Veteran QBs: Picking the right one

[rayzor]

1) why would we even bother with him for a year? not even worth it.

2) why would he bother coming out here for a year? he won't come unless he is given the start right out and not for the short term. otherwise, he's content to stay in san diego and they want to keep him there. they aren't going to let him go.

oh...and him being cheap? i wouldn't count on that. he'd still be getting paid a couple million a year at least.

[Cavscout]

I am not sold on Volek either...

.. Why everyone assumes that we are just bringing in a stop-gap QB for 1 or 2 years is beyond me. The goal is to fix the QB position THIS offseason...not the next one. We are not getting Luck next year either...Our record will likely be too good to get #1 overall again. We need to bring in someone this offseason.

[rayzor]

I am not sold on Volek either...

.. Why everyone assumes that we are just bringing in a stop-gap QB for 1 or 2 years is beyond me. The goal is to fix the QB position THIS offseason...not the next one.

x2

stop gap approach is a sucky solution because it is no real solution. you try to plug any old guy...and y'all are talking old with this volek crap...and in a year or two where are you? trying to fix the problem again, esp. when the guy you were hoping to groom for the job by sitting him on the sidelines for a couple years turns out to still suck.

find a guy you think could be the franchise QB and get him in the game now. if it doesn't work, try someone else. screw loyalty to any of the players or the idea of giving them a fair shake. think team first and don't get so sentimental about any one player. if they can't do the job, move on.

best case scenario, one of the guys we have at QB on the roster will be that guy. worst case, none of them are and then we are back in the top 5 picks next year and we can get either luck or barkley.

[vorbis]

Volek would be good for getting receivers some decent stats but not necessarily for winning football games or establishing an offensive identity. That has to come first, IMO.

Looking briefly at the list rayzor posted, I am intrigued by Jackson, Moore (though not sure that will happen), Gradkowski and A. Smith over Volek, because I think they have the potential to become a leader of a successful offense more than Volek. All of them are crapshoots, but most of them have the physical tools to be an effective quarterback against high-pressure and zone schemes if they can get their act together.

This is what happens when you're digging around the free agency bin to find a quarterback. I'm in favor of drafting a guy the offensive staff truly believe in as soon as possible. I think there's a pretty good chance that no QB on last season's roster is a Panther 2 years from now.

[JawnyBlaze]

I say stopgap this season because it doesn't look like there is a way to reasonably fix the QB position this season. None of the QBs in the draft are worth a poo. Nothing I've seen of Gabbert says he can play in the pros, at the college level he looks considerably worse than Clausen did at the college level. Obviously that doesn't mean he can't play in the NFL, but I don't see him being our "messiah". None of the FA QBs are long term solutions. The best choices for LONG term solutions are Alex Smith and Kyle Orton via trade. No thanks to either. I'd be more than fine with either as a short term solution, but neither with the expectation of them being our QB for the next 8+ years. I'm tired of mediocre QB play, I'm tired of having a good team every other year, but often just missing out. In 08 if we had almost any other starting QB in the league we woulda had a real shot at being Super Bowl Champions. Jake just got us through the regular season then shat the bed first playoff game. Orton or Smith will treat us the same way, in my opinion.

I want to draft a QB that will be our Manning, Brady, Brees, Rivers, Cutler, etc. I'm not setting my goals too high, I'm not saying we have to draft the next QB to break all the records, the next QB to unseat Peyton as probable greatest of all time. I'd be happy with a Cutler or a Ruthlessbanger or a McNabb (minus his terrible SB game) or any of these other QBs who are good dependable QBs. That's all. Just a *good* QB, doesn't even have to be elite. Just SOMETHING better than what we've had for the duration of our franchise. Orton/Smith/random FA ain't it. Good for a stop-gap, no thanks to the long run. And this year's draft ain't gonna get it done either.

Best case scenario, we take a stop gap this year. Perform however well next year, reasonably anywhere from 4-12 to 10-6 (hey, Bucs did it this year and we have WAY more talent on the team than they do...) then package whatever draft pick package up to take Luck (or Barkely if he really shines next year. Still not impressed by what I've seen on him so far...or whoever proves themself next year) .

[Cavscout]

If some other team has the chance to draft Luck next season...they aren't trading that away. Why do you think that it would be that easy to trade up next year to get him? Luck is not in the equation. We have to fix the QB position this season.

[klbishop143]

Here's the question. Do you sign a FA QB with the idea that you're going to start him, or are you looking for someone who can be a quality backup in case Jimmy Clausen struggles?

If it's the former, then you want to find a Jake Delhomme somewhere. Maybe you go after Hanie in Chicago or Dixon in Pittsburgh. If it's the latter, then Volek makes sense. Then again, they may try to split the difference, in which case you can expect someone like Brody Croyle or Rex Grossman.

Just my 2p...

DIXON!!! love it. lets do it. sign him now. i'm serious. for reals. no playing

[klbishop143]

oh...and just in case someone wants to know who i think would be better than volek, here's what i've said in a couple other threads.

for competition: gradkowski, tarvaris jackson, grossman, thigpen, moore, alex smith, maybe derek anderson

carrying the clipboard: pennington, bulger, josh mccown, seneca wallace

better not give pennington a clip board. might hurt his shoulder.

Seneca Wallace? NOOO!!!!! He's behind Delhomme on the browns. give me a ballcap and clipboard. I'll look busy and collect little to nothing to watch the game. I'm only 5'11'' and slow though. And I probably wont be able to remember much of the playbook.

[JawnyBlaze]

If the Lions, Rams or any other team that's set at QB for a long time get the 1st overall pick, I don't think they're taking Luck.

If some other team has the chance to draft Luck next season...they aren't trading that away. Why do you think that it would be that easy to trade up next year to get him? Luck is not in the equation. We have to fix the QB position this season.

[JawnyBlaze]

And I didn't say Luck is our only answer. I said Luck, Barkely, or whatever QB shines next year. There isn't much to choose from this year, I don't think our QB situation is getting worked out this year. I don't think it'll necessarily be EASY to trade up, but if we can give next year's first and the following year's first to grab Luck, I think we do it.

[MHS831]

And I didn't say Luck is our only answer. I said Luck, Barkely, or whatever QB shines next year. There isn't much to choose from this year, I don't think our QB situation is getting worked out this year. I don't think it'll necessarily be EASY to trade up, but if we can give next year's first and the following year's first to grab Luck, I think we do it.

I think we are all stuck--here is the problem: There are about 20 starting NFL QBs and 32 teams. If you rely on the draft for a frachise QB, there is a 50% chance your player will bust--higher if drafted in the second round and beyond. When that happens, your program is set back three years because that is the average amount of time a QB needs to develop.

Signing a 35 year old veteran is not the solution either. Usually you get a journeyman, a player whose skills are fading and who has had glimpses of success in various places.

To me, the only thing to do is draft a player after the first round who has all of the tools but is not ready to start. Then get him ready to play in 2-3 years. If he is good by then, problem solved. If not, cut him.

The Panthers should draft a player like Devlin from Delaware this year and start grooming him for 2014. They should continue to groom Clausen, but not as a starter. Pike needs a lot of work. Considering the fact that Hurney has been here 9 years and NEVER drafted a QB that stuck, we are in a fix. Sign a Volek to give us a year or two. Have 3 QBs developing and competing for the job (2 on roster, one on PS). If one doesn't emerge, fire the scouting dept.

Characteristics to look for in your future QB:

1. Intelligence (Football IQ)

2. Leadership/Confidence/IT factor

3. Arm Strength

4. Mechanics (primarily, speed of delivery-hard to change that)

5. Work ethic

6. Character

Things that we should not worry about:

1. NFL Ready? (who the heck can tell?)

2. Hype-success in college

3. accuracy (often a product of the system-can be corrected and improved)

[ammofan]

I would want McNabb, Orton, or Young. McNabb is obviously the best of the three but VY is the youngest and has the most room to develop. Depending on where VY's head is, he may be the bets of the three I listed.

[bleys]

If some other team has the chance to draft Luck next season...they aren't trading that away. Why do you think that it would be that easy to trade up next year to get him? Luck is not in the equation. We have to fix the QB position this season.

good luck with that.. how do you expect that to happen?

Rome wasn't build in a day, neither are championship teams.. we won't fill our CB, DT, QB, WR, TE, OLine, DLine this year..

a stop gap is the only solution when you don't have any other options..

[Woodcookedbbq]

Just watched Deangelo Williams' livestream on Facebook where he was answering fans questions. He gave a hint on which Veteran QB the staff is looking at, but he wouldn't say who it was.. He said the QB is familiar with Chud's Offense, so that leads me to believe it's either Derek Anderson or Billy Volek.