Three QB profiles:
1. 34 GP, 2 GS, 82/132, 1,015 yards, 9TD/6INT, 92.8 QB Rating
2. 51 GP, 34 GS, 625/1053, 7,075 yards, 38TD/35INT, 77.7 QB Rating
3. N/A, Rookie
Nobody is exactly a world beater, right? You have one guy who has barely sniffed the field, one guy who is literally and figuratively dead average, and a third guy who hasn't done a thing at the NFL level - but torched two different BCS Conferences over a four year college career.
In case you didn't realize it, and if you didn't, then stop reading immediately, I'm talking about the three headed monster that will compete for The Seahawks' starting QB Job; Matt Flynn, Tarvaris Jackson and rookie Russell Wilson.
This is relevant right now because Head Coach Pete Carroll made national headlines yesterday be declaring that based on what he has seen so far from Wilson, he's going to compete for a starting job. For outsiders and fans who just don't understand sports, they see this as ridiculous a decision. After all, Seattle made waves this off season by signing the biggest QB Free Agent not named Peyton Manning. Matt Flynn (and his lady friend) signed with Seattle for $19.5 million over three years. Again, outsiders will see this as a simple declaration - he signed a free agent contract, he's the starter.
Clearly, you've never met ol' Pete.
The man loves himself some competition. To prove it, he never once declared Matt Flynn the starter. Instead, in the interview he gave after Flynn signed, he went out of his way to say, "We are really excited to bring Matt in here to compete with Tarvaris." But wait, there's more.
At the NFL Draft last month, Carroll once again went against conventional wisdom (and no, I'm not talking about this.) In the 3rd round, he selected Wisconsin (by way of NC State) Quarterback Russell Wilson. On paper, Wilson is an absolute stud. In four years (three at NC State and one at Wisconsin), Wilson threw for almost 12,000 yards and 109 TD's compared to only 30 INT's. He also rushed for almost 1,500 yards.
Oh, and he won. A lot. His senior season he lead Wisconsin to an 11-3 record and a Rose Bowl berth. He also had the second most prolific passing season in Big 10 history, behind some guy named Brees.
So in theory, he should have been a first or second round pick. But, because the NFL does everything by numbers, Wilson slipped. He wasn't a QB with prototypical size. He wasn't 6'4" or 230 pounds. He's 5'10" (in heels, maybe) and 200 lbs.
Well, Pete Carroll has always thumbed his nose at convention. I mean, come on, he won a division title with a losing record. He clearly marches to his own beat. So he took Wilson in the third round last month, much to the surprise of, well, everybody. Especially Hugh Breedlove Millen, who had some choice words about Russell on KJR AM with Dave "Softy" Mahler.
Fast forward to the middle of May, and all of the sudden Pete Carroll has declared that Wilson will not only probably do "something" in the NFL, he may very well be a starter. Here's the rub - this is a phenomenal call. Why? Think about any place you've ever worked. You have an established team, and all of the sudden management goes out and brings someone in from the outside, pays them big money and says "it's your show/team/department." Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't - but most times it will at least create some level of resentment. What has this person done to prove that they are the best person for the job? Succeeded elsewhere? Succeeded at a different level? But have they done it HERE, with us?
Matt Flynn had an incredible performance last year when he filled in for Aaron Rodger.
But he has exactly two more starts in the NFL than Russell Wilson, and 32 less than Tarvaris Jackson (those starts have produced mixed results, obviously).
My point is - make them compete. Show your whole team that the BEST player at each position will play, not the highest paid guy. They will love you for it, and they will play hard for you. If they don't, you cut them (hello, TJ Houshmandzadeh)
Odds are Flynn is your starter, and Wilson and Jackson battle to be the backup, and all of this will be forgotten. In the interim, however, three guys are going to fight it out for one of the most coveted jobs in all of sports, the starting quarterback position.
Win FOREVER!
1. 34 GP, 2 GS, 82/132, 1,015 yards, 9TD/6INT, 92.8 QB Rating
2. 51 GP, 34 GS, 625/1053, 7,075 yards, 38TD/35INT, 77.7 QB Rating
3. N/A, Rookie
Nobody is exactly a world beater, right? You have one guy who has barely sniffed the field, one guy who is literally and figuratively dead average, and a third guy who hasn't done a thing at the NFL level - but torched two different BCS Conferences over a four year college career.
In case you didn't realize it, and if you didn't, then stop reading immediately, I'm talking about the three headed monster that will compete for The Seahawks' starting QB Job; Matt Flynn, Tarvaris Jackson and rookie Russell Wilson.
This is relevant right now because Head Coach Pete Carroll made national headlines yesterday be declaring that based on what he has seen so far from Wilson, he's going to compete for a starting job. For outsiders and fans who just don't understand sports, they see this as ridiculous a decision. After all, Seattle made waves this off season by signing the biggest QB Free Agent not named Peyton Manning. Matt Flynn (and his lady friend) signed with Seattle for $19.5 million over three years. Again, outsiders will see this as a simple declaration - he signed a free agent contract, he's the starter.
Clearly, you've never met ol' Pete.
The man loves himself some competition. To prove it, he never once declared Matt Flynn the starter. Instead, in the interview he gave after Flynn signed, he went out of his way to say, "We are really excited to bring Matt in here to compete with Tarvaris." But wait, there's more.
At the NFL Draft last month, Carroll once again went against conventional wisdom (and no, I'm not talking about this.) In the 3rd round, he selected Wisconsin (by way of NC State) Quarterback Russell Wilson. On paper, Wilson is an absolute stud. In four years (three at NC State and one at Wisconsin), Wilson threw for almost 12,000 yards and 109 TD's compared to only 30 INT's. He also rushed for almost 1,500 yards.
Oh, and he won. A lot. His senior season he lead Wisconsin to an 11-3 record and a Rose Bowl berth. He also had the second most prolific passing season in Big 10 history, behind some guy named Brees.
So in theory, he should have been a first or second round pick. But, because the NFL does everything by numbers, Wilson slipped. He wasn't a QB with prototypical size. He wasn't 6'4" or 230 pounds. He's 5'10" (in heels, maybe) and 200 lbs.
Well, Pete Carroll has always thumbed his nose at convention. I mean, come on, he won a division title with a losing record. He clearly marches to his own beat. So he took Wilson in the third round last month, much to the surprise of, well, everybody. Especially Hugh Breedlove Millen, who had some choice words about Russell on KJR AM with Dave "Softy" Mahler.
Fast forward to the middle of May, and all of the sudden Pete Carroll has declared that Wilson will not only probably do "something" in the NFL, he may very well be a starter. Here's the rub - this is a phenomenal call. Why? Think about any place you've ever worked. You have an established team, and all of the sudden management goes out and brings someone in from the outside, pays them big money and says "it's your show/team/department." Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't - but most times it will at least create some level of resentment. What has this person done to prove that they are the best person for the job? Succeeded elsewhere? Succeeded at a different level? But have they done it HERE, with us?
Matt Flynn had an incredible performance last year when he filled in for Aaron Rodger.
But he has exactly two more starts in the NFL than Russell Wilson, and 32 less than Tarvaris Jackson (those starts have produced mixed results, obviously).
My point is - make them compete. Show your whole team that the BEST player at each position will play, not the highest paid guy. They will love you for it, and they will play hard for you. If they don't, you cut them (hello, TJ Houshmandzadeh)
Odds are Flynn is your starter, and Wilson and Jackson battle to be the backup, and all of this will be forgotten. In the interim, however, three guys are going to fight it out for one of the most coveted jobs in all of sports, the starting quarterback position.
Win FOREVER!
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