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ESPN Insider Article on QBs who need to step up

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Harrington, Boller must step upScouts Inc.

The quarterback position remains the most important in the NFL. A great signal caller can take a team to the next level. Unfortunately, a mediocre quarterback also can prevent a team from maximizing its potential.

Let's take a look at young quarterbacks who are already under pressure to take their teams and their own personal games to another level.

Joey Harrington, Detroit Lions
With an improved offensive line, a solid running attack and outstanding weapons in the perimeter passing game, there are no more excuses for Harrington. With Jeff Garcia, a guy who knows the offense and has a history with head coach Steve Mariucci, waiting in the wings, Harrington also has pressure to produce early.

Not only has Harrington's decision making come into question but he also has displayed inconsistent mechanics and flaws in his fundamentals. His footwork is up and down, and when he doesn't square up before his throw, his accuracy suffers and his ball hangs.

With some three-WR sets and a running attack that can set up great play-action opportunities, Harrington must walk the fine line between taking sure shots in the vertical passing game when he sees single man-to-man coverage and trying to force the ball when the play is not there.

The biggest challenge in training camp for Harrington is to read his progressions and make quicker decisions. If he doesn't, look for Garcia to step in. Garcia has great toughness and is calm under pressure. He has a huddle presence you don't always see with Harrington. This is a great battle to watch.

Aaron Brooks, New Orleans Saints
He might be the biggest enigma in the NFL. When you look at his numbers and physical skills, you would think he was headed to the Hall of Fame, but when you break him down on film, there is something missing, and he always seems to come up a little short.

Brooks has great arm strength and mobility, and he can create a lot of big plays -- both in the pocket and on the move. However, he seems to regress when he has too much to do before the ball is snapped. The Saints' coaching staff is simplifying his reads at the line of scrimmage in 2005, curtailing a lot of checkoffs and formation shifts in an effort to let him relax and not force bad decisions.

With the Saints giving the football to running back Deuce McAllister to set up play action, and utilizing a lot of single reads to the receivers, there is no excuse for Brooks not to flourish in 2005. He has had a good offseason, and seems to be making a conscious effort to be a more vocal leader, rather than the laid-back, nonchalant guy we have seen on the sideline after a mistake.
Kyle Boller, Baltimore Ravens
Boller is another young quarterback who has run out of excuses. The Ravens have finally surrounded him with quality offensive weapons. Unlike with Joey Harrington, the Ravens' stellar defense affords Boller the luxury of not having to be great, just consistent.

With a strong running game and three quality weapons in the passing game -- wide receiver Derrick Mason, rookie receiver Mark Clayton and tight end Todd Heap -- Baltimore can spread the field and exploit single man-to-man matchups. However, Boller's biggest weakness so far in his young NFL career has been his decision making. He tends to lock on to his primary receiver, and his inconsistency at reading his progressions has left many big plays on the field.

He has some big targets on the perimeter who will go and get the "jump ball," and he is surrounded by an all-star coaching staff of offensive minds -- head coach Brian Billick, offensive coordinator Jim Fassel and new QB coach Rick Neuheisel. With a stud defense, a power run game and more than enough weapons in the Ravens' passing game, this is Boller's make-or-break year.

David Carr, Houston Texans
Although Carr's job isn't really in jeopardy, you get the feeling he hasn't progressed quite as quickly as the Texans would like. Although his numbers are respectable, he's not producing enough of the game-changing plays he is capable of making.

Most of Carr's problems are not of his own doing. He plays behind a mediocre offensive line that gave up 49 sacks a year ago, and although he has good pocket presence and mobility, he doesn't have the speed to outrun pressure. As a result, Carr takes a lot of hits, and it seems to affect all parts of his game. His throwing mechanics are not consistent, and he forces too many balls into coverage while anticipating the hit.

However, Carr is a tough guy and doesn't throw the ball up for grabs because he's skittish but rather because he's competitive and just wants to make a play. The Texans' coaching staff has vowed to make the offense a little more QB-friendly in 2005 there will be fewer pre-snap reads and possibly more max-protection blocking schemes.

The only thing David Carr needs is an offensive line that gives him enough protection in seven-step drops to utilize the play-action package and throw the deep ball, both areas of strengths for the young signal caller.

Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals
Based on the numbers he put up at the end of the 2004 season, Palmer already has started to take his game to the next level. Palmer must continue his accelerated learning curve for a Bengals team with playoff aspirations in 2005.

He has dropped more than 20 pounds in the offseason so he's not such a sitting duck in the pocket. The Bengals also will run the ball more than they did a year ago with running back Rudi Johnson. This will take some pressure off Palmer and give him favorable matchups on the perimeter in the passing game off the play-action package.

It is imperative that he cut down on his interceptions and not force passes into coverage. With a quality three-receiver package featuring Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Peter Warrick, he should be able to spread the field and complete a lot of safe throws.

Jake Plummer, Denver Broncos
Plummer no longer can be classified as a young, developmental quarterback after nine years in the NFL, but there's a feeling that he still hasn't reached his potential for success. Although he put up huge numbers in 2004, with more than 4,000 yards passing and 27 touchdowns, he also threw 20 interceptions and seemed to thwart drive after drive with key mistakes.

His biggest assets -- his ability to make plays on the move and creativity under duress -- are also his biggest drawbacks. Despite his experience, Plummer will make confounding throws into coverage, especially downfield. Although one has to like Plummer's gambling style and competitive nature, he must learn to play within the system -- without giving up his movement skills.

Above all, he has to trust his other offensive weapons and not try to do everything by himself. For some reason, a lot of Plummer's interceptions came from tipped passes downfield and deflections at the line of scrimmage. The Broncos will work their patented cut-blocking schemes in training camp to give Plummer better throwing lanes.

This organization thinks it has a playoff roster, but a lot of the projected success in 2005 is contingent on Plummer. He doesn't have to win every game; he just can't make the one or two critical mistakes that lose a game.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2096121

What an accurate statement about Brooks -- I guess they are saying that just because he has great stats doesn't translate into being a great QB -- what many of us have been ridiculed for saying --

When you look at his numbers and physical skills, you would think he was headed to the Hall of Fame, but when you break him down on film, there is something missing, and he always seems to come up a little short.

Yes, what comes up short and what is missing is heart and brains.

AB step up?

All he ever seems to do is back pedal then do his retarded spin move like he is a contestant on "Dancing With the Stars" with the occaisional backwards pass for a change of pace. :roll:

Brooks laughs after an interception........ I HATE THAT !!!!! he brought us to the playoffs in 2000. If he would play SMART !!!!!! I mean its not all brooks fault but most of the time yesss it all points to brooks !!!!!

All right who is going to be the first poster to Carte Blanche Brooks and blame the defense ????

Where is Saintfan ??? Did the fact Jake Delhomme threw for more yards and touchdowns this year then Brooks , just fry his brain after he swore it would never happen all those years ???

Why do you think he's never around anymore 08? Hiding in shame.

Oh, and just for you - how can you blame Brooks!?!?! Maybe you missed it, but our defense was dead freakin' last in 2004!!!

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Originally Posted by WhoDat

Maybe you missed it, but our defense was dead freakin' last in 2004!!!

Much as it pains me, credit where credit is due Whodat. You just typed the single most meaningful sentence in this thread.

For the 8 millionth time, if you single out Brooks you're being shortsighted in my humble opinion, but I've been there and done that and own the t-shirt. Carry on fellas. This little poo flinging party looks fun, but I'm too busy right now. I'll be here when the season starts tho, to either take my medicine or administer it.

Here's to hoping Brooks can be perfect since it seems that's what it'll take. I'm also hoping the o-line can figure a way to block for AB and McAllister. I'm hoping the WR's catch more than they drop. I'm hoping Deuce rebounds. I'm hoping our defense shows up too. Short of asking for Brooks to be perfect, I don't think that's too much to ask. :wink:

LMAO - lord SF returns just in time to put up the shields and deflect the attacks. Good thing you were here. :)

We so need to bring in a run-stuffer QB.

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I'm hoping the WR's catch more than they drop.

:roll:

Hasbeen has gone out and brought players in so he can have this excuse handy .

NFC Leaders Passes Dropped

Rank Name Team Drops
T-1 Donald Driver GB 11
T-1 Darrell Jackson SEA 11
T-3 Keary Colbert CAR 10
T-3 Az-Zahir Hakim DET 10
T-3 Koren Robinson SEA 10
6 Rod Gardner WAS 9
7 Isaac Bruce STL 8
T-8 Tiki Barber NYG 7
T-8 Laveranues Coles NYJ 7
T-8 Joe Horn NO 7

Yes -- the defense was dead last -- pathetic -- that doesn't mean that AB was the savior -- it doesn't mean that AB does not deserve a lot of criticism -- what it means is you cannot blame the lousy record totally on him -- but AB has a lot of flaws -- and the defense had nothing to do with the offense scroing next to nothing in the first quarter --

So in fact there is very few on the team that should not be criticized -- but don't give AB a free ride because the defense sucked -- anyone who is fair knows that AB is at best an average QB right now -- yards and tds are good in fnatasy leagues -- completion percentage, fumbles, bonehead plays are a huge factor in QB success in real football

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Originally Posted by 4saintspirit

Good point 4ss. It's funny to me how people wanna lay 100% of the blame on the defense for our record, as if that was the only reason we underachieved, again. They use the defense as a distraction from the probs with the offense. I believe 1000000000000% if we were not 27th in rushing offense, 29th in TOP, and dead last in first quarter scoring, we would have seen not only a better defense, but a better team overall. Wow, we gave up the most yards. big deal. We also gave the offense 33 extra possessions on takeaways and they were still terrible more than they were good.

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Originally Posted by saintswhodi

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Originally Posted by 4saintspirit

BUT Fellas!

AB DA MAN!! His stats were perfect. He poopoo's little golden pellets, the air he exhales comes out of his mouth as perfume, he walks on water, etc., etc.

The problem is with the ENTIRE Team. That said, Brooks needs to shoulder his share of the blame. All the pap and silliness about his being a top 5% QB is ROT. I will acknowledge that the defense was poor and we needed a shut down LB, etc., etc., etc.!!! But that is the fault of the Front office not the team members. Brooks major fault is that he has put himself above all of the rest of the team and tries to paint himself as the only Talent on the Saints. That's what I have problems with.

And, oh, by the way; someone is going to talk about his "stats." Let me remind you that with all of his passing yards, someone had to catch the pass.

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The problem is with the ENTIRE Team

Good point. Sure Aaron Brooks isn't totally to blame, but was he perfect last season? Absolutely not. He messed up plenty, but so did the other 21 starters. Our whole team had a plethora of mental mistakes that kept dragging us down, and Brooks had his fair share. Everybody last season was mediocre (except maybe Horn and Grant), and it showed in our 8-8 record. I think it's idiotic to try and blame one player for the failure of the entire team, even if he did do some dumb stuff, because those other 21 players didn't step up and carry the team.

Anyways, my point is that AB messed up plenty, but so did everybody else on the team. They just didn't have a very good season, and that was a TEAM EFFORT.

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Originally Posted by TheDeuce

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The problem is with the ENTIRE Team

Good point. Sure Aaron Brooks isn't totally to blame, but was he perfect last season? Absolutely not. He messed up plenty, but so did the other 21 starters. Our whole team had a plethora of mental mistakes that kept dragging us down, and Brooks had his fair share. Everybody last season was mediocre (except maybe Horn and Grant), and it showed in our 8-8 record. I think it's idiotic to try and blame one player for the failure of the entire team, even if he did do some dumb stuff, because those other 21 players didn't step up and carry the team.

Anyways, my point is that AB messed up plenty, but so did everybody else on the team. They just didn't have a very good season, and that was a TEAM EFFORT.

Deuce!

Absolutely right on point. My problem with Aaron Brooks is and will be the fact that he seems to refuse to understand or to state that he makes ANY mistakes. The statement that he was a top 5% QB is offensive to me, imagine what it was to his teammates. I have said all along that Brooks has above average physical skills. I have also said (much to my detriment on this and other boards) that he has below average maturity, leadership and fundamental football skills (refer to fumbles, laughter while his team is being beaten, smiling at silly mistakes, backward passes)
as well as being somewhat of an individual in a team sport.

Brooks seems to refuse to understand the he has a part in the mediocre performance of this team. If he had come out after the backwards Tackle pass and said on TV or Radio: "Gosh Guys! I really screwed up and it was my fault for that bonehead play," then I believe more of us would be inclined to cut him some more slack. But instead he says something puffed up like, "I'm a TOP 5 QB and need to be paid like one." Really!!!

That's what steams my clams.

:twisted: Let look at how great teams make average QB's into winners, Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Joe Namath..hahaha....AB has HOF skills and NFLE football IQ....so it tells us that not only is OUR saints as a whole are bad....and having the average QB just compiles the dilemma...Let's look forward to another bad year..

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Originally Posted by trimolo

Let's hope not. I believe that this is a good draft that we had. One thing that also is likely is with the addition of the Tampa Bay Safety in place of Jones will make us more formidable. Also, Freddie Thomas is back. We took a hit with Freddie being injured and in turmoil. With Grant, Smith, and Brian Young returning as a group, you may see much more on defense. Also, Colby and Watson make a pretty awesome pair. We may be better on Defense than last year. If that's the case, AB's boneheaded play may not count against us so badly. Also, Deuce has something to prove this year as opposed to last. Time will tell. I just wish Haslett and Loomis had cut Brooks loose and gotten a young veteran in camp. I suspect that if Brooks plays like last year, Mc Phearson will come in quicker than we expect.

I am hoping that as a franchise we can become more forward thing...I too am really excited about the moves we've made...I think if we can get Deuce near 1500 yards...we should have 10 wins...I believe if AB can reduce his fumbles to 4 or 5...I do fell Duece also needs about 21 TD's to put us in position to be successful...I also think our in game adjustments need improvements...We also have to turn our DLINE loose...young is too small for gap control...he needs to shoot the gaps and create havoc like he is capable....and unleash those young backers..also, I hope Mel Mitchell can replace Bellamy....FAITH....HAHAHAHA

brooks does need to step up this year. it isn't his numbers that are a problem. they are right up there with anyone. the problem is his throw right to that guy from tampas d last year who took it in for a td. also he seems to once in a while like to drop the ball on the goal line. he just needs to be more focussed. hopefully the o line will be better this year because that could help too. i am pretty sure i am going on the record here and saying we will have less false starts this year then last year. i'm putting it all out there now