What is QB-WR chemistry and why does it matter?

You’ve probably heard someone say it before: wide receivers and quarterbacks need to develop chemistry in the offseason and during training camp to create success on regular season Sundays. But what does that actually mean? What does “chemistry” look like on a football field? And how do we know if a WR and QB have it?

In my latest video, I set out to answer exactly those questions by looking at the early-season film of Washington’s Terry McLaurin and Case Keenum to see how the two’s relationship developed throughout McLaurin’s rookie year. I also broke down how chemistry can factor into offensive play design (commonly called “timing” in West Coast offenses) by analyzing a few notable Trubisky throws from later in the season before rounding things out with an explanation for why big-armed quarterbacks like Derek Carr (or Jay Cutler before him) often prefer to throw without anticipation. Check it out and let me know what you think!

What do you think? Does WR-QB chemistry make sense to you now?