Minnesota Vikings backup quarterback Joe Webb has gotten something of a raw deal since his team's 2012 season ended with a first round playoff loss at Green Bay. Starting quarterback Christian Ponder's season had ended a week earlier in a playoff-clinching win against that same Packers team. Ponder injured his elbow during the game. Despite taking all of the first team snaps in practice, Webb's start in the playoffs seemed uncomfortably sudden. It started well. The Vikings received the opening kickoff. Behind Webb's read option and all-Everything back Adrian Peterson, the Vikings offense sailed down the field. They stalled in the red zone and settled for a field goal. That 3-0 lead didn't last long and the Vikings offense remained stalled for pretty much the rest of the game.
A win against the Packers in the playoffs at Lambeau would have been a major surprise but the Vikings surprised all season. In a team loss, Webb received much of the blame for that loss. Outside of that first drive and some plays later in garbage time, he didn't play well. As a result of that performance, finding a backup quarterback became an offseason priority. They found that quarterback when they grabbed Matt Cassel as soon as the Kansas City Chiefs released him. It's unfortunate that one poor performance killed the Vikings faith in Joe Webb as a quarterback. His play was magnified by the playoff stage. In his three year career, he's had a handful of real game chances, including two starts. One meant something. The other didn't. He was fantastic in the one that didn't. He's come off the bench in several games and played well. Basically, he's played well every chance that he's had but the last one. That last one will apparently define him as a quarterback.
Webb is a fantastic athlete. The Vikings drafted him as a receiver in 2010 after a terrific college career as a quarterback at Alabama-Birmingham. Then Vikings head coach Brad Childress had Webb throw at his first mini-camp and kept him at quarterback. Webb has a unique skill set. He could be like Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III, and Colin Kaepernick. He's got that kind of talent. He doesn't have the throwing skills of those other three quarterbacks. He's got nice touch on his throws but he doesn't have it consistently. The Vikings tried a "Blazer" package with Webb. This was their version of the "wildcat" named for his college team. This attempt to take advantage of his unique movement skills.was pathetic. It fooled no one. Webb's football career, certainly his Vikings career, is on a ledge. There's been some mention of a move back to receiver this offseason. It would be a good move. He has too much natural talent to be left standing on the sideline or released. I've long thought that he could be a football player similar to former Cleveland Browns returner/receiver Josh Cribbs. Both were small college quarterbacks. Both are fantastic athletes. Get Webb on kick and punt returns. He can sure run. He's elusive with nice vision. He could be electric as a returner. Find a few pass routes that he can run well. His 6'4" height and tremendous leaping ability could work nicely in the red zone. Just get him involved in the offense. He doesn't need to run all the routes. Just find a few that can give him a presence in the offense. That presence will make the "blazer" more effective. A gadget play never works if there's no surprise element to it. If Webb has an on-field presence, the defense won't know that something's up when he enters the game.
Outside of his last game, I like what Joe Webb has done as a quarterback. Despite that, I don't think that he's an NFL quarterback. I don't think that he has the consistency to be effective week after week. I do think that he's an NFL football player. I think that he can make an impact as a returner. I think that he can make an impact as a receiver. I think that he can make an impact with some read option/gadget plays. I also love his enthusiasm. He always seems to be having fun. I've rarely seen a backup quarterback with his energy on the sideline. He's very involved in the game without actually being in it. I'd like to see the Vikings find a way to get Joe Webb into the game.
No comments:
Post a Comment