Originally posted by dtg_9er:
Originally posted by BOI49er:
Bill Walsh's most important quality in a quarterback was "athletic instincts". He was never specific about what that entailed, but several of the things we talk about Kaepernick do come to mind.
Would you include getting your feet set properly before you throw? Pocket movements? Receiver anticipation? Blitz anticipation? Reading the defense to make a pre snap decision to hit a receiver in 1.5 seconds? Putting the right amount of touch on the ball for the situation? Changing the order of your progressions based on defensive line ups, or pre snap movements? Keeping your eyes downfield to make a pass play work as long as possible. Making consistently good game situation decisions? Going through progressions quickly? Throwing receivers open? Making changes to your plan accurately and quickly?
I submit this was Bill's number one criteria because it's something you must bring to the table, as you can't really teach it. You can improve the symptoms to some extent, but you can't treat the underlying problem.
You mention about a dozen things and then paraphrase Walsh saying it's his number one criteria. 
My recollection is that Walsh said he could teach foot placement, drops, ball placement...all the skills of a great QB. What he couldn't teach is the heart. He watched Montana's comebacks at ND and new he had the heart to win...just needed to learn and develop his skills. That's why he started every mini-camp with fundamentals re-training...three step drop, five step drop, vision discipline to keep DBs from reading your eyes, etc.
Did I misunderstand your post?
No, that's a fair take, but it's not my take.
Walsh Said athletic instincts was his number one criteria. I wasn't paraphrasing.
Walsh Did stress fundamentals. He taught three, five, and seven step drops, with a plant and throw, a plant and one hitch and throw, or a plant and two or even three hitch steps and throw, all timed to the receiver's route to achieve the proper timing to throw on the break. I don't see where we are that precise. He also insisted on accuracy. He drove OC Holmgren nuts for complaining on misplacement of a ball easily caught, because he wanted that ball in a one foot box to facilitate ROC. I don't see where we are doing that.
Here's the deal. After working with Warner, I do see Kaepernick moving his forward foot toward his target on his first read, and then his second, and (yes I have seen Kaepernick get to a third read) then go to a totally open stance when he actually throws the ball, inaccurately and without the necessary power if outside the numbers. That's athletic instincts. Don't throw the damned ball if it's a tight window or a throw that needs power if you can't, won't, or don't set your base. When under pressure, even if it's unjustified perceived pressure and his first read, Kaepernick loses his fundamentals (read poise), and you can't teach that. That's athletic instincts.
Yes, Walsh Did value heart very highly, but clearly that stands alone. I don't see by any logic that that can be included in "athletic instincts".
And yes, I did suggest a dozen things that could be considered in "athletic instincts", and all of them open to scrutiny re Kaepernick, and you've only responded to one.
