A Product of the System?

“He’s just a system quarterback”. None more hurtful words can be uttered about that position on a football team. It’s most commonly used to describe a successful college quarterback who can’t make the transition to the NFL. The list of such players is long and storied, with some of the more notable ones being Andre Ware, Gino Torretta, David Klingler and more recently, Colt Brennan, Tim Tebow and Aaron Rodgers.

Wait a minute, Aaron Rodgers?? Yes, after this past Sunday’s record setting performance by back-up Matt Flynn, some people are actually beginning to question whether success at the quarterback position in Green Bay is based on individual talent or the offensive system. And this is not the first time this question has been raised about Aaron Rodgers.

After a very successful career with the University of California Golden Bears, Aaron was drafted 24th overall by the Green Bay Packers in 2005. Prior to the draft, many had projected him to be the number one pick overall, but when he fell as far as he did, the questions began. And one of them was whether or not he was a product of the “system” at Cal State. Afterall, his head coach was Jeff Tedford, who was gaining a reputation for producing great college quarterbacks, Akili Smith, David Carr and Joey Harrington, to name a few, that didn’t seem to be able to make the transition to the pros. And Aaron Rodgers appeared to be next in line.

He carried the ball too high, his mechanics were all wrong, etc. In fact, I recall some outraged fans who actually compared him to Rich Campbell, a former Packers first round pick at quarterback who went on to have a rather unspectacular NFL career. Of course, quite the opposite has occurred for Mr. Rodgers, World Champion and Superbowl MVP. And just as Matt Hasselback and Mark Brunnel did behind Brett Favre, under the tuteledge of QB guru Mike Holmgren, so has Matt Flynn behind Rodgers with Mike McCarthy, another noted teacher of quarterbacks, at the helm.

And by the way, where was the “system quarterback” chorous when Matt Cassel stepped in and took over for Tom Brady in the middle of the first game of the season, and led the New England Patriots to an 11-5 record?

So, for all of you naysayers, you can keep your “system” and I’ll keep one, possibly TWO, of the best quarterbacks in the league.

January 6, 2012 – 2:32 am Categories: Andy Wellman | Post a comment

Bullpen Smells Like Cowpies

I wonder if when Mark Attanasio went to sign up Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum he mentioned how the Brewers were on the rise. How this team could contend for the post-season. How a large part of the players were signed for the next 4 years. How committed the Brewers were to being successful franchise for years to come.

I wondered if he also mentioned how the bullpen will lose or give them a no decision in roughly half their starts. I wonder if he mentioned that in two-thirds of the games the offense would score 5 or more runs, but that would still not be enough for the bullpen to hold.

So much enthusiasm, so much promise, so much hope was placed in the signing of these two guys. Add them to a rotation that includes Gallardo and Wolf and The Brewers have as good a rotation as anyone in the major leagues. As an added bonus, Narveson is a 5th man with a winning record. With these pitchers, not only is the post-season possible, but we should be thinking division title.

Now it seems we can’t count on our bullpen to hold a game. I can’t even imagine how much intestinal fortitude it must take for our starters to hold back from thanking the bullpen for another blown game. How much courage and inner strength it must take for our offense to let go of the fact that their good game was washed away by a poor relief effort. I do know however, the feeling of stress, the turning upside of the stomach and the nails bit off of having to watch a pathetic bullpen TRY to hold a game for the win.

With the All-Star breaking coming up and the trade deadline not to far ahead, it’s time to see how Mark Attanasio addresses this glaring need in our pitching staff. In the mean time, there’s no forgetting our bullpen now, they’re where the smell of manure from left-center field is.

July 10, 2011 – 11:13 pm Categories: Milwaukee Brewers, Steve Wellman | Comments (1)

No Respect

It’s an expression heard hundreds of times, in both the professional and non-professional ranks: “We don’t get any respect”. Whether it’s fans talking about their favorite teams, teams talking about themselves or even players feeling like they’ve been “dissed”, it’s heard often. And while I’m sure there are some instances where a lack of “respect” is actually the case, I’d bet 9 times out of 10 that simply is just not so. Now, I can’t personally relate to this feeling from the stand point of being a player, because I’m not one. But as a fan, I have felt that way many times. Most times it’s a case of not being able to see the forest for the trees, being so emotionally invested in one’s favorite team can lead to such biases. And being a fan of the smallest franchise in professional sports, I think we are born with the “no respect” gene.

Which brings me to the reason for this post. I belong to Facebook, and follow both the Green Bay Packers and the NFL. Recently there was a discussion and poll as to whom people thought was the best QB in the league last year. Invariably, the consensus was Tom Brady. Now, I can understand this as he did put up some very nice stats last year, and he’s still riding the coattails of having put his PK in position to win a couple of Superbowls. So, all in all I don’t have a problem with this, at least not from the lack-of-respect standpoint. What really bothered me was their follow up question, and I quote, “Besides Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, who’s the best quarterback in the NFL?”.

Really?? Who is the best QB other than the two who didn’t win a single playoff game last year? How about the one that carried his team to six must win victories in a row to end the season? How about the QB that won four playoff games in a row, three of which were held in hostile stadiums? I’m having a hard time believing that this is really a question. Brady may have been voted best by other players in the league, but are you really going to throw Manning in there over the guy who won the last game of the season, and took home the MVP trophy doing it?

Now I know the media loves to stir the pot, and admittedly, I am a die hard Packer fan. So is this a case of actual “no respect”, or simply another rabid, over reactionary fan. Let me know what you think.

July 6, 2011 – 2:52 am Categories: Andy Wellman | Post a comment