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The two most overused and damaging words in the NFL are quarterback controversy (QBC). A team never wants to have such a label branded on them, but it quickly happens whenever a starting QB doesn’t perform well or is inconsistent in successive weeks and there is a viable backup available -- usually some young hot shot. Teams in Dallas, Pittsburg, Jacksonville, Denver, Miami, Arizona and Green Bay all had to deal with a QBC this season. Once this happens, the team must deal with the problem immediately and not let it linger into something larger that will eventually affect the mindset of the entire team.
There are two things a coach can do whenever he is faced with a QBC. He can stick with the starter or go with the backup. Now, there is no magic formula to determine which decision will work out best, but common sense tells you if something is broken than it must be fixed. I don’t see much reason to stay with a starter if he is habitually screwing up.
Coaches need to stop their indecisiveness! Regardless of the reason, once the starter is underperforming the coach should go with the capable backup. On Oct. 23, while facing the Giants, Bill Parcells finally had enough with the erratic play of (starter) Drew Bledsoe and went with (backup) Tony Romo. Although Romo didn’t perform all that well against New York, he did bounce back the following week and throw for 270 yards with a touchdown during the Cowboys’ 35-14 thrashing of the Panthers.
Take notice folks, this is what separates a great coach from a simple one. A great coach is active and unafraid to make a change, while a simple coach is passive and reluctant to change. I realize changing QBs must be frightening for coaches, but if the situation calls for one, a coach must not be hesitant in his decision making. His objective is to win football games. Therefore if the starter is underperforming or inconsistent, a switch should be made. A team should never have a season-long QBC. There should always be one QB. If a team has two, they really have none.
Lastly, changing QBs isn’t a cure-all, but it’s a start. Even if a team doesn’t win right away, it is still best to make a switch at QB if you have a young serviceable backup and your starter is stinking up the joint. The Cardinals might not win another game this year, but come next season Matt Leinart will have something neither Aaron Rodgers nor Jay Cutler will possess: familiarity behind center.
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