Respect The Schaub

[Listener]

While watching the Falcons game, the announcers repeatedly said that Matt Schaub, the Falcons' backup QB starting in place of Mike Vick, was inexperienced.  Joe Buck, calling the Philly/Dallas game, said he more or less expected the Patriots to win because Vick wasn't playing (not in those exact words).

Never mind the fact that Schaub was a great collegiate QB.  Never mind the fact that he runs better than most QBs (saving the presence of Vick, Culpepper, McNabb, and maybe Steve McNair).  Never mind the fact that he seems to have a better touch on his passes than Vick, who throws too hard or doesn't throw at all.  No, the only important thing is that Vick wasn't playing for the Falcons.

Schaub threw just as many TDs as Brady.  So his percentage wasn't as high, and so he was sacked a couple more times.  He wasn't intercepted, and he didn't fumble the ball -- both against one of the better defenses in the league.  Dude threw four touchdowns.

Respect the Schaub, that's all I'm saying.  It's not like two years ago when Doug Johnson was backing up Vick and the Falcons were hopeless. 

But more than that, respect the Falcons.  Just because Vick is their star doesn't mean that there aren't other great players on the team.  Or that it's a team effort.

The fact that Schaub did as well as he did today... well, I hope the sportscasters make some noise about that, and not just the local ones.  Schaub kept the Falcons in the game, and only a slew (slough?) of defensive penalties kept the game from going to OT.

End of rant.

[VikingJuice]

I totally agree with you but it's the same thing EVERY time a back up QB gets the nod unless he's been in the league for like a decade or more.  When Trent Green went down in '99, everyone was like, oh the Rams are gonna suck.  What happens, he wins league MVP and the SuperBowl in his first try.  Then in '00, Bledsoe goes down and Brady gets the nod.  Everyone is like, oh no the Pats are gonna suck.  Then Brady gets plowed in his first start against the Dolphins 30-10 in a game that wasn't even that close.  But just weeks later, he torches the same Dolphins team and a month later wins his first of 3 SuperBowls.

The backups never get respect, and rightfully so, until they prove it on the field.  Your rant is obviously well founded with Schaub because he looked amazing today.  I watched a lot of that game at the sports bar while our beloved Fins racked up 18 penalties and 5 turnovers only to be close and then choke in the final minutes.

I also watched Schaub last pre-season, his rookie year.  I saw a QB that definately has a future in this league!!  But for every Schaub, Brady, Warner and other future stars, you've got a league wide cupboard full of Doug Johnsons, AJ Feelys, Marquis Tuiososopos and the like.  Those guys don't deserve MUCH respect, until they prove it in the bigs.  There have been too many Danny Wuerfells, David Klinglers, and Doug Neusmeiers that lit up the NCAA over their careers only to sputter and fall flat in the pros.

The notion that a team will suffer a dip in performance is ALMOST ALWAYS a reasonable one.  But in those rare cases, with a guy like Schaub, you can sit back with a big grin on your face because you know something is coming that most of the rest of the world doesn't see until it happens.  Then you end up looking more like ESPN's SchWab than some arm chair Monday morning QB. 

Way to go Schaub for your play, and SchWab-er Listener, for your heads up on the situation.  And I totally agree, Schaub has MUCH better accuracy and touch than Vick ever will.  And he also grasps the offense much better and you can tell by his reads and his distribution of the ball.  He will usually reach his 3rd and 4th reads if needed at even this early stage in his career.  Vick usually checks 2nd and occasionally 3rd reads and then takes off running.  As he gets older, and the legs give way to age, he will start showing his true colors much more clearly and people will have less and less patience with him and his lack of cognitive ability on the field. 

Schaub may never get his fair shake in Atlanta, but he will definately be a star somewhere else in the next 4 years.  I had almost this exact conversation with a buddy today during the games and we were both saying the same stuff you're saying!! 

Too bad you don't live in Houston because I think you'd be a blast to watch a game with!!

[Listener]

Well, if you're ever in Atlanta, you know where to find me.

Actually, I usually watch the games on my couch with my computer, watching all the games via Yahoo Sports so I can keep up to date on fantasy football.  But I appreciate the sentiment.

Maybe the Dolphins can steal Schwab away in a couple years, once Frerotte (who's not THAT bad, but not that great, either) retires.  If they don't make a move for Drew Brees after this season.

[VikingJuice]

Well, if you're ever in Atlanta, you know where to find me.

Actually, I usually watch the games on my couch with my computer, watching all the games via Yahoo Sports so I can keep up to date on fantasy football.  But I appreciate the sentiment.

Maybe the Dolphins can steal Schwab away in a couple years, once Frerotte (who's not THAT bad, but not that great, either) retires.  If they don't make a move for Drew Brees after this season.

I could go for Schaud with the fins.