Ehlinger

[Oldcolt]

Zac Keefer had a section about Ehlinger in the Athletic and his work with House-the qb guru. I just liked how the guy answered the question, an insight into the dudes mind:

A tenet of Ehlinger’s offseason training was spent on the west coast, where he worked with famed QB guru Tom House for the first time. One aim: improve his velocity.

When I asked how, Ehlinger took me into the world of Tom House.

“There’s three elements,” he began. “Torque, from lower body to upper body. Functional fitness, which is the way your shoulder’s shaped, including all the rotator cuff muscles — scapula, sub scapula, all of those things. And the last element is ground force, the way you use the ground to use that power from your feet.

“You watch the best do it, you watch Tom (Brady), you watch Drew (Brees), you watch Matt (Ryan), they all use the ground really well. It’s all hips first.”

And here’s where it really gets interesting.

“I’ve been restructuring the shoulders. It’s not just muscles, it’s nerves. I have to rewire my neurological wiring, the pathways in my brain. When I say throw, what triggers? Because my pathway, it’s been so consistent for so long, if I want to change that, if I want to change my mechanical signature, I have to rep it over and over because I’m not just training the muscles. I’m training the nerves. I’m training the nerves so that when my body says throw, there is a kinetic sequence from the ground up to maximize all of that and have optimal velocity.”

Ehlinger said the process would take a few years, but when I asked if he’s already felt improvements, he nodded.

“I call tell when the ball leaves my hand,” he said. “It’s spinning better. But this is not something that’s finished. I’m just scratching the surface.”

[omahacolt]

could be a good backup for years in the league

[Racehorse]

could be a good backup for years in the league

He will never be as good as Sorgi was.

[YDFL Commish]

He will never be as good as Sorgi was.

He's already better than Sorgi ever was.

[smitty46953]

He's already better than Sorgi ever was.

Sorgi had quite the gig holding a clipboard all those years. :cool:

[Thorgrim]

Sorgi had quite the gig holding a clipboard all those years. :cool:

I've never seen anyone flip pages with the accuracy Sorgi did.

[Lov2fish]

I've never seen anyone flip pages with the accuracy Sorgi did.

Fastest fingers in the NFL. Stick-Um? We will never know!

[Racehorse]

He's already better than Sorgi ever was.
Sorry, it was a joke.

[JAFF]

Sorry, it was a joke.

Im laughing

[rcubed]

The look on sorgi’s face when manning told him to “get ready” in the afccg when manning hurt his thumb……

[Hoopsdoc]

could be a good backup for years in the league

He’s been impressive. Accuracy and pocket presence really stand out with him.

[Dam8610]

He’s been impressive. Accuracy and pocket presence really stand out with him.

The downside on Ehlinger was always his arm. If he can improve his arm strength, he could be a quality backup or maybe even a low tier starter someday.

[Oldcolt]

If he improves his arm as much next year as this year he could be a top tier qb. His accuracy looks much better also. It will be interesting to see if he makes the 53. If he does I think the Colts brass thinks his upside is pretty high.

[Butter]

If he improves his arm as much next year as this year he could be a top tier qb. His accuracy looks much better also. It will be interesting to see if he makes the 53. If he does I think the Colts brass thinks his upside is pretty high.

Slow your roll the odds of him ever being a quality starter are low let alone top tier. His ceiling is probably quality backup.

[Oldcolt]

Slow your roll the odds of him ever being a quality starter are low let alone top tier. His ceiling is probably quality backup.

I agree that is the smart call. But you never know which is one thing I like about sports.

[Oldcolt]

Do you think Ehlinger makes the final 53? I will say yes. My opinion of the guy has done a 180. Last year I didn't think he was physically able to play the position in the NFL. You don't need a gun to play QB in the NFL (Montana, Brady, Starr and Unitas didn't have the strongest arms but were more than able to compensate with their mental approach) but you do need a 'head'. This guy has the head according to everyone. Last year his arm was weak and inaccurate. He has improved both over one preseason. As we well know, finding a QB is a bitch in the NFL. You cannot afford to let one, even one with as long a shot at Ehlinger, slip through your fingers. I have no idea what his upside is, neither does anyone else on this board. His upside was miserable because of his arm. If he can improve accuracy as well as strength we just might have a gem. Ballard kept Patmon on the 53 for several years and he added absolutely zilch (one great TD I know) to this offense. I think he keeps Ehlinger. I don't have rose colored glasses, I know it is a long shot. I would say that us drafting a sure thing at QB is even a longer shot considering where we will usually
be drafting.

[Ironshaft]

A couple of thoughts:

A. While fun, we as fans have zero idea if Elhlinger is being effective running THE PLAY CALLED or not. We can talk about what we see with our eyes but we have zero idea if he is doing what the coaches want him to be doing. The NFL is littered with QB names who appeared to be effective to the fans but were given their walking papers by the coaching staff. Temper your expectations until you hear the coaches raving about him.

B. We know what Foles brings to the table which is....honestly not a ton. Except for one shining post season, he is a low, low end starting NFL QB or a fairly high backup. While there is value in that on an NFL roster, don't expect him to "save" the season if Ryan goes down.

C. I just talked to a co-worker who is a Seahags fan who was ranting about trading away a top ten QB and I agreed with him. The NFL is chock full of QBs who are good enough to round out a roster because they are better than the rest but are not really good enough to drive a football team. Foles is one of those guys.

D. So, if you don't think Foles can "save" the season, then it makes sense to me to gamble on carrying the young guy if you think he has potential as the backup then carrying the veteran who you know cannot cut it.

In the end, I hope Ehlinger can force a conversation about who should be backup because it is always exciting for a team to find a diamond in the late rounds of the draft. At QB? That happens in only a blue moon.

[Hoopsdoc]

Ehlinger won’t be the backup this season but I also don’t think they’ll risk losing him by trying to get him on the PS.

I think they’ll carry 3 quarterbacks.

[Discflinger]

I think I need to see more of him this Saturday.

[CletusPyle]

Ehlinger won’t be the backup this season but I also don’t think they’ll risk losing him by trying to get him on the PS.

I think they’ll carry 3 quarterbacks.

He's gone if he goes on the practice squad, no way he clears waivers. I'd say there are a half dozen teams that would take a chance on him. JMHO

[rcubed]

Are we really that scared of losing a six round draft pick who is a 3rd string QB?

[Racehorse]

Are we really that scared of losing a six round draft pick who is a 3rd string QB?

I think the worry is that Ryan is close to done. Foles is not the Foles of 2017, and we have nobody waiting in the wings but Sam.

[MeSayDayo]

Do you think Ehlinger makes the final 53? I will say yes. My opinion of the guy has done a 180. Last year I didn't think he was physically able to play the position in the NFL. You don't need a gun to play QB in the NFL (Montana, Brady, Starr and Unitas didn't have the strongest arms but were more than able to compensate with their mental approach) but you do need a 'head'. This guy has the head according to everyone. Last year his arm was weak and inaccurate. He has improved both over one preseason. As we well know, finding a QB is a bitch in the NFL. You cannot afford to let one, even one with as long a shot at Ehlinger, slip through your fingers. I have no idea what his upside is, neither does anyone else on this board. His upside was miserable because of his arm. If he can improve accuracy as well as strength we just might have a gem. Ballard kept Patmon on the 53 for several years and he added absolutely zilch (one great TD I know) to this offense. I think he keeps Ehlinger. I don't have rose colored glasses, I know it is a long shot. I would say that us drafting a sure thing at QB is even a longer shot considering where we will usually
be drafting.

It is impressive what an offseason with Tom House (https://fox59.com/sports/colts/colts-sam-ehlinger-working-with-tom-house-playing-long-game-in-improving-as-qb/) can do for a young player with quality intangibles. Yes, his arm may not have been great coming in, and he does not have the ideal size for an NFL QB- but his ability to learn, read, react and adapt is of a first round talent. Cerebral talent has obviously gotten him to this point. He even looks faster and stronger and more succinct on the field.
The question now is will he get enough of an opportunity to show what he can do? Will that be with the Colts, since by the time Ryan retires, Sam will done his rookie deal. Is what we are seeing with second stringers closer to Sam's ceiling potential? We don't know, and we likely wont unless Sam plays with starters in a meaningful game. Im not saying we should start him and find out, but rather we may never truly find out until his rookie deal expires. Pre-season aint live bullets, folks.
Ballard has always said that you have to keep swinging with QB's. Sam essentially won out over Eason and is still here- for a 6th rounder-and is clearly improving. All signs point to him staying, as CB clearly needs his cupboard stocked with both young drafted talent and game ready vets in more a win now mentality.
If Ryan is not really that good this year, I guarantee he will start looking very closely at Ehlinger and Foles will be gone next year either way. Ryan plays out his final year and we either give the keys to Sam or draft that guy. Sounds simple huh?

[JAFF]

I think the worry is that Ryan is close to done. Foles is not the Foles of 2017, and we have nobody waiting in the wings but Sam.

Most teams dont. If you have a really good QB, and he is not on his rookie contract, spending money on another starter quality Qb, puts a dent in the cap. Free agency makes it harder. A good Qb wont sit behind a starter if he can get his own starting job by leaving as a free agent.

The Packers were lucky when Aaron Rodgers free fell in the draft. People thought the Packers were crazy, they had Faurve. It was a perfect situation.

Luck retiring before the beginning of the season really screwed the Colts. They have been playing catch up ever since. If there is a Qb they like in the up comming draft, they need to made a deal and get him. Do it now, they have Ryan and that gives them some time work with a young athelete

[Ironshaft]

He's gone if he goes on the practice squad, no way he clears waivers. I'd say there are a half dozen teams that would take a chance on him. JMHO
I would agree.

We either need to keep him on the 53 or we will not have him.

While I would prefer to not carry 3 QBs with how durable Ryan has shown himself to be over his career, I would do so in a heartbeat if I think this kid can continue to improve.

Jacoby Brissett's issue was never physical; it all had to do with the six inches between his ears. If you can find someone who has that "it" factor mentally? You take the time to develop his physical to match it.

[Hoopsdoc]

He's gone if he goes on the practice squad, no way he clears waivers. I'd say there are a half dozen teams that would take a chance on him. JMHO

I don’t know. It depends on a lot of things.

I haven’t yet seen him make a play from the pocket. He always rolls out. That won’t fly if teams are game planning for him.

I’m not saying he can’t do it, just that I haven’t seen him do it.

[Brylok]

Some folks over on dotcom have turned him into another Chad Kelly. Fighting among themselves over Ehlinger. Morons.

[Racehorse]

Most teams dont. If you have a really good QB, and he is not on his rookie contract, spending money on another starter quality Qb, puts a dent in the cap. Free agency makes it harder. A good Qb wont sit behind a starter if he can get his own starting job by leaving as a free agent.

The Packers were lucky when Aaron Rodgers free fell in the draft. People thought the Packers were crazy, they had Faurve. It was a perfect situation.

Luck retiring before the beginning of the season really screwed the Colts. They have been playing catch up ever since. If there is a Qb they like in the up comming draft, they need to made a deal and get him. Do it now, they have Ryan and that gives them some time work with a young athelete

Most teams don't what? I am not sure how your post is in response to mine.

[JAFF]

Most teams don't what? I am not sure how your post is in response to mine.

Have someone waiting in the wings. Rodgers in GB waited 5 years behind Faurve? Colts now have 5th new starting Qb in 5 years. In the cap area, how do you pay 2 guys like starting Qbs and sit one

[MeSayDayo]

Have someone waiting in the wings. Rodgers in GB waited 5 years behind Faurve? Colts now have 5th new starting Qb in 5 years. In the cap area, how do you pay 2 guys like starting Qbs and sit one

We did it in 2019 and 2020. We carried Luck and(Eventually that season) Jacoby at a total of approx 45 million.

Same deal the next season, where we opted to keep Jacoby and Rivers.

I am not saying that it's ideal, or that our team found themselves in that situation on purpose, but it can be done. It usually requires the rest of our roster to be very young, and ours was

[Oldcolt]

Len Dawson passed away. Great QB he had all the intangibles. Didn't have a gun for an arm but was accurate. One of the coolest pictures in the NFL is this guy smoking at halftime of Super Bowl one. It has been reported he was having a beer but as you can see it was a Fresca.


https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/just-because-len-dawson-enjoys-a-sweet-cig-during-super-bowl-i/