Matthew Stafford reveals secret behind throws few NFL QBs can make

Matthew Stafford has spent most of his NFL career making the impossible look annoyingly routine. No-look passes.Sidearm.

Three-quarter.Off-platform.

Throwing around a defensive lineman rather than over him. If you took away his uniform, pads and helmet — and just watched his throwing arm — you would think the Rams quarterback looked more like an MLB shortstop than the reigning NFL MVP.  The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story But after nearly two decades of contorting his right arm into whatever position necessary to deliver a football, Stafford revealed on Thursday that there’s a method behind the madness. “For me, it’s about not giving the defense a second look,” said Stafford when asked about how and why he’s able to change his arm angle.

“Sometimes it’s just about getting it to a running back or getting it to a checkdown.”A defender flashing into the throwing lane can turn a routine completion into a tipped ball.So Stafford adjusts on the fly, dropping his arm and changing the release point to navigate around potential obstruction. “Not to say it always happens, but those are the kind of little throws where I think [the] average fan probably watches and just goes, “Oh, you know, there’s a checkdown for 4 yards to the running back,” Stafford said.

“But maybe that ball gets batted down or, you know, you don’t even get the chance to throw it with a D-lineman in your face.” Stafford has also become the prototype for no-look passes in the NFL.His most famous one came on the final drive in the Super Bowl that helped deliver the Rams the Lombardi Trophy.

Once again, Stafford acts instinctively, knowing that the secondary is reading his eyes to try to jump a route. “That’s where I feel like they come from,” Stafford said....