Todd Collins: Best Backup QB in the NFL?

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

I think TC is a top 5 back-up. But the best back-up in the NFL is Kerry Collins. I think he's better than half the current starters in the league. He's better than the starter on his own team! I just don't understand why a team like Baltimore doesn't just go out and get a guy like Kerry Collins.

I think there are a lot of good backups in the NFL, but I don't think Kerry Collins is one of them. He might be better than Young right now though, he was last year.

But I do agree with you that if Baltimore wanted a short term fix at QB (which is what they did with McNair), they could have gone out and got a Brunell, or a Kerry Collins, or a Griese, or a Leftwich, or a Culpepper, or a Sage Rosenfels, and they would be the overwhelming favorites in the AFC North. Not all of those guys are particularly great passers, but they are all known quantities who could win on a team with that kind of defense.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I think there are a lot of good backups in the NFL, but I don't think Kerry Collins is one of them. He might be better than Young right now though, he was last year.

But I do agree with you that if Baltimore wanted a short term fix at QB (which is what they did with McNair), they could have gone out and got a Brunell, or a Kerry Collins, or a Griese, or a Leftwich, or a Culpepper, or a Sage Rosenfels, and they would be the overwhelming favorites in the AFC North. Not all of those guys are particularly great passers, but they are all known quantities who could win on a team with that kind of defense.

Collins has several good things still going for him. Big arm, he can make all the throws, he's durable, he's shown he can take a team to the Super Bowl and he's pretty accurate. He just can't get out of his own way. He needs a great line in front of him.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

Collins has several good things still going for him. Big arm, he can make all the throws, he's durable, he's shown he can take a team to the Super Bowl and he's pretty accurate. He just can't get out of his own way. He needs a great line in front of him.

Collins also throws the ball away way too much...and takes way too many sacks (offensive line issues noted) for a guy who throws away as many passes as he does. Case in point, he's thrown a completion % of 60 or higher once in his career (excluding last years 82 attempts).

That's fine if he's consistently beating his completion percentage with his TD/INT ratio...but he isn't. He's 1 to 1 for his career (174 TDs, 172 INTs). The thrown away passes aren't preventing Collins from getting picked off...they're just stalling the offense.

He did well in relief of Young last year, and you could do worse to have Kerry Collins as your backup quarterback, but most teams have done better, IMO.