Chiefs Film Room: Kevin Hogan Is An Andy Reid QB

There are a few other positive aspects of Hogan’s game that bode well for his backup quarterback prospects. One thing that’s instantly noticeable when you turn on the tape is his willingness to stand tall in the face of pressure and keep his eyes downfield:

Hogan does an absolutely fantastic job of climbing the pocket here while keeping his eyes downfield the whole time. It’s fairly common to see quarterbacks get moved off their spot, drop their eyes, and proceed to tuck and run.

Even when forced to move, Hogan is usually looking to get the ball downfield. He also ends up taking a hit at the end of this throw, but you’ll notice it doesn’t affect Hogan’s delivery of the pass. He stands in there, makes the pass he wants to, and absorbs the hit like a champ.

But what about when it comes to, you know, actually throwing the ball? Well, Hogan put some passes on tape that showcase everything you’d want in a quarterback.

For a guy scouts say has trouble with throwing the deep ball, Hogan sure did have a lot of dimes like this one. The trajectory and power behind this throw is perfect, and the result is a deep ball which hits the receiver in stride right on his hands.

Now, other than the fact the receiver runs right by two defenders, the other thing to takeaway here is that Hogan is given time and space to unleash this throw. That was a common component in Hogan’s deep ball.

Probably my favorite part of Hogan’s game, and why I believe he is a legitimate option for the number two spot in his rookie season, is his ability to throw with anticipation. Hitting your playmakers in stride and throwing the ball to the spot they are going to be, not where they are, is a key component of the west coast offense. Hogan did this time and time again on tape.

The USC throw above is the best throw I saw Hogan make in the four games I watched of his. First, he utilizes the space his offensive line gives him and steps up in the pocket, allowing him to put a little more into the throw. Second, the trajectory of the ball puts it just out of reach of the underneath defender, but not so high that receiver has to extend himself for it.

Finally, the placement ensures the receiver does not have to slow down one bit, while at the same time, not giving the safety crashing down a chance to catch up and make a play on the ball. That’s a big time throw right there, and one you can bet Andy Reid took note of when scouting Hogan.

From what you’ve seen so far, you may be thinking, “well if he’s this good, how did he we get him in the fifth round?” A fair question no doubt, and the biggest issue that caused Hogan to be a late round pick is his consistency – or lack thereof.

Next: So, what are the issues?