DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Three NFL quarterbacks who look like future stars

Anderson looks like star among young QBs
by John Czarnecki

John Czarnecki has been the editorial consultant for FOX NFL Sunday since its 1994 inception. This season marks Czarnecki's 30th year covering the NFL. He is one of 44 selectors to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Updated: July 24, 2008, 2:34 PM EST

Who doesn't like Tony Romo? Heck, he passed for 36 touchdowns last season and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones decided to give him millions and secure his employment for years to come. But there are people who say until Romo wins a postseason game, something he didn't do in college, either, he will never be considered a top-notch NFL quarterback.

There is no question that the Hall of Fame is full of quarterbacks who won multiple championships, but there are also a few like Dan Marino and Dan Fouts who never won a Super Bowl. Fouts and Warren Moon never even played in one. I believe this is the season that Romo finally wins a playoff game.

When training camps were opening a year ago, the biggest question mark with the New York Giants was not Michael Strahan's holdout, but whether or not Eli Manning would ever become a championship quarterback.

Eli proved me wrong by playing his very best football in the playoffs. After years of being dumped on, Manning displayed toughness and guile as well as smarts and accuracy in beating the Cowboys, Packers and Patriots — all on the road — in the playoffs.

Romo and Manning are perfect examples of how over-analyzed the NFL quarterback position is on an annual basis. Romo, with Jessica Simpson on his arm, is already considered a star whereas Manning really is one. He was the Super Bowl MVP.

Derek Anderson threw for 3,787 yards and 29 TDs in 15 starts last season.

Three quarterbacks who look like future stars

Cleveland's Derek Anderson: A year ago, nobody with the Browns would have bet that Anderson would have started 15 of 16 games, winning 10 of them. Yes, he choked in Cincinnati when he fired four interceptions, causing the Browns to miss the playoffs. But Anderson is definitely the starter while poster boy Brady Quinn watches and waits. What makes Anderson's life all the easier is a great young tackle in Joe Thomas to protect him and two of the game's finest young receivers in Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr.

Jacksonville's David Garrard: A backup to Byron Leftwich for years, Garrard was promoted by Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio and never looked back. He won Jacksonville's first playoff game since Tom Coughlin and had an NFL-low three interceptions for any quarterback with at least 12 starts. Garrard is hurt by the lack of big-game receivers, but he has a great feel in the pocket and rarely makes a mistake. Garrard holds all the keys to a franchise that is breathing down Peyton Manning's neck in the AFC South.

Denver's Jay Cutler: Cutler has the best deep-arm of the young guns, but for some reason Mike Shanahan hasn't been able to find enough quality receivers to suit his talents. Ex-Panther Keary Colbert is a starter and oldtimers like Sammi Parker and Darrell Jackson are on the roster. Yes, the Broncos are always going to run, but even there the stable looks bare after Selvin Young. If they ever re-do the roster, Cutler could win and put the Broncos back in the playoffs.

Three that have a good chance of being big winners

Atlanta's Matt Ryan: Granted, the new savior of Atlanta hasn't played a game yet, but he's one mature young man and one who really wasn't surrounded by NFL skilled talent at Boston College. Ryan figures to be the last piece to the offensive puzzle if Roddy White, Laurent Robinson and new runner Michael Turner live up to their potential. Ryan knows how to compete. Yes, he's the physical opposite of Michael Vick, but Atlanta's offense does have a chance to click with him.

Arizona's Matt Leinart: The coaching staff believes Leinart learned big lessons last season when he was caught unprepared in several games and then had his private life, Jacuzzi and all, prominent on the Internet. Leinart was a big winner at USC and a difference maker in close games. If he's past being Joe Hollywood, Leinart should keep Kurt Warner on the bench. All Leinart needs to do is make good, quick decisions and get the ball to all those Arizona playmakers. And quit thinking of hitting a home run all the time.

Washington's Jason Campbell: Everything is new to him all over again with a new coaching staff (Jim Zorn) that wants him to tailor his strong-arm skills to the dinkball, West Coast game. Ever since Auburn, it seems like Campbell has had a new offensive coordinator every season and that makes matriculating a difficult task. Yes, Todd Collins won over the Washington faithful last season with his smooth playoff run, but the locker room believes in Campbell, and we all know that's more than half the battle for a young quarterback.

Quarterbacks with the biggest question marks

Minnesota's Tarvaris Jackson: Nobody liked T-Jack last season, but he did win eight of 12 starts and the Vikings are saying he had a great offseason. But where is Jackson's confidence right now, reading all the reports that Brett Favre was calling head coach Brad Childress? Jackson has the arm and definitely knows how to scramble. The Vikings can spin it any way they like, but will T-Jack be listening when offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, Favre's friend, tells him what to do? The kid's head has to be spinning.


Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers: It's not every day a young quarterback is anointed the starter over a Hall of Famer, but that's what the Packers did while telling Favre to come to Green Bay and hold a clipboard. There is no question that Coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson have a lot of confidence in Rodgers, but who really knows how well he will function under the pressure? Conspiracy theorists believe that Thompson had to get Rodgers into the lineup this season, knowing that it would be impossible to keep him around and get him signed to a long-term contract in Green Bay.

Oakland's JaMarcus Russell: The good news is that last season's overweight bonus baby will be in training camp from the start and he will get all the reps because veterans like Daunte Culpepper and Josh McCown have been shipped out. No one questions Russell's physical tools, but who knows when Javon Walker's balky knee is ever going to be totally right and whether his injuries (orbital bone fracture) from a Las Vegas beating are healed? Being 270 pounds, Russell has the strength to fight off defenders and he does have a nice touch. Drew Carter and Ron Curry are his best targets until Walker proves he was worth the financial risk.

San Francisco's Alex Smith: This could be the last go-around for the likable former No. 1 pick and to finally make it he must relate to new coordinator Mike Martz. No coach has successfully developed Smith into a pocket passer and Martz will be attempting to do it minus the talented receiving corps he had in Detroit. Smith and Coach Mike Nolan claim they are fine with each other, but they had a testy finish to last season and at the first sign of trouble you have to wonder if those negative vibes will resurface. Character and toughness are huge issues to question, so Smith is carrying a lot of baggage.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8374084/Anderson-looks-like-star-among-young-QBs

I can't take this anymore lol. I don't know if I can wait another month and a half for football to start!

Settle down, preseason starts in like two weeks.

Just win Derek and I will never utter another word about Brady Quinn.

Just win baby!

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Settle down, preseason starts in like two weeks.

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nordawg

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I can't take this anymore lol. I don't know if I can wait another month and a half for football to start!

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LOL I feel your pain.. Take to aspiron and call me in the morning.

DA will get his shot to prove what he has and hopefully live up to his promise. I don't like promises...so many are not kept.

Winning the fans over...as was said, Winning has always been the cure all. He wins some of these big games especially at home as we play the biggest games there. Cowboys, Steelers, Giants and Colts???

And doesn't look bad...to looking good in doing so. He will win the hearts of the fans!

Its all in his hands. I hope he does great!!

JMHO

I agree with you Eo, the ball is in Anderson's court. If he plays well and wins some big games; especially the Steelers, Boys, Giants, and Colts....then he'll be the toast of the town, if not, then Quinn chants will heard globally, lol.

David Garrard- having lived in FL, I got to see him play in quite a few games, he really does have talent and doesn't make many mistakes. Also, he can run away from trouble and gain yards with his legs. If the Jags ever get him somebody to throw to besides Jones-Drew, lol, Jacksonville and Garrard will give Indy fits.

Matt Ryan- unproven, tough and savvy in college but only time will tell how he's gonna perform at the pro level. plus he's in Atlanta, not exactly known for producing championships, lol (except for the Braves)

Jay Cutler-has talent and has done pretty good, Denver does need to upgrade the age of their WR's, they need some young, fresh talent insted of aging and often injury prone guys. Denver will run, obviously, but with the right WR's and TE's Cutler will be very effective. Though I wouldn't trade DA or Brady for him.

Matt Leinart-Wow, I could really see him being a bust if he doesn't get his head into the game. Though he's got talent, so if Zona could improve the team around him he could and would be serviceable enough, I really don't see him as a HoF QB.

Jason Campbell-he impressed me with arm strength, pretty good accuracy, and tenacity. If Snyder ever buys some real talent around him, Campbell could actually lead a good team to a championship.

Tarvaris Jackson- I really didn't get to see much of him so hard for me to say? What little I did see, he seems to have talent and potential. though he will need players around him. I think I remember seeing him run a few times and appeared to have some get up and go, unless I'm confusing players/teams (Garrard/Jags) However, he did get hurt, injury bug can ruin a career. Would hate to see that.

Aaron Rodgers-he didn't look terrible against the Boys last season, when Favre went down for part of the game. Just looked a bit inexperienced, but hey that's to be expected. I doubt he'll be another Brett Favre but he should come into his own and be respectable.

JaMarcus Russell- Now I was one of the Browns fans that sort of wanted us to draft Russell, talent wise we would be ok, however, he's quite expensive. So I''m glad we drafted Quinn. Anyways, he's got more than enough talent but it may be awhile before the Raiders build a team around him. I expect he'll have a solid career, maybe a spectacular one if he gets the right players around him

Alex Smith- he has not developed as of yet and no reason for me to believe he will, I expect him to not be with the 49ers next season. Although it won't be for lack of effort on Martz' part. I just don't think Smith is all that, plus, the 49ers really don't have a lot to work with, Vernon Davis may be their best receiver.