The "Understudy" Idea

bbsplitter · Apr 4, 2013

Reading through the posts I see a lot of comments about drafting a project QB that can "learn from" Russell Wilson. How much realistically though does Russell Wilson "teach" said QB, except maybe purely by example? I mean, RW can do everything at once (obviously), but does anyone else think that the whole idea of an "understudy" is a little overblown and has more to do with QB coaches and reps?

Hawknballs · Apr 4, 2013

understudy probably the wrong word, but having a guy with RW's work ethic and drive could be good for any young QB.

or any young person in general.

themunn · Apr 4, 2013

Do not underestimate the power of being around someone with a good understanding of the game and strong work ethic - just look what it has done for the rest of the offense

drdiags · Apr 4, 2013

Look at Flynn's view of his relationship with Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers wasn't an established starter when Flynn came on. Over time the discussions in the QB room is what Flynn used to project himself mentally into what it would take to be a starter as well as situational football.

If Wilson and a young QB are able to bounce ideas off each other, it will be beneficial to the young guy. I think most NFL QB rooms are this way, except maybe Favre and Rodgers interactions. Still Rodgers had to learn things from Brett whether Brett wanted to coach him up or not.

therealjohncarlson · Apr 4, 2013

Not really. The best way to learn something quickly is to observe a master day-in and day-out. How can a QB learn better then watching an elite QB and emulating him?

Killa Kam · Apr 4, 2013

Aside from Aaron Rodgers and Favre, no other successful starting qb was an "understudy" of another succesful qb. I think its overrated i mean what has it done for Jake Locker, either a guy has what it takes or doesn't

jlwaters1 · Apr 4, 2013

Killa Kam":3ilni41c said:
Aside from Aaron Rodgers and Favre, no other successful starting qb was an "understudy" of another succesful qb. I think its overrated i mean what has it done for Jake Locker, either a guy has what it takes or doesn't

Steve Young is also on that list. Matt Hasslebeck learned under Favre and had a nice career. Tom Brady to some degree, following Bledsoe.

But your right. You learn more with reps and actually playing than watching someone else do it.

DavidSeven · Apr 4, 2013

Russell's fabled work ethic is probably most comparable to Peyton Manning's. We all, however, saw what happened with Curtis Painter...

Rainger · Apr 4, 2013

Under study is a bunch of crap. Starting QB's do their thing. Backups can learn if they are capable. But the whole concept of the starter grooming his successor is junk.

ClumsyLurk · Apr 4, 2013

Seems pointless when the QB we have for the forseeable future is only about a year or two older than the young guy. We'd just be teaching someone else's quarterback at the end of it all.

CANHawk · Apr 4, 2013

I like the idea of having a back up with a similar head for the game, if not the same physical skills. Maybe a guy like a Greg McElroy or the like. Somebody that Russ can compare notes with and can act almost like a second set of eyes for him. Like what Brock Huard reminds us all the time he was for Peyton Manning. You see starters and back ups looking at the still pictures and game planning on the sidelines all the time. It'd be good to have a "smart guy" over there to support Russ like that too now that the Flynnstagator is gone.

WestcoastSteve · Apr 4, 2013

jlwaters1":8lmh9ilw said:
Killa Kam":8lmh9ilw said:

Aside from Aaron Rodgers and Favre, no other successful starting qb was an "understudy" of another succesful qb. I think its overrated i mean what has it done for Jake Locker, either a guy has what it takes or doesn't

Click to expand...

Steve Young is also on that list. Matt Hasslebeck learned under Favre and had a nice career. Tom Brady to some degree, following Bledsoe.

But your right. You learn more with reps and actually playing than watching someone else do it.

Yeah I'd say Matt Cassell kind of bombed as well.

ivotuk · Apr 4, 2013

DavidSeven":1erotrw3 said:
Russell's fabled work ethic is probably most comparable to Peyton Manning's. We all, however, saw what happened with Curtis Painter...

But Painter was drafted by a "6 time executive of the year." Wow, who in the world ever thought Curtis was a QB? For this topic I think "CP" is a bad example.

two dog · Apr 5, 2013

If Russell can instill some of his study habits and "want to" while mentoring a backup, that's the best possible situation.
Should Wilson be injured, he would provide the best possible prep for the backup and a set of the most analytical eyes
on the sideline that you could hope for.

Aren't all new guys an understudy to some extent? The game slowing down for them, I think, is a result of their own
study and knowledge given to them by veterans. There is no substitute for direct experience though.

NYCoug · Apr 5, 2013

CANHawk":1o5dcmwi said:
I like the idea of having a back up with a similar head for the game, if not the same physical skills. Maybe a guy like a Greg McElroy or the like. Somebody that Russ can compare notes with and can act almost like a second set of eyes for him. Like what Brock Huard reminds us all the time he was for Peyton Manning. You see starters and back ups looking at the still pictures and game planning on the sidelines all the time. It'd be good to have a "smart guy" over there to support Russ like that too now that the Flynnstagator is gone.

I like this way of thinking. My dumb *** didn't even think about that in all honesty. A guy like that and a developmental #3 like Portis and we'd be all set at QB for a while, hopefully, knock on wood. With Portis' skillset, hopefully he develops enough this offseason and preseason to the point where the team can trade him for some picks. People will look at his size/speed/arm and think there's a lot there to work with. Especially if he shows he can run the Read-Option effectively. Hey, we even gave up a 3rd for Charlie Whitehurst because we thought he had all the tools to be a good quarterback in this league. So crazier things have happened. Personally, I hope Portis is Wilson's backup forever (dunno why, just like the guy for some reason) and the best backup QB in NFL history, but that's just me.

LawlessHawk · Apr 5, 2013

Planning for the future is smart business (duh) so in my opinion a team should always be on the hunt for, grooming and developing at least one backup QB to either be a future starter or high-value backup, whether thats for their own team or to leverage for future draft picks or value trades. With what looks like the hawks have in Russell Wilson, they're in a position to make that back-up QB roster spot pay-off in team value for the next 10+ years if they do it right and with a little luck.

v1rotv2 · Apr 5, 2013

rainger":wc7znlpu said:
Under study is a bunch of crap. Starting QB's do their thing. Backups can learn if they are capable. But the whole concept of the starter grooming his successor is junk.

Nobody is talking about RW grooming anyone. What we're saying is what can a young QB learn from being around and interacting with RW. Grooming is a deliberate act on the part of the mentor and that is not what we are talking about.

Things a new guy could glean from successful QB:

As stated above work ethic
How to prepare
Attitude and mindset
Interaction with other players
Communication

These are things that a new guy can just observe and RW doesn't have to do anything but continue to be successful.

And that Sir is not crap.

DavidSeven · Apr 5, 2013

v1rotv2":31ohrw3i said:
Nobody is talking about RW grooming anyone. What we're saying is what can a young QB learn from being around and interacting with RW. Grooming is a deliberate act on the part of the mentor and that is not what we are talking about.

Things a new guy could glean from successful QB:

As stated above work ethic
How to prepare
Attitude and mindset
Interaction with other players
Communication

These are things that a new guy can just observe and RW doesn't have to do anything but continue to be successful.

And that Sir is not crap.

To be fair, couldn't we have assumed the same thing about everyone who backed up Hasselbeck?

Sgt. Largent · Apr 5, 2013

Killa Kam":6zd58eww said:
Aside from Aaron Rodgers and Favre, no other successful starting qb was an "understudy" of another succesful qb. I think its overrated i mean what has it done for Jake Locker, either a guy has what it takes or doesn't

Tom Brady with Drew Bledsoe
Steve Young with Joe Montana
George Blanda with Daryle Lamonica
Marc Bulger with Kurt Warner
Jeff Hostetler for Phil Simms

.......and depending on your definition of "successful" there are a ton of other backups that have gone on to start for other teams, i.e. Cassell type of QB's.

DavidSeven · Apr 5, 2013

Well, considering the vast majority of QBs in NFL history started out as someone's back-up, it stands to reason that at least some of them would have turned out above-average/good regardless of who they played behind. Plenty of journeymen/poor QBs played behind elite QBs, too. Not enough correlation to show that it's a real benefit.

The "Understudy" Idea

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