A back-up quarterback matters. Almost every year some teams’ fortunes are changed by injuries to their first-string quarterbacks. Some teams like the 2011 Texans and the 2008 Patriots, have developed young players within their team’s system so that the team can still function with the super star injured. Then there are teams like the 2011 Chicago Bears who had no answers beyond Jay Cutler and let a promising 7-3 start go down the drain with Caleb Hanie under center. Or for another example take the Oakland Raiders when Jason Campbell got injured. The Raiders were so certain they didn’t have a decent replacement on the roster that they went out and traded multiple draft picks for Carson Palmer. The problem is there aren’t enough quality backup’s to go around, so every year there are at least a few teams at risk.
Here is a list of five promising teams that could see their season take a major turn for the worse if the back-up has to play any meaningful time:
5) Denver Broncos – We all know the Peyton Manning story. As a 36-year old coming off of major surgery you have to consider the fact that he might miss a few games during the season. The Broncos apparently did not. The same Caleb Hanie that sunk the Chicago Bears 2011 season will now be the backup for the 2012 Denver Broncos. If Hanie is forced to play in Denver it could be even uglier than last year. In Chicago at least Hanie had the benefit of a stellar defense. The talent level is not as high in Denver and Hanie would have to produce himself for the Broncos to keep winning.
4) New York Giants – Many of us may still think of the Giants as a balanced team with a well-formed running game, but the reality is that this is Eli Manning’s team. The running backs are not the same calibre the Giants used to have, but more concerning is that the line is not close to what it used to be. The Giants struggle to open up holes in the run game now, and while they still remain committed to running in the redzone, this team moves the ball through the air or not at all. This is why Manning had nearly 5,000 yards last season, and this is why the Giants require a solid veteran to back-up Manning. David Carr is not that solid back-up. He may look good in preseason, but I am not fooled. Carr can make throws look pretty, but his problem is that he has always held onto the ball too long. This style puts pressure on the offensive line and this current Giants line just can’t handle any extra pressure. Carr would be a disaster if pressed into starting duty.
3) Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton is their all-world player that the entire offense is based on. Their run heavy offense with multiple backs looks great when Newton is back there handing the ball off and keeping the backside of the defense honest for the potential of a quarterback run, but take that element away and the Panthers would be predictable and easy to stop. The big play element would be completely taken out of their offense. Now factor in that their backup is Derek Anderson. The same Derek Anderson who couldn’t win a starting job in Cleveland or Arizona against QB’s who are already out of the league. Make no mistake, Derek Anderson is a terrible quarterback.
2) Buffalo Bills – *See update at bottom* Incumbant Ryan Fitzpatrick might not be a superstar like some of the other names on this list but he was very efficient for most of the year in Buffalo last season. Head Coach Chan Gailey has also selected Fitzpatrick because his style meshes with the spread ’em out quick strike offense he has installed. The offense doesn’t necessarily require the strongest arm but it requires accurate throws and quick decisions. The exact same things that Vince Young does not give you. There will always be hope that Vince can become what he showed flashes of in his first seasons in the NFL but after so many years it is a safer bet to say it will just never happen. Any time Young steps on the field these days he looks awful, including last year’s regular season and this year’s preseason.
1) Green Bay Packers – The last few years the Packers were sitting on a hidden gem in Matt Flynn. Flynn was a late round Packers draft pick back in 2008 and he immediately beat out the 2nd round pick from that same season, Brian Brohm. Once Flynn was identified as a capable player, the Packers developed him within their system all the way up until last year. The time invested paid off as Flynn was able to come in last season and dominate a game, even if it was a meaningless one for the Packers (and he played pretty darn good against New England in 2010, too). The Packers didn’t draft another QB after Matt Flynn until this season because they knew they had a capable player. Now that Flynn has left for a lucrative contract the only true back-up option is Graham Harrell. Harrell may very well take the same steps Flynn did as the Packers back-up, but he has only been on the Packers for one season and it is clear he doesn’t have any of the polish that Flynn possesses. This is the #1 ranked risky QB situation, not because of Harrell, but because of the circumstances. The Packers are the #1 Super Bowl contender in the league. They are talented enough on offense that with a veteran back-up they could still do some damage. They are also a total passing offense so there is no hope for them getting by with defense and the ground game if they do sustain an injury. If Graham Harrell is forced to play for any length of time the Packers won’t look like the Packers.
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* BILLS UPDATE*
Apparently I wasn’t the only one to notice the terrible back-up QB situation the Bills had on their hands. After completion of this column the Bills traded a late round pick to acquire former starting QB Tarvaris Jackson. The move certainly spells the end of Vince Young’s short tenure in Buffalo. Tarvaris has performed as a starter in the past, and while he has never been dominant he will be capable of providing a few spot starts as needed. He is a big enough upgrade for the Bills to remove them from this list.
