Q. What are the qualities of a good NFL backup quarterback?
A. He’s a guy who can perform to an acceptable level with limited preparation from a physical reps standpoint and that’s just the reality of it. Being a backup quarterback in the NFL over the course of a regular work week, you get the reps that the starter does not want or need from a preparations standpoint. So you have to be able to learn from others’ physical reps, you have to be able to absorb information third-person, and you have to be able to go out and perform to an acceptable level. That’s the baseline element of the job. Sure, you’d like to have a guy who has a tremendous upside who’s going to be a future starter and all of those things, but the requirements of the job, the base minimum requirements of the job can best be described as being a guy who can perform to an acceptable level with a minimal number of reps, because that’s the reality of the job in the NFL.
Q. Are you satisfied that Landry Jones has those qualities?
A. There’s no question. I’ve seen him do it. I’ve seen him do it specifically over the last several years. I don’t know what Landry’s record is as a starter for us over the last several years, but he’s a guy who can answer the bell when given the opportunity by the nature of the job, either through injury or by design. We’ve had a couple of Week 17 opportunities for him, and he’s played above the line and delivered and delivered consistently in those settings.
[Some are speculating that Mason Rudolph and Josh Dobbs are competing for the 3rd QB role. If that's the case, I don't see them cutting their 3rd round draft pick this early.]
A. He’s a guy who can perform to an acceptable level with limited preparation from a physical reps standpoint and that’s just the reality of it. Being a backup quarterback in the NFL over the course of a regular work week, you get the reps that the starter does not want or need from a preparations standpoint. So you have to be able to learn from others’ physical reps, you have to be able to absorb information third-person, and you have to be able to go out and perform to an acceptable level. That’s the baseline element of the job. Sure, you’d like to have a guy who has a tremendous upside who’s going to be a future starter and all of those things, but the requirements of the job, the base minimum requirements of the job can best be described as being a guy who can perform to an acceptable level with a minimal number of reps, because that’s the reality of the job in the NFL.
Q. Are you satisfied that Landry Jones has those qualities?
A. There’s no question. I’ve seen him do it. I’ve seen him do it specifically over the last several years. I don’t know what Landry’s record is as a starter for us over the last several years, but he’s a guy who can answer the bell when given the opportunity by the nature of the job, either through injury or by design. We’ve had a couple of Week 17 opportunities for him, and he’s played above the line and delivered and delivered consistently in those settings.
[Some are speculating that Mason Rudolph and Josh Dobbs are competing for the 3rd QB role. If that's the case, I don't see them cutting their 3rd round draft pick this early.]
