Tag: backup

Saints advisor Jon Gruden is a big supporter of backup QB Nathan Peterman

It’s still unclear what role Jon Gruden has with the Saints as an advisor, consultant, or unpaid observer. But he’s a big Nathan Peterman fan:

It’s still unclear what role ex-Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has with the New Orleans Saints. His connection to the organization has been characterized as, at different times, “an observer rather than any official consultant” per NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett and as a possible “addition to the Saints offensive staff rather than a replacement for offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael” according to Nola.com’s Jeff Duncan.

Obviously Gruden has not joined the staff in any official capacity (yet), but it stands to reason that he’s still around the team. He had dinner with general manager Mickey Loomis and other team brass when the Saints visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers late last December, and he’s someone they regard highly despite the off-field distractions his presence creates.

What we do know about Gruden is that he’s a big Nathan Peterman fan. Gruden kept Peterman around as a backup quarterback on the Raiders for years, and now Peterman is competing for the same job in New Orleans. Back before the 2017 draft, when Gruden was still working in broadcasting for ESPN, he said of the then-Pitt Panthers quarterback:

“Peterman is ready to walk in and be a contributor from day one. He just looks like a pro quarterback — coming out of the huddle, running an offense with different formations, shifting, motioning, different patterns that other colleges don’t run.

Peterman will recognize route combinations and associate formations. Most importantly, he will be able to get in a huddle from day one and look at 10 grown men and tell them where to go and what to do and handle a versatile snap count.”

Clearly things didn’t work as Gruden anticipated once Peterman got on the field. No quarterback has thrown more interceptions (13) on fewer attempts (160) since he entered the league. Still, Gruden stood by his evaluation and chose to bring Peterman into the fold when he was coaching the Raiders a few years later.

“This Nate Peterman is growing on me,” Gruden told Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review Journal. “He’s athletic. I know he’s got some nightmare performances in the NFL, but when you watch the film you can see why. It’s not all his fault, but he’s got some talent, he’s got some athleticism, he’s got some experience.”

Gruden added: “He was an opening day starter for the Buffalo Bills last year. I take that very serious. He’s smart. He’s done a good job. He’s been consistent, and I think he’s starting to get his confidence back. We all need that.”

Now, just because Gruden likes a quarterback doesn’t mean the player is any good. Just look at the horrible draft picks he and Mike Mayock put together with the Raiders. It became a meme during Gruden’s ESPN tenure on Monday Night Football that he’d claim to have loved every player he could name. From Tom Brady to Alex Smith and Mike Glennon, anyone would get an enthusiastic, “Man, I love this guy.” Peterman has probably gotten the same treatment.

Still, it’s easy to connect the dots here. Gruden has been around the Saints as an organization for most of the last year. He’s a big fan of Peterman as a backup quarterback. And when the Saints needed someone cheap who wouldn’t threaten Derek Carr’s job security, Gruden may have put in a good word for the third-stringer. It would almost be more surprising if he hadn’t.

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Saints free agency rumors: Browns interested in signing Jameis Winston

The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin reports the Browns are interested in signing Jameis Winston as a backup quarterback, not a starter:

It’s too early to say that a market is developing for his services, but at least one team is seriously considering Jameis Winston as free agency takes shape: the Cleveland Browns, per the Boston Globe’s senior NFL reporter Ben Volin.

There’s just one thing. Volin reports that the Browns view Winston as a backup for starting quarterback Deshaun Watson, but Winston has been vocal about his desire to start games for a team, which he knows isn’t going to happen with Derek Carr entrenched on the New Orleans Saints.

Watson has strong job security in Cleveland, too, so if the only offers out there are backup gigs then it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Winston stays in New Orleans. Still, Watson missed most of the season with an injured throwing shoulder, and Winston could see this as an opportunity to get on the field if he misses more time.

So it’s something to watch for in the days ahead. Because of the way Winston’s contract is constructed, the Saints will need to release him with a post-June 1 designation if he’s going to leave and join another team, just like with Michael Thomas. If he intends to stay in New Orleans they’ll need to tear up his current deal and write a new contract. There are many moving parts this time of the year so expect more development in the days ahead.

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Andy Reid on Chiefs QB Shane Buechele: ‘He looks more comfortable’

Andy Reid said that #Chiefs quarterback Shane Buechele “looks more comfortable” during his comments to the media after Wednesday’s practice.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has been known to utilize his second-string quarterbacks in the past and has a competition for the coveted role on his hands ahead of his team’s final preseason game against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday.

Reid was asked about third-year passer Shane Buechele after Kansas City’s practice session on Wednesday and expounded on the development he has seen from the former SMU Mustang in the preseason. He seemed pleased with what he had seen and told reporters that the veteran presence currently ahead of Buechele on the depth chart seemed to be helping him settle in.

“Well he looks more comfortable, and I think in a crazy way, Blaine (Gabbert) has been good for him and bringing out the best in him, you know, the competition,” Reid explained. “Blaine is competing like crazy too, so it’s been a good challenge there for him but he’s doing a nice job, more time coming up here, so we’ll see how both of them do.”

Expect the competition between Buechele and Gabbert to be fierce against the Browns this weekend as each quarterback vies for their chance to back up Patrick Mahomes ahead of the 2023 regular season kickoff in September.

Chiefs QB Shane Buechele on lessons learned from Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City #Chiefs quarterback Shane Buechele told reporters about lessons he has learned from reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes.

Fantastic performances from quarterback Shane Buechele have headlined the first two preseason games for the Kansas City Chiefs. Buechele has emerged as a serious contender for the backup quarterback spot behind Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes has had the luxury of veteran quarterback Chad Henne as his backup for years, but following his retirement, the spot is up for grabs. Buechele is in his third season with the Chiefs, spending the first two years on the practice squad. Buechele spoke highly of the reigning MVP’s influence on his improving game during Wednesday’s press conference.

“It’s not tough being in that room, but you gotta take what Pat (Patrick Mahomes) does, and put a little bit to your game and also let him do what he does,” Buechele explained. “He’s the best in the league at what he does. So, definitely his leadership style, I think that gets kind of caught up in all the behind-the-back passes and deep throws scramble drills.

“The way he leads a football team is special. And so I see that. And then, just different ways and protections, he’s super smart. I think that’s another thing that gets overlooked. So just his knowledge of the offense, the way he carries himself and carries this team, is definitely something that I’ve taken from him. As the older brother, I’d say in the room.”

The Chiefs signed veteran Blaine Gabbert during the offseason for the backup role, but Buechele has stepped up in the preseason to make it a competition. Mahomes’ mentality has brushed off Buechele, who would go on to explain his daily focus.

“I mean, he’s one of the most competitive people I’ve ever been around,” Buechele said. “And he takes that, I mean, all of the accomplishments that he had last year. And that’s, that’s in the past. And he’ll tell you that it’s a new year, and he’s looking forward to this year. And we all are. Yeah, last year was great. But this is a new year, and we’re going to try to accomplish the same thing and more.”

Chiefs guard Trey Smith: Backup offensive line ‘doing a great job’

Trey Smith heaped praise on the #Chiefs’ backup offensive line during his comments to the media after Kansas City’s win over the #Cardinals.

With a reigning MVP to protect in the pocket, the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line has its hands full ahead of the 2023 season.

Perhaps no player knows how important the unit’s job is better than guard Trey Smith, who has risen to prominence as a key cog in the line’s rotation since joining the Chiefs in 2021. He spoke to reporters after Kansas City’s win over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday and told the media that the second-team lineman has been excelling in the preseason with the help of two coaches.

“They’ve been doing a great job,” Smith explained. “It’s a testament to what (Chiefs offensive line coach Andy) Heck and (Chiefs assistant offensive line coach Corey) Matthaei have been coaching. It’s also a testament to those guys being prepared to go. When they were playing physical, they were doing some really good things on the field.”

Smith and his cohorts on the Chiefs’ front-five will need to keep up their intensity ahead of the 2023 regular season when Kansas City will look to defend their Super Bowl LVII title.

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Has Sean Clifford shown enough or will Packers search for veteran backup QB?

Backup quarterback is one spot where the Packers could consider a veteran addition before the 2023 regular season.

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There are a few positions that the Green Bay Packers could justify adding to in free agency, including the backup quarterback spot. But has rookie Sean Clifford shown enough through the offseason programs to be the No. 2 option heading into the summer?

Since the draft concluded, both Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur have kept the door open on adding a veteran backup to the quarterback room. Clifford is in his first NFL season, while Danny Etling has no career regular-season snaps and has bounced around from team to team. The purpose of adding a veteran would be to bring experience to the position to help Jordan Love navigate his first season as a starter. Having that extra pair of eyes on the sidelines, in the film room, and on the practice field could be quite valuable.

During OTAs, LaFleur said that the offseason programs would provide the Packers with enough information to know whether or not a veteran backup quarterback was needed. This means that if a signing is going to take place, it will happen over the next few weeks before training camp begins.

As one would expect with a rookie, there has been a steep learning curve for Clifford. During the practice sessions that were open to the media, we saw some flashes, including a two-minute drill scoring drive with completed passes to Malik Heath on a deep out to the right side and a corner route to the left side, along with a beautiful pass to the front right corner of the end zone to Jeff Cotton while staring down a blitzing Tariq Carpenter. However, there was also another two-minute drill that ended on the second play because of an interception on a pass that Clifford tried to squeeze in over the middle of the field but was deflected into the air.

“He’s done some nice things,” said Matt LaFleur after the final open OTA practice, “it’s just he’s a young quarterback. We’ve thrown a lot at these guys. Just specifically with that position, obviously, Jordan (Love) is getting the bulk of the reps, and he’s been splitting the second reps with Danny (Etling), so there is very limited reps for those guys. But I think he’s done a nice job, certainly. In that two-minute drill at the end of the game, we simulated a two-minute end of game, and I thought he did a nice job of getting completions and taking a few chances, and making some throws. “He’s an NFL draft pick; he’s definitely a talented player.”

With $14.29 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap, the Packers have the means to make a free agent signing — it’s not as if anyone at this stage of the offseason is going to break the bank, but there are limited options. The remaining free agent quarterbacks include Carson Wentz, Teddy Bridgewater, Joe Flacco, and Nick Foles.

If a veteran signing is made, my guess is that Etling would then be the odd man out to make room on the 90-man roster, which is why I believe this decision hinges on how the Packers feel about Clifford. For starters, the Packers did use a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft to take Clifford, but LaFleur has also said it’s “really difficult” to give four quarterbacks the practice reps they need, given the overall inexperience at the position.

There are a few factors that drew the Packers to Clifford during the pre-draft process, including his experience at the college level, which consisted of appearing in 51 games. The organization has also mentioned Clifford’s arm talent, which based on what I saw, is more consistent and offered more flashes than Etling’s, along with his intelligence and fit in the locker room.

Should the Packers sign a veteran QB to back up Jordan Love?

Jordan Love will be a first-year starting QB in 2023. Should the Packers sign a veteran? Or draft a rookie?

While everyone awaits confirmation that Aaron Rodgers has been traded to the New York Jets, here’s something that is official: Jordan Love is the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.   

In a matter of months, Love will be handed the keys to an organization coming off back-to-back Hall of Fame quarterbacks. As if filling those shoes isn’t daunting enough, Love has only started in one NFL game.   

But what Love lacks in experience, the Packers believe he offsets with potential.  

Regardless of how high Green Bay might be on Love’s future, there are still plenty of unknowns. For instance, how will he hold up over a 17-game season?  

In three years at Utah State, Love started in 32 games, including all 26 as a sophomore and junior. By all accounts, his only injury was a concussion against Hawaii in 2018. The following week, he threw for 491 yards and five touchdowns in a blowout win over San Jose State.  

Love held up well at the collegiate level, but the NFL is a different beast. He experienced that firsthand during the 2021 preseason when his NFL debut was cut short by a strip sack that dinged his throwing shoulder. The injury forced Love to miss Week 2 of the preseason, even though he desperately needed the reps.   

Had it been a playoff game, maybe Love would have played. We will learn more about his pain tolerance and durability throughout his career.   

What we do know is that football is a dangerous game, and the quarterback is the one position with a perpetual target on their back for all 60 minutes. The Packers have been fortunate to have two iron men under center for the last 30 years, but banking on Love being a third is unrealistic.   

Like every starting quarterback, Love will need a backup. Someone who offers promise and stability in the event that he can’t be the one leading the offense. Right now, his backup is seventh-rounder Danny Etling, who has no regular-season experience.  

Surely, the Packers will bring in competition for the backup job. And really, they have two options: draft someone or sign a free agent.   

Before Rodgers took over as the starter in 2008, the Packers drafted two quarterbacks. They selected Brian Brohm in the second round and Matt Flynn in the seventh. Flynn eventually won the number two job in training camp, and the team was fortunate he made only two starts in his first four years.  

Carrying a backup on a rookie contract has its advantages and disadvantages. The most obvious advantage is the cap savings, but the main drawback is disastrous quarterback play if the backup is unqualified and in over his head. It’s not a risk every team is willing to take.   

That is why some choose to sign a veteran in free agency. Green Bay has carried a few veteran backups on the roster over the years, with the most productive being Flynn during his second stint with the team. Without him, the Packers don’t make the playoffs in 2013.  

If the Packers wanted to go this route, Trevor Siemian and Cooper Rush are options, as are more seasoned prospects like Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. 

Who knows if any of these guys would be willing to sit behind Love, but there is an obvious benefit to bringing in a Mariota or Ryan since both played for Matt LaFleur on previous teams. In the unfortunate circumstance that Love was injured, either would be better equipped than a rookie to keep the team operational until he returns. The downside is that a veteran backup warrants a much bigger contract, which Green Bay may not be willing to offer.  

It’s a difficult decision if you’re Brian Gutekunst.   

A free agent is more costly but a better pinch hitter and resource of knowledge for Love. Then again, Gutekunst is in the business of developing young quarterbacks and may be ready to start the process over.   

So, if you’re Green Bay, who would you rather have backing up Love? A rookie or veteran free agent? 

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Seahawks GM John Schneider on Drew Lock deal: ‘He knows how much we love him’

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider sang the praises of backup quarterback Drew Lock after signing him to a new one-year deal.

The Seattle Seahawks locked up their backup quarterback on Thursday, signing Drew Lock to a one-year, $4 million deal, worth up to $7.5 million with incentives.

Seahawks general manager John Schneider broke the news during his weekly radio hit on Seattle Sport 710 am.

“Drew Lock, man, let’s go,” Schneider said “He’s coming back. What an awesome guy. Everything he’s been through – last year we talked about it a bunch. Coming here, competing with Geno (Smith), getting COVID, really bad timing for him. Game 2 was going to be his game against Chicago, then he got really sick, then he still didn’t have his legs against Dallas.

“So I’m just really excited. Really happy for him.”

Lock and Smith competed all last offseason for the Seahawks’ starting job, with Smith emerging as the winner. The process was more friendly than adversarial.

“Both those guys were awesome with pushing each other and then the support that they showed,” Schneider explained. “Geno’s scrimmage and Drew’s scrimmage (in training camp), Drew had a little bit more success that day – I forget exactly how it happened – but Geno was amazing afterwards. He’s like, ‘Hey, look, you know, I’m here for Drew, and if he’s the guy, I’m here to support him.’”

 

“And obviously Drew treated Geno the same way and was great all throughout the season and competing,” Schneider continued. “He knows how much we love him, he knows how important it was, and both their exit interviews (after last season) were great.”

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Could Marcus Mariota be the Chiefs’ next great backup QB?

While Shane Buechele is poised to earn the role, our @TheJohnDillon thinks that recently released #Falcons QB Marcus Mariota could be the perfect backup QB for the #Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ starting quarterback spot is perhaps the safest bet at any position across the NFL heading into the 2023 season. Reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes will maintain his role as the league’s top passer when the season kicks off in September, and the team will continue to live and die by his contributions on offense.

But one key fact from the 2022 season looms large over the team, especially as they look to defend their newly won Super Bowl title. Mahomes has missed time due to injury in two of his five seasons as Kansas City’s starting quarterback, and his odds of remaining in perfect health decline with every passing year.

Journeyman backup Chad Henne served the Chiefs well during his four years in Kansas City, stepping in at key moments seemingly every season to help push the team over the edge, even in the playoffs.

Henne secured a playoff win for the Chiefs back in 2021 against the Cleveland Browns in a gutsy appearance that would ultimately help send Kansas City to the Super Bowl. He also made his presence felt in Kansas City’s seven-point win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in this year’s divisional round, leading a 98-yard touchdown drive that proved to be a pivotal moment in the game.

To discount the need for a competent backup in the Mahomes era of Chiefs football is to deny the team’s history, despite the obvious security they have in their starter. Henne decided to retire after Kansas City’s Super Bowl win in February, leaving a void that 2022 third-stringer Shane Buechele seems poised to fill in 2023.

If the worst came to pass, though, and Mahomes were to be sidelined with injury for an extended period, Buechele’s inexperience could doom the Chiefs’ season. Even if the MVP starter were slated to return late in the season, any extended losing could cause problems for a team with perennial Super Bowl aspirations. With this in mind, it may make sense for Kansas City to explore the option of adding a seasoned veteran to at least compete with the 25-year-old Buechele for the backup role, even if only to make the third-year signal caller prove that he has what it takes to lead the team in a pinch.

Enter Marcus Mariota, the Heisman-winning former Tennessee Titan and Atlanta Falcon who dealt the Chiefs one of the most improbable playoff losses in franchise history in a game where he completed a touchdown pass to himself back in 2018. Freshly jettisoned from Atlanta’s roster after starting for the Falcons all season, Mariota may fit the bill for what Kansas City is looking for in a backup quarterback, even if only temporarily while the team feels out Buechele’s viability in the second-string role.

Mariota’s athletic ability is unquestionable, and the experience he might bring to the Chiefs’ quarterback room could prove to be an invaluable asset to Kansas City in a worst-case scenario. He is a proven leader who has fought through some less-than-ideal situations over the last few seasons, even if his play hasn’t necessarily warranted a starting spot in the NFL.

None of this is to say Buechele is incapable of filling in for Mahomes if needed, but given the Chiefs’ reliance on their backup in key situations in recent years, perhaps a more tested veteran could handle the role better. Mariota has shown shades of Alex Smith since his time at the University of Oregon years ago, and his mobility could be a plus for Andy Reid in game planning for a backup against the Chiefs’ fierce competition in the AFC.

The price would have to be right for general manager Brett Veach to entertain the idea, but if there is any doubt about Buechele’s capability to cut it as Kansas City’s next man up, a contract agreement with Mariota could save the Chiefs plenty of headaches should their quarterback situation take a turn for the worse.

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Chargers’ 2022 season-in-review: Assessing the play of Los Angeles’ quarterbacks

The Chargers are in great shape at the quarterback position.

The quarterback position has never been as important as it is now across the NFL, and the Chargers have secured themselves a true franchise signal-caller in Justin Herbert.

His expert play in his third season as a professional football player helped Los Angeles achieve their first playoff berth since 2018 this season, though the outcome of their Wild Card matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars left something to be desired.

For his part, though, Herbert’s performance was exceptional. Throughout the regular season, he threw for over 4,700 yards and 25 touchdowns while only being intercepted ten times. He was also the team’s third-leading rusher by yardage but could not find the end zone on the ground.

While he might not have lit up the stat sheet as he did in his first two seasons, Herbert still put the team in a position to win weekly, despite dealing with fractured rib cartilage for most of the season, missing multiple starters throughout the year, and being hamstrung by an offensive scheme that did not tailor to his strengths. Nevertheless, Herbert did take a massive leap as a leader of the team and solidified himself as the face of the franchise.

Behind Herbert on Los Angeles’ depth chart is journeyman backup Chase Daniel, who has carved out quite a career since 2010. Daniel did not make a start this season but made four appearances, throwing for 52 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts, mostly in garbage time.

This output from their quarterbacks should enable the Chargers to focus on other areas of their roster in the offseason as they look to assemble a team that can be a legitimate contender in next year’s playoffs.

They will need to extend Herbert at some point shortly to ensure his place in Los Angeles for the long term. Still, outside of that piece of housekeeping, the Chargers are set at the most crucial offensive position except for his backup, which will need to be addressed, given Daniel and Easton Stick are set to be free agents.