Shakespeare once wrote, "The play's the thing." In the NFL, it is more like, "The play of the QB is the thing."
NFL training camps open in around six weeks. Most teams have completed a majority of their planning for the 2005 season. Free agency, the draft, and the odd trade all are designed to bring in the best prospects that can be found in order that they compete against each other and yield the best team possible that will then play towards the ultimate goal of an NFL championship.
How well these teams will do is of course unknown, right? After all, this is the salary cap era of NFL football and anyone can beat anyone on any given Sunday, right?
Don't think so. After all the talk of parity and salary cap and draft picks the NFL more than ever boils down to the play of the man who touches the ball on every offensive snap, the quarterback.
The NFL is a passing league. While it has a way to go in order to catch up with the Canadian Football League (CFL) where the top QB passes for 6,000 yards (not meters), make no mistake the so-called "smash-mouth football" is a thing of the past. Lost in the dust kicked up by Jim Brown and Larry Csonka all those years ago.
Colleges are now turning out pro-caliber QBs who play in pass-oriented offenses and these guys are the ones who are winning Heisman trophies (no Heisman trophy this decade has gone to a RB). These QBs don't get drafted in the first round so they can turn around and hand the ball off. So, pass or perish.
Need more proof? Look at the playoff teams last year and their starting QB:
Patriots: Tom Brady
Jets: Chad Pennington
Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger
Colts: Peyton Manning
Chargers: Drew Brees
Broncos: Jake Plummer
Eagles:Donovan McNabb
Packers: Brett Favre
Vikings: Daunte Culpepper
Falcons: Mike Vick
Seahawks: Matt Hasselbeck
Rams: Marc Bulger
Maybe you aren't convinced that Hasselbeck or Bulger should be on list. Ask yourself this question: who is a better QB in the NFC than these two guys? Rex Grossman? Aaron Brooks?
Like it or not, the trend is clear. The best QB play gets your team into the playoffs. If your QB is going to play at the level of the bottom third of your conference, then your team stays home in January.
The recent "emphasis" on calling illegal contact on a receiver, the banning of the horse-collar tackle and the pass interference call that goes to point of the foul, all these rules are designed to encourage the passing game and discourage defenses from making too many plays on the wideouts.
Two years ago, no playoff team had a RB in the top 10 in rushing. While last year's playoff teams could run the football, the quality QB remains the common factor.
Before camps open, the playoff teams are almost decided. The teams who had a good QB held onto him and those teams who didn't have a good signal-caller couldn't find one.
The biggest QB move this offseason was Drew Bledsoe moving from the Buffalo Bills to the Dallas Cowboys. What kind of improvement is this? Bledsoe is being replaced by second-year man J.P. Losman. It is difficult to call Losman a second-year player since his leg was broken in the preseason last year and Losman missed 12 games and never started.
In fact, Losman threw only five passes in 2004 and one of them was intercepted. This is the man who replaces a 12-year veteran after the first winning season in three years?
The Bills have not made any strides with Losman. He will struggle as a rookie QB would and finding the playoffs in the AFC East will be impossible.
As for Dallas, Bledsoe may be re-united with Bill Parcells, but so was Vinny Testaverde, the guy he is replacing. There isn't much to choose from these two guys. They are the same player — immobile and past their time. Dallas won't get a sniff of the playoffs.
The biggest QB noise this offseason was not the sound of cameras at a big press conference as the high-profile QB moved to a new team. It was the sound of cash registers ringing as teams locked up their QB so they wouldn't go anywhere.
Tom Brady signed his deal, Drew Brees was franchised, and Brett Favre was coached back from the brink of retirement. Last year, Manning and Vick signed their huge deals.
The bad news here is that all the teams who didn't have a decent QB last year didn't do anything to get one this year.
Buffalo Bills: Losman is really a rookie and he will show that often this season.
Miami Dolphins: How about this depth chart? A.J. Feely, Gus Frerotte, and Sage Rosenfels. Dolphin fans, you better hope Ricky Williams comes back and that he brings his good stuff with him to help you forget how bad your QB situation is. (And I don't mean Ricky's running talents.)
Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Boller? How can Brian Billick be a genius by sticking with this guy? Remember, Billick is an offense guy and the Ravens haven't had an offense since ... nevermore.
Cincinnati Bengals: I like Marvin Lewis as much as the next guy (as a coach). Too bad he can't throw. David Klingler, Akili Smith, Carson Palmer. High pick, low return, no playoffs.
Cleveland Browns: Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye, and some guy named Josh Harris. Why do people still live in Cleveland? No, really.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Does anyone really believe that Byron Leftwich is on the verge of a breakthrough season? These must be the same people who believe that Mike Tyson is just starting his comeback.
Houston Texans: I had a great deal of respect for David Carr when he was sacked over 50 times in his rookie season. I respected the fact that he got up every time and went back to the huddle. This guy threw for over 3,500 yards last year and who knows it? That's because he throws it between the 20s and then can't find anyone. No points for yards, only TDs.
Tennessee Titans: Steve McNair was one of the best in the NFL, but he can't stay healthy for a season and the Titans can't get past the Colts or the Jags with Billy Volek. Unless the Titans encase McNair in steel, he won't make it through the year and the Titans will continue their downward spiral into salary cap purgatory.
Kansas City Chiefs: This team is the exception. QB Trent Green is a player although he was a very slow starter last year. He threw for 27 TDs last year and most likely it was the defense that kept the Chiefs out of the playoffs. Green's success is also a mystery when you look at the Chiefs WR depth chart. There is no one to throw the ball to and yet Green puts up 4,500 yards. Okay, this one doesn't count. Maybe Green could play defense, too.
Oakland Raiders: Rich Gannon will most likely retire because of injury, leaving the team solely in the hands of Kerry Collins. Sure, he can throw the deep ball and that's what Al Davis wants. That's Raider football and so is underachieving. If Collins was the answer, the Giants wouldn't have jettisoned him for Kurt Warner and then-rookie Eli Manning.
New York Giants: Not yet, Eli. You are still the little brother.
Dallas Cowboys: Statues with the Star.
Washington Redskins: QB depth chart is Patrick Ramsey, Mark Brunell, and Jason Campbell. What, no Danny Wuerffel or Babe Laufenberg? Has Steve Spurrier really left town?
Detroit Lions: Joey Harrington will be benched by Week 3 for Jeff Garcia. But Garcia fell apart in Cleveland and the Motor City doesn't settle for re-builds.
Chicago Bears: When a team brings in Jeff George, you know that the panic button has just been pushed.
New Orleans Saints: Aaron Brooks and Kordell Stewart are the same guy. They keep turning corners in their career, but after you turn four corners, you are right back to where you started.
Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme, Stefan LeFors, and Chris Weinke. Weren't these guys the Three Musketeers? They aren't NFL QBs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: There was a time when Griese in Florida meant success. We call it the 1970s.
Arizona Cardinals: Do I have to say anything? Why is this team considered an NFL franchise? These guys are so bad the league shipped one of their home games to Mexico. Really, the NFL is trying to use NAFTA to rid themselves of these guys.
San Francisco 49ers: Guess who Arizona's opponent is when they play their "home" game in Mexico? If the Minuteman are still patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border, they may not allow either team to return as their play is "un-American."
So, there you have it. After each team has played their 16-game season, we will have the same playoff teams as last year. The Q-factor will be too much to overcome this year and the best QB play will get their team into the playoffs.
June 21, 2005
Mark:
Can’t have Sage Rosenfelds on both the Dolphins and the Skins….If you are going to be so hard… at least get the players and teams correct… sheesh….
June 21, 2005
Kevin Bell:
QUOTE: “Washington Redskins: QB depth chart is Patrick Ramsey, Sage Rosenfels, and Mark Brunell. What, no Danny Wuerffel or Babe Laufenberg? Has Steve Spurrier really left town?”
HEY DUMBASS… Sage Rosenfels wasn’t even on the skins this time LAST YEAR you putz. He was Miami’s third stringer last I checked and had been for a year.
Where are your qualifications to write anything about anyone? If I had the time I’d go through the rest of this article and tell you some more about football that you don’t know.
June 21, 2005
Jim:
Rosenfels hasn’t been a Redskin since 2001. I guess writing “we will have the same playoff teams as last year” is a lot easier than doing any research.
June 21, 2005
Marc James:
Thanks for the catch, the Rosenfels error has been corrected.
June 21, 2005
Luke Spencer:
I can’t believe you said that Jake Delhomme isn’t a NFL QB. He led them to the Super Bowl in his FIRST YEAR in the new panther system, and just take a look at his numbers last year.
June 21, 2005
Mark:
The Rosenfels error was ‘fixed’ with another error actually. Bryson Spinner was brought in as camp fodder, and I’m pretty sure that the guy that the Redskins drafted in the first round of this year’s draft is going to get a slot. So if you change it to Jason Campbell you’ll finally have it right.
Dreadful.
June 21, 2005
Marc James:
Dreadful? Oh, how dare someone get the THIRD STRING quarterback incorrect on a mediocre, at best, team. Give me a break. Maybe you should go complain to NFL.com because they are the ones who have Spinner, not Campbell, listed. If you have something intelligent to say, please do, but get a life and stop throwing a fit over trivial errors.
June 21, 2005
Nalin Mittal:
Um, do you really believe that the playoff teams from last year will be the same as this year? You’ve been smoking the ganja with Ricky Williams bro.
You can’t make bold predictions about the NFL post season. It’s impossible.
June 21, 2005
Marc James:
Probably not, Nalin. I think it’s more of a generalization than literally meaning every team will be the same. We all know that not to be the case, most likely. The point of the piece, from what I gather, is that having a good QB is still vital to a team’s success teams who didn’t upgrade that position will continue to be mired in mediocrity while others will continue to have success — IN GENERAL.
June 21, 2005
Jeff:
Glad to see we are up on the QB depth charts. Yeah, I messed one up but I also did get some info from NFL.com.
Anyway, anyone interested in the idea behind the story?
There is a problem with the QB depth in the NFL. Recent high draft picks have been busts eg Couch, Smith, Leaf, Harrington etc
Teams aren’t upgrading the QB spot and where does that leave the league that is becoming more pass-friendly?
June 22, 2005
kieran:
Well the sharks are out early…honest mistake Jeff made, but his point is well taken. The NFL is becoming more pass friendly. Trent Green and KC will make the playoffs this year with their some what new Defence contracts..oh joy we have Freddie “Big Mouth” Mitchell to throw to now..maybe an extra 800 yards for Greener if Freddie can catch with his mouth!!
June 22, 2005
mike:
You obviously don’t know what you are talking about. Delhomme had a better passing year than half of the QBs you listed yet he’s not an NFL QB? Give me a break, Micahel Vick…LOL
June 22, 2005
mike:
While your at it why don’t you also name the backups for the playoff QB’s you listed?
June 22, 2005
Louie:
WTF are you talking about? Jake Delhomme isn’t an NFL QB? He just led the Panters to the Super Bowl his FIRST year as a starter. Last year, Steve Smith (pro-bowl WR) and Stephen Davis (Pro-bowl RB) were out the entire year AND Jake still did better than the majority of your so- called “Good QB’s” list. You obviously do not know enough to even talk about football, much less write an article.
June 22, 2005
Mark:
Dont you know Jake Delhomme is the second coming down here in Carolina? Hell he even won that QB challenge thingy that hasnt even aired yet. Thats how good Delhomme is. Got Jake? Oh Yeah, check out that Super Bowl passer rating he had.
June 22, 2005
Jesse:
You are way off base in much of your assessment. Aside from Farve and Brady, the guys on your list have done less in the playoffs (no SuperBowl appearances) than Jake Delhomme and Kerry Collins. Drew “one year” Brees, Matt Hasselback, Jake Plummer, … give me a break. Also, blanket statements such as Raider football is underachieving is ridiculous. You didn’y say last year or 1999 etc… you made a blanket statement. If winning 3 Super Bowls and appearing in 5 total is underachieving football, then I guess the only respectable teams in the history of football are the Packers, 49ers, Cowboys, and Steelers. That leaves many underacievers out there.
June 22, 2005
Mark:
That’s Raider football and so is underachieving. If Collins was the answer, the Giants wouldn’t have jettisoned him for Kurt Warner and then-rookie Eli Manning.
The Raiders underachievers? They have 3 Lombardi trophys last time I looked? If you think Al Davis is prone to being an underachiever why did they pick up Randy Moss and Lamont Jordan this offseason? Eli Manning is clearly a bust when you look at him versus say a Ben Roethlisberger and Kerry Collins took the giants to a super bowl, do some research before making an idiot out of yourself again. What a dork!
June 22, 2005
Tony Adams:
Delhomme isn’t a NFL quaterback. I guess that was some other guy in 2003 leading those comeback victories and leading his team to the Super Bowl and playing out of his mind in that. How Manning, Vick, Hasselback, and Pennington do in there first Super Bowl appearance? Oh yeah, they haven’t been there yet. Shut your trap Moore. Your an idiot.
June 22, 2005
Put Down the Pipe:
Are you so stupid that you do not understand the salary cap?
The Giants cut Collins because he had huge cap number and refused to take a pay cut not because they thought Warner was a better option. That is the NFL today happens all the time.
Do you think that Collins made the wrong choice? He now has Moss and Porter to toss the ball to and doesn’t have some #1 overall pick looking over his shoulder. Every Quarterback that has played with Moss has had their best year when Moss is running deep if you think that Collins is any different you need to PUT THE PIPE DOWN MORON!
June 22, 2005
Jay:
I wouldn’t call drafting one of the best QBs ever to come out of the Pac-10, Andrew Walter, doing “nothing”. The Raiders have an excellent QB situation.
June 22, 2005
James:
You, my friend, are a dumbass.
NOBODY who has responded agrees with you. Nobody. You should apologize for writing such a piece of garbage.
June 22, 2005
Put Down the Pipe:
Hear Hear!!!!! I agree with James apologize for writing this garbage and you should promise to PUT THE PIPE DOWN B4 writing another article!
Do a little research and get your facts right!
June 23, 2005
Dray:
Uhhhh I’m not going to say anything in defense of Chris Weinke, but Stefan Lefors had the highest passer rating and highest completion percentage in the NCAA last year. True it had a lot to do with the system he was in, but that’s still impressive, you should have researched that before dissing him. Enough has been said in Jake’s defense, so I wont re-iterate. Ohhhh yeah you’re writing composition is crappy.
June 23, 2005
stefan:
i have read better commentary by a fifth grader.
June 23, 2005
dylan cyr:
horrible article, this guy needs a new job…if you don’t believe me, check jake delhomme’s stats for the past 2 seasons. this guy really does need a new job.
June 24, 2005
allan:
So I guess Aaron Brooks was one Doug Brien FG away from being a ‘good QB’ ??
Egad, you are an idiot. Delhomme is not good enough, Brooks is not good enough??
Plummer is AWFUL. You would have laughed at Brees and Roethlisberger before the beginning of last year.
You actually reversed your intended message. You ended up saying that MAKING the playoffs means that the QB is good.
NEVER write anything again.
June 26, 2005
Jason Kendall:
As for the article’s premise — Smash-mouth football is dead? The Steelers had the best record in the league last year, and it had nothing to do with Roethlisberger. In fact, 6 of 8 division winners in 04-05 ranked in the top-10 in the league in rushing.