The GOAT is back in the NFL, and he’s giving advice to rookies. Joe Montana has been a mentor for many young NFL quarterbacks, including Tom Brady, who famously idolized Montana growing up.
Joe Montana Gives Rookie Quarterbacks and Brady Some GOAT Advice
College, according to “Joe Cool,” produces quarterbacks who are more concerned with systems than with defenses.
Sports
Joe Cool, Joe Montana, the real Greatest of All-Time, was interviewed by USA Today on Tom Brady and rookie quarterback training in today’s game.
Montana discussed the current generation of quarterbacks’ lack of mental preparation, implying that their college institutions are doing them no favors. They are, in fact, pampered by systems that have produced stars in the NCAA but not in the pros (see Tim Tebow, JaMarcus Russell, and about two-thirds of every draft class).
“Everyone wants to play right away as a rookie, and you always believe you’re ready.” “A lot depends on how sophisticated the attack is,” the 49ers great said. “Having what it takes for that, because I believe a lot of these kids you’ll see in college will glance to the sideline all of a sudden and [their] teammates will say, ‘Why are you staring over there?’” To break it down, the NFL has a learning curve, and college football’s system-based offenses create cogs that are replaced every few years, but the coaches, who build championship-caliber systems, stay.
First-year pivots have a shelf life and it’s a do-or-die game, according to the four-time Superbowl champion. Without a developed on-field ability to souse out the opposing defense and their adjustments, or call their own number and wander away from the coaches’ calls, first-year pivots have a shelf life and it’s a do-or-die game, according to the four-time Superbowl champion. Montana, speaking directly to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ early-season difficulties and their first-overall selection at quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, added, “But they’re telling him everything.” They’re telling him where the defense is and where he should throw the ball. Instead of teaching students how to do it themselves, they are providing them all of the knowledge. Once they go to the NFL, they are the players that suffer.” The Notre Dame product contains absolute facts.
Joe was questioned about Tom Brady’s future possibilities in the same interview, particularly how much longer he can play at such a high level. Montana was asked whether he would have been able to play until he was 50 if he had begun his career in the early 2000s, as Brady recently said. “Yeah, they don’t even touch him,” Joe said emphatically. He doesn’t get struck very often. So he may play till he’s 60 years old. It’s always been about the physical aspect of it: how long can you take it? You just don’t take such huge blows anymore, given the current regulations. On rare occasions, he is struck, but it is never by one of those 300-pounders who crushes you to the ground. They made it illegal to do it, and they don’t do it anymore.”
That seems to be a self-evident observation. Who’s to say Brady can’t play for as long as he wants if he can remain upright – and, as Tom’s boyhood hero points out, he has a strong team behind him? It’s a pity Montana didn’t have that luxury while he was on the field. There isn’t the same degree of referee protection, and the defensive game has been neutered to such an extent since the 1980s and 1990s that it is barely recognizable. Furthermore, Lawrence Taylor will not be present to break a leg or two.