Scouting Your Opponents Quarterback

Scouting an opponent’s quarterback is crucial in developing a game plan, as the quarterback often represents the most important player on the field. Here are what four accomplished coaches view as the key elements in scouting the opposition QB.     For Warren Maloney, defensive coordinator at University of Saint Francis, an NAIA school in Fort Wayne, Ind., the first question is whether the quarterback is the one who makes the offense go. “We like to see whether the guy makes big plays,” Maloney said. “Is he the catalyst in his offense? Sometimes it’s not the quarterback who’s the big playmaker.”     If the quarterback is indeed the man who makes things happen on offense, the next step is figuring out exactly what his strengths are, Maloney said. “It’s not necessarily his raw passing ability,” he pointed out. “Sometimes it’s a guy who avoids bad situations.