Bob and I were having a conversation on the air the other day about how we can't remember a time when there were so many bad teams in the NFL. When so many teams went out there on Sunday with no real chance to win--unless they were playing another pathetic team. We came to the realization that the root of the problem is the lack of talented quarterbacks in the league.
Right now, I would say there are only four "elite" quarterbacks in the NFL--guys who give their teams a chance to win every Sunday. They are: Peyton Manning (the current King of All Quarterbacks), Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. That's it, just four guys with Hall of Fame talent playing right now.
They are followed by the "Second Tier Guys"--the quarterbacks that on good days can lift their teams to victory single-handedly, but still have a few too many "stinker games" to be considered elite. They would be: Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning, Jay Cutler, Matt Ryan, Phillip Rivers, Joe Flacco, Carson Palmer, Kyle Orton and the walking dinosaurs Brett Favre and Kurt Warner.
In the "Good but overrated" category you have Tony Romo and Donovan McNabb (there goes my chance of owning an NFL team!)--who run about 50-50 on their quality performances.
If we stop at the second tier guys, you have just 14-quality quarterback in a league of 32 teams. And those just happen to be the 14-teams competing for the 12 playoff spots. Not even half the teams have QB's that even give them a chance to win a game. When I was a kid in the late 70's and early 80's--you would have had no trouble naming all 28 quarterbacks in the league. Even the worst franchises like the New Orleans Saints had guys like Archie Manning and Kenny Stabler at QB. The Packers played the St Louis Rams (who have lost an entire season's worth of games in a row--16) just a few weeks ago--can you remember who was their quarterback? And this week the Packers get the Browns--whose Derek Anderson this month completed just 2 of 17 passes in a game--AND STILL WON OVER BUFFALO!!
I get a kick out of how the NFL analysts are going crazy over the Miami Dolphins running the "Wildcat Offense" with the direct snap to the running back--like the old single-wing days. They like to call it a "work of genius". I think its an act of desperation--a white flag if you will--saying "my offense actually runs better if I don't even have a quarterback involved in the play." The fact that I see some colleges and even high school programs running the "Wildcat" now says to me the quarterbacking situation in the NFL isn't going to get better any time soon. Enjoy those five interception afternoon fans!
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I disagree with you. Yes, quarterbacks are important, but you have to win all three phases of the game to be a winner. If your defense struggles, or you struggle on special teams or have trouble with your offensive line blocking, you're doomed. It's so much more than QBs, and you missed the target on this one.
ReplyDeleteThank God is't only "YOUR TWO CENTS"! You couldn't be anymore off track. Obviously you must not know too much about the game (football). Whereas it is always easier to criticize when your not on the field. I would refer to you as what is called a "sideline coach" or a "backseat driver". Being in the NFL alone makes you ELITE, and not that I'm a huge Bret Farve (Hall of Fame) fan but how can you not include him as being ELITE? Oh yea... I remember how, he use to play for a certain team in Green Bay! And to bring up Donovan McNabb, wow! What a low blow. Not to mention you problay don't have enough money to own his jockstrap, let alone a football team. So just let it go. The list of "ELITE" professional quaterbacks goes on and on, but of course it's easy to judge when your not throwing the ball. Now that's "My Two Cents!
ReplyDeleteThey have a point, Jonathan. The QB is important, a leader, but he can't do it alone. Aaron Rogers shows every evidence of growing into elitehood, even by your standards, he seems like one very fine QB, but the offensive line has to protect him.
ReplyDeleteAlso, talent is an elusive thing. It's not evenly distributed in the population. Sometimes, in any field, you get GOBS of talented pros, other times, it seems a real drought. We are probably in such a drought now. Nonetrheless, it takes a lot more than a QB to win games.
The quarterback may be the leader of "the pack", but it is still a "TEAM" effort, which is supposed to be stressed with the kids.
ReplyDeleteJust like the president of the U.S. can't do it alone, he's only 1/3 of the legislative system.
>>Enjoy those five interception afternoon fans!<<
ReplyDeleteActually, if I'm watching anybody other than "my" team play, I *love* to see interceptions! Turnovers are fun! Shake things up, so unpredictable. One of the best things about football is its complexity, the fact that plans oft go awry.