Some other bits from my interview with Sindelar for our magazine feature ...
I asked him why he wanted to become a quarterback. His answer -- "I don't know" -- surprised me a bit. But then he explained.
"Receiver may actually be my favorite because I love to catch and jump, like basketball, dunking and stuff, catch alley-oops and stuff. So I actually really enjoy being a receiver. But then my favorite thing is to hit receivers in stride perfectly. I love perfection. So if they're running a cross, it had to be on the right shoulder. If I throw it behind them where they have to turn, I don't like that, it bugs me. Even just throwing long passes, if I can hit them in stride without them having to slow down, that's all that really matters to me. I don't care if we score on that play, but that pass and that route was perfect. That's my goal. That's why I like it. It has to do a lot of perfection, and it's a lot of analytical thinking, which is what I like. You go up to the line and you have to think about so many things, and it's only for certain people. I like that. I like thinking, 'Well, if the defense is going to do this, what can I do to counter that?' "
What's the most important trait for a quarterback?
"I'd have to say composure and poise because you are the eyes of the team, everybody looks to you, regardless if you're the best player or not or the best leader or not. Everybody looks to you. You have to lead your side of the ball. You have to encourage the defense, encourage special teams, but you are the person who facilitates the ball on offense. So everybody looks to you. If they see you throw an interception, walk over to the bench, put your head down, then that's going to affect them. You can't do that. If you throw an interception, you're like, 'Man, I'm going to learn from that and not make that same mistake and still encourage your team during that.' Then your teammates are like, 'Wow,' and they rally around you.' So you have to have great composure and poise. Talent is common. So I don't' think talent is the most important for being a quarterback, so if you're just a talent but nobody likes you? The what's the point, really? So you have to have great composure and even when things aren't going your way, you can still be the best teammate. So encouraging them, showing them that you have their back even when they know you're not having the best day and you're still encouraging them for what they're doing, you're going to build a lot of trust between the two."
Love the sentiment in that quote. But Sindelar only threw four interceptions as a senior and doesn't have a lot of experience with failure. That's one thing we talked about pretty extensive that will be featured in the magazine. How will he handle that at this level? Because it's bound to come and come in bunches.
Overall, I was really struck by him. Very impressive guy.
I asked him why he wanted to become a quarterback. His answer -- "I don't know" -- surprised me a bit. But then he explained.
"Receiver may actually be my favorite because I love to catch and jump, like basketball, dunking and stuff, catch alley-oops and stuff. So I actually really enjoy being a receiver. But then my favorite thing is to hit receivers in stride perfectly. I love perfection. So if they're running a cross, it had to be on the right shoulder. If I throw it behind them where they have to turn, I don't like that, it bugs me. Even just throwing long passes, if I can hit them in stride without them having to slow down, that's all that really matters to me. I don't care if we score on that play, but that pass and that route was perfect. That's my goal. That's why I like it. It has to do a lot of perfection, and it's a lot of analytical thinking, which is what I like. You go up to the line and you have to think about so many things, and it's only for certain people. I like that. I like thinking, 'Well, if the defense is going to do this, what can I do to counter that?' "
What's the most important trait for a quarterback?
"I'd have to say composure and poise because you are the eyes of the team, everybody looks to you, regardless if you're the best player or not or the best leader or not. Everybody looks to you. You have to lead your side of the ball. You have to encourage the defense, encourage special teams, but you are the person who facilitates the ball on offense. So everybody looks to you. If they see you throw an interception, walk over to the bench, put your head down, then that's going to affect them. You can't do that. If you throw an interception, you're like, 'Man, I'm going to learn from that and not make that same mistake and still encourage your team during that.' Then your teammates are like, 'Wow,' and they rally around you.' So you have to have great composure and poise. Talent is common. So I don't' think talent is the most important for being a quarterback, so if you're just a talent but nobody likes you? The what's the point, really? So you have to have great composure and even when things aren't going your way, you can still be the best teammate. So encouraging them, showing them that you have their back even when they know you're not having the best day and you're still encouraging them for what they're doing, you're going to build a lot of trust between the two."
Love the sentiment in that quote. But Sindelar only threw four interceptions as a senior and doesn't have a lot of experience with failure. That's one thing we talked about pretty extensive that will be featured in the magazine. How will he handle that at this level? Because it's bound to come and come in bunches.
Overall, I was really struck by him. Very impressive guy.
