NFL: Is the QB Guard about to change?

Michael Hopcroft · 03-14-2021, 07:09 PM

With Drew Brees announcing his retirement today, I'm wondering whether the guard for NFL quarterbacks is finally changing.

There are some really good young quarterbacks who have been overshadowed by the likes of Brees, Tom Brady, and other quarterbacks who have built long, fruitful careers (I was about to add Matthew Stafford to the list, but he is not the giant either of the others are). With Tom Brady talking about playing through his entire forties, it looks especially challenging for young stars to get the attention they deserve.

Not that they are unworthy of their accolades. I have respect for all the success these guys earned over the years. But no football player can or should go on forever, and fans should not feel betrayed if their star decided to hang up their cleats after a long career and a lot of success.

Syd Thrift · 03-14-2021, 07:15 PM

I mean, it changed with the retirement of Peyton Manning as well and to some degree the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck. The landscape of the league now includes Brady but way more than the 30+ year olds it's Deshawn Watson and Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes and... Russell Wilson (who I guess is over 30 now, wow).

I will say that if anything fans give a player crap when they retire too late as much as too early (which too often translates into "before he had a particularly bad down year"). I think retirement has been on the Brees family table for quite a while now and if anything I'm a little surprised it's taken him this long to finally call it quits.

rudel.dietrich · 03-14-2021, 10:29 PM

His average air yards (yards that that the ball was actually in the air, not total yards per pass) has gone down four straight seasons.
And having to miss time last season with Torn Rotator Cuff, Torn Fascia 11 Broken Ribs, and a Collapsed Lung was finally enough to make him hang it up.

I wonder how New Orleans proceeds from here. Taysom Hill seems like a novelty QB for 8-14 downs a game. He will also be 31 before the start of next season, so he is not exactly a plan out your franchise around him age for a QB.
Winston may be a one year bridge player but is probably not a long term option.

Syd Thrift · 03-15-2021, 07:55 AM

Winston strikes me as a guy who could be a great QB if he stops taking unnecessary risks. That said, he hasn’t learned to do so yet...

rudel.dietrich · 03-15-2021, 02:31 PM

His 33/30 season was something to behold

GeoWar · 03-15-2021, 09:09 PM

With all NFL football players - minor and major injuries help to define the length and how I (a fan) views their greatness . The length of a quarterbacks career has gotten longer due to rule changes.

Brees was injured early in his career and let go by San Diego ( Chargers had Ryan Leaf and Jim Harbaugh ** I think ). The length of time he spent at New Orleans surprised me - since he is undersized .

Big Ben at Pittsburgh had an accident earlier in his career . I don't think he moved around well after that ( which never was a strong point ) . But a strong line and natural size kept him stronger in the game .

Brady has mostly had a veteran team around him and the coaching scheme helped . Brady replaced Drew Bledsole (sp) and several of his backups were sought by other teams ( MC, JG, JB ) . Brady has had injuries - the short passing game helped cover some OL concerns . At Tampa , Brady is asked to throw deeper passes - Brady had a lot of skilled (hand picked) receivers - Teams may blitz him more this year .

The money against the cap that young QBs are wanting is going to create concerns . Deshawn Watson, Dak Prescott ( already has missed time with major injury ) and Patrick Mahomes ( KC released both tackles ) will be challenged . And the mobile QB being able to stay around theory will be tested . I look at Cam Newton - he leaves the pocket and takes the hits of a RB unless he falls down.

NFL teams will evolve

BaseballMan · 03-19-2021, 05:09 PM

I don't think Sand Diego let Brees go because he was injured.
He had some decent seasons in San Diego. I think it was more that they thought Philip Rivers was gonna be better. I believe they traded for Rivers in 2004. I thought Brees would be ok in New Orleans and maybe get them headed in the right direction but i never thought he would put up the numbers he did. Even in this passing age his numbers were fantastic.

Boomcoach · 03-22-2021, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaseballMan

I don't think Sand Diego let Brees go because he was injured.
He had some decent seasons in San Diego. I think it was more that they thought Philip Rivers was gonna be better. I believe they traded for Rivers in 2004. I thought Brees would be ok in New Orleans and maybe get them headed in the right direction but i never thought he would put up the numbers he did. Even in this passing age his numbers were fantastic.

Iirc, their decision got complicated by the fact that Brees got injured in the last game of the season, and they had to decide whether to resign an injured Brees or go ahead and shift to Rivers.

03-14-2021, 07:09 PM	#1
Michael Hopcroft Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Portland, OR USA Posts: 487	NFL: Is the QB Guard about to change? With Drew Brees announcing his retirement today, I'm wondering whether the guard for NFL quarterbacks is finally changing. There are some really good young quarterbacks who have been overshadowed by the likes of Brees, Tom Brady, and other quarterbacks who have built long, fruitful careers (I was about to add Matthew Stafford to the list, but he is not the giant either of the others are). With Tom Brady talking about playing through his entire forties, it looks especially challenging for young stars to get the attention they deserve. Not that they are unworthy of their accolades. I have respect for all the success these guys earned over the years. But no football player can or should go on forever, and fans should not feel betrayed if their star decided to hang up their cleats after a long career and a lot of success.

03-15-2021, 09:09 PM	#6
GeoWar All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 848	With all NFL football players - minor and major injuries help to define the length and how I (a fan) views their greatness . The length of a quarterbacks career has gotten longer due to rule changes. Brees was injured early in his career and let go by San Diego ( Chargers had Ryan Leaf and Jim Harbaugh ** I think ). The length of time he spent at New Orleans surprised me - since he is undersized . Big Ben at Pittsburgh had an accident earlier in his career . I don't think he moved around well after that ( which never was a strong point ) . But a strong line and natural size kept him stronger in the game . Brady has mostly had a veteran team around him and the coaching scheme helped . Brady replaced Drew Bledsole (sp) and several of his backups were sought by other teams ( MC, JG, JB ) . Brady has had injuries - the short passing game helped cover some OL concerns . At Tampa , Brady is asked to throw deeper passes - Brady had a lot of skilled (hand picked) receivers - Teams may blitz him more this year . The money against the cap that young QBs are wanting is going to create concerns . Deshawn Watson, Dak Prescott ( already has missed time with major injury ) and Patrick Mahomes ( KC released both tackles ) will be challenged . And the mobile QB being able to stay around theory will be tested . I look at Cam Newton - he leaves the pocket and takes the hits of a RB unless he falls down. NFL teams will evolve __________________ Cal. State Fullerton -- NCAA Champion - Baseball 2004 Texas Longhorns -- NCAA Champion - Baseball 2005 Oregon State Beavers -- NCAA Champion - Baseball 2006 and 2007 With unity comes VICTORY !

03-14-2021, 10:29 PM	#3
rudel.dietrich Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Zürich, Switzerland Posts: 8,608	His average air yards (yards that that the ball was actually in the air, not total yards per pass) has gone down four straight seasons. And having to miss time last season with Torn Rotator Cuff, Torn Fascia 11 Broken Ribs, and a Collapsed Lung was finally enough to make him hang it up. I wonder how New Orleans proceeds from here. Taysom Hill seems like a novelty QB for 8-14 downs a game. He will also be 31 before the start of next season, so he is not exactly a plan out your franchise around him age for a QB. Winston may be a one year bridge player but is probably not a long term option.

03-15-2021, 02:31 PM	#5
rudel.dietrich Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Zürich, Switzerland Posts: 8,608	His 33/30 season was something to behold

03-19-2021, 05:09 PM	#7
BaseballMan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 6,486	I don't think Sand Diego let Brees go because he was injured. He had some decent seasons in San Diego. I think it was more that they thought Philip Rivers was gonna be better. I believe they traded for Rivers in 2004. I thought Brees would be ok in New Orleans and maybe get them headed in the right direction but i never thought he would put up the numbers he did. Even in this passing age his numbers were fantastic.