ESPN and local sports radio here were chatting about the QB position and said this was the 1st time in a long time that the NFC North had so many questions at the QB position. With the exception of one QB: Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers.

Draft wienies assessing the '09 draft claim this is one of the weakest QB drafts in recent memory, most of these guys will be "ok" at best according to talking heads. No obvious Ryans/Cassells/Rodgers are out there in their opinion.

Looking at the other teams in the division:

: Options are 38 year old Gus Frerotte or T-Jax. Neither played well enough consistently with Frerotte at a 73.5 QB rating, tossed 15 INTs vs 12 TD's and T-Jax who ESPN reported:

ESPN.com reports that the Vikings approached Fox Sports' Jay Glazer about getting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson into a mixed martial arts program. However, Jackson has declined interest.

Impact: This is certainly an odd story for the fact that Jackson is currently in line to be the Vikings' starter next season and MMA is an extremely physical sport that would increase his odds of getting injured. We're not completely sure what the reasoning was for the request.

Coach Kick Ass.

: Kitna's rumored to be out. Have to assume they will go with drafting a QB altough a Jeff Garcia is possible but at 39, would he want to inherit this mess? Doubtful. So that leaves the oft injured and banged up Daunte Culpepper. Major problems at this position to say the least.

: Bears are saying Kyle is their guy but much speculation is that is because there are not alot of better options out there. Rexy is out. Orton finished with a pedestrian 79 QB rating. He needs WR help badly as his options in guys like Marty Booker were laughable. Had that nasty ankle sprain in November and hard time recovering from that.

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So how far ahead is GB at what is arguably the most important position on the team

Discuss.

In April 2005

http://www.drafthistory.com/years/2005.html

The Bears passed on Rodgers and took Cedric Benson

The vikes passed on Rodgers the first time and took Troy Williamson

The Lions passed on Rodgers and took Mike Williams

The vikes passed on Rodgers the second time and took Erasmus James

WOW

And Rodgers will only get better.

Kickass.

We have 2 backup QB's that are potential trade bait.
Seems either one would be better, than whats in the draft.

quote:

Originally posted by Satori:
In April 2005

http://www.drafthistory.com/years/2005.html

The Bears passed on Rodgers and took Cedric Benson

The vikes passed on Rodgers the first time and took Troy Williamson

The Lions passed on Rodgers and took Mike Williams

The vikes passed on Rodgers the second time and took Erasmus James

WOW

That is some impressive wiffing.

quote:

Originally posted by packerboi:

ESPN.com reports that the Vikings approached Fox Sports' Jay Glazer about getting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson into a mixed martial arts program. However, Jackson has declined interest.

Impact: This is certainly an odd story for the fact that Jackson is currently in line to be the Vikings' starter next season and MMA is an extremely physical sport that would increase his odds of getting injured. We're not completely sure what the reasoning was for the request.

Just because he'd have some MMA training it wouldn't mean they are going to throw him in a cage and let him duke it out with Michael Westbrook. Martial arts teaches things like discipline, patience and self-assurance...all things that Jackson probably could use.

I also don't think Orton played that badly last year until he got hurt and was basically a sitting duck. Orton is never going to be a real elusive guy but his play really went down when his mobility went to zero. If I were the Bears I'd be more than content to go with Orton another season and build up the team around him. As far as the Vikings and Lions, they got nothin' and they could use a new starting QB candidate right away. Although I do think Childress did Jackson absolutely no favors by throwing him in the mix as quick as he did. Jackson was a super-erratic QB at Arkansas and then transfered to a low level and was still extremely raw and and a complete project when he was drafted. He's Exhibit A of the type of QB you draft and you develop for a full two years before you throw him on an NFL field in regular season action.

Unbelievable. Hindsight is really interesting.

quote:

Originally posted by Satori:
In April 2005

http://www.drafthistory.com/years/2005.html

The Bears passed on Rodgers and took Cedric Benson

The vikes passed on Rodgers the first time and took Troy Williamson

The Lions passed on Rodgers and took Mike Williams

The vikes passed on Rodgers the second time and took Erasmus James

WOW

quote:

Originally posted by packerboi:


Looking at the other teams in the division:

: Options are 38 year old Gus Frerotte or T-Jax. Neither played well enough consistently with Frerotte at a 73.5 QB rating, tossed 15 INTs vs 12 TD's and T-Jax who ESPN reported:

ESPN.com reports that the Vikings approached Fox Sports' Jay Glazer about getting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson into a mixed martial arts program. However, Jackson has declined interest.

Impact: This is certainly an odd story for the fact that Jackson is currently in line to be the Vikings' starter next season and MMA is an extremely physical sport that would increase his odds of getting injured. We're not completely sure what the reasoning was for the request.

Coach Kick Ass.



Discuss.

Don't forget the Vikings option on TOG.

Local talking heads think Garcia could be the Queens missing piece - Mike&Mike as well.

And what did they say about their "missing link" as coach?

I think Orton can be OK as long as they have enough weapons on offense (to throw to) and he has time. Chicago might have one of the 5 worst WR groups in the league.

Clearly Rodgers is the best in the division and it's really not that close. Detroit's situation is a mess with or without Kitna, and that's why I laugh at the idea they may pass on a QB in the first round. Minnesota is not much better, although, I don't think they need a great QB to win. They need a guy that's not turnover prone (Jackson) or a statue (Frerotte). To me, Jeff Garcia would be a good interim player for them.

Packer Fans forget (or perhaps never knew or believed) but prior to his nasty sprained ankle Orton was just a smidge behind Rodgers in stats and had won more games. After the injury he clearly couldn't throw deep and his timing was off even on some short throws. He was a stationary target in the pocket as well. To his credit he only missed 1.5 games and gutted it out but he never got 100% healthy the rest of the season. The difference between Orton (healthy) and Rodgers is MUCH smaller than most think. Give Orton the Packers WRs last year and the Bears win probably win 2-3 more games even with Orton's injury. The Bears already dumped Marty Booker and Brandon Loyd so change is on the way at that position. Considering they have a fine young RB and the best set of TEs in the division (maybe NFC) any upgrade at WR makes Orton that much more effective.

Well, I think a lot of people forget Aaron Rodgers was hurt for a portion of the season too. It happens. Guys get hurt.

As for the "give the Bears the Packers WRs" comment, well, if you gave the Packers the Ravens or Steelers defense chances are they'd win another 2-3 games there too

quote:

Originally posted by Satori:
In April 2005

http://www.drafthistory.com/years/2005.html

The Bears passed on Rodgers and took Cedric Benson

The vikes passed on Rodgers the first time and took Troy Williamson

The Lions passed on Rodgers and took Mike Williams

The vikes passed on Rodgers the second time and took Erasmus James

WOW

Saaaaawing........and a miss.

Well, unless Childress is playing possum, he says TJack and Gus will fight it out next year:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/40010617.html...aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

If this is actually the final decision and they skip on Garcia, they just went from a clear favorite in the North to right with Chicago and Green Bay, IMO. Garcia is so perfect for them on so many levels. He is a mobile QB like TJack, he has no more than two years left in the tank (TJack could still be the future if they insist), he a WCO guy and he wins. The guy over a 90 QB rating the last two years.

If I was a purple fan and especially if I was one of those veterans who's window is now, I'd be irate.

EDIT: If the Vikes are trying to create a smokescreen but saying this, I'm not sure what the benefit is. Garcia makes so much sense that I don't believe other teams would fall for that. Hell, if I was Garcia I would be pounding on the Vikes door. So either they really are going with TJack or they are playing a stupid game.

Minnesota isn't as much of a sure thing going into next year as some people think they are.

If they don't make a move at QB I think they will still continue to have issues there. You also have the pending suspension thing with the Williams sistas, and that will be huge if they are without those two guys.

They also still have one of the worst special team cover units in the league (not including their kicker and punter).

To me it would seem like Garcia is the right guy for them

Fan comments to that article CBoy are hilarious.

According to KFAN Vikes getting Rosenfels for a 4th round pick and signing him to a 3 yr, $9 million extension.

He did play ball at Iowa State. I'm just saying...

Well, Sage is a definite upgrade, IMO. But why not sign Garcia and not give up a pick? I guess this DOES mean they are done with TJack and DO think Sage is the man for the near future. From what I've seen of Rosenfels he has been OK. Impressive at times but one still has to wonder why he's bounced around so much. Anyway, the Vikings just improved themselves today.

From ESPN, a look at how NFC North QB's are doing after 2 weeks in the pre-season:

We've analyzed every word from Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler this summer. We dissected each step Brett Favre made from Mississippi to Minnesota. And all the while, Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers has been the sharpest quarterback in the NFC North through the midpoint of the preseason.

Objectively speaking, I don't think you'll find many people who could dispute it. As Cutler works to learn the nuances of his receivers and Favre attempts to learn the names of his, Rodgers quietly has taken his development to the highest levels. He has a 142.3 preseason passer rating, having converted three of his 19 passes for touchdowns. But more importantly, Rodgers has proved to be a case study in the benefits of knowing your receivers.

Both of his touchdown passes to receiver Donald Driver, for instance, required adjustments that wouldn't have occurred if Rodgers didn't know how Driver would react to the coverage and situation.

Rodgers: "The communication has been definitely the best that it's been the past two years that I've been playing. Just come off on the sidelines, and Greg [Jennings] coming over, Donald coming over, and having some real good dialogue about what they're seeing out there. Just the confidence that they have in myself, and the confidence I have in them when they tell me, 'Hey, I saw this out there. If we come back to this play, think about this.' It just gives you the confidence that we're on the same page. I think we're getting real close."

NFC North: Air and Space

Player Team Comp. Att. Pct. Yards TD INTRating
Aaron Rodgers Green Bay 13 19 68.4 200 3 0 142.3
Jay Cutler Chicago 13 23 56.5 185 1 1 79.1
Matthew Stafford Detroit 12 27 44.4 148 1 2 43.4
Brett Favre Minnesota 1 4 25.0 4 0 0 39.6

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcnorth

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Seifert, despite being a Vikings' fan and Favre apologist (he thinks the Favre signing makes the Vikings the clear favorite in the division), is usually pretty insightful. There's no doubt that Rodgers' familiarity with the playbook and the weapons at his disposal gives him an edge...and that's certainly been evident this preseason.

I'm just hoping he's shooting his wad too early .

B-N-D

He's young. Shoot it early and shoot it often.

quote:

Originally posted by Hungry5:
He's young. Shoot it early and shoot it often.

Rodgers can shoot it every five minutes, whereas old man Favre needs to take a nap for a few hours before trying again. And there's likely some type of medication involved.