by Patrick Mahomes’ Incredible Vision
Patrick Mahomes is widely regarded as one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. At just 26 years old, he has already accomplished so much in his young career, including a Super Bowl championship and MVP award. While Mahomes is known for his rocket arm and playmaking ability, a key part of his game that often goes unnoticed is his incredible vision and use of his eyes. Through pre-snap deception, hypnotizing defenders, extending plays, and reading defenses, Mahomes is a master of manipulating opponents with his gaze. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways he uses his eyes to dominate on the field.
Pre-Snap Deception
Mahomes is a wizard when it comes to using subtle eye movement and body language before the snap to deceive defenses. Even though offensive and defensive coordinators pore over game film to pick up on tendencies, Mahomes is still able to trick opponents into thinking the ball is going somewhere it’s not. One way he does this is by looking one way while actually intending to throw elsewhere. He might give a quick glance towards a receiver on one side of the field to hold the attention of a defender, only to throw to an open man on the other side at the last second.
This pre-snap misdirection throws off coverage assignments and creates confusion in the secondary. Defenders might commit to covering the wrong man, leaving a receiver one-on-one against weaker opposition. It also buys Mahomes’ intended targets extra time to get open as the defense scrambles to adjust. Film study can only reveal so much – Mahomes understands the value of changing things up before the play even starts through subtle eye movements. With his ability to manipulate defenders pre-snap, he gains an immediate advantage on most plays.
Hypnotizing the Defense
Once the ball is snapped, Mahomes locks in with laser focus on his progressions. Where he chooses to focus his gaze can hypnotize opposing defenders into believing that’s where the ball is going. With his intense stare and body language, Mahomes sells fakeouts better than any other quarterback. He might hold his eyes on one receiver for what feels like an eternity for a defender, making them commit fully to covering that man.
But in the split second before releasing the ball, Mahomes’ eyes smoothly transfer to another open target. The hesitation this causes, even if just for a moment, allows his intended target to gain the slight separation needed on a tight coverage. It’s like Mahomes puts defenders in a trance with his eyes, making them believe one thing while setting up something else entirely. This ability to hypnotize with his gaze creates instant one-on-one matchups elsewhere on the field. It’s a subtle yet hugely impactful part of Mahomes’ game that keeps defenses constantly on their toes.
Extending Plays
In addition to deceiving opponents with his eyes pre-snap and during progressions, Mahomes has a rare gift for keeping his vision downfield even when scrambling outside the pocket under pressure. His pocket awareness and elusiveness allow him to extend so many plays that seem doomed, as he buys time rolling around while scanning the entire field. Rather than panicking when his initial read isn’t open, Mahomes patiently searches with his eyes, all while continuing to move laterally to avoid sacks.
This composure and downfield vision is what makes Mahomes such a lethal scrambler. Even when on the run far outside the tackle box, he can locate open receivers and thread tight-window passes. It’s a testament to his incredible processing speed and awareness that he doesn’t just take off running when pressure comes. Mahomes wants to pass first and uses his eyes to find throwing lanes, even in the most broken-down scenarios. This ability to keep plays alive with his vision and extend them into big gains is a defining part of his game.
Reading Defensive Tendencies
In addition to manipulating defenders with his eyes, Mahomes is a master at using his vision to simply read and exploit opposing schemes. By studying film, he picks up on subtle tendencies, alignments, and tells from defenses. Then in games, Mahomes will use subtle eye movements pre-snap or during plays to bait certain reactions. He might hold his gaze on a linebacker or safety, waiting for them to bite on a play fake or run the wrong way.
This opens up passing lanes he can immediately recognize with his peripheral vision. Mahomes understands defenses so well that he knows how to manipulate them into leaving voids just by where he focuses his eyes. Another way he reads defenses is by identifying leverage and spacing between defenders. A quick glance may reveal an open throwing window he can exploit before it closes. Mahomes’ football IQ and vision work in tandem, as he processes information in real time to dissect coverages.
The Next Level
As incredible as Mahomes already is, he continues finding new ways to elevate his game with his eyes. In his third season in 2020, Mahomes took his vision and pre-snap recognition to an even higher level. He began implementing hard play-action fakes and eye manipulations that left defenses flat-footed for big plays. Mahomes also took another step in extending structure within plays, smoothly going through progressions while keeping plays alive with his feet.
His footwork, pocket movement, and eyes all worked in perfect harmony on improvised plays. Perhaps most impressive was Mahomes’ command of Andy Reid’s complex offense and ability to diagnose defenses at the line of scrimmage before the snap. He started checking into the best possible play, changing protections and putting teammates in optimal positions to succeed based on what he saw pre-snap. Mahomes’ vision, football IQ, and mastery of Reid’s playbook reached a point where he was essentially a coach on the field.
The Future
As Mahomes enters his prime playing years, it’s scary to think about how much more he can improve. At just 26, he already has the experience of leading two Super Bowl appearances in four seasons as a starter. But Mahomes is relentless in his film study and always searching for new ways to elevate his game. Looking ahead, one can imagine him taking his vision and pre-snap recognition to levels never seen before at the quarterback position.
Mahomes will continue refining his craft of manipulating defenses before the snap through eye movement and subtle body language. His hypnotic ability to hold safeties and linebackers with his eyes, setting up big plays elsewhere, could become even more lethal. With more experience running Andy Reid’s complex offense, Mahomes may reach a point where he can audible into the perfect play against any defense without a huddle. His downfield vision and play extending skills when scrambling might plateau, but it’s hard to bet against him finding new ways to dazzle.
Overall, while Patrick Mahomes will always be known for his rocket arm, incredible playmaking, and will to win, his vision and use of his eyes may be his most underrated weapon. The level of manipulation, deception, reading, and processing he achieves through subtle eye movements is simply unmatched. As long as Mahomes continues refining his vision-based skills, defenses will have no choice but to feel hypnotized facing his gaze. His eye dominance on the field plays a huge underlying role in his success and will continue propelling his status as the NFL’s most talented quarterback for years to come.
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