For Fitz, fix is simple

"Make the throw," he said. "Part of it was throwing it off my back foot and just not stepping into it getting out there. I can make that throw off my back foot as well though. It’s just not making the throw. Unfortunately it happened twice and it’s something that I have to address, fix and not (let) happen again."

7 months ago J2 25 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Good man, Fitz…though we’ve known about your footwork issues for years. Why haven’t you?

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Oct 18, 2011 12:15 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Im sure he’s aware of the footwork issues and Im sure he’s spent time and effort to improve them. Its just a matter of him being inconsistent in the footwork department and that inconsistency reared its ugly head to the tune of 2 INTs this weekend. Obviously, he still has some work to do to make good footwork an every-down habit.

STAN UP MY BUFFALO NATION OUR DESTINY AWAITS AND WE WILL GO TO THE END OF THE LAND AND FIGHT FOR ALL THATS BEEN DENIED TO US - abayarde, who else?

by kfisk214 on Oct 18, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I realize. However, he’s saying it’s an “easy fix” and my point is, no, it’s not, or it would have been done already.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Oct 18, 2011 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

So if he corrected it then he would be perfect every single time right? C’mon man. He is human. He isn’t a machine.

by AP22 on Oct 18, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

He isn’t a machine? I’m shocked.

Look, it happens often. People comment all the time on this blog about his footwork. I personally think it’s the one thing that stops him from being considerably more consistent. We can’t downplay the importance of footwork in a QB. It happens too much, regardless of Fitz’s robotic ancestry.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Oct 18, 2011 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

True, however

He made the SAME mistake twice and both times resulting in an interception which cost us the game.

"Being a Bills Fan is a Tough Job for Tough People…" – Luther6

by Montel on Oct 19, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Sometimes some fixes are put aside in favor of other more necessary fixes. Now it’s time to more fully address that fix.

Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin. -- stetzwebs
No one circles the waiver wire like the Buffalo Bills!

by thefourwinds on Oct 18, 2011 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I know…it just seems to me to be the major factor stopping him from being consistently good. He makes a couple of wildly bad throws a game, and in almost all of them, his footwork is off.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Oct 18, 2011 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Fixated

Sounds a little fixated on fixing a player that needs alot of fixing! Get a QB soon wll truly fix what ails Bill’s!! Love Fitz’s role as a back-up not a starter!

by buffalobacker on Oct 20, 2011 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

more than footwork

Fitz has a lot of trouble gauging the distance on fade routes. One sees that in the bucket drill in training camp where he is always by far the worst of the Bills QB’s in getting the ball into the targeted garbage can. Footwork is not the issue on those bad practice throws — he has plenty of time to get his feet set, and is under no pressure. What seems to be lacking is the hand-eye coordination when the ball has to go high in the air. Perhaps he should not be asked to make that kind of throw when the game is on the line.

by Macktruck on Oct 18, 2011 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

I call bull. He made those throws against the Ravens and the Raiders. And that is just off the top of my head. Oh and how is that bucket drill working for Thigpen?

by AP22 on Oct 18, 2011 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Sure he has made those throws, but I suspect this is a problem for Fitz. All QB’s have areas of weakness and this is his. He is still a MUCH better QB than Thigpen, but Thigpen did drop the ball in the bucket a few times. Levi Brown was the best of all at that drill. That does not mean for one second that I want Levi as our QB.

by Macktruck on Oct 18, 2011 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you’re missing the main point AP – nobody is saying he can’t make those throws – I think we all agree that he definitely can make them… what we’re saying is that he doesn’t make them consistently, and that his footwork is the main reason for that inconsistency…

by JustAskTheAxis on Oct 19, 2011 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

There were quite a few last season where he would over throw Stevie.

This season is the under throw. Then prior to last season there was some level of success with TO. I tend to agree with the hand eye thing more than anything else, but I would add that in order to master this you should get your foot work correct each time before mastering the hand eye thing. Repetition with the foot work and hitting the bucket/barrel.

Also, last season and the TO season (one before) it seemed that Fitz would put more air under the ball and drop it over the receiver away from the beaten defender. This season it seems there is less air under the ball, inconsistent foot work and the hand/eye thing. I would bet that Coach Cortez and Fitz will be studying this even in this vacation period before the team resumes workouts.

Just another note. Many teams, not all, but many have a receiver that play the defender away from the ball to help with the catch. I don’t see any of our receivers with this ability.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Oct 18, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d prefer he overthrow every one…less of a chance of an INT…

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Oct 18, 2011 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Agreed — it’s better to overthrow on fades (unless there is a Safety over the top).

by Macktruck on Oct 18, 2011 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Presumably Fitz is only throwing it in the first place because Stevie (or someone) has beaten the coverage.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Oct 19, 2011 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions

im gunna look at fitzy as a rookie from the time he has been with Chan

He has improved so much the past two years and i expect him to continue

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Oct 18, 2011 8:59 PM EDT reply actions

but he’s not a rookie – he’s been in the NFL for 6 years now and still hasn’t corrected these glaring weaknesses

by JustAskTheAxis on Oct 19, 2011 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

and started 1

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Oct 19, 2011 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions

AHHH

Chan’s game plan has improved Fitz, Fitz would be 2nd string on any other team, IMHO without Chan Fitz rides the pine. You said it since Chan Fitz has been good, thats no coincidence sir.

by buffalobacker on Oct 20, 2011 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s been in the league long enough that heshould do self correction on the footwork.

"Being a Bills Fan is a Tough Job for Tough People…" – Luther6

by Montel on Oct 19, 2011 2:55 PM EDT reply actions

mechanics

Joe Montana worked on mechanics all the time before and after practice, this must be worked on 3 times a week minimum to break bad muscle memory .back foot to front foot weight distribution and pointing the front shoulder at target and rotating hips and shoulders forward following through and finishing on front foot. (ex baseball pitcher,and coach)

by D. P. on Oct 20, 2011 4:32 PM EDT reply actions

Simple Fix

Stop throwing picks, picks that cost games. Not that easy except for elite QB’s IE “franchise qb’s”. Why is this so hard? Fitz may be a Harvard grad but that doesn’t mean he can complete passes . It’s a mental/physical game, being smart helps but it isn’t gonna win games on the field in its self. Go bills, get a franchise QB soon plz!!!

by buffalobacker on Oct 20, 2011 11:14 PM EDT reply actions