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At this point, Patrick Mahomes is the best Quarterback in the NFL. No one has been as consistently great or has won as many Super Bowls as Patrick Mahomes (that is currently playing). Since he took over for the Kansas City Chiefs he has taken the football world by storm with his unorthodox playing style that has yet to be stopped. In this article I will be going in depth into the throwing mechanics of Patrick Mahomes and hopefully give you some clues to help you throw more like Mahomes.
What stands out when watching Patrick Mahomes play is his exceptional arm strength. Whether he is throwing across the field, finding a receiver deep or even throwing on the run. The football just flies out of his hands with tremendous accuracy and with a variety of arm angles. However, what we consistently see if a great wrist flick and a great utilization of his lower body. Here are some examples.
How You Load Determines How You Finish
When playing Quarterback it all starts with how you load the football as well as the back leg and hip. We start with a 3 step drop at the NFL combine. Where Patrick Mahomes went from a third round pick to being selected 8th overall. Notice how he loads into that back hip with a slight bend in the knee, a great arch in the foot and a healthy forward lean in the spine. This allows him to be balanced while having all of his body weight in his back leg. This is critical when it comes to transferring his weight forward and using the full moment of his lower body to deliver the throw.
Maintain A Wide Base To Improve Throwing Power
Whether you are in the pocket deciphering the defense or throwing a timing route, the base needs to be consistent. Below we can see the amount of distance between Patrick Mahomes feet as he is going through the throw. There seems to be a lot of coaches preaching to shorten the base and while I do agree that some quarterbacks over stride, especially when throwing deep. However, I see many more quarterbacks who do not have a wide enough base or simply just take too long to get their foot down on the ground which impacts the throw way more than just having a wide base. Use the best quarterback in the NFL with one of the strongest arms in Patrick Mahomes as an example as a quarterback using their base to add power to their throw.
Hip Rotation To Generate Throwing Power
Whether you are in the pocket deciphering the defense or throwing a timing route, the base needs to be consistent. Below we can see the amount of distance between Patrick Mahomes feet as he is going through the throw. There seems to be a lot of coaches preaching to shorten the base and while I do agree that some quarterbacks over stride, especially when throwing deep. However, I see many more quarterbacks who do not have a wide enough base or simply just take too long to get their foot down on the ground which impacts the throw way more than just having a wide base. Use the best quarterback in the NFL with one of the strongest arms in Patrick Mahomes as an example as a quarterback using their base to add power to their throw.
Relationship Of The Elbows When Throwing
Whether you are in the pocket deciphering the defense or throwing a timing route, the base needs to be consistent. Below we can see the amount of distance between Patrick Mahomes feet as he is going through the throw. There seems to be a lot of coaches preaching to shorten the base and while I do agree that some quarterbacks over stride, especially when throwing deep. However, I see many more quarterbacks who do not have a wide enough base or simply just take too long to get their foot down on the ground which impacts the throw way more than just having a wide base. Use the best quarterback in the NFL with one of the strongest arms in Patrick Mahomes as an example as a quarterback using their base to add power to their throw.
Patrick Mahomes’ Career and Achievements
Patrick Mahomes, the face of the Kansas City Chiefs, embarked on his NFL journey after being selected as the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Bursting onto the scene, Mahomes was quick to showcase his immense potential, earning the starting quarterback role in 2018. The young prodigy wasted no time leaving his mark, as he led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game in just his second season, a feat that signaled the arrival of a new era in Kansas City football.
With his magnetic charisma and uncanny ability to make jaw-dropping throws from seemingly impossible positions, Mahomes guided the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl victory in 50 years during the 2019 season. His Super Bowl LIV performance earned him the title of Super Bowl MVP, solidifying his status as one of the league’s premier talents. Despite his relatively short time in the league, Mahomes has already amassed a collection of accolades that most players only dream of, from Pro Bowl selections to record-breaking achievements.
Throwing Mechanics and Reputation
At the heart of Patrick Mahomes’ rise lies his unparalleled throwing mechanics, a blend of precision, innovation, and raw athleticism. His ability to effortlessly launch the football with pinpoint accuracy and incredible velocity has elevated the chiefs quarterback position to new heights. Mahomes’ throwing mechanics go beyond textbook form; they encompass an intuitive understanding of angles, timing, and momentum.
One moment that encapsulates Mahomes’ unique throwing prowess was his sensational left-handed pass during a critical game against the Denver Broncos. In a split second decision, Mahomes avoided a sack and completed a pass with his non-dominant hand, leaving spectators and analysts alike flabbergasted. It’s these calculated moves that have earned him a reputation as a game-changer, an artist with the football as his brush and the field as his canvas.
Fundamentals of Throwing Mechanics
Grip and Hand Placement
Grip and hand placement are fundamental aspects of throwing mechanics in football, and they play a crucial role in the accuracy, velocity, and overall success of a quarterback’s throws. This concept is particularly evident when analyzing quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, a prominent figure in the AFC West.
Patrick Mahomes, known for his incredible arm strength and accuracy, exemplifies the significance of proper grip and hand placement in throwing mechanics. A strong and consistent grip on the football allows the quarterback to exert maximum control over the ball’s trajectory. In Mahomes’ case, his ability to grip the football effectively enables him to generate the incredible throwing power that sets him apart.
Hand placement further refines the release and spin on the ball. When a Kansas City Chiefs quarterback like time Mahomes places his hand in the optimal position on the football, he can control the spin rate, which influences how the ball cuts through the air. This control over spin is crucial for delivering accurate passes, especially when navigating tight coverage or long distances.
Stance and Footwork
By observing the exemplary skills of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, it becomes evident how the proper stance and impeccable footwork can elevate a quarterback’s performance.
When we analyze Mahomes’ performance on the field, we can see how his stance and footwork contribute to his throwing mechanics. His stance is the foundation upon which his throw is built. By positioning his feet correctly and distributing his weight appropriately, Mahomes establishes a stable base that allows him to generate power from the ground up. This foundation enables him to transfer energy efficiently from his legs to his upper body, resulting in the velocity and accuracy of his throws.
Furthermore, Mahomes’ footwork is intertwined with his timing. His ability to time his footwork with the movements of his receivers and the progression of the play is a testament to his understanding of the game.
In the context of the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, his throwing mechanics showcase how stance and footwork play a pivotal role in a quarterback’s success. A good amount of Mahomes’ throws are made on the move or under pressure, and his adept footwork allows him to create throwing lanes and angles even in challenging situations.
