being consistently good against the blitz
- Being able to process the defense and find the open receiver without needing the read progression or play in an offense where receivers run option routes (think of Tom Brady)
- Avoiding turnovers extremely well (think Aaron Rodgers)
- Throwing with Anticipation (as in you know where the receiver will go and you throw it to a spot) (think of Drew Brees, Joe Burrow)
(And also just being consistent at the basic play execution things like footwork, accuracy, and throwing the ball away).
Is what makes you an elite QB.
This explains a lot.
Average QB
If you look at a lot of the “average QBs” of the past 15 years:
Ryan Tannehill, Daniel Jones, Andy Dalton, Derrick Carr, Joe Flacco
You’ll notice that they aren’t exceptional at most of the things listed above. They can generally throw accurately, but are otherwise the product of good play design, and whatever defense they play.
2000s:
Chad Pennington, Jake Plummer, Brad Johnson
2010s:
Alex Smith, Andy Dalton, Jameis Winston
2010s/2020s
Jared Goff, Daniel Jones, Sam Darnold
If they have at least 2 of the following: a strong offensive line, a very good running back, a very good receiver(s), a very good offensive scheme – the play design will be easy to execute and they will succeed.
This is because the defense will generally have a harder time taking away the primary read. They won’t be able to rush the QB, or focus on the best receiver if there are other weapons, or know what to do.
The “Good” QB
They are in between the average an elite. They generally have 1 or 2 traits of the elite, but are either not consistent enough, or they try to play like an elite QB but simply lack a trait (like lacking elite arm strength or running speed).
Think Brock Purdy, pre-Rams Matt Stafford, etc.
Below Average QBs
Below average QBs are QBs that cannot actually do the bare minimum things to execute the play.
They can’t throw on time and/or are too inaccurate for even basic easy plays. Their physical traits may be lacking too much (too short, arm too weak).
They also turn it over too much.
Notable examples: Jamarcus Russell, Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle, arguably Justin Fields
Conclusion
Play Executors are what the average NFL QB is. They are typically the QBs you see ranked between 8-22 in most years. The average QBs ranked 8-14 are what we consider “good” QBs: Jared Goff, Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins. The QBs in that 15-22 range are guys like Jacoby Prissett, down to Mitch Trubisky and Mac Jones (49ers Mac Jones; the Patriots made him look way worse). Anything below that is considered bad.
Andy Dalton is the poster boy for this archetype (hence, the “Dalton line”). He is a QB whose arm strength and accuracy was good enough to make most throws. He had some mobility to run. And as he slowly improved, he had more command of the offense (changing plays).
Teams may gamble on the strong arm QB hoping they become a backyard football QB like Elway, Favre, etc.
Some draft mobile QBs that they hope can be the next great dual-threat QB like Cam Newton.
But doing this is a gamble.
For every Elway, Favre, or Mahomes, there are a bunch of Jamarcus Russells and Zach Wilsons and Ryan Leafs.
This is why teams like drafting QBs that are good enough and look like they’ve mastered the “fundamentals” (footwork, mechanics, etc.)
Most teams draft their QBs hoping they can be good Play Executors, and hope they can graduate into Elite Play Executors. Or, if they have other special traits, can be Hybrids.
