BRISSETT SHOWS HE’S NO LONGER SECOND FIDDLE
Former backup has Colts alive and kicking since stepping in for retired starter Luck
Fourteen NFL passers who began summer training camp as backups already have been pressed into duty and started at least one game, either because the starter got hurt, or got benched.
That total probably will keep rising, if only because of benchings.
Below, I rank the top 10, based on a formula I came up with that incorporates signature quarterback barometer statistics, separated by pros and cons, and weighted as follows:
PROS (add)
■ Wins as starter (2 points each)
■ A strong completion percentage (if 60-64 per cent, 0.5 points; if 65+ per cent, 1 point)
■ Touchdown passes (0.5 points each)
■ Times throwing for 225 yards (0.5 points each)
■ Rushing touchdowns (0.5 points each)
CONS (subtract)
■ Interceptions (0.5 points each)
■ Lost fumbles (0.5 points each)
PRO OR CON
(add or subtract accordingly)
■ First-down rushes minus sacks (times 0.1 points)
Here’s a synopsis of each of them, listed in order of best to worst by my rating:
1.
JACOBY BRISSETT
Indianapolis Colts
KRYK RATING: 11.3
REPLACED: Andrew Luck
FIRST START: Week 1
WHY: Luck shockingly announced his retirement from pro football on Aug. 24.
FOR HOW LONG: Since Aug. 24, and for the foreseeable future
RECORD AS STARTER: 3-2 (.600).
STATS AS REPLACEMENT: 65 per cent completions, 1,062 yards, 10 TDS, 5 INTS and fumbles,
94.9 passer rating, 6 sacks, 9 first downs rushing, 1 TD rushing
QUOTE: “He was unreal. … You can’t play quarterback much better than he played today.” — Colts head coach Frank Reich after a 27-24 win over Atlanta on Sept. 22
2.
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER New Orleans Saints KRYK RATING: 11.2 REPLACED: Drew Brees FIRST START: Week 3 WHY: Injury to Brees ( broken thumb on throwing hand)
FOR HOW LONG: Brees hopes to return by month’s end.
RECORD AS STARTER: 4-0 (1.000)
STATS AS REPLACEMENT: 69 per cent completions, 1,089 yards, 7 TDS, 3 INTS and fumbles, 94.7 passer rating, 10 sacks, 2 first downs rushing, 0 TDS rushing
QUOTE: “There’s a calmness about him. I think it’s contagious, if you will, in how we approach things. It’s one of those traits. It’s a unique trait that leaders have. They don’t all have to be the same relative to how they lead, but there is a presence about him.” — Saints head coach Sean Payton this week
3.
KYLE ALLEN
Carolina Panthers
KRYK RATING: 9.5
REPLACED: Cam Newton
FIRST START: Week 3
WHY: Injury to Newton (foot sprain)
FOR HOW LONG: Reports say Newton could return to practice as early as this coming week, following the Panthers’ bye.
RECORD AS STARTER: 4-0 (1.000)
STATS AS REPLACEMENT: 66 per cent completions, 901 yards, 7 TDS, 6 INTS and fumbles, 106.6 passer rating, 10 sacks, 0 first downs rushing, 0 TDS rushing
QUOTE: “He’s been very consistent for us. He’s made the plays we needed. It’s a big part of why we felt so confident (with Allen as backup) coming into training camp.” — Panthers head coach Ron Rivera
4.
MASON RUDOLPH
Pittsburgh Steelers
KRYK RATING: 5.4
REPLACED: Ben Roethlisberger
FIRST START: Week 3
WHY: Injury to Roethlisberger (elbow)
FOR HOW LONG: Ben’s done for the year after surgery, so the Steelers’ starting job is Rudolph’s for as long as he’s healthy and productive. He’s expected to return as starter next week, following Pittsburgh’s bye.
RECORD AS STARTER: 1-2 (. 333)
STATS AS REPLACEMENT: 67 per cent completions, 646 yards, 7 TDS, 3 INTS and fumbles, 102.5 passer rating, 3 sacks, 2 first downs rushing, 0 TDS rushing
QUOTE: “Can’t say enough about Mason. We gave him a (game) ball in there.” — Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, following his win over Cincinnati in Week 4
5.
DANIEL JONES
New York Giants
KRYK RATING: 4.8
REPLACED: Eli Manning
FIRST START: Week 3
WHY: Manning ’s performance FOR HOW LONG: Permanent
RECORD AS STARTER: 2-2 (. 500)
STATS AS REPLACEMENT: 60 per cent completions, 904 yards, 5 TDS, 8 INTS and fumbles, 73.9 passer rating, 10 sacks, 8 first downs rushing, 2 TDS rushing
QUOTE: “It’s been kind of up and down. I’ve been inconsistent overall. I’ve been good and bad. There are certainly a lot of things to learn.” — Jones this week on his first month as NFL starter
6.
GARDNER MINSHEW Jacksonville Jaguars
KRYK RATING: 4.5
REPLACED: Nick Foles
FIRST START: Week 2
WHY: Injury to Foles ( broken collarbone in first quarter of Week 1)
FOR HOW LONG: Reports have said Foles hopes to return in Week 11. But if Minshew is playing at a high level at the time, would the Jaguars hand Foles a clipboard and ball cap?
RECORD AS STARTER: 2-3 (. 400)
STATS AS REPLACEMENT: 64 per cent completions, 1,442 yards, 9 TDS, 9 INTS and fumbles, 97.5 passer rating, 14 sacks, 4 first downs rushing, 0 TDS rushing
QUOTE: “He’s spinning around, he’s breaking tackles. It’s like when you’re 12 and you’re playing in the street with a bunch of guys. He’s just trying to make a play. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes you sit there and say, ‘Hey, let’s not take these chances.’” — Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone
7.
DEVLIN HODGES
Pittsburgh Steelers
KRYK RATING: 3.1
REPLACED: Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph
FIRST START: Week 6
WHY: Injury to Rudolph (concussion)
FOR HOW LONG: Looks like just the one-week cameo
RECORD AS STARTER: 1-0 (1.000)
STATS AS REPLACEMENT: 75 per cent completions, 132 yards, 1
TD, 1 INT and fumble, 87.9 passer rating, 0 sacks, 1 first down rushing, 0 TDS rushing
QUOTE: “He didn’t kill us, you know? And that’s what you need from young quarterbacks. He generally took care of the ball, he made the plays he needed to make. But we were thoughtful about the positions we put him in.” — Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, on how “Duck” Hodges played in a win over the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday night
8.
MATT MOORE
Kansas City Chiefs
KRYK RATING: 1.4
REPLACED: Patrick Mahomes
FIRST START: Next week
WHY: Injury to Mahomes (dislocated right knee cap)
FOR HOW LONG: At least three weeks, per reports
RECORD AS STARTER: N/A
STATS AS REPLACEMENT: 52 per cent completions, 117 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTS and fumbles, 89.1 passer rating, 1 sack, 0 first downs rushing, 0 TDS rushing
QUOTE: “He did a nice job of stepping in there. We didn’t really have to back down on anything we had called. We were able to pick up right from where we left off and I was proud of him.” — Chiefs head coach Andy Reid on Moore, following Thursday night’s win at Denver
9.
RYAN TANNEHILL
Tennessee Titans
KRYK RATING: 0.1
REPLACED: Marcus Mariota
FIRST START: Week 7
WHY: Poor performance of Mariota
FOR HOW LONG: This week is his first start since the Dolphins traded him to the Titans this past spring. Presumably, Tannehill can keep the starter’s job for the remainder of the season if he plays well, or at least better than face-of-the-franchise QB Mariota.
RECORD AS STARTER: First start is on Sunday. He did play for part of the second half of this past Sunday’s loss at Denver, in relief of the benched Mariota.
STATS AS REPLACEMENT: 81 per cent completions, 144 yards, 0 TDS, 1 INT and fumble, 78.1 passer rating, 4 sacks, 0 first downs rushing, 0 TDS rushing
QUOTE: “We’re trying to get a little spark, trying to evaluate what we’re doing and how we’re functioning as an offence. It just felt like now was the time.” — Titans head coach Mike Vrabel on Wednesday
10.
TREVOR SIEMIAN
New York Jets
KRYK RATING: — 0.2
REPLACED: Sam Darnold
FIRST START: Week 2
WHY: Illness to Darnold (mononucleosis)
FOR HOW LONG: Until Darnold returned (last week), but Siemian suffered a gruesome ankle injury in the second quarter of his start and is done for the year.
RECORD AS REPLACEMENT: 0-1 (. 000)
STATS AS STARTER: 50 per cent completions, 3 yards, 0 TDS, 0 INTS and fumbles, 56.2 passer rating, 2 sacks, 0 first downs rushing, 0 TDS rushing
QUOTE: “He’ll be out for the year. We’re still going through the procedure as far as surgery options … It’s more ligaments … It was an ugly looking play.” — Jets head coach Adam Gase, after Siemian’s injury against Cleveland in Week 2