3 Intriguing QB's from week 2...
3 intriguing QB performances from Week 2
by Sage Rosenfels
What does it take to be an NFL quarterback? I’m sure I could throw out the many cliches you hear around combine time. He has a strong arm. He can make all the throws. He is a coach on the field and a great X’s and O’s guy. He’s a dual threat who can beat you with his arm and legs. We’ve heard all of these phrases and they are all true. But the most important attribute of an NFL starting quarterback, which is also much more challenging to predict, is “He knows how to win games."
Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott, in only his second-career start, proved to me that at a very young age he already has an understanding of what it takes to win NFL games. Having a strong arm or the ability to run had zero to do with how he managed the game for the Cowboys and brought them their first victory of 2016. Let me take you through the key plays in his final few drives which impressed me the most, but wouldn’t stick out as big plays on the stat sheet.
To begin the fourth quarter, the Cowboys were trailing Washington 23-20 with the ball at their own 30-yard line. Prescott gets sacked on the first play of the drive and then the Cowboys lose another yard on a second down run. It’s now third-and-16, and rather than playing conservative with the young quarterback, the Cowboys trust his decision-making skills. They call a pass, but Prescott checks it down for a 10-yard gain. The Cowboys punt. No big deal right? For a young player, learning how to live for another day and end every possession with some sort of kick isn’t an easy task. Dallas trusted their quarterback to make the right play and he rewarded them with a veteran move. Smart play No. 1.
Next, on a key drive with six minutes left and facing a third-and-11, Prescott finds a mismatch with Cole Beasley lined up against safety David Bruton Jr. Not only does he see the matchup, but the Cowboys audible to a new play and he finds Beasley on a 12-yard out route and a first down. Recognition. Audible. Execution. Key first down. Smart play No. 2.
Lastly, with Dallas up 27-23 with under two minutes left and Washington holding one timeout, Jason Garret calls a bootleg on a third-and-6. Taking more time (or timeouts) from the Redskins is key at this point. You can see the trust Jason Garret has in his QB by putting the ball in his hands to make the right decision. Most coaches simply run the ball and punt. Instead, Prescott rolls right, only to find nobody open. Instead of throwing the ball away which would stop the clock, Prescott takes a meaningless sack. Washington uses its last timeout. Dallas punts and forces Washignton to go 90 yards for a touchdown to win. Smart play No. 3.
Playing NFL quarterback is a lot of things. Winning is the only thing that matters. Prescott has shown a lot in his rookie season, but nothing as impressive as how he managed the game in his first victory on Sunday.
Ben Roethlisberger
Speaking of guys who know how to win, Ben Roethlisberger finds a way to get the job done in many different ways. He won a lot early in his career by leaning on Jerome Bettis and the NFL’s best defense. He only had to throw the ball 20-25 times a game to win. Though Roethlisberger had a knack for making the big play, he wasn’t depended on to carry his team.
During the middle of his career, Ben became one of the best “playmaker” quarterbacks in the NFL. His ability to extend plays by moving around in the pocket, fighting off 300-pound defensive lineman, and finding open receivers down the field was incredible. Brute strength and natural ability helped him become a top-five NFL quarterback on his way to a second Super Bowl ring, but Roethlisberger also got beat up and the injuries started to mount.
In 2016, Roethlisberger is closer to the end of his career than the beginning, but is still finding other ways to win. His defense is good, but it definitely won’t be confused with the Dick LeBeau Steelers defenses of the mid-2000s. He’s got a superstar tailback in Le'Veon Bell who is currently suspended. So now how is he winning? By using his experience and smarts instead of his braun.
Though he is helped by the fact that veteran running back DeAngelo Williams is looking like a young Pro Bowler, Roethlisberger has also become one of the best throwers in the game. Antonio Brown is his obvious first target, but Cincinnati wasn’t going to let Brown beat them this week, so Roethlisberger spread the ball around to eight other targets on a nasty, wet day in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger doesn’t rely on one thing to win. Take away one option, and he will beat you with another.
Whether it’s with a strong defense, an elite running game, or a star wide receiver, Ben will find a way to beat you. It doesn’t matter if he has all three options available or just one - his game has evolved to be multidimensional. Sunday, he beat Cincinnati in terrible conditions. If you are going to contend year after year in the AFC North, you better understand how to win ugly. Roethlisberger has won a lot of games like this, and he’d have it no other way.
Sam Bradford
The performance many people were keeping an eye on this week was that of Sam Bradford with the Minnesota Vikings. Traded only two weeks ago, I documented the challenges Bradford faced before he could find success in his new home.
He passed those tests with flying colors against the Packers on "Sunday Night Football." With a running game which was non-existent, Bradford looked comfortable with the offense and his accuracy was suburb. It didn’t take long for him to realize what Vikings fans have known for a year: throw it to Stefon Diggs, A LOT.
Bradford has always been an excellent deep-ball thrower. With Adrian Peterson and a strong defense, the likely game plan would be to call plenty of play action and take deep shots. The Vikings struggled to run the ball Sunday night, managing only 30 yards, but the key play in the game came after two successful Peterson runs. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner quickly capitalized on the Packers’ safeties getting overly aggressive in the run game. A full play-action fake to pull up the Packers’ linebackers and strong safety, and Bradord hit Diggs on a beautiful inside post. Timing, accuracy, and the experience to read the coverage correctly were all on Bradford’s side.
If the Vikings win this year, it will be because of plays like this. Their defense is as good as there is in the NFL. Their run game has to pick up. But so far, Sam Bradford has done his part in his new home up north in Minnesota.