Kansas City Chiefs Michael Travis Rose

Backup QBs Much “Moore” Important Than You Think

MIchael Rose February 21, 2020 No Comments Gallery

 

Backup QBs Much “Moore” Important Than You Think – if the 2019 NFL season taught us anything, other than our own Kansas City Chiefs are the best team in the National Football League, it’s the absolute, undeniable importance of the backup quarterback to a franchise. The 2019 campaign could, other than Year of the Chiefs, aptly don the moniker Year of the Backup Quarterback. Over a fourth of the teams in the league had to replace their starting QB with the backup for several games or the rest of the season because of injury or substandard performance.

 

 

For years, backup QBs have been little more than an afterthought. Sadly, the view was that the backup QB was there to shadow the coach when offense was on the field and chat with the starter when the defense was on the field, usually with a clipboard or iPad in hand. Then, in the event of a catastrophe, he’s expected to rush out on the field, after practicing with the second team all season long, completely cold, and perform like a first-string starter. Worse yet, the backup is all too often the butt of a joke.

 

Who’s your favorite backup quarterback?

“I think his name is Justin Case.”

 

 

Yes, Chiefs Kingdom, the life of a backup is hardly glamorous.  Sometimes it just downright sucks. As Saints backup quarterback Taysom Hill bluntly stated, “It’s not a ton of fun being a backup quarterback.“

 

Translation: It sucks and we’re not appreciated!

 

Not anymore. The 2019 season showed the football world that backup QBs sometimes hold much more than clipboards, iPads, placekicks, and the starting QB’s place on the bench. When disaster strikes, backup QBs hold the entire team’s season fortunes in their hands.

 

 

One need look no further than our own Chiefs last season. Our backup QB, veteran journeyman Matt Moore, proved that on October 17th after Patrick Mahomes injured his knee on a quarterback sneak against our AFC West rival, (sneers upper-lip) the Denver Broncos: Moore guided a demoralized and worried Chiefs unit to victory in that Thursday night game, 31-6.

 

 

Moore filled Mahomes shoes admirably not only that game but also in the following two while our MVP was recovering and rehabilitating. Moore almost beat a tough Green Bay Packers team and their 9th-ranked defense in week 8 before losing in a heartbreaker, 24-31.

 

In week 9, Moore was still holding down the fort for Mahomes when we faced another NFC North Juggernaut: the Minnesota Vikings and their 5th-ranked defense. Despite fumbling twice, Moore stayed cool and led the Chiefs to a 26-23 victory.

 

 

Mahomes returned to the Chiefs in week 10, ending Moore’s tenure under center. However, without Moore’s veteran leadership and experience during Mahomes absence, the Chiefs Super Bowl victory in Miami earlier this month probably would not have happened. Had Moore lost all three of the games he shouldered the burden for with the Red and Gold, the Chiefs would have ended the season 10-6 and not gotten a playoff bye and eventual top seed in the AFC playoffs. Considering his performance when most needed last season, I contend that Moore is one of the unsung heroes of Super Bowl IV despite not being under center a single play.

 

 

Yes, Chiefs Kingdom, a backup QB is almost as important as the starting QB in today’s league. Legendary New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells is aware of that. Parcells once quipped, “It’s a very easy thing to say, ‘Go get a backup quarterback.’ Now tell me where to get them. You just can’t dial them up.“

 

That’s humorous when you consider our own legendary coach, Andy Reid, needed a QB at the cusp of the start of the NFL season after backup QB Chad Henne injured his ankle in training camp and placed on IR. Guess what Andy Reid did? He just dialed up Matt Moore, convinced him to come out of retirement and take on the Chiefs backup QB role, possibly saving the Chiefs season.

 

 

All of this brings us to the Chiefs current dilemma: original backup QB Chad Henne, and Moore are both undrafted free agents this season, and with the hard salary cap decisions facing the Chiefs this offseason, keeping them both is not an option.

 

 

While we have second-year QB Kyle Shurmur still on the practice squad, I don’t believe he’s ready, mentally or experience-wise to take over for Mahomes should, heaven forbid, that be necessary. I still want Shurmur on the team, albeit the practice squad, but like many of the Thursday Night Football matchups this past season, he’s not ready for prime time.

 

 

There are also rumblings of onetime Chiefs backup QB Chase Daniels coming back to fill the role. With the Chicago Bears not yet sold on starting QB Mitch Trubisky and rumored to be contemplating bringing in a veteran QB such as Andy Dalton or Cam Newton to replace Trubisky, it’s entirely possible. Not only does Daniels have his Chiefs ties, his tenure as the Mizzou starting quarterback makes him a fan favorite too. However, as intriguing as that scenario is, I don’t think it will happen. The Bears sacrificed too much on Trubisky to cut and run now.  Besides, Daniels has made it no secret that he wants to stay a Bear.

 

 

So, that leaves us with just Moore and Henne, and the choice between the two. Their career statistics are almost identical as has been their career trajectories. Both are solid backups. Both are intimately familiar with the Chiefs offense and choosing between the two is almost impossible, but I like Moore.  His completion percentage is better than Henne. His QB rating is better than Henne, and unlike Henne, Moore has thrown more touchdowns than interceptions over his career. Plus, I will feel forever indebted to him for his role and importance in our Super Bowl season.

 

 

I think Coach Reid likes him too. It was after Moore’s start in place that Andy said of his backup, “He’s got ice water in the veins.  He doesn’t flinch. There’s no panic. He says, ‘I’m good. Just call [the play] and let’s roll.“

 

 

Just as Andy knew how important it was to have the right man for the right job when Henne hurt himself last preseason, and called up Moore, he realizes it’s even more important now. What, with all 31 other NFL teams gunning for the Super Bowl Champions, but, in Andy we Trust. I’ve never been “Moore” certain of Big Red making the right call.

 

Michael Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne

 

 

 

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