Yet another QB comparison and a question

by JR_G on Sep 4, 2009 11:27 PM MDT

Who would you rather have? Steve Young or Ryan Leaf?

"Just win baby." - Al Davis

In this Fan Post I'm primarily going to talk about three people. Jake Plummer, Chad Pennington, and Kyle Orton.

These three quarterbacks have a lot in common. They've been challenged by the media and the fans wherever they've played. They've been tagged as "system" quarterbacks and accused of having arms like wet noodles. The confusing part of all of this is that all they've done in their careers is have success. Each has a mark(Plummer didn't have the most fan friendly demeanor, Pennington has had some injury issues, and Orton, well mostly people just want to jump on his weak arm), but ultimately they have had some amount of success in games.

Let's start with Jake Plummer. I'm sure all of you remember the days of Jake the Snake with his play action roll outs and left handed throws. His record in Denver? 40-18. Number of Playoff appearances in his career? 5. This includes at least 1 in each of his 3 years with the Broncos.

ON the subject of Jake Plummer, he wasn't the flashiest, he didn't have the biggest arm or the most touchdowns. He wasn't Peyton Manning. He didn't have to be. He just had to do what he was asked and let the coach worry about that kind of stuff.

Let's fly across the country now and discuss Chad Pennington. Here's a guy who was hated in New York when he played for the Jets. He came out of Marshall and was taken in the first round. He put up some pretty crazy numbers in college, but he had that knock on him. "Weak arm". He also had some injury trouble. Here's "the thing" about Chad Pennington: every year he's played more than 11 games his team has made the playoffs. That's 4 years('02, '04, '06, '08) where his team went to the post season. This includes taking one of the worst teams in league history to the playoffs from a record of 1-15 to a record of 10-6.

Now let's talk about the "weak armed" Kyle Orton. 21-12 Kyle Orton. 1 playoff season and he didn't even get a chance to start in the season he helped build Kyle Orton.He had a 10-5 record his first year as a starter. His team went to the playoffs and eventually won the Super Bowl. Last year he compiled a 9-6 record and his best statistical season in the league.

Here's the gut check for all of you out there in Bronco land: Would you rather have a quarterback who fits a "system" and a vision from a coach who might not have the perfect physical makeup you look for or a willful, ultra athletic rebel who makes plays with his legs and arm that don't fit the coach's scheme?

I'll give you 2 lists of names. Take your pick:

"System"/"noodle arm" QBs

Steve Young, Chad Pennington, Jake Plummer, Tom Brady, Marc Bulger, Jeff Garcia

"Athletic and willful" QBs

Brett Favre, Michael Vick, Jeff George, Dante Culpepper, Vince Young, Kordell Stewart, Ryan Leaf

Think about it

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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I'm assuming

your top line of names are the “noodle-armed” qbs, while your bottom line is the "uber-athletic, willful ones?

If so I’d take the youngs and plummers every time.

"The best defense is a good offense. Or is it the other way around." Wolverine
Pray for the best, prepare for the worst, and know you will come down somewhere between the two.
Livin' in La La Land and Lovin' It

by Brian Shrout on Sep 4, 2009 11:42 PM MDT reply actions

Yeah I need to fix that to clarify

by JR_G on Sep 4, 2009 11:47 PM MDT up reply actions

it just surprised me

because I was expecting only a list of losers. :)

by Brian Shrout on Sep 4, 2009 11:47 PM MDT up reply actions

Bingo JR_G

This is a great sidenote to calm the eager-to-doubt Denver fans. Basically… I’ll throw two sheets to the wind when it comes to MSM or the “national” impression of the Broncos. What I DO care about however is that they get the respect they deserve from their own fanbase.

It irritates the crap out of me that people think they can give the opinion: “When McDaniels can prove he’s not a screw-up, i’ll give him my respect.” Hello?? Umm… NO! Who nominated these people as “overlords of bronco country”? Ummm… NOBODY! I don’t give a crap what anyone’s personal opinion of the man is… The fact is: He has proven himself as a consistent winner (at whatever level he’s had the opportunity to coach at (and play at for that matter)) and ultimately the Team Owner believes he will do this Team right. Nobody’s butt is on the line but Bowlen’s; he’s the one who will lose money if the Broncos spell out with these decisions.

Nobody is holding a gun to anyone’s head and making them buy season (or regular) tickets. So all you little self-centered “listen-to-my-opinion-of-something-I-know-nothing-about Types” can just shut the HECK up!

Pause, Breathe, Sigh **

Whoa, what happened? Shake it off, Alex. Darn rage-blackouts!

In It to Win It

It's Orange Crush Time

by USMCWall on Sep 5, 2009 12:23 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs

Never, never, never cross a marine

unless he’s your son-in-law to be, in the Marine Corp Band, and a Chief’s fan :D

by Brian Shrout on Sep 5, 2009 12:25 AM MDT up reply actions

I understand where you are coming from

Lately there has been an influx of comments about “how I hate the coach and I will find a way to make you agree, hopefully”

It is sad, cause in the end, that personal anxiety really only hurts the person with it. I can bet McDaniels isn’t losing sleep over it ;-)

I would hope you would support who we are. Not, who we are not. Coach Norman Dale "Hoosiers"

by dmitchell624 on Sep 5, 2009 10:03 AM MDT up reply actions

With all due respect to Orton, Pennington, and co.

I wouldn’t exactly call Brady noodle armed. His big problem coming out of college was a lack of real speed and bad footwork. I think if you watched what he did in ‘07, it’s easy to see that he actually has a pretty big arm and is good at driving the ball down field – hence the comparisons between he and our Tom (Brandstater) two big, smart guys with strong arms and bad feet (though did anybody else marvel at Brandstater’s PA rollouts against Chicago/Arizona?)

by Vortex7 on Sep 6, 2009 5:14 PM MDT reply actions