[Vince Ferrer]

I think it would be great to have a team experiment with the QB position. The position is so important to the team that it is probably the most critical position in any sport. So much responsibility is given to the quarterback that few players can play it well. And when some team tries to have a running quarterback or something, they get hurt easily. Having a team experiment with distributing the role among several quarterbacks and distribute the responsibilities might be good for the game.

[zzeeman]

Thanks for posting, interesting concept.

[Teacher317]

It’s been attempted enough times in football to know that it is not a winning strategy. Football is a different sport from baseball. The rhythm and timing between QB and receivers and linemen is CRUCIAL. Changing abruptly at the most important moment in a game is simply too big of an obstacle to overcome any difference in QB skills that the backup may have. (Also... If he were THAT much better, he would be the starter.)

[catnipman]

So, after the starting quarterback figures out the defenses, figures out their weaknesses, knows when to throw and knows when to hand-off, gets on the same page with all of his receivers as to which routes to run and how to run them based on figuring out the defenses, you’d yank the two starting quaterbacks in the fourth quarter and put in two new quarterbacks who haven’t played a snap yet?

That’s equivalent to playing a chess game, and about 75% through it, substituting the current chess players with two new ones who’ve been waiting in another room.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

This concept needs to be looked at in positions besides QB. NFL has a philosophy of putting people in, making them go the distance, and burning them out in 3 years because they just get beat to hell. Football is a sport that just burns through people, the average career is less than 5 years. And they don’t make that much money. We all think of the Deion Sanders that have these outrageous $50 million contracts. Most of them won’t make a million dollars over their career, can’t get a decent job because everybody knows their college degrees are bogus jock-degrees, and they’re so beat up that anything physical is pretty much out.

[ifinnegan]

Interesting.

Anyhow, this: “1972: Even though teams in the 40s, 50s, and 60s used pitchers exclusively in bullpen roles — and some even before that — it wasn’t until 1972 when the Reds’ Clay Carroll became the first pitcher to make a third of his season’s appearances in the beginning of the ninth inning. And that wasn’t to be repeated until the A’s Rollie Fingers did it in 1982.”

Is wrong. Fingers was on Milwaukee in 82 and with the A’s in 72.

To my mind Fingers’ use by the A’s in the early 70’s was the most influential in starting the evolution to the closer of today.

[ifinnegan]

“once the Broncos got the ball to the opposition’s 30 yard line (or inside of that), Tebow made sure that the Broncos scored 84% of the time.”

What is the average % for teams that get to the opposition 30 yard line?

[Dog]

Eagles have five QBs..

[montag813]

Quarterback has become so dull. This would be a great way to charge things up — but I doubt the #1 QBs would take kindly to having their stats diluted by 2nd or even 4th stringers.

[RayChuang88]

It's not as crazy an idea as you think--especially if Chip Kelly--the mad scientist of offense in the eyes of many--figures out a way to use Tebow in red zone offense situations.

Bill Belichick couldn't figure out a use for Tebow because in many ways, Belichick is still a believer in a more conventional offense.

[Gay State Conservative]

Coach,you better go to the bullpen.I'm just not up to the task.

[Ransomed]

“And, unlike baseball, it’s not simply for (lack of) durability or injury pre-emptive reasons...”

Look up average ERA for pitchers per times through the batting order. The more times you see a pitcher generally the easier it is to hit off him. A big part of the offensive low problems and length/pace of game problems currently in baseball are because the bullpens are generally more effective and more used than ever before, while taking more time in pitching changes.

Freegards

[wardaddy]

That vanity screed about relief pitchers and maybe relief QBs

And no mention of

Rollie Fingers

Mariano Rivera

Or my man of my era....Goose Gossage

That’s like writing the Bible and leaving out Genesis Deuteronomy and Leviticus

It’s not the same though

QB needs to be in the game to know lay of the land and tired arm is not the same factor

Now a quick start guy trained to run play after play asap downfield

Maybe

But with the crybabies and show offs who constitute 80% these days

They’d just lie down whining

[SamAdams76]

I don't know about this. On the last drive, with the game on the line, you want your marquee QB in the pocket.

Perhaps there is a role for a "situational" running QB, such as when you are holding a comfortable lead and need somebody who can "run off the clock" by keeping the ball on the ground with a lot of rushing and scrambling plays, while the primary QB is being rested.

[discostu]

A short yardage QB? Given the timing and rhythm nature of the league I don’t see QB by committee happening, too many people need to think “3 1 thousand” is the same time and same distance for you to be swapping QBs in and out. And in general with less room to work tight in the end zone is considered to be the spot QBs need to be more accurate, not less, so you’re really not going to have a guy who’s not good enough for midfield but good enough to close the drive.