The Dolphins should just go ahead and forfeit the rest of their games this season. 
Wheels
JJ has a fetish for Dak that no one seems to be able to explain.
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With the rash of high profile injuries occurring currently, I’m wondering if the NFL should be drafting for durability versus ability more. With the QB’s basically being treated as china dolls in most situations, they are largely only injured if they hurt themselves (turf toe this season seems to be the big one). In earlier era’s where getting drilled by lineman and DB’s regularly was just part of the position, the technical ability of the QB was probably lesser (though guys like Marino, Montana, etc were very good). On the flip side, they rarely were out from an injury that was self-inflicted, though how much of that was the league’s blasé attitude towards long term player health is up to debate.
In general, though I think if getting slammed into the turf after a 10 mph collision with a 220lb lineman is regular occurrence, having the general constitution and build to sustain that means you are probably less likely to sustain injury from other less violent incidents that occur during play.
The question is, how good does someone need to be to be good starter in the NFL? Is being 80% as good as Joe Burrow enough if you never get injured and can build consistency on the field? Mac Jones has done reasonably well for us in SF with Purdy out, and with him not being our franchise QB they’ve left him out there a lot more banged up then they are willing to risk with Purdy. Even then he’s definitely not playing 100% of his ability due to being banged up. The modern QB just doesn’t sustain the constant impacts QB used to at all levels of the game, and which necessitated a base line level of injury resistance to keep that job.
It is an interesting question. It’s also one worth asking, I feel. After all, the top QB pick is almost always doomed to a short career frequently ended by injury.
The reasoning is really simple: I have a soft spot for the Chargers. They’re lovable losers if there ever were. Screwed over by their idiot ownership (obligatory ■■■■ you, Spanos) time and time again, seeing them reach marked improvements in the last 2 seasons has been delightful. But, Herbert should NOT be running as much as he is. And that is the mild end of the issue for a new QB.
The Panthers represent a more acute form of the issue. Bryce Young was thrown to the lions almost immediately upon being drafted. This has proven a mistake as almost no college QB can hit the ground running. ESPECIALLY behind an O-line that’s more of a suggestion than it is a protection. Instead of a wall, you have a politely worded “Please stay off grass” sign.
How does a 22-23 year old QB command the respect of his peers who may have a decade of experience on him at this level?
How does he fit into an organization in a meaningful manner when he’s so new?
And, more importantly, how is he expected to function on a field when his offense can’t hold off a defense unlike any he’s ever seen before? Even a mediocre NFL defense is going to outstrip a college one. These are guys who have spent years and years and years honing their skills, becoming QB killers, and NOT having to pretend to be pursuing academics.
Bryce Young had no chance to develop in Carolina.
Sure, we saw CJ Stroud pull a rabbit out the hat, but the Texans also had a decent offense infront of him. He was allowed to flourish.
The real story of fragility is coming out of the Vikings with JJ McCarthy and Wentz. Frankly, what we saw on Thursday night should have never happened. Wentz committed to a last stand on the grid-iron. No doubt, they’re hoping for a Thermopylae, but with JJ McCarthy having so little experience and now a weaker O-line? Next time I’m in the cities, I better see a lot less “SKOL!” and some Wentz appreciation among the Vikings.
JJ McCarthy is especially boned since he’s in the NFC North; the division that has Micah Parsons and Aiden Hutchinson.
I would classify McCarthy as having no hope, but the Vikings have halfway competent management these days. This season could very well be a wash, but they have a habit of re-tooling and addressing things. Zygi Wilf isn’t David Tepper, after all, and has a decent culture in the org, at the very least.
Durability can only get you so far, as well. You can only have the human bison we call nose tackles trample you so many times.
Once again, football distinguishes itself by being an intensely team oriented game. Any link in the chain that is frail will break and the team will suffer immensely for it.
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That’s an important point.
One reason why Dallas’ Dak and Zeke were that good in their rookie season was a phenomenal O-line.
The average time to throw for a QB in the NFL is 2.5 seconds or so, because at 2.8 to 3.2 seconds the pass rush will hit you. That is half a second to a second less time than you have in college football.
If you have an O-line that can give you that extra second you can make it.
Sure, a great QB (Russel Wilson or Aaron Rodgers in their prime) can evade rushers and make something happen, and you can do stuff like option plays or just run yourself if you can (Dak or Cam Newton) but you pay a price for being that mobile. Cam and Dak and lots of others ruined their bodies.
And even then a good O-line helps immensely.
I sometimes wonder how many really good QBs who played great in college were ruined because they were top picks and then played for the Browns (for example) one season as starters, instead of getting up to speed first. Then ended up injured and/or with their stats and/or spirit crushed, as 3rd QBs in some team or even out of the league.
Absolutely, that list of spent first rounders is long. You can almost immediately have a good idea on whether or not a QB pick will succeed based on two facts:
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Does the team have a good system. I.E. if you’re a QB that’s up to get picked, you’re hoping to God on high that Jordan Love is 37. You want to be in a system like the Packers’ have.
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Did the team have a decent O-line the previous year and is it still complete? If it has that, then you may be setting up that kid for success. Perhaps not as well as Love was prepared, but CJ Stroud really hit the ground running as a result and you can’t argue with his success. He’s a good QB, he just needs more development and more chances to succeed.
As much as I love to dunk on Rodgers, he’s a spectacular QB with numbers that even best Brady. But, he sometimes didn’t get the best line ahead of him. When he did have a good line?
He made a good play off run at worst and at best? He won a Superbowl. Even behind a mediocre O-line, he was still an absolute menace. That takes patience to develop and that’s something none of the perpetually in-the-toilet teams ever display.
I think one of the things that Rodgers and Brady did spectacularly well was broken plays. The defense just cannot cover everyone forever. And those two had the senses and intuition to find that hole, even when the play originally didn’t work. And then have the eyes and the arm to hit it. The trick is to not throw the INT.
If you have such a QB then you can afford a worse O-line.
But if you don’t find someone, there are three kinds of QBs it seems. Those that take the hit by running, ir just by getting sacked), those that throw the ball away safely, and those who throw interceptions.
W O W Possibly one of the Biggest Comeback Wins I’ve ever Witnessed as a Chicago Bears Fan… Bears hold off a incredible Joe Flacco 47-42 in Gut Wrenching Back and Forth Game…
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