TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Elite Teams Must Have Backup Plan

ADVERTISEMENT

By IRA KAUFMAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 17, 2008

TAMPA - According to Bucs GM Bruce Allen, quarterback is the most critical position in any team sport.

So why are so many elite NFL clubs willing to go with shaky backups?

Have you seen the quarterback depth chart for Super Bowl contenders like the Cowboys, Colts and tonight's preseason visitor to Raymond James Stadium, the AFC champion Patriots?

If their Pro Bowl player under center goes down for an extended stretch, these potential powerhouses are likely to go south in a hurry.

No wonder the Bucs spend each offseason stockpiling quarterbacks.

With Brian Griese, Luke McCown and Chris Simms behind Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay boasts the kind of experienced depth competitors will crave if a starting quarterback is shelved.

After 10 seasons of being spoiled, Colts fans finally realize Peyton Manning is mortal. Indy's prolific quarterback never missed a start in his first decade as a pro, but now he is recuperating from knee surgery, and Indy supporters are realizing Jim Sorgi might have to open Week 1 against Chicago.

It's a sobering thought.

In four seasons, Sorgi has thrown six touchdown passes while replacing Manning in mop-up duty. He has never started a regular-season game, but he is preparing like never before.

"These are my snaps right now," said Sorgi, 27. "These are the ones I've got to take advantage of. Last year and the year before, I haven't taken many snaps."

The Patriots are also banking heavily on the durability of their Pro Bowl quarterback.

League MVP Tom Brady hasn't missed a start in the past six years, and it is unclear who owns the No. 2 job in New England.

Matt Cassel, who backed up Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at Southern Cal, hasn't started a game since high school, throwing only 39 passes since being drafted in 2005.

"I am confident in Matt," Pats coach Bill Belichick said. "This is his fourth year, so he has a good understanding of what we are doing, and he has done a pretty good job of it when he has had the opportunity to play."

The Patriots are also looking at second-year pro Matt Gutierrez, but neither of Brady's backups played well during a sloppy loss to Baltimore in the preseason opener.

And if New England fans are counting on third-round pick Kevin O'Connell to step in for Brady this fall, forget it.

"When you play with a rookie quarterback in this league, it's over," said former Bucs quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett, now a consultant with the Raiders. "You try to do the best you can, but it's over."

The Dallas dilemma is quite different.

Instead of fretting about untested backups, Cowboys fans are alarmed because 16-year veteran Brad Johnson isn't showing much behind Tony Romo.

While Johnson, who turns 40 next month, has never been known for his arm strength or mobility, he struggled to move the Cowboys last week at San Diego, and owner Jerry Jones is starting to worry.

Romo has opened the past 26 games since being named the starter in 2006, but big trouble is only a fractured ankle away.

The Cowboys are favored to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 in Tampa. The Patriots and Colts are expected to contend for the AFC title.

This dynamic trio boasts plenty of star power, but a torn ACL by Romo, Brady or Manning could prove disastrous.

Daunte Culpepper is still out there, eager to restart a career that once seemed bursting with promise. Alex Smith, the top pick of the 2005 draft, appears to have fallen out of favor in San Francisco.

Considering that 64 quarterbacks started games in a 32-team league last season, it's puzzling why New England, Indy and Dallas are content to stack all their chips on one guy.

Those consecutive start streaks are a blessing - not a guarantee.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT