Respect The Quarterback Play

What is an average quarterback? For many it's cracking the top 16. That's not an accurate assessment. Because it puts way too many quarterbacks as below average or bad. When looking at the scale, it should look like this.

13 to 20 are average range. Since there are 32 quarterbacks, 16 and 17 are the most averaged ranked quarterbacks in the NFL. This tier should have the most quarterbacks in it. These guys at the very least should be able to manage a game. While the group below them needs a supporting cast, this group is a little more capable.

From 21 to 26 are below average quarterbacks. These guys need a supporting cast and are the but can still manage a game. These are typically the bridge quarterbacks. Although teams would prefer to get their bridge from the a tier higher.

From 27 to 32, these are guys that are bad. Typically they are either in development or should be backups. There maybe the guy who has fallen victim to circumstances here but for the most part, if your quarterback is here, it's most likely time to start shopping for either a quarterback or a lot of supporting offensive talent.

From ranks 7 through 12, these are the above average to good quarterbacks. They are guys a team can win with that should be able to allow a team to win because of. They might not be able to do it every game but there should be about a 50% chance that they could be trusted to carry the team if needed.

From ranks 1 through 6, these are the good to elite quarterbacks. They can carry a team when need be. They elevate those around them. They are the field generals. And the no questions asked franchise quarterbacks. I listed this group last because it's the most talked about. 

We need to stop acting like those ranked 17 and on are all bad quarterbacks. It's unrealistic and it puts too much expectations on the players. Having a clear tier rank for average players allows for more accurate rankings of the good and the bad quarterbacks. People need to stop expecting every quarterback to be Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, or Lamar Jackson.

There Is No Consensus Path For The Patriots Going Forward

There are conflicting opinions on what the Patriots need to do with their coaching and front office staff. Depending on which camp you fall into, you may think this is going to take a couple of years for Bill to fix or you may think it's gonna take a couple of years for someone else to fix.

Bill Polian basically told Tom E. Curran that the Patriots should keep Bill Belichick and let him do his thing. He acknowledged Bill as still being a good coach. And says Bill finally realized that he needs to rebuild the offense. From what Polian is saying, I guess the question is, will the Krafts allow Bill to do the rebuild, if that is what Bill wants to finally do?

Nick Cattles says there is a mutiny in the Patriots locker room. Is Robert Kraft going to let Bill Belichick handle the locker room. Has Belichick lost the Patriots way? Cattles implies that Bill needs Robert Kraft to meddle and hold Belichick accountable, which is something in the first podcast that Bill Polian says would hinder the progress of the team.

Greg Bedard mentions that offensive line coach Klemm is not with the team and asks if it is a legit medical reason or if it is a more serious issue. Bedard again says not to expect a mid season firing of Belichick. Belichick the general manager got criticized again and they imply he needs to be stripped of the position.

Regardless of the opinion one has, there is another with a different opinion. At the moment, the only concensus is that the 2023 Patriots are a bad and dysfunctional team. And the goes from the ownership down. People can day what they thinks going to happen but nobody knows for certain. Even Robert Kraft. He could fire Bill Belichick and say the team is going to return to the post season and the team could have the following decade as bad it was from '65 to '75.

The Media Wants Belichick Out Of New England.

CBS did a podcast where they say Belichick could be fired after a loss in Germany. They call it a mistake on the Patriots if they do so. They also imply that the Patriots requiring a work ethic from their players is arrogant. That I disagree with. 

Vrabel is a former Patriots player but he is not a true Belichick tree coach. McDaniels peaked as an offensive coordinator. And Flores had too much meddling in Miami from the office. It's funny how people have stopped talking about Mayo.

As for Belichick, CBS mentions something I have mentioned several times. Taking the GM hat away from Bill. I would not completely shut Bill out of the picture. He knows defense. He knows how to build and run a defensive staff and unit. 

The problem is when it comes to the offensive side of the ball. I do think Belichick can select an offensive coordinator. And I don't have issue with the offensive system. Bill doesn't run the flashy high turnover risk offense the rest of the league runs but he doesn't know how to evaluate offensive personnel. 

Ivan Fears and Scar were two decent coaches. So far the replacements do not appear to know how to coach up the talent. Then there's Troy Brown. He may or may not have developed Meyers but Douglas was said to of been an early day two talent that was undersized. His play is not due to Brown. 

Bill O'Brien does not appear to be able to be the coordinator and the quarterbacks coach. Brining McDaniels back to coach up the quarterbacks could help. And the rest of the non defensive staff has not gotten it done either. And nobody outside the defense seems to know how to teach fundamentals. 

The Patriots didn't know how to use Dwayne Allen. They didn't know to use Jonnu Smith. They didn't know how to use Nelson Agholor or N'Keal Harry. And they don't seem to know how to use Tyquan Thorton, Boutte, or Ty Montgomery. Montgomery is supposed to be a third down pass catching back. And he hasn't been anything. 

Not only do they not know how to use them but at the moment they don't appear to fit in the system meaning they scouted wrong and signed players they shouldn't have. Nothing new, they brought in guys like Sanu and Smith-Schuster, while letting guys like Berrios and Meyers walk.

I think the Patriots can evaluate quarterbacks but do not know how to get the most out of them. Play calling with Newton and Mac are two examples.

Demote Bill to assistant GM and let him continue to do his magic with the defense but put a new GM in charge of the rest of the team.

One quick thought to keep in mind. Bill in 2022 seemed to wanna switch to a McVeigh & Shanahan system. In 2023 the Robert Kraft made Bill revert to the Brady system. And Bill had players on the roster for the system he wanted, that don't fit his current system. Robert Kraft also appears to like pocket quarterbacks and may of been the one behind drafting Mac Jones. 

Robert Kraft has made his presence known the past few seasons, when he typically stays in the shadows. Kraft has to be given blame for his role in the teams dysfunction and collapse.