Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League

Atlanta, GA - In the APDFL, quarterback play, especially talented passers are at a premium. When games are won or lost on the arm of a signal caller, their role becomes the utmost importance on the field. With the second half of the season underway, teams begin to jockey for position. As a result, a comprehensive QB round table of quarterback felt appropriate. Jyron Walters (Kings), Carl Davis (Ayrmen), LeSteven Jackson (Dynasty), and Malyk Steward (Jets) sat down to answer a few questions.

How do you maintain a calm professionalism, even through the most trying of circumstances?

Walters: First, I am the son of a coach, so that in itself shaped the way I looked at the game. I also am a coach, therefore, I have learned how to carry myself and maneuver around to remain marketable. In addition, off the field I am a very quiet and regal individual. Rarely out of character.

Playing at various levels, quarterbacks develop bad habits. Which one took you the longest to break?

Davis: The habit that took me the longest was throwing off the back foot. It is as if it will go away and then you catch it, five games in you want to throw off it again.

Possessing the ability to extend plays with your legs is an integral part of your game. Yet, your arm will usually dictate the score. How did you improve as a passer?

Jackson: Trusting my pre-read, standing in the pocket, throwing and not worried about the hit. Moreover, I began trusting my teammates to be where they needed to be.

As a younger quarterback, what can you improve upon before the end of the season?

Steward: Consistency and vision. Those are the only two. Everything else is a plus. Just going to keep at its best right now, I also play various positions.

During a career, high and lows for a quarterback are inevitable. What is your best moment as a quarterback?

Walters: Honestly, my favorite moment was coaching my QB to stand tall in the pocket, regardless of what is going on around you. He won a state title. Definitely, my favorite moment. A strong second would be the 568-yard game last season. I was just hot, and could do no wrong. We lost the game, but we definitely should have won.

Steward: My favorite moment was coming back on the Chiefs last year. We only lost by one touchdown.

Davis: I am going to go with Leflore high school. Trailing by four against Williamson, 40 sec left on our five. We drove the field in four plays to win with six seconds on the clock.

Jackson: The 2017 championship game. Apparently, the scouting report said the Dynasty featured only a running back and a running quarterback. Therefore, load the box and make him throw. I threw for and ran for over one hundred yards with multiple touchdowns.

Who is the one APDFL pass rusher that you need to account for at all times?

Walters: Aside from the rushers on my team, Louis Ellis the Dynasty is a lot to handle at the 3-tech.

Davis: Roy Williams, Mississippi Dynasty

As mentioned, football is a cyclical game, full of difficulties, what was your most humbling defeat? How did it make you better?

Jackson: The most humbling was my first year vs. OKC. That was my only loss in Mississippi as a QB. No matter what I did well, something bad would follow it. That nightmare lasted 4 quarters

Walters: Losing to the Jaguars last year. Rather, being blown out by the Jags last year. I threw three picks to the same person, one of which ended up as a pick-6.

Steward: We should have defeated the Alabama Tigers. That one bothered me.

Davis: 2017 versus the Falcons. I could not do anything. I am going to be honest; I took licks that were hard to get up from. However, I stood up. On film, I noticed throwing off my back foot. After that loss, it stuck in my head to stand tall and deliver a strike, regardless of pressure.

Drops remain a quarterback’s pet peeve. How do you motivate a player after they drop a pass?

Walters: I do not say much normally, so if I do say something it is because it is excessive. Nevertheless, we are very upfront with each other over here. Therefore, if anybody is messing up (me included) they are coming off the field.

Jackson: Every drop, I tap my chest and say that is on me.

Davis: Pertaining to drops, I tell my guys, we‘ll get that back. Just bounce back. I am coming back to you.

Steward: As a quarterback, on a wide receiver drop, I motivate my teammates to make sure they secure the ball before they take off. Additionally, keep a level head and be motivated. I am going to still come to them, no matter if you dropped the ball or not.

If you had to rank drops, bad routes, and missed blocks in order of annoyance, how would you seed them?

Steward: Bad routes, missed blocks, drops.

Walters: Missed blocks, bad routes, and drops.

Davis: Missed blocks, bad routes, and drops.

Jackson: Bad routes, missed blocks, drops.

So far, what is your favorite throw in 2018?

Jackson: I threw a 50 pass stepping into a nice hit

Davis: My favorite throw all season found Rakeem Scott against the venom. They played man coverage. Rakeem beat the corner off the line. When I let it go, I saw the spiral of the ball go up and come down in the basket.

In reality, the future of the APDFL remains bright. Walters, Davis, Steward, and Jackson are all young enough to dominate this league for a while. With quality quarterback play remains at a premium; these four could dictate how the 2018 playoffs transpire. More importantly, they each bring a respectable demeanor. Meanwhile, the ferocity within drives them.