Wonderlic Redux

Being a successful quarterback in the NFL requires a completely different set of skills than solving logic problems. Otherwise Ryan Fitzpatrick, with a 48 score, would be the best QB in the league

I never tried to claim that a high Wonderlic score is the only measure for deciding success. I clearly stated at the start of my post;

I’d like to make this first point abundantly clear so please understand the what I’m trying to say here: I’m not saying that anyone who scores high on a Wonderlic will perform well as an NFL QB. What I’m saying is that it is definitely more likely that NFL QB’s who are very successful in the New Millennium Era (year 2000 onwards) will have scored high on the Wonderlic skill test.

Please understand that paragraph before posting so the thread is not riddled with irrelevant posts like “but Alex Smith scored 40” or “but Drew Henson scored 42”. I’m not saying a certain type of intelligence is the only measure of success, quite obviously it’s football, they also need to be athletic, tough, have a strong work ethic, can handle multiple pressure’s both on and off field etc. What I am saying is that in the multitude of skills QB’s need to be successful intelligence is absolutely one and an important one at that. While the Wonderlic might not be the perfect test it does seem to show some interesting results that can’t just be dismissed.

And then concluded it again addressing the point you raised;

In conclusion; I’m not suggesting that a QB should be drafted solely on his Wonderlic score. The same way I wouldn’t suggest drafting a RB solely on his Forty yard dash time. But measuring a RB’s speed is very important as they make the jump from College to the much faster NFL game. In the same way, measuring a QB’s mental skill is very important as they make the jump from College to the much more complicated, technical and challenging NFL game.

The Wonderic Test; not every Quarterback who scores high on the Wonderlic is going to be a success, but the most successful Quarterback’s very often have the higher scores.

So clearly I’m not trying to make a claim that a high Wonderlic score is all that matters.

The Wonderlic evaluates a specific kind of thinking that goes into problem solving, but most quarterbacks don’t think all that much in the pocket. There just isn’t time.

I agree that once the play starts thinking time is limited but I think that just shows my point. A surprise blitz, a D change of coverage just before the snap (all things that are very popular and prevalent in today’s NFL) are designed to mentally confuse the QB hoping he’ll make a poor decision. The QB must make a very quick mental decision based on play-call, hot routes, coverage type, blitz type, etc. He needs to process information quickly under duress. The Wonderlic is a test that measures the ability to make quick mental decisions about a deliberately confusing set of questions. I’m not saying it’s perfect but it does seem to be relevant.

I agree that a higher scorer "will probably learn the playbook faster" and "be better at analyzing game tape" but I don’t see how you can then say "he won’t be able to read blitzes faster". Knowing the playbook like the back of your hand and being good at analyzing game film are crucial factors to reading blitzes. How many times have we seen interviews with QB’s recounting big plays commenting about how they recognized the blitz (from film study) and knew exactly were to go with the ball straight away (before the blitz got them). It’s not just all pre-snap either, I’ve heard several top QB’s commenting that they watch the Safety’s after the ball is snapped to confirm Defenses coverages and then make the final decision on where the ball goes. All this is thinking in the pocket that needs to done very quickly and often under duress. The best QB’s are also very active with coaches in game day adjustments to the offense.

I’m not saying there’s a perfect correlation between Wonderlic results and QB success but there does seem to be an interesting result that virtually all the QB’s considered the best in the game for the last several years have nearly all scored above average on the Wonderlic.

I think there’s a reason that teams continue to administer this test and there’s a reason they use it as a contributing factor when making decisions on players.

He was talking articulately and seemed more than fine. I think if teams let him drop because of that then that will only be putting us in better position to maybe make a play for him.

I watched/listened to the Patrick Peterson interview and I agree with you he does not seem "illiterate or functionally sub intelligent" at all. He actually seems like a very nice young man (or in scout speak – ‘good character’). Having said that I also don’t think he came across as particularly bright either. At the CB position I’m not to sure how much it really matters (scouts have commentated that it does but to what degree probably depends on the scheme).

I also think that one test result does not mean you are forever set in stone. There can be guys who just have a bad day (for any number of reasons) and run a 4.56 forty at the combine when they’ve repeatedly run 4.41’s in practice. I think the Wonderlic can be similar. Perhaps someone who would usually score around 20 has a bad day (for any number of reasons) and scores a 12. Sometimes you just don’t perform at your capable peak at a test. It happens.

Example – people love to recall that Jerry Rice only ran a 4.60 forty at the 1985 combine, a very slow time for a WR. Michael Lombardi, who was a scout for the 49ers at that time, has also noted that Jerry Rice was repeatedly timed by the team as running low 4.4’s. Jerry wasn’t really a 4.6 guy (just watch the games!), he just had a bad run on test day.