Dual Threat Quarterbacks/Sheriff Andy Taylor

So-called “dual threat quarterbacks” are often fools’ gold. For today, I'll focus on just 1 reason.

Dual threat QBs are awesome in theory. The idea that a team’s QB can be equally adept w/arm and his legs is appealing. With his legs, he can get out of trouble and make big plays against defenses who can’t account for his running prowess.

AWESOME in youth football.

GREAT in high school football.

VERY WELL at times in college.

With rare exceptions, it doesn’t work that great in the NFL and high level college games.

Why?

In practice, dual threat QBs at higher levels face many more similar athletes who neutralize that athletic advantage - and they often don’t have other skill sets developed enough to rely on.

Rather than processing though read progressions, they run if the 1st read isn’t open. They also often don’t adequately develop throwing accuracy.

(Btw, accuracy is not measured by completion percentage in modern football; it IS measured by ball placement in making difficult throws downfield. I’m not impressed if you complete 8/10 quick screens to a wide-open receiver standing 5 yards away from you).

Ironically, dual threat QBs are often one-dimensional.

How does this relate to Sheriff Andy Taylor from the Andy Griffith Show?

When I train police, I often use a slide in my presentation with a split screen picture of Sheriff Andy Taylor on the left and Rambo on the right.

“Sheriff Andy plays much better to juries than Rambo.”

This is huge. A jury who believes police have been fair, impartial, kind, honest, and under control gives more credence to both their testimony and my arguments…

There is a time to be both, for sure. I think the need to be Andy occurs far more often than the need to be Rambo. The idea of Rambo is attractive and cathartic on the surface; the reality is sometimes not great in practice and in the courtroom.

One of my favorite DEA agents of all time -- and probably the best witness on the stand I've ever seen -- did not regularly carry a firearm on him, unless it was for a specific op that called for it.

Just like Andy.

He was a master at de-escalation. Sympathetic, empathetic, and kind. But he was also smart, firm and realistic. Absolutely untouchable when he testified.

It's easy to instinctively react with force when you're authorized to do so. And there are times when it's necessary. I tell police, "Protect yourself. I'd rather see you go home at night and lose some evidence than get perfect evidence and go to your funeral."

That said, like Andy, it's vital to develop people skills, because they can make you safer (and a better witness) than defaulting to force.

Don't merely rely on instinct. Learn and grow into an authentic dual threat.