Jump to content
  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Another Jake thread (optimistic, give it a chance)


Proudiddy

Recommended Posts

After much thought, and believe me, I mean MUCH thought. I decided to try and look at the bright side of what may be in 2009. During the game and after the game, I was leading the pack in the "Bench/Release Delhomme" front... But, after having time to take it all in and look at the entire game and the bigger picture, plus the majority of the player's reactions... I thought about something in regards to Jake.

I was watching the PIT/SD game and I was amazed as usual with Big Ben's performance. I started thinking about how the Steelers have been so good for so long and how Mr. Richardson has said that they are who we aim to model ourselves after as a franchise...

Well, that brought me back to the performances of the QB's they've had compared to ours. And I remembered a NOT-SO-HOT year that Big Ben had. That year? 2006. What was significant about that year and why he performed so poorly? Well, that summer was when he had gotten into the motorcycle accident that could've ended his life and/or career. Reports at the time said his injuries were non-life threatening and non-career threatening. Yet, later Ben contradicted this and said he was minutes from dying had paramedics not stopped his bleeding at the accident. He rushed back from surgery and was back in time to play the preseason and throughout the regular season.

I remember watching the games that year, and he just looked OFF. REAL OFF. I particularly remember a horrible game he had against Oakland that year being played repeatedly on highlights for the multiple INTs he threw. I just remember thinking he didn't look the same and hope he bounced back. Pittsburgh finished well below their own standards that year at 8-8.

Well, I say all this because that year, Ben had the worst year of his career to thus point statistically. It was the only year in his career that he threw more INTs than TDs and it was his lowest QB rating of his career at 75.

I'm not saying Jake is Ben Roethlisberger. But I am saying that historically, they are winners. I've presented all this because throughout some of the first game, and then most definitely after the first game, Jake just didn't look the same. There was some flashes of his old play that led us to a Superbowl and an NFCCG. But, ultimately, he looked OFF. He's always had issues with inaccuracy bouts throughout his career, and has always been a bit of a gunslinger and took chances. But, he NEVER took "chances" like he did Saturday night. What I'm saying is... Jake was faced with a possible career ending injury with his elbow. He missed everything but 3 games last year, and hurried back with rehab to come back and play quicker than anyone anticipated.

So... My question is, could it be there is a link between bad play and a QB coming off a career threatening ordeal/injury? Sure, they say they were fully recovered, but Ben and Jake are both guys that aren't gong to come out of a game unless they're taken out on a stretcher. Maybe it's psychological, maybe they're pressing... I don't know. But, I think there is a significant link between a player, specifically a QB, who recently faced the prospect of not playing again (or perhaps that they aren't invincible), and coming back too quickly. Because I had thought all year, we could not truly trust Jake if we were turned into a purely passing team. I had never felt like that any other year he was the starter. He looked confused, out of rhythm, antsy, and nervous in the pocket all year. He made EXTRA bad reads compared to previous years...

I'm not defending anything he's done, but I'm saying that being that Foxy has already said he is the starter next year, Smitty still trusts him, etc., there is a bright side. Ben bounced back big time. Hopefully, Jake will do the same. Thank you for reading my novel.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You do make some good points, and obviously most players will have their up and down years.

I think the frustration arises from two things:

1. We don't ask a lot of Jake. We have great running backs and receivers. When we ask Jake to make what would be just a handful of passes to most quarterbacks, he should be able to.

2. As you've said, Jake has always had accuracy issues, though some seasons more than others. What concerns Carolina fans is if this is just going to keep rearing its ugly head and costing us the game.

If we could get our defense back to 2003 form, I'd feel a lot better about keeping Jake. After defending Jake for so long, I can't help but think we might have better options--both short and long term--in McCown or Moore.

That being said, with each day after this loss I feel a little less angry about Jake and am slowly starting to realize that he may be our best option right now and for next season.

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Optimism! yeah

My only problem is that Delhomme actually looked good until the first Tampa Bay game. So, in my view, he faded through the year. His injury did not necessarily happen in a "wreck" type situation. He just flat out looked bad this year and not just "off". If you look pre-injury, his normal self was nothing more spectacular than what we saw this year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Optimism! yeah

My only problem is that Delhomme actually looked good until the first Tampa Bay game. So, in my view, he faded through the year. His injury did not necessarily happen in a "wreck" type situation. He just flat out looked bad this year and not just "off". If you look pre-injury, his normal self was nothing more spectacular than what we saw this year.

Delhomme was awful the first 2 games, until the 4th quarter each time-respectively.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was thinking about this today. Maybe something WAS still wrong with Jake. Maybe he will be back to his old self by September. However, we can't rest our hopes on that. We have a VERY tough schedule next season. We need to have another viable option if Jake can't cut it. At the very minimum we are in need of an upgrade at backup QB.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • The reality though is that there just isn't a traditional #1 pick type of player in this draft to begin with. He might have been below Marvin last year, but I don't think he'd have been below Nabers. And if you think he disappears in some college games, then you're only looking at the box scores, I guarantee you not a single NFL GM will say he disappears in games when watching the tape. Arizona's offense is a MESS this year, the new coaching staff is beyond bad and the fanbase is screaming for them all to be fired, our OL is awful, our QB is playing like utter garbage, and we don't have another weapon to attract any defensive attention.  Teams are double and triple teaming him on almost every snap, and when combined with the OL and QB issues, it's just impossible to get him the ball sometimes.  And even when our QB forces the pass to him, half the time it's not even catchable given how poor he's been playing. And even despite all that, he's still 3rd in the nation in yards. I've also seen more WR rankings having Burden over Hunter than I have seen Hunter over T-Mac.  If we had a true outside #1 WR, then taking someone like Hunter (or Burden) instead of T-Mac would make more sense as if Hunter were to play WR in the NFL, he'd more likely be used a slot guy like Godwin or Kupp.   There's a reason most mocks/analysts who don't list Hunter as a CB/WR (or just Athlete) list him as a CB.  Because it's his better position and the side of the ball he's more likely to play in the NFL, partially due to his wire thin frame, I don't see him holding up long term as a WR.
    • This was a good breakdown from Daniels.  Last year has had a lasting impact on Young. He still isn't getting the time needed from the OL - the OL we have is made to establish the run and for the run to be in play.  We get behind and have to throw all game we are doomed with this O-line. His receivers have to catch the ball when he makes a good throw to them, he can't have them dropping his good passes. Why are we running 4 slants all toward the same direction?  Why a triple option on 4th and 1? That's on the coaches. Bryce gets hurried and starts slinging the ball where it shouldn't be thrown, more study and recognition from him are needed.  Bryce doesn't step up in the pocket and throws too soon and unbalanced.  He over and under throws the ball because of it.  That's on him.  If the pocket isn't there and he can't get his base set he needs to check down or "live to fight another day." He has been thrown to the wolves and has lost his confidence.  This team doesn't have much, if any, talent and it's a cluster.  I think he can still be an NFL QB.  Maybe not a QB1 in the short term, but if he has a chance with better coaching and personnel he may be better than we are giving him credit for. I think we ruined him last year and have not fixed anything to help him this year.  If we can't run or get way behind all NFL defenses are coming after him.  Dalton has more respect and defenses didn't always sell out to get to him because he'd hit a quick slant, screen, or check down because he has the experience to know what's coming and what to do. Just my 2 cents.
    • All depends on who the backup is. Josh Allen probably would have been benched too if there were better backups than Matt Barkley and Nate peterman.
×
×
  • Create New...