bubba9497 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 NFL backups are a sorry lot http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/4820654?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=5 If you've been watching the NFL preseason this year, there are certain things you've surely noticed. To even the casual fan, it's been quite apparent that the Jaguars got a steal in Matt Jones with the 21st pick in the draft, that the Lions' offense looks to be vastly improved from last season and that Brian Billick's new goatee is going to have more passing yards than the Chicago Bears' quarterbacks this season. You might have also noticed that stranger holding a clipboard on your favorite team's sideline. That's the backup quarterback. Hopefully, you won't have to get to know him this year. Yes, there's an absolute dearth of quality backup quarterbacks in the league this fall. Long gone are the days of Dave Krieg, Frank Reich and Neil O'Donnell seamlessly entering contests in the fourth quarter to save the day. To be certain, Jeff Hostetler and Randall Cunningham won't be working any team's midseason miracles this year. Trent Dilfer and Gus Frerotte, perennial leaders in the "best backup QB" category, are now starters. You can cross Chris Chandler and Rodney Peete off the list of recognizable backups, too. Everywhere you look, the familiar faces are gone. As a result, potential playoff teams are taking risks on unproven talent as their insurance plans at QB. With quarterback injuries so common (except in Green Bay) in today's game, it's impossible to accurately predict this year's playoff contenders. With a simple tweak of an ankle or hit to the head, a team like the Colts can go from a 14-2 playoff lock to a 7-9 mess. Digging through the depth charts of all 32 NFL teams, here is a list of the 10 shakiest backup quarterback situations in the league this season: Baltimore Ravens Starter: Kyle Boller Backups: Anthony Wright, Derek Anderson, Darian Durant Grade: D Comment: Boller's got a lot to prove ... again. Luckily, there's no threat of anyone on the bench replacing him. Cleveland Browns Starter: Trent Dilfer Backups: Doug Johnson, Charlie Frye, Josh Harris Grade: D Comment: Two years ago, Johnson took over for the Falcons when Michael Vick went down with injury. He was absolutely dreadful, and Atlanta missed the playoffs. Frye and Harris were both tremendous college quarterbacks in the MAC. Could either be the next Ben Roethlisberger? Probably not. Denver Broncos Starter: Jake Plummer Backups: Bradlee Van Pelt, Danny Kanell, Matt Mauck Grade: F Comment: Van Pelt and Mauck are raw and untested. Kanell's best years are behind him. Great news for Denver fans, right? Indianapolis Colts Starter: Peyton Manning Backups: Jim Sorgi, Travis Brown, Tom Arth Grade: F Comment: Sorgi wasn't anything special at Wisconsin and has done nothing of note in any of his preseason appearances. Brown and Arth sound like a law firm, not a quarterback tandem. Oakland Raiders Starter: Kerry Collins Backups: Marques Tuiasosopo, Andrew Walter Grade: D Comment: In four NFL seasons, Tuisasosopo's started one game. That tells you something? San Diego Chargers Starter: Drew Brees Backups: Phillip Rivers, Cleo Lemon, Craig Ochs Grade: D Comment: Rivers has tremendous potential and had time to learn from Doug Flutie last year. But he's just not ready. As for Lemon and Ochs — it sounds like a recipe for pie. Seattle Seahawks Starter: Matt Hasselbeck Backups: Seneca Wallace, David Greene, Gibran Hamdan Grade: F Comment: Wallace has been hyped as the "The Next Michael Vick." Not quite. Rookie David Greene, an NCAA record holder at Georgia, may be the more reliable option of the two. Regardless, neither Wallace nor Greene could possibly lead a team to the playoffs. San Francisco 49ers Starter: Tim Rattay Backups: Alex Smith, Ken Dorsey Grade: F Comment: Next. New York Giants Starter: Eli Manning Backups: Tim Hasselbeck, Jesse Palmer, Jared Lorenzen Grade: F Comment: One's wife is on The View, another was The Bachelor and the last one belongs on Celebrity Fit Club. All three are terrible. Sign Tim Couch … now! Dallas Cowboys Starter: Drew Bledsoe Backups: Drew Henson, Tony Romo sits to pee Grade: F Comment: Henson's had a rough time since coming to Dallas last year, and rumors leaking out of Dallas say that Romo sits to pee's jumped him on the depth chart. Let's put it this way — Bledsoe better not get hurt. Editor's note: We're not even going to mention the Bears. Starting quarterbacks go down with season-ending injuries all too often. Ask the Jets' fans who lost Vinny Testaverde in 1999. Talk to a Jaguars supporter about the Bill Romanowski-Mark Brunell preseason hit from a few years ago. Give a Falcons die-hard a call about the 2003 season. E-mail your face-painting buddy from Oakland about Rich Gannon's Sunday night game vs. Tampa Bay last September. Oftentimes, once the quarterback goes down, the season is lost forever. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. Sometimes backups fill in to save the day. Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner, Jeff Hostetler, Earl Morrall and Bubby Brister have all carried teams to playoff berths off the bench in the past. Could your favorite team's backup do the same in 2005? Looking at some of the guys roaming the sidelines with clipboards this year, it's safe to say you'd rather not have to find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimReefa Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 NFL backups are a sorry lot http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/4820654?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=5 If you've been watching the NFL preseason this year, there are certain things you've surely noticed. To even the casual fan, it's been quite apparent that the Jaguars got a steal in Matt Jones with the 21st pick in the draft, that the Lions' offense looks to be vastly improved from last season and that Brian Billick's new goatee is going to have more passing yards than the Chicago Bears' quarterbacks this season. You might have also noticed that stranger holding a clipboard on your favorite team's sideline. That's the backup quarterback. Hopefully, you won't have to get to know him this year. Matt Jones, like Byron Leftwich, was the best player of the draft in which he was taken. The Jaguars will be Super Bowl contenders very quickly. As for the Lions, everyone is humping the Vikings as their Big Mover this season, I've seen several prognostications that have them winning the NFC, or more. This is ridiculous. They will be lucky to win 8 games. The Lions will be the Big Mover this season, I see them winning the North. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking Deadman Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Wow. The Redskins weren't on that list..... :applause: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FootballGuy2677 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 cuase we got mark brunell as a backup and thats like B++++++ and campbell has good accuracy so..uh yea... :dallasuck :dallasuck :dallasuck :dallasuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bird_1972 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 As for the Lions, everyone is humping the Vikings as their Big Mover this season, I've seen several prognostications that have them winning the NFC, or more. This is ridiculous. They will be lucky to win 8 games. The Lions will be the Big Mover this season, I see them winning the North. I thought Harrington and the Lions looked horrible vs. the Rams starting D the other night. You sure about that one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. S Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 I like how they just skipped the 49ers. I wouldnt really rate the Chargers as having no QB's though, due to the potential of Rivers alone. If Brunell can play regular season like he did pre-season, then I am not worried at all about our QB's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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