Around the NFL, QB is the big question

by Randy Hill

Of the many summer NFL expeditions, the one currently generating an unreasonable level of interest is Quarterback Quest.

Admit it ... you want to know where all of the good quarterbacks have gone. Well, most of the real keepers have migrated to the AFC. But even there, seven of the 16 teams still remain unsettled at QB.

It should be pointed out that at least my unsettled list includes the Tennessee Titans, who don't seem aggressively concerned about their QB situation, but should be.

The talking heads claim that sophisticated blitz and coverage packages have contributed mightily to the struggles under center. Just when a young QB figures out how a defense is disguising its zone, he's ambushed by a pass rush that seems to have attacked from beneath the field turf.

Quarterback prospects have to put in hours of film study before they have a hail mary's chance of reading a coverage or pass-rush and then reacting with the proper audible.

I know what you're thinking: With the increasing obsession over hyper-detailed NFL video games, it seems unlikely that high-functioning quarterbacks would have so much difficulty learning the position. But remember that NFL quarterbacks have to see over charging 6-foot-5 defensive linemen; they don't get a birds-eye view after the snap.

Some claim that the rise of read-option offenses in college football have failed to help quarterbacks develop the necessary skills for the pro game. While the quick-footed among them can shred a college defense, exposing that passer to NFL-level speed off the edge is almost a different game. While the shifty QB is busy reading college linebackers to decide whether he should keep or pitch the ball, that decision making will do little to aid him at the next level.

Just how suspect are the suspects for the NFL passing season to come?

Well, let's begin in the NFC North, where a kid with just 35 passes heaved in his NFL career may already qualify as division's best QB. Right, that would be Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, who takes over for Brett Favre with one career touchdown pass in his holster.

But if Rodgers can handle the obvious succession pressure, he stands a dandy chance of being much better than Chicago's INT-happy Rex Grossman, a Windy City fire hydrant checking in with a 2007 QB rating of 66.4 (31st in the NFL).

The run-happy Minnesota Vikings are expected to challenge behind youngster Tarvaris Jackson, who registers with a gaudy rating of 70.8 (28th). Detroit's Jon Kitna is the NFC North returnee providing the greatest statistical resume — an 80.9 rating that qualified as 19th-best among NFL passers.

Unfortunately for Kitna, his numbers were threatened immediately after offensive coordinator Mike Martz left for San Francisco.

Speaking of Martz in San Francisco, his most important task this year will be making former overall No. 1 pick Alex Smith perform up to his advance billing.

The Niners' divisional cronies would seem to be fine at quarterback, although injuries escorted Marc Bulger of St. Louis into statistical hell last season and the Arizona Cardinals must decide if Matt Leinart can do more under pressure than identify the hot-tub receiver. If not, we have Kurt Warner for pass rushers to tee off on.

The NFC East seems to be in quarterback order, although Donovan McNabb must remain healthy in Philly and talented Jason Campbell needs to achieve maturity in D.C. It also should be noted that before Eli Manning figured out a few things on the road to Super Bowl glory, he stunk up the joint and finished the season with a QB rating of 73.9.

Tony Romo of Dallas just needs to keep his bye-week vacations a secret.

The quarterbacking situation in the NFC South isn't half bad.

Drew Brees looks solid in New Orleans, while Jeff Garcia probably has something left to give in Tampa. Bucs coach Jon Gruden has assisted in creating a QB shortage around the league by still employing a few backup passers capable of at least challenging for the starting role in other towns.

The Atlanta Falcons are doomed to teach and protect rookie Matt Ryan, while the repaired elbow of Jake Delhomme must lift the Carolina Panthers back into contention.

Despite the presence of supermodel arm candy Tom Brady, quarterbacking in the AFC East could be a mess.

The New York Jets trot out inconclusive Kellen Clemens and Chad Pennington, whose recent history has forced the rotation of tires on the cart that removes injured players. The Buffalo Bills are going with youngster Trent Edwards, whose audition tape features a quarterback rating that wasn't much higher than the average temperature at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

The NFC North is in pretty good quarterbacking shape, although the Kyle Boller Experiment may continue until rookie Joe Flacco gets the ball, and Derek Anderson must thrive in Cleveland if he intends to hold off Brady Quinn.

Among NFC South teams, the Tennessee Titans are the most vulnerable, with Vince Young throwing almost twice as many picks as touchdown passes. The rest of the division (if you like Matt Schaub in Houston) is beyond fine.

The AFC West has a few more questions.

Here's one: Will Jay Cutler come close to performing as well as we expect him to, or does starting out better than Young and Leinart not amount to much? The star of another question is Oakland Raiders sophomore JaMarcus Russell, who at least seems as big as many of the pass rushers quickly arriving to knock him over.

The Kansas City Chiefs could remain in a QB predicament, while Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers has fans in other cities talking ... to him.

While this gloomy report will do very little to cheer up affected fans around the NFL, there is a silver lining.

This could be a sensational year for NFL cornerbacks.