The NFL quarterback position is probably the most over analyzed position in all of sports … and deservedly so as it is the most critical position in all of sports.
Who’s the GOAT? Which quarterbacks are an elite QB? Which teams need to upgrade their quarterback spot? The analysis and opinions are endless.
And after watching the performance of a handful of QBs this past weekend, several things came to mind. So, let’s overreact to those thoughts.
Mac Jones – Jones has played well this season with many experts raving about his performance & potential. But because of the Patriots strong defense and run game, New England hasn’t asked Jones to do the heavy lifting. On Saturday they did, though, as they were down early vs. the Colts.
He was forced to throw 45 passes and completed only 58% of them with 2 interceptions in the Pats 27-17 loss. So, is Jones more of a product of his environment (strong defense & run game) vs. being the second coming of Tom Brady? I think the answer is somewhere in the middle.
Tom Brady – Speaking of TB12, he’s the GOAT right? Right? Well, did you watch his performance in the Sunday night game where Tampa Bay was shutout by the Saints? He was 26-48 (54% completion percentage) for only 214 yards with zero TD passes, 1 interception and a fumble.
Anyone can have a bad game, but the question is why did he have a bad game. For one, he was under pressure most of the night. Secondly, much of his normal high-level talent around him wasn’t available. Antonio Brown was suspended, and Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Leonard Fournette were all injured during the game and didn’t return. In other words, he had to deal with the variables that many other QBs have to deal with every week with poor pass protection and a lack of talented playmakers around them.
It makes you wonder how successful Brady would have been for the past 20+ years if he had been drafted by the Jets or Dolphins. I’m guessing he would have been better than Ryan Tannehill, but I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be in the GOAT discussion. I can hear Patriots and Bucs fans everywhere screaming at me, but keep in mind this is over-reaction Monday.
Ryan Tannehill – Since leaving Miami for Tennessee, Tannehill has been praised for turning his career around. And Dolphins management & coaching has been blamed for not developing him properly over the years. Well, let’s take a look at how well Tannehill has done over the past month with the likes of the uber talented Derrick Henry and A.J. Brown unavailable to support him.
The Titans have lost 3 of their last 4 games with Tannehill throwing only 2 TD passes while having 6 interceptions. And in 3 of the 4 games, he has thrown for less than 200 yards. When surrounded by Dolphins like talent the past 4 weeks he seems to be performing like the Dolphins version of Tannehill. Hmmm?
Saints QBs – Take your pick in the post Drew Brees era. Jameis Winston, Trevor Siemian or Taysom Hill. For the past 4 seasons with Brees as the QB, the Saints had the highest passing completion % in the NFL in each year. This year, they have the lowest completion % in the league. This is a testament to the greatness of Brees and says something about the QBs currently on the Saints roster.
Cam Newton – When Panthers’ QB Sam Darnold was injured several weeks ago Newton was handed a gift as he was signed to be their starting quarterback. It was his opportunity to show the entire NFL that he was still a legitimate starting QB. Sorry Cam. Your best days are in the rear-view mirror. The tank is almost empty. So much so, that not only won’t any NFL team be looking his way to be their starter in 2022, but it’s dubious any team will even consider him to be their backup QB.
Dak Prescott – How can a QB surrounded with the talent that Dak has be so pedestrian recently? A top O-line – check. Elite wide receivers in Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb – check. Top shelf RBs with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard – check.
So, what has he done with all of that talent over the past 5 weeks? He has only 5 TD passes to go along with 5 interceptions and only 1 game with more than 240 yards passing. Thankfully for the Cowboys, their defense has been playing at an elite level allowing them to win 3 of the games.
Is his calf still bothering him? Is he just in a funk? Is he not as good as the huge contract says he should be? When you know the answer, let me know. And in full disclosure, I must let you know he has been killing my fantasy team recently … but I’m still starting him in the playoffs this week.
Tyler Huntley – Who? That is what I would have asked 2 weeks ago. But after watching him step in for Lamar Jackson the past 2 games, the question now is who he will be starting for in 2022 as he is a restricted free agent after the season. It’s been a small sample size, but I like what I have seen of the 2nd year QB, and he appears to be one of the top 32 QBs in the league.
One of the pleasures in being an NFL fan is the opportunity to over-react by being a Monday Morning Quarterback. Let me know your thoughts and over reactions.
