04/25/24
January 29, 2002
"How long have you been a black quarterback?": That's what they asked Doug Williams when he appeared in Superbowl 22. The '99 draft was called ground breaking because three black QBs were picked in the first round (Culpepper, McNabb and Akili Smith) but has the league been unnecessarily impressed with the "scrambling black quarterback" versus a QB who could sit in the pocket and just happens to be black? The only one who fits the "scrambling" mold and made it all the way seems to have been McNair. The guy who's arguably the best QB in the league is pretty immobile, actually.
"Try throwing this [watermelon] to your [n-word]s. Maybe they can catch this." it hasn't happened quickly, but progress is being made.
posted by lescour at 10:06 AM on January 30, 2002
Aaron Brooks is another one who shows a hell of a lot of promise. It is strange that so many black quarterbacks in the NFL are scramblers while so many white ones are not. I assume that this is a product of unnatural selection (by NFL teams). Anyone have any thoughts??
posted by fooljay at 12:54 PM on January 30, 2002
I think it's possible to be successful if you are merely a pocket passer, assuming your are A)an accurate passer that makes quick decisions, and B)have a good O-line. The problem with most of your mobile quarter backs coming out of college today is they are lacking the skills needed to be a good pocket passer and have relied on their feet to make plays, which worked fine in college. The greatest quarter backs in tomorrow's nfl will be great passers, but also mobile enough to get them out of trouble and create more passing oppurtunities. Mcnabb has showed this, I don't know his stats but it seems like he didn't run as much this year. The more he passes instead of immediatly taking off the better he will be. Think Steve Young except much more athletic.
posted by corpse at 01:35 PM on January 30, 2002
It's just more interesting (for me) to watch a scrambling quarterback than a pocket passer. It lends a "anything can happen" feel to your offense that makes it more exiting, and arguably more potent.
posted by revbrian at 02:05 PM on January 30, 2002
Scrambling QB is definitely more fun to watch, but my question is more along the lines of - are black QBs out there who may be great pocket guys getting passed by for the scramblers who are in vogue? "In vogue" because as I stated, none of them have actually won anything yet. Overall, I'd probably take a pocket guy who can hurl it hell-a deep (although more mobile than Marino- not saying much) versus a dinky-dunker who should probably be a RB (McNair).
posted by owillis at 07:16 PM on January 30, 2002
My favorite QB right now has got to be McNabb who brings enough offensive weapons to the table for several third world nations. You have anyone particular in mind as as under-appreciated pocket passer?
posted by revbrian at 09:01 PM on January 30, 2002
You don't really want to have your QB taking the continuous shots that a RB takes, which will happen when he takes off on a scramble. It's nice for a QB to be able to move around and make plays, but it can sometimes become a crutch for a team (see Philly) without a steady running game sans scrambles. Back in 1995-96, with my Jags getting good quickly, they relied a lot on Brunell's legs to get them through some tough situations. Then he got hurt in the 97 preseason, and hasn't been the same since. He has become a pocket passer with the legs to buy time, which is what every NFL team could hope for.
posted by bcb2k2 at 10:42 AM on February 01, 2002
McNabb is still a major work in progress; this year his scrambling yardage was nearly non-existant - I think I could probably count the number of times he got out of the pocket for yardage on both hands. There's a whole lot of discussion out Philly-way about why it has gone that way; whether or not Reid has leashed him in to try to work his passing game, or if McNabb himself has decided to act 'like a real quarterback'. Either way, the fans miss his motion, and there's been some squelched discontent in the taprooms. One reason is that Duce Staley just never recovered from his injury, and we're hurting for ground yardage; we've got some promise in Buckhalter, but he's still green. So, at the moment, McNabb's not only the quarterback but also seems at times like our only half decent chance at getting some ground game.
posted by Perigee at 12:05 PM on February 01, 2002
i don't know. i have had bad experiences with a "scrambling" quarterback who happened not to be black. unfortunately, he happened to be cade mcnown. he could scramble; he just couldn't throw with any great accuracy that i could see. scrambling is a tool, rather like the five tools that scouts use to measure the potential of baseball players. i think it helps philadelphia because they use two running backs frequently; mcnabb is a third and quite viable option. (i suppose i am not sure if they insert their two RBs on the same downs.) simply having that tool available, of course, guarantees nothing. (see: ruben sierra.) i don't really detect a bias favoring a black quarterback that can scramble in the pocket. both mcnabb and culpepper are or were an integral part of winning teams. either the vikings and eagles were quite lucky their draft picks have panned out or they simply made informed decisions.