Who Stays and Who goes? - New England Patriots Quarterbacks

by SlotMachinePlayer on Jun 30, 2010 7:00 PM EDT in Opinion/Analysis

During the dulls, I'll take a swag at who will make the final roster without the benefit of seeing most of these guys with pads on. Next up quarterbacks.

For the first time in as long as I can remember (that doesn't say very much), we carried only two quarterbacks on the active roster: Sir Thomas of Bradyham, and his faithful sidekick Brian Hoyer. Ok, ok, truth in advertising, we carried two other bodies who played the position in college: Julian Edelman (who Brady says can't hit the broad side of a barn), and Isaiah Stanback (who apparently can). Both of these men played wide receiver exclusively for the Pats and never took a snap at QB. Mr. Stanback is now exploring options elsewhere, and Mr. Edelman is trying to improve his receiving skills so Randy Moss won't have to tell him how to line up anymore.

Hoyer looked poised during his reps last season, and barring unforseen circumstances, should be #2 again in 2010.

Enter Zac Robinson, who the Patriots picked up with one of their seventh rounders, to the mix and we have to wonder whether the Patriots will continue with just 2 QB's on the active roster. Zac Played for Oklahoma State and had some solid numbers:

Stats Overview	Passing
YEAR	CMP	ATT	YDS	CMP%	YPA	LNG	TD	INT	SACK	RAT
2006	25	51	345	49.0	6.77	54	3	0	1	125.26
2007	201	333	2824	60.4	8.48	77	23	9	5	148.98
2008	204	314	3064	65.0	9.76	95	25	10	15	166.84
2009	180	301	2084	59.8	6.92	51	15	12	10	126.43

According to Wikipedia (take that for what it's worth):

Robinson was viewed as one of the best senior quarterbacks in the 2009 preseason. He was a preseason favorite for the 2009 National Performer of the Year Trophy from the College Football Performance Awards.^[1] Robinson began the season with a win over Georgia, throwing for 135 yards and two touchdowns. However, his season took a turn when Cowboys running back Kendall Hunter suffered an injury and was sidelined for a good portion of the season while wide receiver Dez Bryant, who became a first round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, was suspended for the rest of the season, breaking up what Rivals.com had coined the "Best Offensive Trio of 2009."^[2] Later in the season, Robinson suffered a concussion and shoulder injury in a game against Texas Tech when he collided with Red Raider cornerback Jamar Wall. He also suffered a hamstring injury at one point during the season, and finished the season with 2,084 yards passing and 15 touchdowns on the season.

Zac's accuracy has been called into question and so has his ability to make all of the NFL throws. Still he might have gone higher in the draft if it hadn't been for a couple injuries and some unfortunate incidents with his support cast. He actually looks like a guy that could press Hoyer for clipboard holding duties.

I really see three possibilities. First, Zac is just a camp body to help give reps to our many receiving weapons, after camp is over he either slides to our practice squad or takes a walk. Second, Zac impresses enough that Hoyer slides to #3, and since he isn't PS eligible, we carry 3 QBs. Third, Zac shows enough promise that we don't want to risk him getting away, and he becomes our third QB. My guess after the jump.

With near zero said about Robinson during the OTAs, I would doubt that he will jump ahead of Hoyer on the depth chart. Still, he looks like a guy who would do well studying under Sir Thomas. Another year in the system, and the playing field may be more level for Hoyer and Robinson. Game day, the third QB doesn't have to burn a slot on the 45 man roster, since a 46th spot is reserved for the emergency QB. If you need your third QB before the 4th quarter, it IS an emergency. The bigger question is whether, with all the additional receivers that we need on the roster, we will carry a third QB on the 53 man roster. After all, we still have Edelman, right?

Well, yes, we still have Edelman, but he is still working to grasp the receiving side, and hasn't even looked at the QB side of the playbook. Puttting Edelman in (especially if Tommy is right about his arm) really could create a bigger emergency for the Pats. I think it is far more likely that they will carry Robinson on the roster unless he really disappoints in camp. As of now, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Of course, when Tom's contract negotiations go south and they decide to trade him.... JUST KIDDING! Ok, Now you're awake.

1. Tom Brady (never once did I question this)

2. Brian Hoyer

3. Zac Robinson

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Comments

Well then.

(never once did I question this)

Should you? Should you ever?

What’s that about 2008 you say?

%@&#.

I would love it if the offensive line kept Brady healthy all year long. But I’d like to think that Hoyer is the Tom Brady of the future should ~~Mo Williams~~, er, ~~Bernard Pollard~~, er, freak injury, strike again.

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Jun 30, 2010 7:51 PM EDT reply actions

I think Robinson ends up on the practice squad

If you need your third string QB because Brady and Hoyer both got hurt earlier in the game, you’re going to lose the game anyway so there’s no sense wasting the roster spot when we might need it for depth at LB, WR, CB, or on the lines.

by RSNexile on Jun 30, 2010 8:38 PM EDT reply actions

It really depends upon how good Robinson is.

I could go either way on it, but I think Hoodie is likely to have three.

My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Jun 30, 2010 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Robinson will get as many reps on the PS as he will as a third-stringer...

So I suspect that he’ll be put onto the practice squad instead of kept on the active roster and eating a roster slot. If the Pats absolutely need to use a 3rd QB due to injury, they might as well use Edelman. While his arm strength is suspect, he’d have superior playbook knowledge to Robinson, and that must help. You can use playbook knowledge to cover a suspect arm, but you can’t use a great arm to cover for a suspect knowledge of the playbook – just ask JaMarcus Russell.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.

by Comedic.Sans on Jun 30, 2010 9:10 PM EDT reply actions

Given all the other roster battles, and the reality that is Tommy Terrific...I only see 2 again

The D is young and if the Oline is going without Mankins, roster spots are going to be very valuable. Not too mention if any of the young WRs really perform (Farnham, etc)

With Brady being such a clear #1, I don’t see a need for a 3rd QB active, I would think Zac goes to the PS if anything and even that may be a question, again depending on how else performs and needs to be protected.

There are veterans to sign if TB gets hurt, and I would expect that is the bridge they’d cross if they go to it, vs trotting ZR out on the field.

I like Zach, I just think he’s a long term project that’s caught in some bad timing in NE

by JonnyNYC on Jul 1, 2010 10:37 AM EDT reply actions

PS at best

I’d opt for Edelman as the 3rd QB and tell him to RUN anytime he thought he could ;-) before I would burn a roster spot on ZR. Edelman could re-introduce the QB draw that Landry, the Lion’s QB, used so effectively decades earlier.

Isn’t this awesome. We have the World Cup and the Tour de France on tap, and here we are discussing the PATS off season roster manuevers.

by couchpotato on Jul 2, 2010 6:34 AM EDT reply actions

Um, it's what I do....

My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Jul 2, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Supplemental Draft

1 Might anyone know what players are available for the 7/15 supplental draft?
2 And, aside from Unga, does anyone have insights on the other entrants?

I would also like to know what other types of reasons prompt these entrants to surface besides Unga’s self dismissal from BYU.

by couchpotato on Jul 2, 2010 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

Just from what I've seen of the preliminary supplemental draftees...

none scream out to me as being Pats-type players. The simple reason for this is most of the guys who hit the supplemental draft do so because they’ve been kicked out of college for discipline issues and/or academic issues. So the bulk of supplemental draftees are either dumb and/or loose-cannons (which is dumb as it is – getting kicked out of college isn’t so smart if you’re an NFL prospect).

Unga’s a different breed – while he was asked to leave college for a discipline issue, it’s not really on the scale of gang shootings or nightclub brawls; he was intimate with his long-term girlfriend. That doesn’t scream to me: “Pacman-like discipline problems”.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.

by Comedic.Sans on Jul 2, 2010 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks.

It does sound like a pool of players to steer clear of in most cases: Dunga being a possible exception.

I am hoping the PATS make a serious run at Dunga. It is highly doubful since they made no effort at pursuing a RB or a FB in the April draft.

Your preference for 30+ old, short term acquisitions [i.e. Corey Dillon, Fred Taylor, etc.] seems to be their desired strategy. It certainly worked with Dillon. Taylor’s injury, though not a surprise given his age and position, was disappointing as I felt he could have been a nice asset last season.

It has been a long time since the last Super Bowl. And, yes, I recognize that the 2007 loss was surprising and that the 2007 team was a pass first design. However, I feel the PATS need to re-think the “O”. It is very much a one dimensional attack.

The run, though statistically decent, seems like an after thought. It never seems to play a key role in any game. It certainly isn’t a go to option when they need 2 or 3 yards for the first down. And, this fact, in of itself, tells me that their 3rd down efficiency could be so much better if the run was feared by their opponent – it simply isn’t. The COLTS were most likely defending the pass on that 4th and 2 play. Had the COLTS been defending against the Steelers in that situation, they would be faced with defending a run or a pass play. I use this comparison to merely point out the value of creating more uncertainty on the defensive side. It can alter what players they bring in for defense on that play. It makes the play action far more effective.

I hope things change on the “O”.

Maximizing the talents of Brady and this excellent receiving group can best be achieved by implementing a formidable, practiced, and utilized run attack: [preferably one between the tackles with a bruising FB]. A feared run attack slows down the pass rush. It brings the LB’s closer to the line of scrimmage. It forces more decision making on the defensive side of the ball. All said, it helps your offensive line, it better protects your QB, it opens up more opportunities for the TE’s to delay release for open receptions underneath, it slows the pass rush [worth stating twice!], it increases the effectiveness of the play action [worth stating twice!], it lessens the number of sacks [worth stating three times!!!], and it makes for a more potent offense. In the end, it improves the passing stats!

by couchpotato on Jul 3, 2010 9:33 AM EDT reply actions