LLT
11-19-2012, 06:42 AM
The anemic play of Byron Leftwich has some fans already calling for Charlie Batch. Lets face it; if the 38 year old Charlie Batch is our answer to the backup quarterback situation, then the Steelers Nation is in a serious state of hurt.
The current discussion about who is the batter backup, is the equivalent of asking ourselves; would we rather chew glass or gargle battery acid? For those not folowing the analogy....neither is considerably appealng.
The debate now MUST turn to what are we going to do about this obvious lack of depth? Of course there is the draft. This next years crop is top heavy with several prospects showing the skill and ability to rank 1st and 2nd round consideration. However, I would point out that this offseason is perhaps the perfect year to pick up a veteran QB, and would argue that this is perhaps the way to go.
Here are a few stats of our current backups:
Byron Leftwich: 32 years old,
58.2 career completion rate,
58 TD's and 41 Interceptions,
79.5 career QB rating
Charlie Batch: 38 years old
56.3 career completion rate,
60 TD's and 48 Interceptions,
77.8 career QB rating
Granted, as with all stats, we have to take a lot of factors into consideration. Knowing this...here is a list of QB's that may be available in 2013, along with the comparible stats. These stats are only meant as a starting point of reference and every fan should do their own homework, so as to form an educated opinion.
Jason Cambell: 31 years old
60.8 career completion rate
74 TD's and 50 Interceptions,
82.6 career QB rating
(If Campbell plays well in relief of Cutler, he will be picked up as a starting QB somewhere)
Ryan Fitzpatrick: 30 years old
59.7 career completion rate,
73 TD's and 58 Interceptions,
76.9 career QB rating
(I actually like Fitz, and would be pleased to have him behind Ben)
Tavaris Jackson: 29 year old
59.4 career completion rate,
38 TD's and 34 Interceptions,
77.7 career QB rating
(I'm a little suspicious of his field awareness...seems to throw into coverage too often)
Kevin Kolb: 28 years old
59.5 career completion rate,
28 TD's and 25 Interceptions,
78.9 career QB rating
(The simple fact that none of Arizona's QB's are effective, my be an indication that the problem isn't Kolb)
Matt Moore: 28 years old
59.1 career completion rate,
33 TD's and 26 Interceptions,
80.5 career QB rating
(Better than his numbers indicate...should grow into a competant backup)
Drew Stanton: 28 years old
55.6 career completion rate,
5 TD's and 9 Interceptions,
26.6 career QB rating
(Thats right.....26.6 QB rating....nuff said)
Tim Tebow: 25 years old
47.9 career completion rate,
17 TD's and 9 Interceptions,
75.5 career QB rating
(Love him or hate him...he has heart. And a 47.9 completion rate...just sayin')
****That takes us to the two QB's who I am most intrigued by*****
Matt Cassel: 30 years old
58.9 career completion rate,
82 TD's and 57 Interceptions,
80.5 career QB rating
(Cassel is a very good backup QB...who the chiefs have mistakenly thought was a starter. I look for the Chiefs to jettison Cassel at seasons end.)
Matt Flynn: 27 years old
62.1 career completion rate,
9 TD's and 5 Interceptions,
92.8 career QB rating
(Those of us who remember Flynn with the Packers, remember that he definately passed the eye test. His QB rating is indicitive of his accuracy and ability. Unfortunately for Flynn, Pete Carroll still has a college mentality and favors athletes over football players.)
Well, there you have it. A pretty substantial list. I left off players like Michael Vick, who should never wear the black and gold, and Matt Hasselbeck, who is 138 years old. I also left off a few players who may be free agents, yet I believe have a better than average chance of resigning with their current team.
So....pick your poison.
The current discussion about who is the batter backup, is the equivalent of asking ourselves; would we rather chew glass or gargle battery acid? For those not folowing the analogy....neither is considerably appealng.
The debate now MUST turn to what are we going to do about this obvious lack of depth? Of course there is the draft. This next years crop is top heavy with several prospects showing the skill and ability to rank 1st and 2nd round consideration. However, I would point out that this offseason is perhaps the perfect year to pick up a veteran QB, and would argue that this is perhaps the way to go.
Here are a few stats of our current backups:
Byron Leftwich: 32 years old,
58.2 career completion rate,
58 TD's and 41 Interceptions,
79.5 career QB rating
Charlie Batch: 38 years old
56.3 career completion rate,
60 TD's and 48 Interceptions,
77.8 career QB rating
Granted, as with all stats, we have to take a lot of factors into consideration. Knowing this...here is a list of QB's that may be available in 2013, along with the comparible stats. These stats are only meant as a starting point of reference and every fan should do their own homework, so as to form an educated opinion.
Jason Cambell: 31 years old
60.8 career completion rate
74 TD's and 50 Interceptions,
82.6 career QB rating
(If Campbell plays well in relief of Cutler, he will be picked up as a starting QB somewhere)
Ryan Fitzpatrick: 30 years old
59.7 career completion rate,
73 TD's and 58 Interceptions,
76.9 career QB rating
(I actually like Fitz, and would be pleased to have him behind Ben)
Tavaris Jackson: 29 year old
59.4 career completion rate,
38 TD's and 34 Interceptions,
77.7 career QB rating
(I'm a little suspicious of his field awareness...seems to throw into coverage too often)
Kevin Kolb: 28 years old
59.5 career completion rate,
28 TD's and 25 Interceptions,
78.9 career QB rating
(The simple fact that none of Arizona's QB's are effective, my be an indication that the problem isn't Kolb)
Matt Moore: 28 years old
59.1 career completion rate,
33 TD's and 26 Interceptions,
80.5 career QB rating
(Better than his numbers indicate...should grow into a competant backup)
Drew Stanton: 28 years old
55.6 career completion rate,
5 TD's and 9 Interceptions,
26.6 career QB rating
(Thats right.....26.6 QB rating....nuff said)
Tim Tebow: 25 years old
47.9 career completion rate,
17 TD's and 9 Interceptions,
75.5 career QB rating
(Love him or hate him...he has heart. And a 47.9 completion rate...just sayin')
****That takes us to the two QB's who I am most intrigued by*****
Matt Cassel: 30 years old
58.9 career completion rate,
82 TD's and 57 Interceptions,
80.5 career QB rating
(Cassel is a very good backup QB...who the chiefs have mistakenly thought was a starter. I look for the Chiefs to jettison Cassel at seasons end.)
Matt Flynn: 27 years old
62.1 career completion rate,
9 TD's and 5 Interceptions,
92.8 career QB rating
(Those of us who remember Flynn with the Packers, remember that he definately passed the eye test. His QB rating is indicitive of his accuracy and ability. Unfortunately for Flynn, Pete Carroll still has a college mentality and favors athletes over football players.)
Well, there you have it. A pretty substantial list. I left off players like Michael Vick, who should never wear the black and gold, and Matt Hasselbeck, who is 138 years old. I also left off a few players who may be free agents, yet I believe have a better than average chance of resigning with their current team.
So....pick your poison.