QB Coddling
I was laying in bed last night, and I was having trouble falling asleep. For some reason, football popped into my head. And I started thinking about how good college QB's are so babied once they make it into the NFL. A few QB's names popped into mind. Jake Delholme, Joey Harrington, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Michael Vick. How did Delholme, Brady and Roethlesberger make their debuts in the NFL? They came in as replacements for starting QB's who got hurt. They were "thrown to the wolves" with little expected of them. I'm sure when Drew Bledsone got hurt, and some kid named Tom Brady came in as his replacement, everyone in New England thought the Patriots season was over. But the three of them made the most of the situation and lead their teams to the Super Bowl. They exceeded everyones expectations. They had nothing to lose really. But when you take a NCAA star QB, who was perceived as a god on campus, and you make them wait, and wait, it seems like it just adds a ton more pressure.
Now lets look at Joey Harrington and Michael Vick. They both sat on the sidelines, calling in plays, and "learning the system" for a year or two before they were given the strarting jobs. I think its fair to say Vick and Harrington are NFL dispointments. The Giants also coddled Eli Manning, and the verdict is still out on him.
So maybe this year the Titans should just let Vince Young start at QB, Arizona should let Matt Leinert play, and maybe the Jets should forget about Pennington and Boehlinger and let Kelen Clemens start at QB. Chances are the Jets won't be very good with Pennington, Ramsey or Boelinger. Maybe if they throw a fresh armed QB in there, good things will happen and turn things around for them.
This coddeling isn't really done at any other position. Rookies don't always getting start spots, but they also dont sit on the sidelines for 2 years. They play on special teams, and they come in when starters get winded. You think the Saints are going to say to Reggie Bush, we know you are a Heisman Trophy winner and all, but we're gonna make you watch Deuce McCallister for the next two seasons. You'll get to start in 2008. It just seems ridiculous. So why is it so widely accepted when it comes to QB's? I know being a QB is a little more difficult, but whats to say someone is going to be any better at it when they are 24 then when they are 22?
So I say if you have a halfway descent offensive line, who can protect your young gunslinger, put them in there. Obviously, if you can't protect your QB effectively, you don't want to get them sacked a dozen times each game. They'll either get physically injured or mentally shaken. So who knows what will happen this year. The next hall of famer could be riding the pine, waiting for the big name starting QB to get injured.
Now lets look at Joey Harrington and Michael Vick. They both sat on the sidelines, calling in plays, and "learning the system" for a year or two before they were given the strarting jobs. I think its fair to say Vick and Harrington are NFL dispointments. The Giants also coddled Eli Manning, and the verdict is still out on him.
So maybe this year the Titans should just let Vince Young start at QB, Arizona should let Matt Leinert play, and maybe the Jets should forget about Pennington and Boehlinger and let Kelen Clemens start at QB. Chances are the Jets won't be very good with Pennington, Ramsey or Boelinger. Maybe if they throw a fresh armed QB in there, good things will happen and turn things around for them.
This coddeling isn't really done at any other position. Rookies don't always getting start spots, but they also dont sit on the sidelines for 2 years. They play on special teams, and they come in when starters get winded. You think the Saints are going to say to Reggie Bush, we know you are a Heisman Trophy winner and all, but we're gonna make you watch Deuce McCallister for the next two seasons. You'll get to start in 2008. It just seems ridiculous. So why is it so widely accepted when it comes to QB's? I know being a QB is a little more difficult, but whats to say someone is going to be any better at it when they are 24 then when they are 22?
So I say if you have a halfway descent offensive line, who can protect your young gunslinger, put them in there. Obviously, if you can't protect your QB effectively, you don't want to get them sacked a dozen times each game. They'll either get physically injured or mentally shaken. So who knows what will happen this year. The next hall of famer could be riding the pine, waiting for the big name starting QB to get injured.
4 Comments:
Troy Aikman, was beaten senseless hsi first two years in the league. He was and started I think they went 1-16 that first year. And now he's going tpo Canton.
Then there was a great stroke of luck, the ill-fated hershel waker trade (ill-fated for the vikings) and the Cowboys got the building blocks of an offensive line and other skill players.
I can understand sitting a player if you have a hall-of-fame caliber QB still there and he's still good. But Kurt Warner and Chad Pennington are only getting into Canton with tickets in their hands, let the young guys play!
Amen brother.
You have a point there D-Train. They do have a lot more to learn. But most people tend to learn better with hands on experience, rather than watching hour after hour of video footage. Plus a lot of being a QB is instincual. You either have it or you don't. I think Eli Manning will be a really good QB some day, but he wont be Payton good. I think Payton just has the natural ability to read defenses. You can't teach everyone.
Though on the flip side .. Ryan Leaf started as a rookie as well.
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