I'm experienced enough with football to know that when you lack talent what can appear to be a mental error is oftentimes a calculated risk. The decision to jump a route, for example, might appear to be a mental error but it could very easily be part of a defensive scheme. Studying film, finding tendencies, and finding opportunities where risks become acceptable are essential parts of putting together a game-plan. Another example is the popularity of the spread offense where the goal of the offense is to identify the mismatch and exploit it quickly. Oftentimes this mismatch reveals itself as a one-on-one match-up between a receiver and a corner. If the defense has any kind of pass rush usually the pass is quick and precise with opportunity for YAC. In this case a corner can be taught to jump a route with the linebackers and safeties being used to clean up in the event of a reception. There are other things such as the coverage of the defense and cushion of a corner that factor in, but by and large it's a game of cat and mouse with each side taking risks and exploiting weakness.