This weekend we had the opportunity to see Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater start their first NFL game. They were both drafted in the first round in the NFL draft last May, and they both played well this weekend. Every successful team has a successful QB at the helm and is often considered to be the most important position on the field.
When a team drafts a QB in the first round they are investing heavily in them. So why wait on the investment? After watching Bortles and Bridgewater play this weekend, it appears the best move for their teams would have been playing them the first three weeks as well. We have seen many successful first round QBs that started from the get-go: Andrew Luck, Cam Newton, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, and Matthew Stafford. However, we have also seen a lot of first round QBs that started from game one and it hasn't gone well: JaMarcus Russell (Free Agent aka FA), Mark Sanchez (Backup, Eagles)*, Josh Freeman (FA), Blaine Gabbert (Backup, 49ers)*, Christian Ponder (Backup, Vikings), and Brandon Weeden (Backup, Cowboys)*. While there is no clear answer on what to do with a 1st round QB, I'm bringing this up because there will be talk all week on how teams should not wait on starting their QBs in a win now league. The Browns are the only other team that drafted a QB in the first round this last draft, Johnny Manziel. The Browns may begin to get fans that demand the young talent get the start after this past weekend saw success for the young QBs. There have been some good QBs that had wait their turn. A few QBs that had to wait over a year to get their first start, including non first rounders: Aaron Rodgers, Colin Kaepernick, and Tom Brady. While the list isn't as long, the three of them have very impressive resumes.
I don't have the perfect answer for NFL coaches but I believe that when a team drafts a QB in the first round they don't like their current QB. Why waste time and games playing the guy you don't like? I understand it depends on the team, the player and the situation but in most cases make the change in training camp. Tell the media that you have a QB battle and make the two players duel it out. Regardless of the preseason I believe the team still plays the newly drafted guy and test him out. It gives more time to see how they play in real games, see how they react, and what needs to be improved around the guy.
(* No longer on team that drafted them)
That is my two cents on that topic.
What do you think NFL coaches should do?
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