Question about QB throwing mechanics

I have seen this in a couple of places - QB's being criticized for "patting the ball" as they go back to pass. Anybody know why this is considered a bad habit?

I am with you JoeRedskin, I don't really care what a QB's quirks are as long as they throw accurate passes. I guess some would say "patting the ball" slows down a QB's delivery, or tips the defense off to something, but I think making a bad decision, like throwing an INT is much worse.

Increases the time it takes the QB to relase the ball

I figured they were going through their progressions, looking the field over.

Elway did it all the time, I don't see what the big deal is either.

It's sort of like a rhythm thing in my opinion.

From what I understand "patting the ball" is often a tell-tale sign that the QB is about to release the ball so it gives the defender (of the intended target) that extra second needed to break on the pass and get the pick

From what I understand "patting the ball" is often a tell-tale sign that the QB is about to release the ball so it gives the defender (of the intended target) that extra second needed to break on the pass and get the pick

Bingo.

It would be interesting to see if there is a difference between the throws when the ball is "patted" as opposed to when the QB just drops back, cocks the arm and fires. Is there a difference in velocity or accuracy, or a difference in how quickly the defense breaks to the ball? Look for it in the game on Friday evening. Both of our QB's are ball patters.

Patting the ball is irrelevant to throwing mechanic's, no different than a baseball player moving, or waving his bat, as Matty said it's nothing more than a rhythm thing, a QB once he spots his target needs to be prepared to throw the ball, patting the ball allows the QB to continually reset his mechanics.

If a defender reacted to a ball pat he's in a lot of trouble because a ball pat is not a tip on where the ball is going, QB's very often can, and will, pat the ball looking one way and then throwing somewhere else.

Ramsey's problem mechanic wise has nothing to do with a ball pat, it's his footwork, his happy feet in the pocket right now are sometimes inhibiting his throwing mechanics, which means he's not planting and pushing of his back foot and following through with his throws, he's basically just using his arm without the rest of his body, Rypien before his super bowl year used to have a bad habit throwing while he was falling backwards, he to was afraid of the rush, not until the line created a ton of time and a huge pocket for him to throw did he finally excel, something about the structure of Gibbs passing game really scares QB's.

Personally I would have him dropping back a little further on pass play's which hopefully give him a little more confidence in stepping up into the pocket, as well as seeing and reading the defense a little better, that's why I kind of like the shotgun for Ramsey, we have to find a comfort spot for him as soon as possible, he has the talent, but he's still struggling to master Gibbs offense.

Nice explanation, offiss. I agree with your assessment.