Emergency QB

[PATRIOTS-80]

Assuming we keep Gutz on the PS, who do you think could serve as emergency QB? My guess would be Wes Welker.

 

[JSn]

Assuming we keep Gutz on the PS, who do you think could serve as emergency QB? My guess would be Wes Welker.

Like if we lost both Cassel and O'C?

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

Like if we lost both Cassel and O'C?

yeah.............

 

[JSn]

yeah.............

Well we'd have to lose them both in the same game for it to be an issue.

I imagine any number of guys can hand a ball off at a rate of 50% to just get a game over-with...

Technically, though we can have 46 game-day actives if #46 is a QB.

 

[alamo]

Technically, though we can have 46 game-day actives if #46 is a QB.

The point is, though, that 46th player must still be on the 53, which Gutierrez is not. They can still add him Saturday, though, if they cut someone else.

I can't think of anyone likely to be inactive who would make a good emergency QB. It would have to be someone who knows the offensive system, I can't see them using a primarily defensive or special teams player as QB (unless they got some practice this week). Of the actives I looked at, Sammy Morris's bio says he played QB in HS. As long ago as that was, it at least shows a little arm strength, and he knows the offensive system.

Randy Moss threw a TD pass last year but to be consistently successful he'd have to be able to throw it to himself

 

[JSn]

The point is, though, that 46th player must still be on the 53, which Gutierrez is not. They can still add him Saturday, though, if they cut someone else.

I can't think of anyone likely to be inactive who would make a good emergency QB. It would have to be someone who knows the offensive system, I can't see them using a primarily defensive or special teams player as QB (unless they got some practice this week). Of the actives I looked at, Sammy Morris's bio says he played QB in HS. As long ago as that was, it at least shows a little arm strength, and he knows the offensive system.

Randy Moss threw a TD pass last year but to be consistently successful he'd have to be able to throw it to himself

I just think we may walk into each game with two. Odds are on our side, imo.
Both guys PROBABLY won't go down in one game (I know it does happen sometimes). If one of them got hurt, they could activate him then.

Or they could cut Slater for the space.

Hehe... I like Slater, just saying that dropped return was UGLY. Confidence waning...

 

[matt1073]

What about CJ Jones they could cut him to make room for gutierrez

 

[MoLewisrocks]

The point is, though, that 46th player must still be on the 53, which Gutierrez is not. They can still add him Saturday, though, if they cut someone else.

I can't think of anyone likely to be inactive who would make a good emergency QB. It would have to be someone who knows the offensive system, I can't see them using a primarily defensive or special teams player as QB (unless they got some practice this week). Of the actives I looked at, Sammy Morris's bio says he played QB in HS. As long ago as that was, it at least shows a little arm strength, and he knows the offensive system.

Randy Moss threw a TD pass last year but to be consistently successful he'd have to be able to throw it to himself

I believe he actually threw a flea flicker to Brady. According to Pro Football reference he has 8 attempts and 4 completions in his career, and none were for TD's.

 

[JSn]

What about CJ Jones they could cut him to make room for gutierrez

Yeah, Jones. Not my fave. Hard to say, Matt - you're a cool cat, just quit dropping those balls.

 

[Boston Boxer]

if we lose two more QBs then i dont really care who comes in because it would be over

 

[patchick]

Assuming we keep Gutz on the PS, who do you think could serve as emergency QB? My guess would be Wes Welker.

Hasn't that "job" fallen to Kevin Faulk in the past?

 

[Pats726]

Hasn't that "job" fallen to Kevin Faulk in the past?

Troy Brown was...I think some thought Faulk could do that...with 2 QBs, there is no designated 3rd emergency QB...the rules regarding that are pretty strict.. I would go with Faulk.....

 

[Fencer]

You guys are mixing up two issues:

1. The special roster rules for an "emergency QB" (one of the 7 inactives on the roster of 53 can be designated the emergency QB and allowed to actually come in and QB).

2. Who takes the snaps if all the "real" QBs are hurt.

The answer to #2 was Kevin Faulk before it was Troy Brown. My best guess is that it would be Faulk again, because:

• He goes to offensive meetings.
• He can do it -- he was a high school QB, he's thrown some halfback option TD passes, etc.
• He has taken snaps, few as they are, in game situations.
• A good RB can be spared more than a good WR this year. At least, Moss and Welker can NOT be spared from the WR role if there's a wildly inexperienced QB.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

You guys are mixing up two issues:

1. The special roster rules for an "emergency QB" (one of the 7 inactives on the roster of 53 can be designated the emergency QB and allowed to actually come in and QB).

2. Who takes the snaps if all the "real" QBs are hurt.

The answer to #2 was Kevin Faulk before it was Troy Brown. My best guess is that it would be Faulk again, because:

• He goes to offensive meetings.
• He can do it -- he was a high school QB, he's thrown some halfback option TD passes, etc.
• He has taken snaps, few as they are, in game situations.
• A good RB can be spared more than a good WR this year. At least, Moss and Welker can NOT be spared from the WR role if there's a wildly inexperienced QB.

And the key point here - the emergency QB may "only" play QB, as BB noted in one of his press conferences this week.

My choice: O'Connell is the emergency QB. This makes him one of the 8 inactives and allows BB to keep another player active for STs and such. Faulk is Cassel's back-up if Cassel is expected to come back from getting his bell rung, if not, you activate O'Connell and Cassel is out for the rest of the game. There's no magic to this, just NFL rules.

 

[Pats726]

And the key point here - the emergency QB may "only" play QB, as BB noted in one of his press conferences this week.

My choice: O'Connell is the emergency QB. This makes him one of the 8 inactives and allows BB to keep another player active for STs and such. Faulk is Cassel's back-up if Cassel is expected to come back from getting his bell rung, if not, you activate O'Connell and Cassel is out for the rest of the game. There's no magic to this, just NFL rules.

I would be VERY surprised if O'Connell was the designated emergency QBs...(one of the 8 inactives.) If for any reason, Cassel is injured then defacto, either one of two things would happen..1---Faulk would be the defacto QB until Cassel was OK OR 2---O'Connell would come in and Cassell could not return to the game (That is if this all happened during the first 3 quarters..) I really doubt CoachB would only have 1 QB out of the active 45, just for this very reason. There is more to lose this way and really very little upside..Do you not think an opposing team would take note of that situation and go after Cassel even harder? To me noy a wise gambel..if anything Gutierrez will be activayed later today..

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I would be VERY surprised if O'Connell was the designated emergency QBs...(one of the 8 inactives.) If for any reason, Cassel is injured then defacto, either one of two things would happen..1---Faulk would be the defacto QB until Cassel was OK OR 2---O'Connell would come in and Cassell could not return to the game (That is if this all happened during the first 3 quarters..) I really doubt CoachB would only have 1 QB out of the active 45, just for this very reason. There is more to lose this way and really very little upside..Do you not think an opposing team would take note of that situation and go after Cassel even harder? To me noy a wise gambel..if anything Gutierrez will be activayed later today..

Why? emergency QB means exactly that, he only plays if there's no one else. I believe the rules allow him to play in the 4th quarter if you want to allow him some reps without inactivating your other QBs, but if Cassel is dinged up enough on the first series, to the point he cannot come back, you activate O'Connel, deactivate Cassel and play ball. BB specifically noted that he would be unable to designate a player, he used Ventrone as the example, as the emergency QB because Ventrone would be unavailable for any other duty than QB.

If BB decides to waive a player and activate Gutierrez, fine, but the rules are such that designating O'Connell as the emergency QB does not hurt the team. I wouldn't bring Gut up this week, it makes no difference if he's there or if O'Connell plays. The Pats can survive with Faulk at QB long enough to allow the medical staff to assess any injury to Cassel. If Cassel isn't coming back it just turns into OJT for O'Con anyway.

 

[bokonon]

And the key point here - the emergency QB may "only" play QB, as BB noted in one of his press conferences this week.

My choice: O'Connell is the emergency QB. This makes him one of the 8 inactives and allows BB to keep another player active for STs and such. Faulk is Cassel's back-up if Cassel is expected to come back from getting his bell rung, if not, you activate O'Connell and Cassel is out for the rest of the game. There's no magic to this, just NFL rules.

Agreed. The extra gameday roster spot is worth the risk of a couple of wasted possessions (direct snap to Faulk 3X, punt) should Cassel go down temporarily. Actually, would be cool to see a single wing -type formation with Faulk, Maroney and Jordan. BB being buds with Urban Meyer, whose QB has been described as a single wing tailback, it wouldn't shock me. Imagine the next defensive coordinator having to prepare for that if the use it for even one play!

(note: I am not comparing Faulk with Tim Tebow, who I think will be a damn fine pro QB)

 

[JSn]

Actually, that scenario of having one active QB and O'Con present as #54 or however that exactly works, means one more offensive/defensive weapon on the field.

Tempting. Possibly risky, but it sure does open some possibilities.

 

[Fencer]

And the key point here - the emergency QB may "only" play QB, as BB noted in one of his press conferences this week.

My choice: O'Connell is the emergency QB. This makes him one of the 8 inactives and allows BB to keep another player active for STs and such. Faulk is Cassel's back-up if Cassel is expected to come back from getting his bell rung, if not, you activate O'Connell and Cassel is out for the rest of the game. There's no magic to this, just NFL rules.

You idea is good if and only if the coaches deem there to be little difference between Cassel and O'Connell in quality. Why? Because if Cassel is unable to go for more than a couple of plays, O'Connell has to take over, knocking Cassel out of the whole game even if he could have come back a series or two later.

If that's a big sacrifice, you don't risk it.

I don't think they'll risk it.

 

[patchick]

You idea is good if and only if the coaches deem there to be little difference between Cassel and O'Connell in quality.

...which is exactly why most teams never try this trick. Though there is a second reason -- the risk that QB#2 is injured, and you're not allowed to bring #1 back in.