Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey shows off big arm in practices - Pioneer Press




Big arm is one of those "nice to have" QB things, I'll take it, but I don't think it has much to do with QB success overall and I think it takes an OL to even allow for those opportunities.

And someone who can catch the high velocity ball. There were many cases in the AK season where he put a lot of mustard on short throws and zipped it right through the hands of a receiver.
 




Nah...his high school receivers caught them without issue. Our guys will nab em.
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Big arm is one of those "nice to have" QB things, I'll take it, but I don't think it has much to do with QB success overall and I think it takes an OL to even allow for those opportunities.
Big arm is no good if you don't put the ball in the right place at the right time. That's where the between the ears part of QB makes a bigger difference. You can be Joe Milton who could probably throw a ball through a brick wall at 50 yards but coudn't hit the broadside of a barn in stride or you could be Drew Brees and have kinda noodle arm but put the ball on the money every time. Every NFL coach takes the noodle arm if given the choice between these two types of player.
 

Attached is clip from the athletic dept about the first week of practice. Please help me understand coaching in the 2020's a little better. The coaches are constantly speaking into cell phones or walkie talkies. Who are they talking to? My guess is other coaches. But it could also be to players who have receivers in their helmets, or are they just recording their thoughts for later? All of the above, none of the above or someone else? https://gophersports.com/news/2025/...98&pid=minnesota_email_eloqua_eloqua&rid=6768
 

Attached is clip from the athletic dept about the first week of practice. Please help me understand coaching in the 2020's a little better. The coaches are constantly speaking into cell phones or walkie talkies. Who are they talking to? My guess is other coaches. But it could also be to players who have receivers in their helmets, or are they just recording their thoughts for later? All of the above, none of the above or someone else? https://gophersports.com/news/2025/...98&pid=minnesota_email_eloqua_eloqua&rid=6768
I'm hungry for some Buca.
 

Big arm is one of those "nice to have" QB things, I'll take it, but I don't think it has much to do with QB success overall and I think it takes an OL to even allow for those opportunities.
You may remember Bobby Douglass of the Bears. He regularly registered mach 2 while throwing a screen pass. The man could carry the rock though 😂
 



Rule #3 at the Jeff Tricky quarterback school: throw the pass TO the receiver, not THROUH him. (If you don’t know who Jeff Tricky is, just goggle him ).
 

And someone who can catch the high velocity ball. There were many cases in the AK season where he put a lot of mustard on short throws and zipped it right through the hands of a receiver.
I'm going to remember the ones that were easy touch passes ... inexplicably just out of reach.

Specifically one of them.

-schedules therapy session-
 

I saw that the spiral wasn't perfect. Is there a reason to be concerned?
I’m a little concerned about Drake coming into the season. At the open practice I thought his ball was a too fluttery and his accuracy was inconsistent. Could’ve been an off practice or he just needs to knock the rust off, but it’s something I think is worth keeping an eye on.
 




And someone who can catch the high velocity ball. There were many cases in the AK season where he put a lot of mustard on short throws and zipped it right through the hands of a receiver.
You just made my Gopher PTSD reappear.:eek:
 

Big arm is no good if you don't put the ball in the right place at the right time. That's where the between the ears part of QB makes a bigger difference. You can be Joe Milton who could probably throw a ball through a brick wall at 50 yards but coudn't hit the broadside of a barn in stride or you could be Drew Brees and have kinda noodle arm but put the ball on the money every time. Every NFL coach takes the noodle arm if given the choice between these two types of player.

Agreed. Leidner had a pretty big arm but Max did not and he was less reliable when he tried to throw long. Clearly most of us who watched them both would prefer Max. Also, we haven't had much in the way of deep threats since the top 2 wideouts from 2019 left.
 
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Agreed. Leidner had a pretty big arm but Max did not and he was less reliable when he tried to throw long. Clearly most of us who watched them both would prefer Max. Also, we haven't had much in the way of deep threats since the top 2 wideouts from the 2019 left.
Yeah, being from Hutchinson, I'm very familiar with Leidner. He was a really good High School player but even in High School I didn't get the hype. Yeah, he has a canon for an arm but he didn't have much in accuracy and reading the field. But at the high school level he was dominant just because of his athleticism. Only thing that kept Hutchinson from dominating class 4A back then was Mankato West, only team that really could beat Hutch back then.
 

I’m a little concerned about Drake coming into the season. At the open practice I thought his ball was a too fluttery and his accuracy was inconsistent. Could’ve been an off practice or he just needs to knock the rust off, but it’s something I think is worth keeping an eye on.
We are going from a 5th year SR, who is known for his accuracy, to a redshirt freshman with a big arm. I would be more shocked if you said he was crazy accurate.
 

Big arm is no good if you don't put the ball in the right place at the right time. That's where the between the ears part of QB makes a bigger difference. You can be Joe Milton who could probably throw a ball through a brick wall at 50 yards but coudn't hit the broadside of a barn in stride or you could be Drew Brees and have kinda noodle arm but put the ball on the money every time. Every NFL coach takes the noodle arm if given the choice between these two types of player.
Drew Brees had above average arm strength.

And arm strength absolutely matters. Every coach will tell you it dictates the route combinations you can design and call. You also have to be able to rip it in there sometimes in tight windows. It can't be the only thing you have, but it certainly matters.
 

Drew Brees had above average arm strength.

And arm strength absolutely matters. Every coach will tell you it dictates the route combinations you can design and call. You also have to be able to rip it in there sometimes in tight windows. It can't be the only thing you have, but it certainly matters.
Yeah people think arm strength just means being able to throw 75 yard bombs but velocity matters a lot on timing patterns and not giving DBs time to close on a ball.
 

Drew Brees had above average arm strength.

And arm strength absolutely matters. Every coach will tell you it dictates the route combinations you can design and call. You also have to be able to rip it in there sometimes in tight windows. It can't be the only thing you have, but it certainly matters.
Brees had average at best arm strength. Yes, he could rifle a ball in there at 10-15 yards but just about an NFL level QB can do it at that range. And I never said arm strength didn't matter, just saying if a guy only has one of the two you would take the accurate passer over the guy with a huge arm that couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

Obviously, you want a big arm and accuracy in a perfect world. If you can throw accurately with velocity at all levels that is exactly what everyone wants. You can run any route at any depth and the ball can get to the spot at the right time.

I wasn't discounting a strong arm, just saying that a strong arm means nothing if you can't be accurate.
 

We are going from a 5th year SR, who is known for his accuracy, to a redshirt freshman with a big arm. I would be more shocked if you said he was crazy accurate.
Fair point. He is the starter though and I was hoping to see a bit more consistency. It was early in training camp and timing with receivers can take time to get down. Just something I thought was worth mentioning and to keep an eye on against Buffalo and Northwestern St.
 

Brees had average at best arm strength. Yes, he could rifle a ball in there at 10-15 yards but just about an NFL level QB can do it at that range. And I never said arm strength didn't matter, just saying if a guy only has one of the two you would take the accurate passer over the guy with a huge arm that couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

Obviously, you want a big arm and accuracy in a perfect world. If you can throw accurately with velocity at all levels that is exactly what everyone wants. You can run any route at any depth and the ball can get to the spot at the right time.

I wasn't discounting a strong arm, just saying that a strong arm means nothing if you can't be accurate.
I think Brees got that rep because he was short, but I remember that idea being disproved over time and he was eventually thought of as having a strong arm.

There is a number of other articles but I added a link to a rating(not official) in his prime.

 

Yeah, being from Hutchinson, I'm very familiar with Leidner. He was a really good High School player but even in High School I didn't get the hype. Yeah, he has a canon for an arm but he didn't have much in accuracy and reading the field. But at the high school level he was dominant just because of his athleticism. Only thing that kept Hutchinson from dominating class 4A back then was Mankato West, only team that really could beat Hutch back then.
Leidner played for Lakeville South.
 





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