Unsung Hero

[2cents]

For all who thought hiring Brian Schottenheimer was the worst move in NFL history, he has done a great job as QB coach. Banks always has been a frustrating project. Even Brian Billick, proclaimed master of offense couldn't get him to perform. I was worried as well, but I'll take my hat off to the guy. Banks is light years ahead of where he has been.

[fansince62]

hold the kudos.....we haven't seen Banks in a tight game, against a quality defense, playing catch up. he's been "insulated" from himself by a strong ground game. let's see what happens when we actually have to rely on him to win a game against a top flight opponent (i.e., come from behind). he does not appear to handle pressure (of the defensive or psychological variety) particularly well.

[bulldog]

actually, there are few quarterbacks who engineer great comebacks against elite teams. Usually what you see are very good teams that fall asleep against inferior teams and then wake up and comeback to win the game at the end.

I would agree that Banks has not been tested by having to comeback from a 17 point deficit in a critical game, but his baptism by fire in Philly pointed to a quarterback who has committed himself to protecting the ball, avoiding the killer turnover and using the field position game to his advantage.

The two most impressive images of Banks so far were from last week's game. First, the two mini-scrambles on plays that had broken down that netted the team 6 and 7 yards where there could easily have been a loss on each. Second, the clutch passes to Gardner and Westbrook in the drive in the fourth quarter that sealed the game.

Those throws were pressure throws under a rush and were for "all the marbles" so to speak in terms of keeping the ball away from McNabb at the end of the quarter.

[@DCGoldPants]

I think most of us believe that Banks is NOT our QB of the future. Even though I wouldn't hate it if he's matured like Gannon or Beurlein and sticks around here to be a solid starter for us.

What Banks is doing for us right now it somewhere inbetween what Mcnabb does for Philly and what Tampa asks their QB's to do (not lose the game for the D). He hands the ball off, makes the deep pass here and there, makes the needed 1st down to keep the driving going. I can't ask for more form him. Going into that halftime of the Denver game where Samuels said "Lets win this for Tony Banks", I wondered why they were backing him up so much. It appears he's made a halfway decent impression of his linemen.

If we take Dallas this week and finish the season strong, I see no real reason that he shouldn't be kept around. What other QB's are out there who are really that much better? Dilfer? maybe.

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<IMG SRC="http://www.angelfire.com/or/morethanmeetstheeye/images/tf_spin.gif" border=0><IMG SRC="http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/nm/20011125/amdf91063.jpg" border=0> -"Give it up for the Comeback kid!"

[laurent]

Being a Baltimore native I watched Banks engineer and incredible comeback against the Jaguars last year. Banks threw 5 thouchdowns and around 400 yards to eraze a 17-0 deficit and lead the Ravens to a 39-36 win.

Now we all know that the only thing consistent about Banks is his incosistency, but still I feel more confident with Banks than I've felt with any of the other QBs we've had here in the last 7-8 years.

HTTR!

[NavyDave]

Just dont sign him to a big contract make it incentive based.

Another year in the system and he should be even better.

[bulldog]

the Redskins recent resurgence and thus lowering in the draft order, combined with the projected weak class of free agent quarterbacks should make each and every one of us pray like hell that Banks DOES blossom in this system during the remainder of 2001 and come back as a good, solid player to build around in 2002.

Otherwise we are going to have to make a real push to sign Trent Dilfer or perhaps make a trade for a veteran such as Jeff Blake.

Drafting another young but project qb and going with him means another 2-3 years of treading water.

We have most of the players in position now. A few moves in the offseason as I mentioned to acquire depth on the defensive line, safety and center/guard and we can be solid contenders in the NFC from opening day in 2002.

[@DCGoldPants]

Its funny that you mention Jeff Blake. I am a BIG fan of him for some reason. I can't explain it but even when he was in Cincy, I just liked the dude. If the Skins ended up with him, we should change our name the the Bengchiefs. Between Blake, Wilky, Ki-Jana, Shade, Lockett, Bennett, Szott.....we have the largest mix of those two teams.

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<IMG SRC="http://www.angelfire.com/or/morethanmeetstheeye/images/tf_spin.gif" border=0><IMG SRC="http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/nm/20011125/amdf91063.jpg" border=0> -"Give it up for the Comeback kid!"

[CBMGreatOne]

Arrgh. Let's stop mentioning the name change. Let's take it as a nonreality for the time being. If it happened, I would cry

[OrangeSkin]

We don't NEED Banks to come from behind, at least not yet. His job is just to not screw things up. That's the new breed of QBs in the league. (Trent Dilfer is a perfect example).

I really feel that Tony is one of those guys that has finally found his niche. More or less a Kerry Collins type story.

I would love to see Tony stick around, with or without a playoff berth. When you switch QBs bad things happen. As obvious right now, this team has fabulous chemistry. And we're not doing it with a bunch of bloated overpaid veterans or soon to be free agents for the most part.

Tony just seems like the right guy for the job. Dilfer was cut after he won the frigging SB, and now the Ravens are totally screwed.

Don't fix it if it ain't broke.

[PCS]

Actually, I think I have to agree with you some on this one 2cents. Banks has shown improvement as the season has progressed. That improvement did start last year,somewhat, with Baltimore, as laurent pointed out. He has protected the ball much better than in the past, and his decision making seems to be better. As of late, he appears to be checking off his recievers instead of turning his head in attempt to look off the 1-7 guys covering his primary read,(in the past,usually Gardner), then promptly passing into the coverage or out of bounds,or just plain eating it. he still has a ways to go, but as Bulldog pointed out those images of last week under pressure were impressive, and do show his improvement.

[Brave]

Quite simply, he's learning the system. Banks was thrown into the fire only a few weeks after signing. That's not much time to learn an offensive system. Hell, he was still trying to learn Dallas' system ... a few days later he's got to try to forget all that and start learning a new one.

Makes sense he would show improvement with time.

[Larry]

I think the word of this discussion is (or should be) consistancy[/i].

The big reason I was happy when we got Marty was because, the way I judge coaches is by looking at a team's consistancy. (And, using, admitedly, my personal standard, Marty ranks higher than Joe Gibbs).

I think some consistancy will really help build the spirit of this team. Consistancy is what gets respect from opposing teams.

One sure way to kill consistancy is to constantly replace your QB. Replacing him every year is tough. (Replacing every three weeks is Jerry Jones).

And, I think Banks is also just better than the other QBs I've seen discussed as being available, even if consistancy wasn't an issue. I can see us in the playoffs for the next three years with Banks and 3 or 4 blue-collar draft picks per year.