Everyone in the world thought we upgraded at QB...

I think it ranks in the top three.

But yeah, we have a plenty.

 

I'm not really talking about one QB or the other as being a problem, more that I think Fox was lead by his team rather than leading them. The QB situation is just a catalyst.



That we believe Carr can perform QB duties (or not) has no effect on anything but if the team believes he cannot how is it not in the top five?

 

Really? I have them:

#1) Special teams
#2) Safeties
#3) Running game
#4) Pass rush
#5) Lapses in run defense (give up 2, 1, and then 15 yards)

I'd even put overall talent level and play-calling above the QB situation. From what I've seen, I believe that either Testaverde or Carr would be enough to win for a good team. Neither are making a lot of dumb decisions.

 

running game was, what, 7th, coming into this game? That includes being involved in up to 3 blowouts.

Special teams, definitely. Safety play hasn't been spectacular, but in the last few weeks we've gotten some plays made, and not much in the way of blown coverage I can recall.

Plus, I don't buy the ideal that 44 men have to play nearly flawlessly to make 45 look good. Carr (and Testaverde a couple decades earlier) went #1 overall for purposes of being better than that.

 

I see #2 & #4 as the same problem, fwiw. #3 is getting better, but will be inhibited by 1,2,4 & 5 since we'll be playing catch up.


Can't speak for Purrs but I am not talking about the actual QB play, rather the team's perception of it. If they don't play as hard for one guy as they do for another, that's a big problem.

I agree that either guy could manage a good team to a winning season.

edit to add: Not sure why the lack of a threat opposite Smitty isn't high on a list of problems. Which brings up the Key decision's impact.

 

We put up 361 rushing yards against St. Louis and Atlanta, and 542 in the other five games combined. That's not too different from what it had been the previous two seasons, and it certainly doesn't feel like we can always run the ball successfully when we need to.

Harris breaking up the pass to Clark was awesome, but the INTs the safeties have gotten were absolute gifts that were tipped to them. And while they haven't been as horrific in coverage lately, there are still lapses there.

No one said that, but thanks for exaggerating as usual. I'm sure you know how annoying that is as a debate tactic, and I doubt that it really fools anyone. As I've said before, a guy like Drew Brees didn't suddenly lose his ability to play football. He sucks this year because his offensive line is much worse, the running game isn't as much of a threat, and his receivers have been inconsistent. Some of it is undoubtedly his play as well, but quarterback performance is enormously affected by the rest of the team.

Will you forget the #1 overall crap? That's irrelevant. No one expects Brady to play like a 6th rounder. Neither Carr or Testaverde are anything close to elite QBs, and neither one should ever be expected to carry a team. They're expected to be solid, avoid mistakes, and complete passes. For the most part, both have filled that role. People just like to obsess about the QB because it's the most visible part of the team, but the other areas are much more of a concern.

 

agree there, and there have been more stuffs than I like.

they've also been solid against the run and have forced or recovered a lot of fumbles.

no, but there's been this feeling from you that good QB play is begat by great play elsewhere, and that just isn't always going to be there. It seems very excusatory that Carr should have low expectations unless things around him get better in every phase.

That, and that he's been a starter, suggests starter play. He can be more than that, with or without being carried toward it. Regardless of where he's ranked on your specific list, he could step up and put together more yards/plays, too.

 

Vinny looked good early on. He spread the ball around well while still finding Smith. He tailed off though and the pick in the end zone was pretty bad. Carr did nothing the rest of the way. You would think he could have got us a score or two in garbage time but not even that.

I would have rather we signed Joey Harrington.

 

Doesn`t matter who the qb was, we would have had to score 40+ to win that game.

 

You got that right!!