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Three Rookies, Three Teams, Three Decisions
Posted by tomvanwyheThe decision to start a rookie quarterback is always tricky for the head coach. On the one hand, he feels suffocating pressure from the fans and franchise owner who expect their new toy to get playing time right off the bat. To the fans, he’s the answer to years of losing or falling short of the Super Bowl. To the owner, it’s more business than excitement: he’s the guy who cost upwards of $40 million, and every game, or worse, year, he isn’t a starter is viewed as money lost.
Gone are the days when a head coach could sign his rookie quarterback and groom him behind a quality starter. Gone are the days when a rookie had to earn every bit of respect from the fans. Today it’s “what have you done for me lately?” Expectations for both the coach and player are at an all time high, especially after last season’s history-defiant head coaches and rookie quarterbacks.
Mike Smith and Matt Ryan successfully made Atlanta Falcons fans forget about the debacle that landed their last quarterback in prison only two seasons before by making the postseason and shocking fans and media across the country.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens soared to the AFC Championship game with rookie quarterback Joe Flacco under center and John Harbaugh calling the shots from the sideline. It was a great story, reinvigorating interest in the Baltimore Ravens franchise.
Talk about raising the bar.
Unfortunately for some persons, their success has repercussions for this season. Three more rookie quarterbacks and rookie head coaches have been signed by three teams to lead their respective franchises to winning ways. Losing leads to desperation which leads to making decisions too soon. Sometimes it works and you have a Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco, but other times it’s too much too soon and you wind up with a quarterback like Tim Couch or Ryan Leaf.
Take a look at these three teams and rookie quarterbacks and decide for yourself: when should they start this season, if at all?
Detroit Lions – Rookie: Matthew Stafford – Veteran: Daunte Culpepper
Stafford was the most hyped player in the draft, a physically gifted quarterback with leadership skills. But it wasn’t unanimous praise for Stafford; he had plenty of detractors who said he wasn’t ready for the NFL because he lacked well developed decision making skills and throwing accuracy.
Regardless, the team cannot possibly play worse than it did last season when it finished with 16 regular season losses. The Lions made strides to improve during the offseason, and if the offensive line is improved as it should be, the offense won’t struggle as much as most 0-16 teams do. Stafford has the added benefit of a young running back with loads of potential, Kevin Smith, and one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, Calvin Johnson. Expect Stafford to start at some point this season, perhaps by week one if preseason goes well, and he has the weapons around him to finish with decent numbers.
New York Jets – Rookie: Mark Sanchez – Veteran: Kellen Clemens
Mark Sanchez gained considerable ground on Matt Stafford in the weeks leading up to draft, thanks to outstanding workouts that showcased his pinpoint throwing accuracy. When the Jets traded up to draft Sanchez, fans went wild.
The Jets have a history of drafting disappointments, so here’s to hoping Sanchez won’t be the next notch on that belt. According to reports, he hasn’t practiced better than Clemens this offseason. It’s early, of course, but don’t expect Sanchez to be the week one starter. If Clemens struggles during the regular season, Sanchez might be able to leapfrog him.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Rookie: Josh Freeman – Veteran: Luke McCown/Byron Leftwich
Josh Freeman is the least likely week one starter of the three rookie quarterbacks in this article and the rawest talent of the bunch. Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik has said “the ultimate goal” is to let him “sit back and learn.” It’s probably the wisest decision, especially considering the combined experience of Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich, and there presence makes it very unlikely Freeman will start at any point during the first part of the season. However, if the season is lost during the second half, he could see a lot of snaps.
Tags: Detroit Lions, Josh Freeman, Mark Sanchez, Matthew Stafford, New York Jets, NFL, QB, Quarterbacks, Rookies, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
