6 posts tagged “quarterback”

JoshMcCown

   When the Miami Dolphins signed Josh McCown to a 2 year 6.25 Million dollar contract I just about stood up and applauded.  However applauding the Dolphins would get me weird looks from my friends and associates, so I passed. Much as I really liked Cleo Lemon and thought he should have been given a chance to lead this team for a season, I could think of no better replacement than Josh McCown.  I know, you must be thinking that I'm crazy given that this is the same Josh McCown who couldn't win the starting job in Arizona and who played more receiver than QB in Oakland.  But I really feel McCown is one of those QB's who will have a resurgence under a new regime in Miami.  And here is why...
  

Dennis Green

  Josh McCown suffered from poor coaching in his early years in the NFL.  For all that I like Dennis Green, he never really brought a young QB up and into prominence.  When he was hired in Minnesota, he rotated QB's in Sean Salisbury and Rich Gannon before dropping Gannon (who would have an MVP season a decade years later) and bringing in fromer Bear Jim McMahon.  After McMahon proved too old to get the job done, Green traded a pair of picks to Houston for Warren Moon.  Moon's 1995 season in Minny was statistically his 2nd best season of his career, but the Vikings couldn't break over .500.  Brad Johnson came next, and was the only QB on this list actually drafted by the Vikings, but even he was sent away when former Eagle, Randall Cunningham stepped in and overperformed.  When Cunningham struggled, in went Jeff George, who was allowed to walk despite winning 8 games. And that leaves us with first round QB Daunte Culpepper.

  The evolution of Culpepper is more difficult to track.  He did step up and have an amasing 2nd season, putting in 33 touchdowns and taking the Vikings to the NFC Championship (a feat not copied until Big Ben took the Steelers to a Super Bowl in his second season).  Todd Bouman and Spergon Wynn were his backups, neither are players of any note today.  But how much of Culpepper's success was thanks to Green, and how much of it was thanks to one of the best receiver duo's in NFL history with Chris Carter and Randy Moss?  History would say Carter-Moss.  But after 2001 Green was gone, and the team went on, but in Arizona the scene repeated itself.

  In Arizona, Dave McGinnis (remember him?!) was fired and replaced with Green.  McGinnis had played McCown

Dave McGinnis

sparingly in his first two seasons in Arizona.  Josh McCown was 'ok' in 2004, obviously not enough to impress Green, who went and signed Kurt Warner.  Warner and McCown then got to play the rotating door game that was familiar to the Vikings (And is still happening in Arizona, now with Lienart-Warner.) The end result of this was McCown being useless and ending up in Detroit, where Jon Kitna was clearly the starting QB.  Then we get to the Oakland year.  McCown was named starting QB to protect JaMarcus Russell, and to care-take a team who lost its #1 receiver, and whose number #2 receiver wanted out as well.  Despite all the problems with this Oakland team, McCown was respectable, and kept Oakland in the game for much of the season.

Sparano

  Now in Miami, McCown will have a decent set of receivers (Ginn, Derek Hagan) and a solid run-game.  But more important he is playing for a coach whose strength is Offensive Line, something McCown has never had.  With a decent O-line built around him, a strong run game to support him, and the guiding hand of a smart front office, watch for McCown to rebound.  It is clear that McCown is not the future of the Dolphins (with 2 first day QB's behind him in John Beck and Chad Henne) but I fully expect McCown to beat out Beck before the start of the season, and then be a tutor and backup for Henne.  And who knows, maybe the confidence and experience of this new team will make McCown the next Sage Rosenfels, a highly touted backup.

First off; the Boston College hockey team has a killer defense.  Michigan State is having no luck closing.  BC is just too physical.
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   Now, onto Sports.  The biggest news in the NFL right now is the Trent Green affair.  With Carr taking a back seat in Carolina, Green is the #1 available QB.  The rumor is he wants to go to Miami, but Miami is only willing to give up a 7th rounder for him, which isnt happening.  So the Browns have jumped on it.  This is the cause of a lot of discussion in Cleveland.  Right now there are three general camps in Brownieland.  One group wants to take the Quinn route, placing all Ohio's hope on the play of a rookie QB who has really not proven what he can do against well built teams.  The second group is pulling for the A-train (i'm kind of in this one) and they want to see a Lewis-Peterson duo to tear up defenses.  The final group prays that Joe Thomas will fall to three, which would give us a solid LT.

Trent Green

  Both the AP and the JT groups can be happy with Trent Green.  The general concensus among those who dont like Green is that he is over the hill.  I disagree.  Taking a look at Trent Green highlights some of his still existing skills.  Green has had only 2 season in which he had a rating of under 80 and played 8 or more games.  Green has also only had 2 seasons in which he had more interceptions that touchdowns (last year, 7/9 and in '01 with 17/24).   A lot of people point to the wildcard game last year as proof of his decline.  Frankly Huard should have been playing and they should have run a lot more, but thats another matter.

  While Green has been in KC he has had only 2 loosing seasons (2001 and 2004), and has gone to the post season twice, which should have been 3 times.  Green threw for over 4,000 yards three times in a row, a distinction he shares with such greats as Warren Moon, Dan Marino and Brett Favre.  Yes, he is an older player, but he also has the experience and smarts that could really help turn the Browns back into a winning franchise.  I think we should go for it, if the price can be settled well.  A 4th round pick for Green would be fine, but you have to worry if you send away anthing higher than a 4th.

 Why Green and not a rookie?  Well, if you read this blog you know I dont think we should go for Quinn because rookie QB's do not win.  Green has proven he is a winner.  He would be coming to Cleveland which will have better recievers than he played with in KC.  Add to that the presence of a better O-line and the new devotion to the running game and you have the base to an improved team.

Kellen Winslow

  The final straw in favor of bringing in Green is Kellen Winslow.  Winslow is a big time recieving Tight End, much like Tony Gonzalez who has been Green's most reliable target.  If Winslow and Green can build a relationship like that of Green and Gonzalez you will see an impressive system in play.  Then, when Green is ready to move on we have a well trained and rested Charlie Frye ready to step up and be our next guy.

A while ago I Blogged about first round running backs and with the draft approaching I thought it may be approprtiate to take a look at another big name position on the offensive side of the ball.  And who in the NFL is more recognizable than the quarterback?

2005
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Alex Smith, San Francisco 49’ers (1^st overall)- 56.2%, 17 td, 27 int
*Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (24^th overall)- 48.4%, 0 td, 1 int
*Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins (25^th overall)- 53.1%, 10 td, 6 int
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2004
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Philip Rivers, New York Giants (3^rd overall)- 61.4%, 23 td, 10 int
Ben Roethlisberger- Pittsburgh Steelers (11^th overall)- 62.4%, 52 td, 43 int
J. P. Losman- Buffalo Bills (22^nd overall)- 58%, 27 td, 23 int
--
2003
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Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals (1^st overall)- 63.8%, 78 td, 43 int
Byron Leftwich, Jacksonville Jaguars (7^th overall)- 58.7%, 51 td, 36 int
Kyle Boller, Baltimore Ravens (19^th overall)- 55.8%, 35 td, 34 int
Rex Grossman, Chicago Bears (22^nd overall)- 54.4%, 27 td, 26 td
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2002
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David Carr, Houston Texans (1^st overall)- 60%, 59 td, 65 int
Joey Harrington, Detroit Lions (3^rd overall)- 55.2%, 72 td, 77 int
Patrick Ramsey, Washington Redskins (32^nd overall)- 55.7%, 34 td, 29 int
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2001
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Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons (1^st overall)- 53.8%, 71 td, 52 int
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2000
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Chad Pennington, New York Jets (18^th overall)- 65.1%, 72 td, 46 int 
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 All but four of these QB’s are starters in the NFL right now (Ramsey, Harrington, Boller and Rodgers).  Where were the other starters in the NFL drafted?

Payton Manning was drafted in the first round with the first pick of the 1998 NFL draft.
Brett Favre was taken in the second round, as the second pick.
Donovan McNabb was taken in the first round with the second pick.
Daunte Culpepper was taken in the 1^st round with the 11^th pick.
Tom Brady was taken in the 6^th round.
Steve McNair was taken in the first round with the 3^rd pick
Charlie Frye was taken in the 3^rd round.
Vince Young was taken in the first round
Kerry Collins was taken in the first round with the 5^th pick
Jake Plummer was selected in the 2^nd round, while Jay Cutler was a first round pick
Damon Huard went undrafted, Trent Green was drafted in the 8^th round.
Aaron Brooks went in the 4^th round, and Andrew Walter was selected in the 3^rd round.
Romo wasn’t drafted, but Bledsoe was selected in the first round with the first pick.
Jon Kitna was undrafted.
Brad Johnson was selected in the 9^th round.
Delhomme was undrafted in 1998, while the man who plays for the team that signed him, Drew Brees, went in the second round.
Chris Simms was a third round pick, Gradkowski went in the 6^th round.
Warner was an arena football player, while Bulger went in the 6^th round.
Lastly, Hasselbeck went in the 6^th round in 1998.

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So, of all the quarterbacks, the ones who have reached the Super Bowl (and are still active) are as follows-

1^st- 7
2^nd-2
3rd- 0
4^th- 0
5^th- 0
6^th- 2
7^th- 0
8^th- 1
9^th- 1
Undrafted- 1
~~

Overall the QB’s who played in the Super Bowl are as follows:

1st- 23
2^nd- 4
3rd-5th- 9
6^th-9^th- 5
9^th onwards- 6
Undrafted- 3   

 So, as of Week 12, the NFL has a new record for Rookie QB's starting.  Vince Young, Bruce Gradkowski, Matt Lienart and Jay Cutler are all starting QB's in the NFL.  If you add in Jason Campbell, Phillip Rivers, Alex Smith, Charlie Frye, Andrew Walter (And to a lesser extent, Rex Grossman, Eli Manning, and Ben Roethlisberger), then the number of quarterbacks with less than 3 years of experience who have started this season is impressive.  It is the year not only of the Quartberback, but of the Young Quarterback to boot.

 Young was the first to see playing time, as he was played in particular packages and plays before earning the starting job.  The Titans, whose QB controversy started in the offseason with the Steve McNair debacle, and ended with the benching/Trade of Billy Volek to San Diego (a note: Volek is one of two QB's to have back-to-back 400 yard passing games; Brees fell 2 yards short against Pittsburgh).  Now Kerry Collins is on the bench and Vince Young has taken the reigns of a poor offense.  With the loss of Eddie George a few years ago, and now McNiar, the dynamic duo that led the Titans to the Superbowl is gone.  Young is playing professional football well; despite having a less than steller supporting cast.

 Gradkowski took over for a fallen Chris Simms in week 5.  The former MAC star is 3-5 with the poor-playing Buccaneeers, and Chris Simms just recieved a contract extension.  His future is uncertain; Matt Leinart's is not.  Leinart also got to start in week 5, he has gained one win in 7 starts; but gained 400 yards last weekend.  He will, in all likelyhood, be starting next year and the future of the Arizona Cardinals.

 That leaves us with Cutler

Jay-Cutler

 However we now have the 3rd QB to start post-Jon Elway (Brian Griese being the 1st).  Cutler, a more refined passer than Plummer, was impressive in the pre-season.  He has been hailed as the best QB in the NFL draft, and fits the image of a possible break-out QB.  However, any success he gains this year will have to be under the lense of a Denver team that is already pretty good.  If he comes out and avoids interceptions, completes over 60 percent and has a steady dialogue with his recievers, then you can crown him.  However, Young is playing too well with too little to be ignored.

 Denver is a run-first type of team.  Mike and Tatum Bell combine for over 1000 yards rushing on the season (Along with over 200 from Plummer and Javon Walker) and are just shy of 2K yards passing.  That being said, Plummer has 12 interceptions, and a QB Rating that ranks 27th in the league.  He is 26th in completion percentage.  A QB with medicore numbers like that should be nervous about his job.  A loss to Kansas City only solidified his fall from the Mile High grace of Denver.  Now Cutler will have to prove himself with a win against Seattle to secure his spot.  It wont be easy; although the Seahawk Defense is not as impressive as it was last year, their offense is still able to click.  If Denver's defense comes up big and wins the game for Cutler, he will start the remainder of the season.  If he falls big time to Seattle, we may yet see Plummer back in the QB Chair.

The continuing story of the Year of the Quarterback

Houston Texans: Although there was some people who though David Carr should be dropped in favor of picking up someone like Vince Young, the Texans did the right thing and kept Carr as the starter.  Carr has worked through some tough times; getting sacked more than any other quarterback in the league.  This year he has stayed up-right for the most part.  He's been sacked more than 25 other QB's, but he is 9th in Passer rating.  Good for you David Carr; I'd take you over a lot of QB's out there.

Indianapolis Colts: The Colts are being driven by Peyton Manning; 20 TD's, a rating of 100.5  A 400 yard game against Houston; but a sub-200 game against the Titans.  If Manning had a better rush attack; he would probably be undefeated at 10-0.  He was the last QB to loose; even without a rush defense.  Manning, along with Favre and Brady will be amoung the first to be inducted into the Hall of Fame; on the first ballot.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Byron Lefwich currently has a

David Garrard

Tennessee Titans: Billy Volek left without starting a game; and Kerry Collins only threw passes in 3 games (all losses) and the former Giant threw 2 picks in each of those three games.  Vollek is now in Seattle, and Collins is on the bench.  Former Longhorn Vince Young is now running the show; and his speed and strength have kept the Titans competative.  I was not sold on Young coming out of college.  Frankly the only performance against an all-star defense (Ohio State) was marred by poor coaching by the Buckeyes.  However his determination and play with the Titans have made him an successfull player.

Atlanta Falcons: The success of the Falcons seems to rest on one man's shoulders.  The former Hokie who took the collegiate world by storm has had a rocky transition into the Pro's.  Vick led the Falcons to the playoffs and beat Green Bay at Lambeu in his first year as a starter.  The next year, he went down with a broken leg.  The next year the Faclons destroyed the Rams and went to the Championship game; loosing to the Eagles who would fall in the Superbowl.  This year the Vick led Falcons have had winning games when he could throw (or run as in the first half of the season) but when he fails so do the Falcons.  The playoffs are not impossible; and neither is the superbowl for this up and down QB.

Carolina Panthers: With a QB tied for 13th in TD's, only 7 picks in an INT heavy year and a passer rating of 81.1, the Panthers have turned their season around.  At 6-4 the Panther seem to be at a crossroads.  Delhomme has not really put up the all-star numbers some would like; despite having two high calibre recievers at his disposal.  The more important factor about Delhomme is that he wins.  He has only broken 300 yards once this season; but his team has only lost 4 times.  With Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson as recievers; the Panthers have nowhere to go but up with Delhomme at the lead.

New Orleans Saints: Fait is on the side of New Orleans.  After dumping Aaron Brooks and taking a risk on

Drew Brees

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: In perhaps the most unfortunate turn of events; a young QB was struck down at the begining of the season.  After trading Brian Griese away, Chris Simms was given the nod to start.  After loosing three times to superior teams, the young QB tried to fight through a serious injury.  During the rough game against the Panthers, Simms had his spleen burst.  Now, gone for the season, he has been replaced by MAC star Bruce Gradkowski.  Gradkowski has played beyond his station and is 3-4 as of this week.  Although he is 27th in passer rating, 30th in yards and has been sacked 16 times; he has only thrown 4 interceptions on the year and looks to be having a safe and solid year as a rookie.

Denver Broncos: Despite being a playoff winning QB; Jake 'the Snake' Plummer of Arizona State (I remember him in college) is always under fire.  He is 29th in QB rating, and has had a rough year, despite having won more than lost.  In the ultra-tough AFC West, Plummer has failed to impress.  He has thrown 10/11 for TD/INT and has been battered and questioned on every turn.  Part of this comes from the success that 1st round draft pick Jay Cutler of Vanderbilt had during the pre-season.  With the 10th best reciever in the league (Javon Walker) you may see Plummer be benched in favor of Cutler if the Bronco's start down a loosing slide.

Kansas City Chiefs: Another team to loose its starter in week 1, the Chiefs' Trent Green; always reliable, missed much of the season due to a concussion.  Damon Huard, the original replacement for Dan Marino, played reliable football.  He has the best TD-INT rating of the league;  11-1, is 5th in QB rating and has led the Chiefs to 6 wins (despite a blowout loss to the hot-cold Steelers).  However, after their 13-10 loss to the Dolphins, Huard was benched to make way for the return of Trent Green; who beat Oakland.  Had he won against Miami; Huard may still be playing right now.  He will be a valuable target in the offseason for teams looking for a reliable QB.

San Diego Chargers: Most people thought that Drew Brees leaving would signal a drop in the strength of the

Rivers

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders have been the most tossed around and destroyed team in the league.  Their top two playmakers have refused to make plays; their off-season pick-ups have been useless.  Their only playmakers are the poor injured captains of a sinking ship called the Raiders defense.  Andrew Walters started after Aaron Brooks went down.  He played the best he could, throwing 3/9.  He is in the basement of the league in passer rating, and has been sacked a painful 41 times.  Walters, from Arizona State will forever be tainted by this year and his wins over Pittsburgh and Arizona may be the only wins his team gets this season.

Arizona Cardinals: It didn't take long after embattled QB Kurt Warner dropped a game loosing fumble for the veteran QB to be replaced by the hot new thing.  Heisman winner Matt Leinart; who would have been starting as QB in San Francisco had he declared in 2005, came in 2006 to the Cardinals.  Now he has to face the tune of a loosing team for his first time ever.  Leinart got his first win against Detroit, ending an 8 game loosing streak for the Cards, but it is not enough to save his team's season.  Leinart is 31st in Passer Rating, has 6/7 and only 1300 yards.  His all-star recievers are not enough to save him; nor is the biggest flop of '06, the Edge.  Leinart may have to suffer a while before he sees a winning season again.

St. Louis Rams: Marc Bulger is 5th all time in passer rating, 3rd best of any active QB.  After leading his team to 4 wins in the first 5 games, Bulger and his Rams have stalled, and are now in free fall after 5 straight losses.  Although it is not impossible for them to win out; Bulger will need help.  He been near perfect; throwing only 3 picks in 10 games.  He did not throw an interception until week 6 of the year against Seattle.  If Bulger continues to play this well, and his defense steps up, the Rams could be looking good at the end of the season.

San Francisco 49'ers: He might well be the next Steve Young.  Alex Smith, Utah boy made Bay-Area man,

Alex Smith

Seattle Seahawks: He was 4th in QB rating in 2005; this year he is 14th.  Last year he threw 24 TD's, this year he has 10.  Yes, we are discussing Matt Hasselbeck.  Due to injury he was replaced by Seneca Wallace, who led the Seahawks (minus MVP Alexander) to a 2-3 record, whic leaves them at 6-4 overall.  It seems that the Seahawk's fate now rests in the hands of their QB.  Should Matt come back to the confident form of last year in which he was tied for 8th in INT with 8, the Seahawks could find their way back to the playoffs.  However their division is proving to be tougher than expected.  Either way, this year we got to discover that Seattle, unilke Indianapolis, Philadelphia or New England, can survive without its star QB.

 So, with young QB's coming of age, old QB's blossoming, and controversy surrounding every move; the Year of the Quarterback looks to be an exciting one.

In 2005 it was the year of the Running Back.  Shaun Alexander was MVP with record setting numbers, Jerome Bettis was retiring, Larry Johnson got his chance to start behind the injury of Priest Holmes.  It was a heck of a year to be a half-back.  This year is different;

 This year is the year of the Quarterback.  Almost every team in the league has had some important news or events from their quarterbacks.  You have some making their last hurrahs, some making their first starts; some coming to age, and some falling from grace.  Lets take a look...

Buffalo Bills: J.P. Losman is a decent QB.  Out of Tulane, the former 1st rounder and back up to Drew Bledsoe

J. P. Losman

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins were many people's trendy pick to win the AFC East.  And why not?  They had an all-star QB who threw 34 TD's in 2004.  And so what, they lost their opener against the Super Bowl winners, not a surprise.  However after 4 games the former Viking was 2/3 for 3 losses and a serious injury.  Since then, the former Lion Joey Harrington has stepped up and played his best season yet, with 7/10 and 3 wins. With two in a row some wonder if the Dolphins will string together another win streak.

New England Patriots: Surprise, Tom Brady is playing really well...

New York Jets: The man who may well win Come Back Player of the year is Chad Pennington.  The MAC man who played for Marshall has stepped up in 2006.  Pennington had great '02 season, as well as decent '03 and '04 seasons.  However his season came to an abrubt end in '05 due to injury.  Questions flew all around about his ability to come back to football; with 4 wins and almost 1900 yards he has proven his game is still on.  Despite having no real run game after loosing HB Curtis Martin, Pennington has proven his ability to play.

Dallas Cowboys: America's Team has had some QB controversy this year.  Bledsoe went 2-2 before being benched in favor of Tony Romo who had a breakout pre-season.  Since then Romo, a more mobile QB, 3-2 so far without a game under 200 yards in passing.  He has more TD's than INT"s and is leading an unsteady team with a dangerous T.O.

New York Giants: Eli Manning has improved his play.  He has reached 15 TD's, with 11 INT's (tied for 28th in the NFL).  Manning and his Giants have relied on the running of Tiki Barber and some lucky 4th quarter comebacks to pull off a successfull season.  However the season will get longer with all these injuries.

Jeff Garcia

Charlie Frye

Cleveland Browns: Young QB Charlie Frye was thrust into the starting position by his coaches and teammates who felt he could be a leader.  So far he has been both good and bad.  The good?  He has kept his team together through a 3-7 season.  The bad?  He has been sacked 39 times and has thrown 9/12 TD/INT.  Frye hasnt thrown a pick in the last two weeks and has shown improved decision making.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Big Ben has been Big Trouble so far this year.  His league high 17 interceptions does not make up for his 12 TD's.  He has been sacked 27 times, and has been injured twice.  This is despite not having played in the season opener.  Though Ben has led his team to two wins in the last two weeks, it has been a rough year for the superbowl champ.

Chicago Bears: If, at the start of the season, I had told you that Rex Grossman would have been 3rd in the league in TD's, and 13th in Passer Rating, you would have laughed.  Start laughing.  Grossman and his Bears have emerged from a playoff season to be amazing.  Despite his rough pre-season, Rex has rebounded from his injury plagued first two years to be a phenom of a passer and has led his team (with 2 painfull exceptions) to excellent play so far this year.

Detroit Lions: Kitna was not the problem with the Lions this year.  He has thrown for over 200 yards in every game and over 300 twice, Kitna has failed to save a 2-8 season thus far.  It wont be long till he is benched and Josh McCown fairs little better.  Kitna has 11/12 for over 2500 yards; but his defense and his running attack are not helping him  He will be gone by the end of the year.

Greenbay Packers: Though the streak may end next week (although its likely he will play as opposed to

Brett Favre