Two or Three QBs, what difference does it make?

[top dawg]

Man, I'm telling you, we mention it in passing, but probably don't talk about it enough. Honestly, our QB room is simply sub par. 

It seems like Matt Rhule and Scott Fitterer are keen to upgrade this team from the bottom up at all times. The questions at left tackle are obvious. The questions at safety are maybe a little less obvious with Franklin, Burris & Hartsfield (if you believe in them and/or coach-speak), but obvious nonetheless. We've also worked out at least one notable guy on that score. But, what in the world is our problem at QB? 

We always hear Rhule being Rhule in reference to Walker and Grier. The man is positive, motivating, and edifying to his guys, but sometimes, as a fan, effervescent but effectively hollow compliments become nauseous.

With our backup QBs, things have seemed in a state of inertia for at least a year. As a fan, I've gotten to the point where I really don't believe that there will be improvement, much less a chance in hell that we'll be competitive if Darnold goes down for any length of time (and there are general questions about our QB room even if he stays healthy). It seems like--I don't know--80 percent of the time we hear something about the backups from anybody but Rhule and company, it's decidedly negative or simply neutral. There's no growth, no development, nothing to be enthusiastic about...they're just there doing what they've done since they've been here which is much of nothing...until they get out on the field during games and ultimately stink the joint up. I mean, it's "meh" multiplied. 

Now before someone comes in and says "Basically, all the teams are screwed if their backups have to play", well that's not the fuging point (and isn't necessarily true). We can't even fool ourselves into thinking that Walker and Grier are sufficient anymore. They're third stringers (possibly) masquerading as possible second stingers.

Meanwhile, you have a guy like Gardner Minshew saying that, "No. 2 is not an option for me." 

We need to upgrade our QB room, period! And it needs to be a priority! 

The only other thing I can think is that somewhere in the calculation of risk-reward analysis, someone or ones in the FO is willing to throw the season and cash all the chips in--tank--for someone new in the event that Darnold goes down. 

To me it's all just a little perplexing and very unsatisfying either way.

[AU-panther]

Spend resources to help QB1 be better or spend resources to help the rare scenario where QB1 gets hurt.

Argument can be made both ways.

What would have helped more in the Super Bowl, having Derek Anderson on the bench or spending an extra $2m on the O-line?

Everything is a risk-reward analysis.

 

[Khyber53]

Let's take a hard look at our QB room. Honestly, we have three backups in there between Darnold, Walker and Grier. And chances are good that two of them really aren't the quality you need to hold a clipboard and be ready to come into a game and not lose it after the starting QB is injured.

I know, I put Darnold in there. Right now, his performance with the Jets would have him headed to the pool of back-up QB candidates in most seasons. We're taking a flier on him that he can be coached back up, but until we get a couple of games into the season, that's still a crap shoot. We're hoping we find a Favre or Brees needing a new home, but honestly its just as likely we have a Rosen or Colt McCoy on our hands. I hope he'll be good or even great, but chances aren't good for QB flops in their second home.

Walker and Grier aren't cusp players, they are cusp pros. They are just hanging on to the possibility of being in an NFL uniform much less actually playing in a game. If you have to send one of these guys into a game, pray the defense can somehow run out the clock. If you have to start one of them for any period of time, it's time to look at the next draft class while possibly polishing up the coaching resumes. 

This isn't a great situation going into the season. Maybe it will work out. Hope so.

 

[hepcat]

I think the strategy if Darnold busts is to tank the rest of the season, because that's exactly what having PJ Walker and Will Grier as your backup QB's is telling the fanbase.

[CarolinaNCSU]

The only way we're good this year banks on the ability of Darnold to prove all his supporters right about his long talked about potential.  Not even the best backup QB is going to suddenly improve this team beyond what Darnold can do. 

So...keep 2 QBs. PJ and Grier are nothing more than tank commanders if Darnold gets injured.  If we need another QB, I'd feel pretty comfortable that whoever we cut will still be waiting around for a job, or we can dust off another bad backup if the time calls for it.  

Having a good backup QB is honestly only important if you have a great starting QB as insurance.  

[top dawg]

Well, hell, let's hire Kelvin Benjamin as the backup QB then. Better yet, let's go with one QB for all it's going to do for Grier and Walker to see live fire.

[Sgt Schultz]

We haven't had a decent backup since Andersen was a decent backup.  Even then, had 2019 happened and Cam went down in week 2 with Andersen on the sidelines, he was not likely to steal wins from the jaws of defeat for 14 or 15 weeks.  He was able to fill in for a few sets of downs or even start every now and then and give us a chance.

The problem is our roster was almost all holes before last season.  The difference between a playoff berth or not was not going to be "if only our starting QB hadn't gone down."  I don't think it is this year, either (which is a good thing looking at who is in the QB room).  But, there needs to be an upgrade, probably by this time next year and that is if Darnold works out. 

It just has not been the squeakiest wheel we have.  My guess is we will keep an eye on cuts, but I am not sure who will be available that would give us a warm, fuzzy.  There are a few potential guys who would be more of a warm, fuzzy than Walker and Grier, but that does not take much.

[CanePantherHornet]

Backups do a whole lot more than people realize. They're in the QB room every day helping the starter prepare and dissect defenses. During game week their job is to try to emulate the opposing team's QB so the defense can be ready for his playstyle. This is why someone like Josh McCown keeps getting jobs even though he seemingly sucks.

 

[iamhubby1]

5 minutes ago, My Life Dont Matter said:

Having more than 1 good quarterback isn’t a good problem to have. 

 

2 minutes ago, My Life Dont Matter said:

Tepper will throw the bank to get Watson or sign Baker Mayfield. This front office doesn’t know how to find a good young quarterback through the draft. They only know how to find average NFL quarterback. This same front office is the one too scared to trade up for Justin Herbert. 

 

You're gonna fit in really well around here. I tell ya what.

[Jackie Lee]

2 hours ago, CanePantherHornet said:

Backups do a whole lot more than people realize. They're in the QB room every day helping the starter prepare and dissect defenses. During game week their job is to try to emulate the opposing team's QB so the defense can be ready for his playstyle. This is why someone like Josh McCown keeps getting jobs even though he seemingly sucks.

 

Sam instantly started playing better after he got to watch McCown play during his Mono break

[ForJimmy]

3 hours ago, My Life Dont Matter said:

Tepper will throw the bank to get Watson or sign Baker Mayfield. This front office doesn’t know how to find a good young quarterback through the draft. They only know how to find average NFL quarterback. This same front office is the one too scared to trade up for Justin Herbert. 

I don’t think Baker is available?? Watson has too much baggage. If Darnold plays bad this year, I could definitely see us drafting one. I think next year’s class will be better than people are thinking. Hopefully Sammy D lights it up and it won’t even matter.

[Mr. Scot]

4 hours ago, My Life Dont Matter said:

Tepper will throw the bank to get Watson or sign Baker Mayfield. This front office doesn’t know how to find a good young quarterback through the draft. They only know how to find average NFL quarterback. This same front office is the one too scared to trade up for Justin Herbert. 

Tepper doesn't make football decisions. Nor should he.

And given that the GM was fired and replaced this past offseason, it's actually not the same front office.

[frankw]

45 minutes ago, My Life Dont Matter said:

That GM, Marty Hurney was fired a season too late because Tepper was making the decision. If Hurney had more power than Rhule last season which he clearly didn’t, Hurney would’ve traded up for Justin Herbert. Rhule is still up for debate. Just a college coach with a lot of potential that hasn’t proven anything in the big league. Rhule clearly doesn’t believe in having a franchise QB. He didn’t want Herbert and passed on Justin Fields the very next draft. Time will tell.

It's hilarious that people actually believe Hurney was in charge of anything more than signing contracts and basic input in the draft in his final season. Do people really look at the 2020 draft and see Marty Hurney's fingerprints all over it? The fact we hit a homerun on a second round pick says it all. The man drafted Greg Little the year before and almost traded up to do so.

[kass]

19 minutes ago, frankw said:

It's hilarious that people actually believe Hurney was in charge of anything more than signing contracts and basic input in the draft in his final season. Do people really look at the 2020 draft and see Marty Hurney's fingerprints all over it? The fact we hit a homerun on a second round pick says it all. The man drafted Greg Little the year before and almost traded up to do so.

I think the Little pick was a trade up. Gave up the third round pick to select a handfull of picks earlier in the second round.

 

Edit. Rumors here had It he even tried to trade back into the first to get Little but couldnt find a trade partner. 

Edited July 31, 2021 by kass