The Future Is Now: Quarterback

If you can discern the Raiders’ plan at quarterback, please enlighten me. Every time I thought they might be making a move to the future with Walter, they handed the ball to Aaron Brooks. If it later came out that the position was being managed according to the laws of voodoo or astrology, I wouldn’t argue.

In retrospect, and as I feared, passing on Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler in the 2006 draft may come back to haunt us. Sure, Michael Huff is solid, and potentially a force. But look at it this way: What if you were to call the Cardinals or Broncos and offer them Huff for Leinart or Cutler, straight up? That conversation would last about one second, and it would end in dial tone. For obvious reasons.

The fact is that all positions are not created equal. See kicker v. running back. Or, in this instance, safety v. quarterback. When your offense lacks identity, leadership and stability at its most crucial position, a safety or cornerback can only take you so far. What about Troy Polamalu or Brian Dawkins, you say? I say: If you like the sound of dial tone, call the Patriots and offer Troy Polamalu for Tom Brady. Call the Bengals and offer Brian Dawkins for Carson Palmer.

Just how important is the quarterback position? Consider the eight teams playing this weekend. Of these eight, only one, the Chicago Bears with Rex Grossman, have any question marks at quarterback—now or next year (assuming that Donovan McNabb heals). We’re talking about guys named Brady, Manning, Brees, Hasselbeck, Rivers, McNair and McNabb when he heals. It’s not a coincidence.

The funny thing about quarterbacks is that they all suck. You know what I mean. Just mention the names Peyton Manning or Donovan McNabb, and a dozen people will jump up and tell you how much they suck. Well, let me just say that I wouldn't mind sucking like that.

Allow me to digress for a moment…The coaching search is really heating up, not only in Alameda, but here at Raider Take. Please check out the more than 100 comments on the preceding take for an inspired and insightful discussion about our coaching needs. There’s not much I can add to the discussion at this point, especially with the local media chasing red herrings and leading us down blind alleys.

In the same day, one outlet says John Shoop is being fitted for the crown while another outlet says he’s not even under consideration. Click here to read the contrasting stories. It reminds me of last year, when Raider Take’s favorite columnist said Al Saunders was sure to be our next head coach, only to be repudiated by his own paper the next day, which reported that Saunders was never really in the running. I’m glad these folks aren’t covering world politics or war or something else where getting it right can be a matter of life or death.

So while the plot thickens on the coaching search, and as we wait for more legitimate information, I am inspired to launch an offensive positional analysis under the banner of “The Future is Now.” Thanks to Damon for the idea. We begin the series with the position of quarterback.

One thing I don’t want to hear is: “Al never…” or “Al won’t…” as in “Al never picks a QB in the first round” or “Al won’t want the financial headache of selecting a first-round QB.” Even if Mr. Davis isn’t finally re-thinking the strategy that bracketed Rich Gannon with Jeff George, Kerry Collins and Aaron Brooks, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t.

Do you think Aaron Brooks has what it takes, and that he should lead this team in 2007? If so, please speak up. If you think we should put all of our eggs in the Andrew Walter basket, please tell us why. If you think we should pin our hopes on yet another journeyman free agent, I’m all ears.

If you say none of the above, then you’re treading on “Al won’t” territory. You’re treading on first pick in the first round territory. You’re treading on Brady Quinn, JaMarcus Russell and Troy Smith territory.

To be honest, I don’t spend a lot of time breaking down college game tapes. In fact, I spend almost no time watching college football. In a perfect world, maybe I would. My world isn’t perfect. The trash needs to be taken out and Mini Take needs his diaper changed and there’s a lot of Raiders stuff that needs tending (and, alas, all three of these activities have lately become increasingly similar). So I can’t say I know a lot about these potential first round prospects, except to say that Troy Smith is dropping like a stone after tonight.

I didn’t get a chance to watch much of the bowl contest between Quinn and Russell, either. I did turn it on, however, just in time to see Russell hurl the ball 50 yards in the air off his heels for a touchdown strike. Very impressive. It’s being reported that he hasn’t quite decided to declare himself for the NFL draft. If he does, then he’s worth a serious look, based on what I've heard and seen to date.

As for Quinn, I’m not sold on his throwing motion. It looks a bit clipped to me. He seems to come up short in big games, too. Also, Brady is a great last name for a quarterback, but a questionable first name for a quarterback. Not to be shallow, but if we’re going to break the Ken, Jim and Rich mold, we might as well do it in style with something like JaMarcus.

So let’s review: Brooks, Walter, New Journeyman or First Round Draft Pick? Even if we pick someone in the first round, we’ll need someone to keep the seat warm for several games before he starts. But for the sake of this discussion, let’s not think in terms of Week One in 2007, but rather Week Fifteen, or even 2008. If we agree that stability and identity are important at the quarterback position, then in addition to acting now, we need to think ahead.

Personally, I haven't worked it all out yet. There's a lot of time between now and the draft. I do know, however, that I'm getting tired of instability at quarterback, of looking for the next Gannon needle in the George, Collins and Brooks haystack, of hearing, "Al never...."

Maybe Al should?