Back up QB's in the NFL

[RollRed]

Does anyone else find it strange that with all the quarterbacks that come out of college year after year, teams aren't able to find enough of them that have what it takes to be serviceable back ups in the NFL... that teams like the Steelers are forced to resort to washed up bums like Vick to try to salvage the season when your main man goes down? It's obvious they have no confidence in Jones that he can play. The panic move they made in signing Vick proves it. My question is this... Why is he still on the roster then? If after 3 years of trying to develop him as a back up you have to run out and sign some washed up bum, why are we keeping him? And more importantly, why haven't we been trying to develop someone else? You know in football every player is one play away from being done for the year... even longer in some cases. Ben's style of play makes the possibility of injury go up because it exposes him more due to the fact that he does have a tendency to hold the ball. It's just hard to believe this is the best plan B they can come up with.

 

[Steelerfan]

You should repost this around draft time when people scream for a QB to groom as Ben's eventual replacement.

 

[TDX27]

Do you realize our backup is Gradkowski and he is injured? We are basically down to our third string QB, at this point. Get a grip people. Jones needs to go after this year, period. If he hasn't improved enough to have been able to play in this situation, then he must go. Three years is more than enough time for him.

 

[AggieSteel]

Landry only exists because of how often we've had to resort to our 3rd string QB if Ben goes down

 

[insaniti]

Do you realize our backup is Gradkowski and he is injured? We are basically down to our third string QB, at this point. Get a grip people. Jones needs to go after this year, period. If he hasn't improved enough to have been able to play in this situation, then he must go. Three years is more than enough time for him.

There's no reason to cut Jones at the moment, he's making peanuts and is rarely active. He isn't costing any major piece of the puzzle a roster spot either. As it stands now, they will probably ride out his rookie contract and that's it. To put it more blunt, they had more faith in Dennis Dixon and cut him loose after his rookie deal as well. He even started in the exact same situation that Jones is in right now, Ben goes down, back up is hurt (Gradkowski) Dixon gets the start against the Ravens on a short week. Almost won that game too, went to OT where he threw a pick 6...Point is, for all the complaints, he isn't really an issue.

Landry only exists because of how often we've had to resort to our 3rd string QB if Ben goes down

Pretty much this^^

 

[Stryker]

There's no reason to cut Jones at the moment, he's making peanuts and is rarely active. He isn't costing any major piece of the puzzle a roster spot either. As it stands now, they will probably ride out his rookie contract and that's it. To put it more blunt, they had more faith in Dennis Dixon and cut him loose after his rookie deal as well. He even started in the exact same situation that Jones is in right now, Ben goes down, back up is hurt (Gradkowski) Dixon gets the start against the Ravens on a short week. Almost won that game too, went to OT where he threw a pick 6...Point is, for all the complaints, he isn't really an issue.



Pretty much this^^

It is not the same situation at all. Gradkowski was hurt in the preseason and was IRed. We then brought in another vet backup to serve as our #2, who is Vick since Landry was the only backup QB on the roster.

When Dixon played, Ben was suspended, and both backups Leftwich AND Batch were banged up to give Dixon an opportunity. So our starter, and 2 backups were out of it for Dixon to get a chance to play.

If Vick gets hurt, then the situation will be the same and Landry will be playing.

 

[TDX27]

Jones won't be cut now unless there is a truly viable other option. But, he better not be on the roster come next season. After three years in the system, if you can't be the backup, then you never will be.

 

[insaniti]

It is not the same situation at all. Gradkowski was hurt in the preseason and was IRed. We then brought in another vet backup to serve as our #2, who is Vick since Landry was the only backup QB on the roster.

When Dixon played, Ben was suspended, and both backups Leftwich AND Batch were banged up to give Dixon an opportunity. So our starter, and 2 backups were out of it for Dixon to get a chance to play.

If Vick gets hurt, then the situation will be the same and Landry will be playing.

When Dixon started against the Ravens, Ben was hurt not suspended. Batch played against the Ravens when Ben was suspended...

 

[jitter77]

Not only back up qbs, but look at the quality of some of the starting qbs. Several teams barely have one serviceable qb let alone 2. I wonder how many qbs can make it in the nfl but never get a chance or are just missed.

 

[Stryker]

When Dixon started against the Ravens, Ben was hurt not suspended. Batch played against the Ravens when Ben was suspended...

Was Lefty on IR?

 

[ark steel]

Not only back up qbs, but look at the quality of some of the starting qbs. Several teams barely have one serviceable qb let alone 2. I wonder how many qbs can make it in the nfl but never get a chance or are just missed.

Redskins, probably, have the best #2 QB, but their #1 ain't somebody I'd want at #1.

 

[Coach]

Does anyone else find it strange that with all the quarterbacks that come out of college year after year, teams aren't able to find enough of them that have what it takes to be serviceable back ups in the NFL....

Not really. Good NFL QB's are in short supply. Few teams have back ups better than the opening day 32 starting quarterbacks.

 

[insaniti]

Was Lefty on IR?

Lefty wasn't on the roster yet, Ben got a concussion in the previous game against KC, Batch came in for him and also got hurt. Dixon started the next game against Baltimore, Batch was the back up and Ben was the emergency 3rd string. There was a lot of controversy that week, Ward publicly questioned Ben's toughness because he thought it was his choice not to play.

 

[blitzburghv5]

Lefty wasn't on the roster yet, Ben got a concussion in the previous game against KC, Batch came in for him and also got hurt. Dixon started the next game against Baltimore, Batch was the back up and Ben was the emergency 3rd string. There was a lot of controversy that week, Ward publicly questioned Ben's toughness because he thought it was his choice not to play.

Wait...I thought Lefty WAS on the roster...but he had gotten hurt (cracked ribs) in a previous game ?

 

[Stryker]

If we're talking 2010, Ben was suspended, Lefty got hurt in the preseason and we signed Batch. Dixon started and hurt himself in week 2. Batch enters in the second game and starts until Ben returns.

Batch was lower than Dixon on the depth chart that year.

 

[SteelerAl]

It's hard to keep all of these straight. In 2010 (Ben's suspension year), Leftwich got hurt in preseason and Dixon became the starter. Dixon beat the Falcons in OT, but then got hurt against the Titans and Batch came in to finish out that game (put us at 2-0). Batch beat Tampa Bay and almost beat Baltimore at home (we ended up 3-1 during Ben's suspension).

In Haley's first season as OC (2012), Ben got the cracked rib against KC. Leftwich started against Baltimore but got hurt scoring a rushing touchdown (yes, seriously). Batch came in and kept the game close but we ended up losing even though Baltimore didn't score an offensive TD (they took a punt back for TD).

We lost in OT the year that Ben had a concussion (and Hines criticized him). Dixon almost played well enough to win in Baltimore but threw a key INT in OT. I forget why Dixon was #2 at that point.

On the bright side, Tomlin is good at rallying the team when Ben is out of the lineup...

 

[steelerscotty]

This is a result of the proliferation of the spread offense in college football. These qb's put up big numbers but have no experience reading defenses like they have to as pros. This, combined with huge spike in talent level in the defenses they are up against, makes it rare for a college qb to come in and impact the game right away.

 

[wig]

Yep, College QBs are rarely required to actually throw the ball in a pro-style offense.

They run simplistic option offenses designed to string out the defense and utilize "mobile" QBs. This works fine against defenses with only 2 or 3 really talented players. Get to the pros where you have 7 or 8 extraordinarily talented players on defense and your QB gets killed, throws worm-burners (you're welcome Vader,) or becomes a turnover machine.

 

[RollRed]

Not only back up qbs, but look at the quality of some of the starting qbs. Several teams barely have one serviceable qb let alone 2. I wonder how many qbs can make it in the nfl but never get a chance or are just missed.

This is the jist of what I was thinking when I started this thread. I just find a little hard to believe that this skill set is that unique.... that there aren't guys coming out of college every year that could become solid NFL quarterbacks if somehow they could get the opportunity. I wonder if there is a rule against teams having some kind of quarterback development program where you can invite as many of these young QB's coming out of college as you want. Some type of QB camp where these guys could be put through the paces to see if any have the raw talent to possibly become an NFL quarterback. One would think the laws of averages would almost guarantee that there are guys out there that could play if they ever got the opportunity to be evaluated. I'm just throwing this out there... Not even sure if something like this is plausible. It just seems odd to me that these same old retreads like Vick, Cassel, Fitzpatrick, Hoyer, etc. keep getting shuffled around the league getting opportunity after opportunity when it's been well established that they ain't got it.

 

[Slash#10]

Playing QB in the NFL is a very difficult job. The success players have in college isn't an apples to apples translation to the pros like most other positions. Look at Big Ben (Miami of Ohio) and Flacco (Delaware). I wouldn't call their schools QB factories, but they have developed in the NFL and experienced success. Now compare that to schools like Alabama, LSU, Florida Gators... teams loaded with NFL talent, haven't produced elite QB's or even above the line backups. How long was Tyrod Taylor (VTech) a backup, before he became a starter. In addition when you are a backup you get no game experience and very little practice reps. Making it even that much more difficult to improve and develop. In practice you mimick the opponent QB's all season long. Look at Hoyer and Mallot who sat behind Brady. They're down in Houston playing average QB ball.

So when you are looking for a backup QB, the best case scenario is to hire an experienced former starting QB. Vick, Gradkowski, Leftwich, and Batch were all starting QB's in the league at some point.

 

[Drink IRON City]

T*mmy b*y brady, would have been a back up, EXCEPT, billicheat found an extrordinary talent of his....................... Honestly......





Salute the nation

 

[fogdoctor]

Playing QB in the NFL is a very difficult job. The success players have in college isn't an apples to apples translation to the pros like most other positions. Look at Big Ben (Miami of Ohio) and Flacco (Delaware). I wouldn't call their schools QB factories, but they have developed in the NFL and experienced success.

Hey wait a minute there! You saying that Delaware is not a QB generating powerhouse? Joe Flacco, Rich Gannon , Scott Bruner, Andy Hall, and who could forget Jeff Komlo that played for the Lions in the early 80s?

I'm kidding - I went there.

 

[steelermania]

A lack of good quarterbacks is nothing new. It's always been that way. Terry Hanratty was our backup during the 70's. Watching him play was painful.