Deus Irae

Since Cassel is the mob victim du jour, I thought it would be interesting to do an exercise.....

Part 1

Name the top 5 teams in the NFL.


Part 2

Of the top 5 teams, name those that would win 10+ games without their starting QB:


Part 3

After the top 5 teams, how much further do you need to go before you find a team that would be expected to win 10 games with its backup quarterback?


Just for reference on part 1, I've got:
1. Patriots
2. Chargers
3. Colts
4. Cowboys
5. Giants

I'd have to take a long look at the Jaguars, too.

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TheGodInAGreyHoodie

Giants and Chargers maybe.

Particularly Chargers. Billy Volack defeated the Colts. If you asked me if the Chargers could win 10 games w/o LT, different story. Rivers isn't the franchise player in that org.

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Pats726

so...what are you saying??.....so other teams may not have a solid backup either and.....

TheComeback

Of those five teams, I think the Chargers and Cowboys would stand the best chance of still reaching 10+ with their starters gone. Volek is the most reliable backup of those teams you mentioned, and Brad Johnson is a capable veteran.

jeffbiologist

The reason more teams dont have good backups is because they are ALL playing for TB as we saw sunday nite!

bradmahn

Colts: Probably not but it would depend on their defense and the return to health of Freeney and Sanders. Again, I doubt it. The AFC South looks to be very competitive, on top of that.
Chargers: Probably. Good defense and a very good running game. Volek is solid. The AFCW blows.
Cowboys: Eh. Maybe but probably not. Tough division.
Giants: I don't think they're winning 10+ games with Eli. A good running game and Burress would help David Carr or Anthony Wright look a little better than David Carr or Anthony Wright, though.

Honestly, as I said in another thread, given an actual game plan and a healthy Matt Light to solidify the offensive line, I think there are too many weapons on the Patriots offense, receiving and running, for them to not remain competitive, especially if you think this defense could be top five in the league (which I do).

I certainly wouldn't expect much in the playoffs but a 9 or 10 win season and competing for a division title would certainly remain realistic.

I see I didn't follow the directions. I'd put the Jags on the list of the top five instead of the Giants. They'd have no passing game without Garrard but Taylor and Jones-Drew, along with a very strong defense, could get them to 10 wins.

There are two types of teams that can reach double digit wins: ones that have very good defenses and very good running games and ones that have good backups. The Vikings are going to be damn good no matter who is at quarterback. The Titans could possibly fall into this category. The Packers have a lot of talent all over the field, but both of their backups are rookies... doubt it. Sage Rosenfels is a good backup in Houston, the Bucs have good backups, ummm... how many other teams have good backups? Maybe the Browns?

The Titans, Packers, Texans, Bucs and Browns, though, may not even make it to 10 wins with their starters, so it's tough to say.

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ScottieC

Question One:

1. Patriots
2. Chargers
3. Colts
4. Cowboys
5. Jags

Question Two:

None.

Chargers - Voleck? One game does not make a Play-off caliber team.
Colts - Sorgi? Please.
Cowboys - Brad Johnson - Maybe, but doubt it.
Jags - Got to admit, I have NO idea who's behind Garrard.
Pats - Don't get me started.

Question 3:

None.

The league is already weak in QB's - It's so Top Heavy with Brady, Manning, etc. - That when you get past those guys and then take out all the starters.....well that's just a mess.

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PATRIOTSFANINPA

I would not put the Giants in the top 5 SB champs aside,they lost several key defenders most importantly Strahan

The Jags and even the improved Vikings and Saints could be up and coming


I would not expect much of any of these teams losing thier starting QB except for the Chargers who played without Rivers for a bit last year and the Vikings don't really have a great QB in Jackson so it would not be too much of a dropoff.

The Patriots and Colts would be in a heap of trouble if Brady and Manning are hurt as was discussed in another thread posted yesterday - Their starting QBs are HOFers which makes the dropoff to the backups much farther backwards than the other teams IMO

RayClay

So if other teams don't have good backups it's ok for us too. Sounds like positive thinking right there.

A lot of teams have lousy starters. Maybe we should trade Brady before he gets old.

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ScottieC

Really the bottom line is a healthy Matt Light, Neal and Brady and I'm not sure who can stop the Patriots, I don't care what the Pre-Season record is.

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