The position most crucial to a team’s success in the NFL is also the most scrutinized. The quarterback can be either a field general or a liability, bequeathing championships with his laser-rocket arm or instilling doubt and frustration, there is no position more integral to a team’s success in any sport than a quarterback in the NFL.
Heading into 2014 training camp, there is much uncertainty amongst teams without their future savior at quarterback. Playoff aspirations and ticket sales depend on these masters of the pass. But which five gunslingers must show us something in training camp?
E.J. Manuel, Buffalo Bills
A product of Florida State, E.J. Manuel had a less than ideal rookie season. Starting just 10 of his expected 16 games due to injury, Manuel won only four starts and struggled to find his mark in the passing game. Throwing 306 times with only 180 completions and 1,972 yards, Manuel’s 58.8 completion percentage falls short of what is expected from a comparable starter.
Unfortunately for Buffalo’s current-favorite son, Manuel struggled on the ground too. With 53 carries for 186 yards, Manuel showed how inefficient he can be as a runner, posting just a 3.5 yard per carry average. Though he did manage to find the end zone twice on the ground and 11 times through the air, his nine interceptions and 28 sacks showed his immaturity in all aspects of the game. Manuel must show improvement this preseason or the Bills will have to start looking elsewhere for a passer.
Geno Smith, New York Jets
Staying in the AFC East, another rookie quarterback has much to improve on in his sophomore year. Though he started all 16 of this run-heavy team’s games, Geno Smith had only one appearance with over 300 yards passing, and his team failed to score more than 18 points seven times on the season. Though the team finished with an even record, much of the Jets’ success was driven by their run game and defense as opposed to their quarterback.
Though he did eclipse the 3,000 yard barrier for passing, Smith had a completion percentage even worse than his counterpart in Buffalo with just 55.8 percent of his passes hitting their desired targets. Free agent acquisition Eric Decker should aid in Smith’s development, but it appears this former WVU Mountaineer has a long way to go in his rise to become the face of the New York Jets’ franchise.
Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
They say the West Coast is the best coast, unless your team is stuck in the NFC West. Though Carson Palmer led his Cardinals to a 10-6 record, Arizona failed to make the playoffs in a crowded Wild Card race. Coach Bruce Arians loves to air it out, and the tandem of Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd is more than one quarterback can ask for when it comes to potential targets.
While Palmer’s totals of 4,274 yards and a 63.3 completion percentage are viable, his 24 touchdowns to 22 interceptions must be improved upon or the talent on this team will be wasted in the regular season yet again. Palmer must prove he can take care of the football to assure fans and team members alike that he is the man to bring this Cardinals team to the next level.
Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams
A team on the cusp of greatness due to its tremendous talent at nearly every position had its starting quarterback play just seven games in 2013. Bradford won only three of those starts while posting a 60.7 completion percentage but did find the end zone 14 times compared to only 4 interceptions. While Kellen Clemens was able to keep the team afloat (albeit to a point) in Bradford’s absence, the 26 year old must recuperate from his season-ending knee injury and prove to the team’s brass that he is the man for the job. With a plethora of talent at the skill positions around him in Zac Stacy, Tavon Austin, Austin Pettis, Jared Cook, and Lance Kendricks, there will be no more excuses if Bradford cannot get the job done this season.
Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins
A man more likely to be called RG 3-13 as opposed to his normal moniker, Robert Griffin III has all the tools needed to succeed in this league for this not to be his year to take charge under center. With DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Jordan Reed, and Andre Roberts at his disposal, not to mention Alfred Morris running the ground game, Griffin III must prove that he is the dominant passer he was drafted to be as the second overall pick in the 2012 draft.
New philosophies on offense can help Griffin III”s cause as well due to new coach Jay Gruden’s determination to rid the designed quarterback runs from the Washington offense. It is now time for Griffin III to use his arm and his brain to lead this team to its second division title in three seasons.