Just a cog in the machine
By: Turner Sports Desk
Former Super Bowl Champion Quarterback, Joe Theisman recently
said “The Quarterback position is the most dependent position on the football
field” Theisman gave an example of Tom Brady who gets a ton of credit for the Patriots three super
bowl victories but the margin of victory in each of their super bowls is only 3
points. So the only thing that separates Tom Brady from being the next Fran
Tarkenton or Jim Kelly is Adam
Vinatieri. Obviously Brady did his part in those victories but the bottom
line is a lot of other players who do not get as much credit had to do their
jobs in order for Brady to do his.
I would add that without a solid o-line the best QB in the
world does not stand a chance. The best protection for your QB (young or old)
is a rock solid running game. For
example the only reason I give Brett Favre a chance to be successful in
Minnesota is Adrian Peterson. Peterson is so dominant that it reduces the
pressure on Favre to make every play. If Favre can just manage the game without
making those WTF throws the Vikings chances of success are actually pretty darn
good.
Joe Gibbs did more than any other NFL coach to prove that the
QB position is just one cog in the machine. Gibbs remains the only NFL coach to
win Super Bowls with three different QBs. So when people ask me to predict how a QB will
perform I ask the following four questions:
- How good is the O-line?
- Can this team run the ball consistently? (takes
pressure off the QB to make all the plays)
- Does the defense create turnovers/short field
opportunities?
- How good/experienced are the wide receivers/TEs?
While these factors are not the only ones they do go a long
way in determining how good or bad a year you can expect for a QB. A QB cannot
do anything lying on his back. A QB can make the perfect throw but if the WR is
not where he is supposed to be guess who usually gets the blame? If your football team does not have balance you make it a lot easier for defensive coordinators to shut you down. That is why a QB's best friend is a tough running game. Football is
still a team sport regardless of the undue attention the QB position gets.