2011 NFL Predictions: The Most Heated QB Competitions To Watch This Offseason
The 2011 NFL season may be the furthest thing from your NFL-obsessed mind right now.
Labor negotiation talks and the lockout are the pressing issues right now. The NFL Combine is over and NFL draft talk is heating up as well.
But what’s going on right now that will actually affect the play on the field?
As we speak there are NFL QBs across the country putting in extensive hours in preparation for the season to start at some point—all of which have their eyes set on a starting position (well, except Carson Palmer). As the 2010 NFL season wound down, there were numerous QB controversies that had erupted.
Let’s take a look at some of the most exciting QB battles heading into the 2011 season.
The TBA Teams
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The Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals are all very likely to have QBs starting under center in 2011 that are currently not on the team.
Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb and Vince Young are all expected to be on new teams in 2011.
No use in talking about a teams QB battle when we don’t even know the candidates. We will have a better understanding about these four teams intentions after the NFL draft.
Then we can decide if they are going to replenish the position through the draft or through free agency.
For now, these are four franchises that have some big decisions to make over the next few months.
7. Minnesota Vikings
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It’s going to be Joe Webb v. whomever the Vikings decide to draft.
Brett Favre is retired (allegedly) and Tarvaris Jackson was shown the door. Now the Vikings are left with their third-stringer, Joe Webb.
The sixth-round pick that was the 199th selection in the 2010 draft surely didn’t play well enough to make the Vikings feel safe about making him the full-time starter.
In three starts his team lost by 27 to the Bears at home, beat a unmotivated Eagles squad and fell to the Detroit Lions.
He never threw for over 200 yards or threw a single TD pass. He did throw three INTs and accumulated a 61 QB Rating.
The Viking have to look for a QB…with Jake Locker and Ryan Mallett being the top two choices.
While it may not be the prettiest battle—it’s the best the Vikings can do right now.
6. Chicago Bears
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Jay Cutler v. Caleb Hanie
Cutler’s season couldn’t have ended any worse—despite leading his team to the NFL Championship game.
After playing terribly, he sat out almost the entire second half with a sprained MCL that did not look very painful—at least judging by Cutler’s facial expressions. Everybody and their mom criticized his toughness and questioned his love of the game.
Personally I think it was a bit unfair, but he did have a very nonchalant expression on his face considering he couldn’t go back into the biggest game of his life.
To make matters worse, third-stringer Caleb Hanie almost led the Bears to a comeback victory. He completed 65 percent of his passes while throwing for 153 yards and a TD coming in cold off the bench.
The job is obviously Cutler’s to start the year, but if the Bears revert to their 2009 form and Cutler turns into an INT machine again...we have a huge controversy brewing in the Windy City.
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5. San Francisco 49ers
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Alex Smith v. Troy Smith v. Draft pick
Former first overall pick Alex has single-handedly setback the franchise for five seasons…still want him under center?
His 2010 performance (14 TDs, 10 INTs, 82 QB rating, 3-8 record) did little to change his reputation in the Bay area.
Troy’s numbers were worse (5 TDs, 4 INTs, 78 QB rating), but the team did go 3-3 when he played. His lack of maturity popped up when he was seen screaming at his head coach on the sidelines of a game.
Either way that’s not a good situation.
The 49ers are best served drafting a QB and instantly throwing them into the mix. Can’t do much worse than what they currently have.
4. Carolina Panthers
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Jimmy Clausen v. whomever the Panthers draft.
It was a rough year in Carolina. They finished dead last in the NFL and “earned” the No. 1 overall pick.
The biggest issue was at QB. The Panthers ranked dead last in the NFL, averaging a mere 143 passing yards a game. They were so bad the Cardinals—ranked 31st in passing yards—threw for almost 500 yards more than the Panthers.
Matt Moore started the season and threw 10 INTs to only five TDs and accumulated an awful 55.6 rating.
He is toast.
The rookie Clausen took over and was just as awful. He threw three TDs compared to nine INTs. He only averaged 5.2 yards per catch.
His average passing yards a game? 102.7.
With the first overall pick the Panthers are looking at either Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton. Either player wouldn’t have to do much to secure the Panthers starting QB position.
3. Oakland Raiders
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Jason Campbell v. Bruce Gradkowski isn’t exactly the most exciting battle, but it’s what the Raiders are looking at in 2011.
Campbell is what he is at this point—a very average QB that takes care of the football and rarely throws the ball down the field.
He had an 84.5 QB rating after accumulating 13 TDs and eight INTs while throwing for 2387 yards in 13 2011 games.
Gradkowski filled in for the injured Campbell and led his team to victory over the Rams. That would be the last game he would win for the 2010 Raiders.
In six games Gradkowski threw five TDs and seven INTs en route to throwing for 176 yards a game.
Not exactly a world-beater.
If Campbell avoids the injury then he should easily win the QB position for the 2011 Raiders. But this is an Al Davis run team...so watch out for a third-stringer with a great 40 yard dash time to make a surprise run.
2. Miami Dolphins
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Chad Henne v. ANYBODY!!!
The Dolphins are in a tough situation. They have a solid team that has all the ingredients of a winner except one key position.
And that one key position just so happens to be the most important position on the field.
The Henne era should not last more than one more season in Miami. He threw 19 INTs in 2010 and lost the confidence of his teammates.
Both running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are free agents and desperate to leave Miami. Stud receiver Brandon Marshall has publicly complained about the lack of skill Henne possesses.
Back-up Tyler Thigpen, who has never won a single NFL game in his career, isn’t the answer.
The solution is to draft a QB in either in the first or second round and open up camp with the spot up for grabs. Assume Henne wins it because of his experience in the offense, and let the rookie sit and watch for a few games.
But once the inevitable implosion of Henne occurs, toss in the rookie and pray he didn’t learn too much of Henne’s bad habits.
1. Denver Broncos
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The only QB battle where we already know who both candidates are, Tim Tebow vs. Kyle Orton may be a battle all the way up to opening day.
Kyle Orton was a statistical marvel for the Broncos; on pace for 5,000 yards for a large chunk of the season. He threw 20 TDs to only nine INTs, and completed just under 60 percent of his passes.
But stats don’t always tell the story.
Orton was 3-12 as the starter for the 2010 Broncos and a lot of his gaudy numbers came with the Broncos already way behind. Defenses were in safe mode and the Broncos were launching reckless deep balls on plays that otherwise wouldn’t have been called.
Enter Tebow.
He went 1-2 in his first three career NFL starts. He led his team on a traumatic 13-point 4th quarter comeback in his only victory, showing his incredible leadership and fearlessness in the process. He finished with five TD throws to only three INTs—always a good thing for a rookie.
But it’s his legs that put him ahead of Orton.
Even when he was watching Orton from the bench the Broncos still brought in Tebow for goal line situations. He ended up collecting six rushing TDs as a hybrid fullback-like option in an offspring of the Wildcat offense.
In three starts he ran for 78 yards in one game and 94 in another.
He is a unique player that posses an incredible will to win that few players showcase in the NFL. The Broncos are best served to hand the keys over to Tebow and watch the future of the franchise show the rest of his team what the hype is all about.
Unleash the Tebow!
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