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Blame Front Office for poor back-up quality?

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by kwebste6, Nov 15, 2012.

  1. kwebste6

    kwebste6 Well-Known Member

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    Its my personal opinion that we should have used a pick after the 3rd round on a QB in one of the previous few drafts. The one BIG problem i have with having Charlie or Bryon as our backup QB's is that they aren't mobile at all... This is a huge problem because Ben's ability to keep plays alive with his FEET and TOUGHNESS gives us the best chance to win. Playing teams like the Ravens that can get in the backfield in 3 seconds against Bryon or Charlie leave us in a world of hurt

    So my question is WHY did the Front Office not deem it necessary to either draft a QB or pick one up in Free Agency that at least resembles Roethlisbergers play style. Instead we have a 39 year old back-up and a back-up QB that takes 4 seconds to go through his throwing motion.
     
  2. freakfontana

    freakfontana

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    expecially when you know ben always has something ,maybe they bring back johnson he has some mobility
     
  3. Wardismvp

    Wardismvp Well-Known Member

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    I am going to have to agree with you, I too have thought about it
    I even mentioned during the draft process the kid from Mich St.I think the Skins drafted him in
    the 3rd round. can't think of his name right now. I thought he maybe our back up answer?
    Oh well we must go on with the cards we are dealt. If Charlie and Byron can hold up for a
    month we maybe alright?
     
  4. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    That's because the front office and a lot of people around football believe we have the best back ups in football. Go ahead and go down the list, who has better backups? Or maybe a better question would be who's backup makes you go wow, wish we had that guy! You guys are looking for studs as backups and it doesn't work like that, they are not starting for a reason. As far as backups go, Lefty and Batch have done the job when called upon. If you guys are looking for a security blanket that is going to make us not miss Ben when he goes down, you're in for a lot of disappointment.
     
  5. mdbates2

    mdbates2 Well-Known Member

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    Absolutely agree here. How much do you think the Dolts would have loved to have someone like Batch or Leftwich when Manning went down? How about the Patriots when Brady went down. I know that Cassel did a good job, but look at what he is doing now. You cannot have a backup franchise quarterback behind your franchise quarterback and the chances that you're going to find a franchise quarterback in the third round or later is minimal. So, what's the option? The Steelers have arguably the best solution to a bad situation in the league. They're not wasting roster spots on someone they want to develop into a starter before they think it is time.

    I think that there may be many on here who don't remember the late-70's and early 80's - during the ending years of Bradshaw's career. Everyone thought that Cliff Stoudt was the answer and would just pick up where Bradshaw left off. He was young and "developmental". Well - that didn't work out so well - and neither did the search for the next 25 years. The Steelers FO is more savvy than we can give them credit for. They know that the option that gives them the best option to win without Roethlisberger is someone who knows his role and can step in and start without feeling that he is auditioning for a starting role on another team. Is Leftwich the answer for the longterm? Nah. But the Steelers aren't to the point where they're thinking long-term yet. Maybe this injury changes things. Maybe not. But until it does, we have the best backups for a bad situation.
     
  6. KnoxVegasSteel

    KnoxVegasSteel Well-Known Member

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    Agree for the most part. Just off top of the head, Hasselbeck is a better backup than Lefty or Charlie at this stage in their careers
     
  7. freakfontana

    freakfontana

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    is kurt warner in football shape ?
     
  8. troybellringer55

    troybellringer55 Well-Known Member

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    I hope Leftwich comes in and lights it up on some deep throws. Then everyone can shut up about not having a quality back up. Not too many teams have a former #7 1st round pick who was a starter, and has a 1-1 playoff record. Which I have you know is the same amount of playoff games that Tony Romo has won.

    Put that in your pipe and smoke it, boys and girls.
     
  9. steelerzfannforever

    steelerzfannforever Well-Known Member

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    I truly think that the key to running this offense efficiently now is to continue with the dink and dunk passes. Im sure that the coaches and Lefty are working on his delivery speed on these types of passes this week in order to be successful. I have the confidence that Lefty can succeed in this offense while Ben is out, and in order to avoid the rush this is what will neutralize teams like the Ravens who are quick with the rush. I totally agree that Lefty is a quality backup and as long as the coaches make the changes necessary, I think we will be ok. We have seen so many teams be successful with the quick passes, so there is no reason to believe that the Steelers cant be the next successful team to win without their starting QB.
     
  10. Roethlimalu

    Roethlimalu Member

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    I thought Charlie was our franchise backup quarterback.:lolol:
     
  11. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    Yep, that would be a good choice, Kyle Orton would be another, he's probably the best back up out there, I'm surprised he's not starting for anyone. But the point is, it's not like teams are loaded at the backup QB position. You are generally only asking them to cover for a few games, not lead the team to a SB. If they could do that, they wouldn't be backing up anyone.
     
  12. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    I remember that, Stoudt was such a disappointment, the start of many failed QB experiments. I think people who were around for that have much more appreciation for Ben, not that we are better fans or any of that garbage, just that we know what the times were like between Bradshaw and Ben.
     
  13. bigsteelerfaninky

    bigsteelerfaninky Well-Known Member

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    i blame them too its like we have just settled on them rather than trying to get someone tht can be more effective
     
  14. mdbates2

    mdbates2 Well-Known Member

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    On the same note - the Steelers did VERY well with their backups when Bradshaw went down. They just weren't the guys who could lead the team for the long term. Bradshaw did not play every down of every game in the Super Bowl years, yet, we were able to go get those trophies. The key is not to have multiple franchise-type quarterbacks, but one franchise guy and one or two others who can help the team to succeed when the #1 goes down. I think, for the most part, that we have those two in Batch and Leftwich. The next few weeks will be telling - but I'm not as nervous as I could be.
     
  15. Thigpen82

    Thigpen82 Bitter optimist

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    It's important to remember that both Batch and Leftwich used to be NFL starter calibre QBs. Alright, they've done better as back ups, but that kind of experience is important.

    I would like to see a younger mobile back up, of course, but then I'm haunted by the memory of Dixon. Why didn't he work out?
     
  16. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    lots of teams have franchise qb's and they still drafted some good young talent to back them up. they were not drafted to take over the starters job but to be taught in the system and be a viable canidate if the starter does go down. the game has evolved since the days of bradshaw and the 80's backups. these younger guys coming out have won on the big stage in college and are starter capable if the franchise goes down. they are not there to take his job in the next couple of years, but give support to him if something like this happens. i don't have a problem with us drafting a guy with alot of potential to sit behind ben. charlie and lefty are near their end in the league and this coming draft may be a good time to look for this next backup.


    NE.... ryan mallet he wasen't drafted to take bradys spot but he was a very good qb in college.
    Philly... nick foles he wasen't drafted to take vicks spot but lots of hype and potential coming out.
    SF... kapernick not there to take smiths spot
    WASH... kirk cousins not there to take RG3's job.
    CLE...mccoy weeden is there guy, but colts a decent starter quality backup
    NYJ... mcelroy why all the talk of tebow behind sanchez, mcelroy won a national championship he's not there to take over yet. well maybe.
    HOU... t.j.yates he's not there to take over for schaub, but a highly ranked qb coming out
    DEN...oswieller he's not there to take over for peyton.
    OAK... pryor not there to start over palmer
    DET.... kellen moore not there to take over for stafford.
    GB..... graham harrell not there to take over for rodgers.


    having a draft pick to play backup is not a bad thing. it doesn't in any way mean he's there to take the franchise qb's job. having alot of potential to do so isn't a bad thing though. alot of these guys could very well be capable of starting for teams. i think to much is assumed that it will somehow affect the starter. having a good young backup in the pipeline is not a downer as some are making it out to be.[​IMG]
     
  17. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    With the exception of maybe Yates, no one on that list is a clear cut improvement over Lefty, he's only 32 so what does it matter where you get the back up from just as long as they can do the job. Do we really want to waste a draft pick for a backup QB. I say we draft a QB when we are ready to start grooming a replacement for Ben and I think it's too soon to do that barring any complications from Bens current injury. More realistically though is we will suffer through a couple of mediocre to poor seasons after Ben retires before we are in a position to draft high enough to find a good QB. I know, there are examples of finding late round draft picks that turned out to be really good QB's, odds are against it though.
     
  18. CANTON STEEL

    CANTON STEEL Well-Known Member

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    Really? I don't know about that one bud. At times he looks like he has potential but.....I think i'll take Lefty or Batch over him anytime. He scares me more than they do, lol
     
  19. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    i think most of them could be an improvement over lefty or charlie in another year or two. why wait for those years, that just ages the other guys on offense. it's not all about ben on this offense. we have alot of really good players besides him to think about. it's not just grooming a guy to take over for ben. having a good young qb in the system is smart planning and not a waste of a draft pick. let's face it byron and charlie are decent vets for this year, but not a longer term solution to a backup. by the time ben is ready to go, this young guy can have an understanding of the offense and the players around him. all pluses. what is the downside?

    we know charlie and lefty are not long tern solutions. keep one and draft one to eventually take that 3rd qb role. in a year or two, he could step in as the #2. lefty would then be about 35 or more. if ben, lefty and charlie all retire at the same time we have nothing to look forward to and might as well get rid of all our offensive skill guys too because they will be wasted for a couple of years. that's like hoping you can fund your retirement with lottery tickets. it's not a threat to ben. same as those other teams franchise qb not being threatend by good young talent they drafted. win , win if we get a good one.[​IMG]
     
  20. FeartheBeard

    FeartheBeard Well-Known Member

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    :this!:
     
  21. kwebste6

    kwebste6 Well-Known Member

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    Couldnt disagree with you more on Leftwich. He may have came in and made a "few" plays to win the game last week, but he hasnt won a start in the NFL in something like 6 starts... and hasnt had a win as a starter in 3 years.
     
  22. BURGH43STEL

    BURGH43STEL Well-Known Member

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    I agree. people have unrealistic expectations when it comes to back up players. when starters go down the team needs to find other ways to compensate to win games.
     
  23. CanadianSteel

    CanadianSteel Well-Known Member

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    That may be true, but many (if not all) of those starts were on a pretty poor TB team. I think I read earlier today that Byron's numbers with the Steelers are very good... Something like 10 TD's and 0 picks with a 107 QB rating. This includes preseason, but still, I'm fine with those stats.
     
  24. Homestead____Works

    Homestead____Works Well-Known Member

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    Close.

    Charlie IS our franchise backup QB!
     
  25. steelio

    steelio Well-Known Member

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    I would much rather have a veteran who has started and won meaningful nfl games than someone who won in college and took a few preseason snaps. That said we probably don't need two vets - perhaps the third should be a young guy.

    Other than Lefty 's slow motion wind up I like him. Well that and the fact that we call him Lefty and he is right handed. I mean I know his name is Leftwich and knew he was right handed but for some reason when he came in to the game Monday I expected him to throw lefty. I know, I've got issues.
     

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