Rate the available backup QBs

[Sgt John]

As you guys and gals know, there are only three things certain about your teams backup QB:

1. Naysayers always say he is better than the starter when it goes bad
2. You hope you have a good one
3. They are always one play away from being your teams hope

Given so many quality backups are available this year, rate your top 5:

(List of who is available)

Marc Bulger
Brian Brohm
Matt Moore
Caleb Hanie
Jordan Palmer
Seneca Wallace
Brady Quinn
Drew Stanton
Matt Leinart
Luke McCown
Brodie Croyle
Chad Pennington
Tyler Thigpen
Tarvaris Jackson
Patrick Ramsay
Mark Brunell
Kellen Clemens
Bruce Gradkowski
Dennis Dixon
Billy Volek
Alex Smith
Troy Smith
Kerry Collins
Chris Simms
Rex Grossman

 

[Sgt John]

My List:

1. Marc Bulger - Bulger is a good NFL QB who has the ability to step in and run a full NFL offense at a decent level. Ravens fans didnt have to worry if Flacco went down, as Bulger could have stepped in and ran the offense probably just as well as Flacco did.

2. Kerry Collins - The old man knows how to get the job done. I wouldnt want to depend on him as a starter at his age, as the Titans will probably have to do, but Tenny fans didnt have to worry about the team falling apart without VY. If I had to pick between the two, Id take Bulger because of his younger age.

3. Troy Smith - Smith is a mobile QB who has the arm to make the throws and the legs to bail you out. Had he not gotten ill, he would have started over Flacco in Joe's rookie season. I wouldnt worry too much about it if he stepped into run my teams offense, but his youth and inexperience drop him below the proven vets at the top of this list.

4. Bruce Gradkowski - Gradkowski is a proven leader who plays above his abilities. If a team loses a great QB, the guy coming in needs to inspire confidence in the shaken psyche's of the other players and the fan base. Gradkowski is a guy who can do that. He isnt the athlete Smith is, nor the overall QB Collins or Bulger are, so he slides to #4.

5. (tie) Rex Grossman/Caleb Hanie - Grossman can come off the bench for your team and make most of the throws, but you also need a strong defense as he will melt down and turn the ball over, usually in bunches, but he does have the starting experience you are looking for in a backup. Grossman doesnt inspire confidence, but the fact he "can" play makes him a valuable commodity.

Caleb Hanie did as good as I expected in his appearances this year, but I was impressed he had the Bears in contention against the Packers in the 4th quarter of the disasterous NFC Championship game. The fact he can digest the complicated Mike Martz offense makes him a guy who can learn a normal offense pretty quick. Hanie is a guy you want to bring in, coach up, and keep around as your backup. If he had Grossman's experience, I could see him up in the Collins/Smith level.