Shadarr
3701
I’ve never understood the Colts’ strategy at the QB position. It seemed to be “we can’t win a Super Bowl without Peyton, so why even try?” There are always veteran QBs available. Why not sign a guy like Jeff Garcia a few years back? Why not sign Kerry Collins before Peyton got hurt, if he was their backup plan? And above all, why have a young guy like Painter and not give him reps in practice?
If I was running an NFL team, I would have two QB coaches, one for the starter and one whose job is to teach fundamentals to the backups all throughout the season. It boggles my mind when I hear about some young QB prospect getting no attention from the coaches because they’re focused on preparing the starter for the next game. There is no salary cap on coaches. You could hire a guy to fix the backup’s footwork and throwing motion for half what you’re paying the player to stand around watching.
But that’s a largely unrelated rant. What boggles my mind about the Colts is that they are a contender with Peyton, and they know they have nothing behind him, so why not address that problem so that one injury does not end their season?
Lorini
3702
What-the-fuck-ever. Seriously.
The part I bolded really has me shaking my head if true (I don’t know whether it is or not). Your job as a head coach of an NFL team is to make sure that the team as a whole is ready for the game ahead. I know that Peyton is a really fierce competator (to the point of not wanting to come out of the game even when it is a pre-season beatdown of the Cowboys 3rd team or something), but that’s your job as the coach. Deciding on Painter as the backup isn’t even that bad of a decision; 55 point beatdowns and derpy haircuts aside, Indy’s looked a lot more together offensively than with Collins in there. But if Peyton’s so in charge of the offensive portion of the team that the backup can’t get even the usual 10% of the reps in fucking practice, just make Peyton player-manager then.
If I was running an NFL team, I would have two QB coaches, one for the starter and one whose job is to teach fundamentals to the backups all throughout the season. It boggles my mind when I hear about some young QB prospect getting no attention from the coaches because they’re focused on preparing the starter for the next game. There is no salary cap on coaches. You could hire a guy to fix the backup’s footwork and throwing motion for half what you’re paying the player to stand around watching.
I like this idea. I’d be surprised if Der Sweatshirt hasn’t implemented it yet.
But that’s a largely unrelated rant. What boggles my mind about the Colts is that they are a contender with Peyton, and they know they have nothing behind him, so why not address that problem so that one injury does not end their season?
I’m not sure they were going to be a contender even with Peyton this year. That aside, what it does do is to show that the Colts front office (and possibly coaching staff not named Peyton Manning) are increadably short-sighted descision makers at best, and asleep at the wheel at worst.
Nawid_A
3705
The Colts are a contender with Peyton, because frankly, competition is a lot less fierce this year. Peyton would tear up this new offensive paradigm.
The Packers right now are really just what the Colts are every year, really good offense which gives the defensive breathing room.
Zuwadza
3707
I hate that Denver’s comeback in that game still has people saying things like “He can’t throw but he just wins!” He plays exactly like his official position on the depth chart: 3rd to 4th string backup quarterback. The idea that a Tebow lead offense can score against anything other than the worst defenses in the league is laughable.
I wouldn’t call Miami the worst defense in the league (Colts or Rams are better candidates), but the whole affair is still pitiful in my eyes. This isn’t a storied comeback, but merely an improbable one. Denver did not play a good game against a juggernaut. Denver failed to score for more than 3 quarters against a winless punching bag. The most important play in the comeback was the onside kick. No successful onside kick, no improbable comeback victory. Any game that requires an onside kick to win is already doomed to an ~80% failure rate. And frankly Denver did not execute it well, but got lucky when the Miami player who first grabbed it ultimately dropped it.
Lets call this one two teams playing bad football, and ignore the improbable win. Unless Denver (and Tebow) plays better, there will not be many more this season.
Playing Tebow is running counter to the current offensive strategy, which is to win through the air. Tebow will probably never be good at that.
He’s a lot like an old, old Bears QB, Bobby Douglas. The guy only started for a couple of seasons for the Bears. He was a woeful passer, under 50% if I recall, but he was a good runner. One year he ran for 960 yards in a 14 game season, I believe. I see Tebow being in the same mold but he will complete a higher percentage of passes because there are so many short throws in today’s offenses.
Anyway, Tebow certainly adds some interest to the Denver games.
Mr.GRIM
3710
After watching Tebow’s throws, I have to say that he throws some of the ugliest fluttering ducks I have seen from an nfl quarter back. I predict many interceptions in his future.
Really? Really?
They’re the only division that doesn’t have a team with a losing record. The division has the 2nd most wins of any in the NFL (16, one behind the NFC North). All 4 teams have a winning record against non-divisional opponents. Currently the top 4 NFL defenses all reside in the AFC North.
While those stats may not hold, it’s currently easier to argue that the AFC North is one of (if not the) strongest divisions in the NFL rather than one of the weakest.
Okay, fine, the games I’ve watched featuring AFC North teams have sucked this year.
But the difference in Tebow’s case is, with a modern defense to run against, he is going to get broken into many tiny tiny pieces by the end of the year.
Today’s QB just cannot be a runner as their principle offensive ability. Defenses are just too too good at punishing that.
Lorini
3714
Yeah once they realize he can’t throw worth shit then they will be able to key on his running.
I have nothing against Tim Tebow himself but the worship of him is annoying because we have already met the Tim Tebow, and he is Cam Newton.
(seriously Cam owns)
That might because every AFC North team has a substantially better defense than an offense, except possibly Pittsburgh. This lets them win games against otherwise more impressive looking teams who overly rely on their offenses. However, the price is those wins can look ugly.
That being said, Cleveland is probably the worst 3-3 team right now, though KC is quite the enigma. After 2 terrible games KC is now playing like a top 10 team.
Lorini
3717
They beat a team who threw 6 INT’s. C’mon, that does not make them a top 10 team. Even the Colts should be able to beat a team that throws 6 INT’s. The Raiders didn’t have their usual QB, brought a QB that hasn’t been on the field in nearly a year, KC beats them and now you’re saying they’re a top 10 team??
Nawid_A
3718
Not to mention the loss of their star player.
Yeah, he’s a big surprise. I didn’t expect him to play this well this soon. He runs as good as or better than Tebow and he leaves him far behind in the dust in terms of throwing.
I think this season is it for Tebow. I don’t expect him to play well enough to be a starter next year. But maybe he’ll surprise us doubters.
jeffd
3720
I doubt it. Tebow is terrible. Nothing about his performance thus far shows any indication otherwise.
