QBs in NFC
- Thread starter 4bubba
- Start date
(May 30, 2003) -- As stated in our AFC quarterback scoop, there are many reasons the quarterback position is the most crucial on the field in the NFL. Though some teams have a definite starter, others are still figuring out who will be at the wheel in 2003.
We've already run down the signal-callers for the AFC teams. Now it's time to delve into the 16 NFC teams.
NFC EAST
1. Dallas, Chad Hutchinson/Quincy Carter -- I don't believe Bill Parcells is really prepared to go into battle with either one in 2003. Hutchinson and Carter aren't ready but Parcells will build a conservative attack with some "bunch" passing like he did in New York and the starter will get better. Parcells says the quarterback competition is an open race, which may mean throughout the year. Coach Parcells has little regard for the unwritten rule that the starting QB is the starter no matter what happens.
2. New York Giants, Kerry Collins -- For all the criticism general manager Ernie Accorsi and coach Jim Fassel took for signing Collins a few years ago, they have been more than vindicated. Collins stays healthy all year long and is an upper-echelon player. The Giants are happy to have him.
3. Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb -- McNabb is considered an elite NFL player at this point in his career. He played extremely well when hurt and couldn't run around. Was it a glimpse of the future -- a pure pocket passer in an Eagles uniform? He is the best the NFC East has to offer.
4. Washington, Patrick Ramsey -- He needs to make the jump to the next level if owner Daniel Snyder and coach Steve Spurrier are to remain happy in the nation's capital. One division opponent said, "Ramsey is not ready to deliver what ownership wants. There's going to be too much pressure on the young QB."
OVERALL -- Dallas and Washington each have a big question mark. I would be surprised if either can pass New York and Philadelphia until their quarterback situations are straightened out.
NFC NORTH
1. Chicago, Kordell Stewart -- He never really delivered in Pittsburgh and eventually lost his job. Now Dick Jauron is counting on him to turn the Bears around. One of Stewart's former coaches said, "It's a risk to think Stewart can get the Bears to the playoffs." Chicago would have been a great spot for Griese or one of the quality backups like Trent Dilfer or Marc Bulger.
Green Bay's Brett Favre is still among the cream of the NFC QB crop.
2. Detroit, Joey Harrington -- Harrington has what it takes to become a quality starter in the NFL. The loss of a head coach this early in a player's career usually spells trouble, but Steve Mariucci will be a big plus in Harrington's development.
3. Green Bay, Brett Favre -- He is still the greatest competitor on Sunday in the NFL. As long as he still wants to wear a Packers uniform, the team is a playoff contender.
4. Minnesota, Daunte Culpepper -- He got a big new contract from a Vikings team struggling to get back to "playoffs business as usual." The former Central Florida standout is talented but not a complete quarterback yet. He still has room to grow and the Vikings need it soon.
OVERALL -- This has always been Favre's division and will remain that way in 2003.
NFC SOUTH
1. Atlanta, Michael Vick -- He is a budding young star who may not take a big step in his growth this year. Defensive coordinators will spend the whole offseason discussing ways to corral him. One coach who has seen many young QB stars emerge in the NFL said, "Guys will scheme to make him beat you exclusively with his arm and not his feet." I say easier said than done, but I do expect some growing pains.
2. Carolina, Rodney Peete /Jake Delhomme -- The Panthers have skipped taking a QB high in the draft two years in a row, which causes some people to scratch their heads. Peete can't go on forever and Delhomme has never won the starting job. One former Saints employee told me if he were starting to rebuild a team, he'd do it with Delhomme. The Panthers may be thinking the same way.
3. New Orleans, Aaron Brooks -- He played well right after coming from Green Bay but flattened out last year. If he has a mediocre 2003 as some expect, he may become a Charlie Batch-type QB.
4. Tampa Bay, Brad Johnson -- He led the Bucs to a Super Bowl victory and will flourish in Gruden's system like Gannon did in Oakland. Right place at the right time best describes Johnson. I expect him to have an even better year in 2003.
OVERALL -- For the near future, things will be difficult for Atlanta as long as Vick has to face Tampa Bay's defense twice a year. There are two potential Pro Bowl QBs in this division.
NFC WEST
1. Arizona, Jeff Blake -- I have always liked Blake, but he may not have enough weapons to carry the Cardinals to a winning record. One QBs coach said, "I would rather have Blake than [Kordell] Stewart, but at the end of the year the numbers will probably make it look like Stewart was a better choice."
2. St. Louis, Kurt Warner -- The guy goes from league MVP to competing for his job. He will rebound in Martz's system and look more like his old self this season.
3. San Francisco, Jeff Garcia -- He is still a Pro Bowl-caliber player and will remain so with Terrell Owens on the field. He's not young, has strong opinions about things and now has to deal with a new head coach. It may be more difficult than some expect.
4. Seattle, Matt Hasselbeck -- He won the job when Dilfer got hurt, who won the job when Hasselbeck got hurt. This is another place like Miami, Cleveland and Carolina where the pressure to play the backup eventually may be a factor.
OVERALL -- There are some quarterback-driven teams in this division, which has two Pro Bowl players in Garcia and Warner. Seattle and Arizona need to win this season but it sure looks hard when you study their quarterback situations.
When you break down the quarterback position, there are 32 teams in the league and more than one way to get a starter. Fourteen starters were drafted by the team they play for, six were acquired by trade, nine were picked up via free agency and three were found by accident. Every team should have a guy like Warner, Maddox or Garcia show up from Canada, the Arena League or NFL Europe. I have a close eye on Baltimore, Carolina, Jacksonville, Miami, Cleveland and Seattle because they are all in a situation where pressure could force a change as the season rolls on.
We've already run down the signal-callers for the AFC teams. Now it's time to delve into the 16 NFC teams.
NFC EAST
1. Dallas, Chad Hutchinson/Quincy Carter -- I don't believe Bill Parcells is really prepared to go into battle with either one in 2003. Hutchinson and Carter aren't ready but Parcells will build a conservative attack with some "bunch" passing like he did in New York and the starter will get better. Parcells says the quarterback competition is an open race, which may mean throughout the year. Coach Parcells has little regard for the unwritten rule that the starting QB is the starter no matter what happens.
2. New York Giants, Kerry Collins -- For all the criticism general manager Ernie Accorsi and coach Jim Fassel took for signing Collins a few years ago, they have been more than vindicated. Collins stays healthy all year long and is an upper-echelon player. The Giants are happy to have him.
3. Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb -- McNabb is considered an elite NFL player at this point in his career. He played extremely well when hurt and couldn't run around. Was it a glimpse of the future -- a pure pocket passer in an Eagles uniform? He is the best the NFC East has to offer.
4. Washington, Patrick Ramsey -- He needs to make the jump to the next level if owner Daniel Snyder and coach Steve Spurrier are to remain happy in the nation's capital. One division opponent said, "Ramsey is not ready to deliver what ownership wants. There's going to be too much pressure on the young QB."
OVERALL -- Dallas and Washington each have a big question mark. I would be surprised if either can pass New York and Philadelphia until their quarterback situations are straightened out.
NFC NORTH
1. Chicago, Kordell Stewart -- He never really delivered in Pittsburgh and eventually lost his job. Now Dick Jauron is counting on him to turn the Bears around. One of Stewart's former coaches said, "It's a risk to think Stewart can get the Bears to the playoffs." Chicago would have been a great spot for Griese or one of the quality backups like Trent Dilfer or Marc Bulger.
Green Bay's Brett Favre is still among the cream of the NFC QB crop.
2. Detroit, Joey Harrington -- Harrington has what it takes to become a quality starter in the NFL. The loss of a head coach this early in a player's career usually spells trouble, but Steve Mariucci will be a big plus in Harrington's development.
3. Green Bay, Brett Favre -- He is still the greatest competitor on Sunday in the NFL. As long as he still wants to wear a Packers uniform, the team is a playoff contender.
4. Minnesota, Daunte Culpepper -- He got a big new contract from a Vikings team struggling to get back to "playoffs business as usual." The former Central Florida standout is talented but not a complete quarterback yet. He still has room to grow and the Vikings need it soon.
OVERALL -- This has always been Favre's division and will remain that way in 2003.
NFC SOUTH
1. Atlanta, Michael Vick -- He is a budding young star who may not take a big step in his growth this year. Defensive coordinators will spend the whole offseason discussing ways to corral him. One coach who has seen many young QB stars emerge in the NFL said, "Guys will scheme to make him beat you exclusively with his arm and not his feet." I say easier said than done, but I do expect some growing pains.
2. Carolina, Rodney Peete /Jake Delhomme -- The Panthers have skipped taking a QB high in the draft two years in a row, which causes some people to scratch their heads. Peete can't go on forever and Delhomme has never won the starting job. One former Saints employee told me if he were starting to rebuild a team, he'd do it with Delhomme. The Panthers may be thinking the same way.
3. New Orleans, Aaron Brooks -- He played well right after coming from Green Bay but flattened out last year. If he has a mediocre 2003 as some expect, he may become a Charlie Batch-type QB.
4. Tampa Bay, Brad Johnson -- He led the Bucs to a Super Bowl victory and will flourish in Gruden's system like Gannon did in Oakland. Right place at the right time best describes Johnson. I expect him to have an even better year in 2003.
OVERALL -- For the near future, things will be difficult for Atlanta as long as Vick has to face Tampa Bay's defense twice a year. There are two potential Pro Bowl QBs in this division.
NFC WEST
1. Arizona, Jeff Blake -- I have always liked Blake, but he may not have enough weapons to carry the Cardinals to a winning record. One QBs coach said, "I would rather have Blake than [Kordell] Stewart, but at the end of the year the numbers will probably make it look like Stewart was a better choice."
2. St. Louis, Kurt Warner -- The guy goes from league MVP to competing for his job. He will rebound in Martz's system and look more like his old self this season.
3. San Francisco, Jeff Garcia -- He is still a Pro Bowl-caliber player and will remain so with Terrell Owens on the field. He's not young, has strong opinions about things and now has to deal with a new head coach. It may be more difficult than some expect.
4. Seattle, Matt Hasselbeck -- He won the job when Dilfer got hurt, who won the job when Hasselbeck got hurt. This is another place like Miami, Cleveland and Carolina where the pressure to play the backup eventually may be a factor.
OVERALL -- There are some quarterback-driven teams in this division, which has two Pro Bowl players in Garcia and Warner. Seattle and Arizona need to win this season but it sure looks hard when you study their quarterback situations.
When you break down the quarterback position, there are 32 teams in the league and more than one way to get a starter. Fourteen starters were drafted by the team they play for, six were acquired by trade, nine were picked up via free agency and three were found by accident. Every team should have a guy like Warner, Maddox or Garcia show up from Canada, the Arena League or NFL Europe. I have a close eye on Baltimore, Carolina, Jacksonville, Miami, Cleveland and Seattle because they are all in a situation where pressure could force a change as the season rolls on.
Not sure if Hassleback can produce when there is pressure on him.....
Watch out for Joey Harrington this year
Watch out for Joey Harrington this year
