These Playoffs a Representation of the Evolution of the NFL Quarterback

January 8, 2014

Similar to the cigar-toting sports journalist writing about how Willie Beaman was changing the quarterback position forever in Oliver Stone's film "Any Given Sunday", fans who watch the real-life professional football league are now getting a glimpse of the fluctuation of the NFL quarterback firsthand.

The current playoff situation features several of the leagues most famous passers of today and tomorrow.  The traditional group and this new hybrid batch that are the quarterbacks of the future.  The result may possibly be a microcosm of what kind of athlete teams will be hoping to build over the next decade.

Look at the headcount:  The traditional group features such icons as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers.  All these quarterbacks are veteran leaders who can make any throw on the field, who understand their respective playbooks inside and out, and typically stay in the pocket and make all their reads until they find a target to throw to.  These four quarterbacks (along with Aaron Rodgers whose team was eliminated in the Wildcard round this past Sunday) have been the upper-echelon of QB performance over the past decade.  All of them have shattered records. Usually each others.

 Between that group right there, there are heaps of passing titles, records for yards and/or touchdowns, memorable playoff performances, and six Super Bowls.  Most of them will certainly have their busts in Canton one day (Rivers still has some more to go) and are already in the discussion for perhaps being among the greatest QB's the sport has ever seen.

And yet even after a season as masterful as the one Peyton Manning is coming off of (5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns), it is the new generation of quarterbacks that are being watched in wide-eyed astonishment.

Andrew Luck, Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, and Cam Newton have taken the NFL over by storm and have presented opposing coaches and coordinators with sleepless nights as they desperately try to come up with ways of stopping them.  All of these young quarterbacks (except for Newton) have only been starting for two years.  Each has already earned victories over at least two of the elite quarterbacks in the first group.

Let's start with Andrew Luck, who had to deal with the pressure and expectations of taking over a two-win Indianapolis Colts team immediately after the departure of the legendary Peyton Manning.  Although he is the most traditional of the new quarterbacks, he is no statue in the pocket.  He uses every bit of his 4.59 40-yard dash speed to make plays when he can't find a receiver, which is rare (and therefore, even more deadly).  After being one-and-done in the playoffs last year, Luck already has a statement win in the postseason this year with a huge comeback victory over the Kansas City Chiefs and he'll try to keep the momentum going against the great Tom Brady on Saturday night. 

Then there is Colin Kaepernick, the quick-footed phenom with the rocket arm who was awarded the starting gig in San Francisco last season in controversial fashion.  Nevertheless, he led the 49ers deep into the playoffs and was only five yards short of winning the Super Bowl.  This year, he managed to help bring a depleted 49ers team to a 12-4 record, thanks in part to his thick skin and the ability to throw the ball like an absolute laser.  Perhaps the greatest dual-threat of the bunch, Kaepernick has already beaten any gameplan Mike McCarthy and the Green Bay Packers have thrown at him enroute to knocking Aaron Rodgers out of the postseason two years in a row. And if jersey sales are of any indication, he might just be the most popular player in the league. 

Aside from the 49ers, the NFC West is the home of another of these hybrid quarterbacks.  In Seattle, the Seahawks have found their franchise QB in Russell Wilson.  Although critics questioned his size and durability, Wilson has shown the composure of someone who has been in the league for 10 years.  In his two seasons, he has only lost once at home.  And with the best record in the league, he will benefit from having the best home field advantage in the league throughout the playoffs.  Like Kaepernick, his ability to escape the pocket and pick up large chunks of yardage are a nightmare for defensive coordinators to have to deal with.

Finally, there is Cam Newton.  The first of this wave, Newton is now in his third year and has had somewhat of a roller coaster career so far.  Last season, some analysts felt he was holding the team back and felt that his job was in danger of being lost. With the support of his coaches and teammates, however, Newton has thrived this season.  At 6'5 and 245 pounds, Newton can really do damage to smaller cornerbacks and safeties when he is able to run with the ball.  With an absolute cannon for an arm, he has also shown little fear in spreading the field and chucking it deep to his receivers. 

But why is this trend happening? And why now?  It isn't like running quarterbacks didn't exist before.  There was Fran Tarkenton in the 1960-70's.  Steve Young followed suit in the 90's.  Both are Hall of Famers.  So the recipe existed way before now.  Of course, they were also pocket passers.  They were quarterbacks first and athletes second.

Then Michael Vick came around.

In 2001, the Falcons traded for the number one draft pick and chose Vick.  Instantly, the football world fell in love with his skill-set.  But it soon became apparent that even his speed and arm strength wasn't enough to beat well-coached defenses.  When he was forced to stay in the pocket and make all his reads, Vick's production dropped.  And while he was always an exciting enigma on the field, the game eventually got faster around him.  Linebackers and Defensive Ends starting cutting off his escape routes and Vick was exposed as a mediocre passer.

Meanwhile, the Brees', Rodgers', and Manning's of the league still played at an elite level as they aged.  Because they stood in the pocket, they had the patience, awareness, and consistency that made them great.  They also didn't take the damage that running quarterbacks took.  And yet, these running quarterbacks are once again making scouts drool all over themselves.

It's an interesting strategy these teams seem to be going for.  Are traditional, upright quarterbacks a dying breed?  Granted, all these hybrid quarterbacks still in the playoffs are on teams that feature physical and opportunistic defenses, but is that by coincidence or by design?  Now, these dual-threat quarterbacks have the accuracy and the speed to succeed in the NFL.  There is also a very good chance that one of them will win a Super Bowl this year.  If that is the case, who wants to bet that teams will be looking for the "next" Cam Newton or Colin Kaepernick to give themselves that added advantage of defenses having to worry about more than just the arm of their opponent?

By Nicholas Navaro

Colin Kaepernick continues to give Green Bay nightmares

- January 6, 2014

Lambeau Field has seen it's fair share of historic moments over the decades, most of which have benefited the Green Bay Packers and their loyal fanbase.  But on the night of one of the coldest games in NFL history, the Packers were left defeated in the bitter cold by a face that is becoming all too familiar to them--San Francisco 49ers' star quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. 

With 0.03 left on the clock, Phil Dawson kicked the game-winning three points after a nail-biting finish that saw multiple lead changes and both quarterbacks doing everything they can to get momentum back in their team's favor.  After getting the ball back with about five minutes to go, the 49ers made it a priority to keep the chains moving and run out the clock as much as possible.  It proved to be a good strategy.

The Packers threatened to end San Francisco's drive early and give Aaron Rodgers another chance to crack the Niners defense, but on 3rd-and-10, Kaepernick reminded everyone why he was in the Super Bowl last year.  As the Packers brought pressure in a desperate attempt to get to the Niners offense of the field, Kaepernick climbed the pocket like a savvy veteran and found Michael Crabtree for a gain of 17 yards.  It was perhaps the biggest play of the day from Crabtree, who had 125 yards on eight catches, and had quickly found the soft spot in the zone defense. 

Later on in the drive, the 49ers would be faced with a 3rd-and-8, and once again Kaepernick answered.  Instead of containment, the Packers blitzed once again, only to watch the Wisconsin native scamper for an 11 yard gain.

It would prove to be the dagger, jammed coldly in the still-healing heart of Green Bay.  For the third time in a calender year, Kaepernick flexed his tattooed muscles victorious after a game against the Packers.  It was the second time he ended their season and any hopes of another Lombardi trophy.  And he's really starting to haunt coach McCarthy and his team.

After a long week of the media obsessing over the cold weather and the 49ers hot-streak against them, McCarthy publicly declared that this time would be different.  That Kaepernick would not be the one who sends the Pack home.  Not at Lambeau. 

And midway through the 4th quarter, it did look like this game would be different.  Momentum seemed to be on the Packers side.  Rodgers was finding ways to make big plays against a dominant 49ers defense.  And, with the emergence of Eddie Lacy, there was suddenly a reliable rushing attack that had to be a bit of a concern for San Francisco.  And best of all, the 49ers offense kept sputtering out despite great field possession.

But like last year, the 49ers made plays when their back was up against the wall.  And it was the same familiar faces.  Kaepernick found Vernon Davis for a huge 28-yard touchdown pass.  Crabtree, who has gotten better each week after returning from an achilles injury, made several big catches against Green Bay's secondary.  And although he was held in check, Frank Gore picked up solid yards and first downs to help sustain drives and keep the clock running.

For Green Bay, the loss raises the same alarming realizations as it has last year.  They have to clearly get better on the defensive side of the ball.  Defensive coordinator Don Capers has not matched the efficiency of the Packers offense, who can score with anybody and anywhere.  At this rate, it might be smarter for the Packers to draft in a manner that will help them beat San Francisco rather than the teams in their own division.  For the foreseeable future, it will be teams like San Francisco, Seattle, and Carolina that will decide the road to the Super Bowl, not any of their opponents in the NFC North.

For the 49ers, it allows them to move on to a rematch with the Carolina Panthers next Sunday.  The two teams are similar and while Carolina is home and beat the Niners 10-9 in week 10, San Francisco will have Crabtree in the lineup this time and a healthy Vernon Davis.  It also shows the genius of coach Jim Harbaugh, who has now won a playoff game in each of his three seasons since taking the franchise over.  This is a team that is confident and has the longest win streak in the NFL.  And they strongly believe they will be in New Jersey in a little less than a month.

-Nicholas Navaro