2009 Roster Projections: Quarterbacks
by David Fucillo on May 28, 2009 8:00 AM PDT
in San Francisco 49ers News
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PrintThis past week has seen a lot of discussion about the non-49ers QB with the 4-letter last name. I'm at a point where I just refuse to say his name anymore. I bring this up now though, not to open that can of worms any further. Rather, I'm curious about people's thoughts on the battle for the 3rd QB spot and potential practice squad implications. To this point, we've discussed wide receivers, cornerbacks, the offensive line, running backs and the defensive line.
Locks
Shaun Hill, Alex Smith
Bubble
Nate Davis, Damon Huard
There has been a very divided group of folks when it comes to Nate Davis. Some are convinced the 49ers will place him on the practice squad. Others, like myself, think that is entirely unlikely. I'm so convinced of it that if not for the debate that's gone on, I'd place Nate Davis in the lock category. I'm that convinced that there's no way the 49ers put him on the practice squad.
Looking at the four quarterbacks currently on the roster, it's tough to see any reason Damon Huard sticks around past training camp. He's 35 years old and while he's a serviceable backup, I don't see why the 49ers would want him even as an emergency #3. The only possible reason is if you think both Hill and Smith will get injured. And I don't think you can make personnel moves based on losing your two primary quarterbacks to injury. If both guys went down I don't think they'd dump Davis into the starting role, but rather they could find somebody just as below average as Damon Huard as an in-season free agent.
As for Nate Davis, even if he managed to clear waivers (necessary to go to the practice squad), any other team could sign him to their 53-man roster. I realize a lot of teams passed on Davis in the draft, but given some of the QB situations around the league, I could see somebody taking a flyer on Davis. It'd be inexpensive to sign him and you can't tell me there aren't a few teams where he'd very likely be better than, or at least have more upside than, one of those teams' third QB.
For those that think he'll go to the 49ers practice squad, is there a particular reason you think other teams wouldn't try and either claim him off waivers or sign him from the 49ers practice squad? Am I overvaluing Davis?
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Nate Davis is a Lock for the 53 Man Roster
This guy has a huge upside and if his learning disability hadn’t been leaked he would have been a 2nd or 3rd rounder.
I think it
depends upon how well Alex Smith performs. Shaun Hill is a lock at QB and should have a very productive season. Damon Huard is a solid backup who has been very adequate when given starting opportunities. If Alex looks good and can handle the #2 QB position, then we may keep Davis as the #3 QB. If Alex peters out, then he could be subject to a trade with Huard and Davis at #2 and #3.
Kezarvet
I agree with you Fooch
Davis was drafted to be a project and possible future QB. We don’t expose him by placing him on the practice squad. Unless he completely underperforms in camp and it seems like he has no future.
Still defending Rich Aurilia, and the Niners' classic unis
Agreed
He’s more likely to be on the 53 man roster than Alex Smith.
Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.
by methodrampage on May 29, 2009 3:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Is Davis worth a Roster spot?
I don’t think so. Most teams going into the season will be looking for a Vet more than a green pea. If a team grabs Davis, he’ll have to stay on their roster.You have to look what he can contribute to another team looking for a starting QB. He’s not ready and would waste a valuable spot on their roster. And what happens if you do lose him? You wouldn’t remember him in three years. Unless? No, Odds are against it..
By this logic, you shouldn’t keep any players drafted in the fourth round or later ever because the odds are against them ever succeeding and you can pick up sub-replacement level crap on the free agent market anyway.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on May 28, 2009 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Wasn't Josh Morgan was a 6th round pick?
by Josh G and the Shaun Hill band wagon on May 28, 2009 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions
yes, yes he was
"I'll be honest with you, I love his music, I do, I'm a Michael Bolton fan. For my money, I don't know if it gets any better than when he sings "When a Man Loves a Woman"
vick?????
He is not the answere to anbody’s QB issues for now. He has been out of the game for over two years and will need at least 3-4 months to get into playing shape physically and for sure he will need some time to get his head back into the game. Consider where he has been the last two years, do ya think he is game day ready???
by WC-Ninerhead on May 28, 2009 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Don't count out "The Dog"......
It may not be this season, but, several published reports say that Vick will already have a starting QB job in the “D” League that 4 billionaires are putting together for this year. Imagine if you will that Vick plays for them, gets his legs back under him and the League then folds……..1) His contravt with the Falcons becomes null and void, so no compensation will be necessary for his services.2) He’ll have at least gotten half way to where he was.3) The team that gets him will have to pay a steep price in public relations, but a cheap price in economics. And don’t count out “D” League talent, just few names to get you thinking; Doug Williams, Jim Kelly, Steve Young, Kurt Warner…….maybe a shot is all it takes.
K.C.Edwards -AKA- "THE" DarkkStarr
Niner QB's
I still have questions about Smith. He has had some serious issues and has never really lived up to his top dog billing, I know he had a bad O- line , he has had a new OC every year since coming to the pro’s , two season ending injuries in the last two years. Not to mention his failure to read the defenses well, can’t get the ball off quickly and when he does he is often off target. Other than that he is good to go. Obviously I am not a Smith fan however if during camp he shows that he is over all of his issues then here is my take on the question.
Hill is the starter
Smith is back up
Davis sits on the bench gets schooled this year as a #3 emergency.
Huard is gone.
Seems pretty simple
Hill, Smith, Davis. We didn’t draft the guy to practice squad him. His upside is too great to risk it. I know, who would take him off the squad, right? The Pats maybe? Or anyone else with an aging QB who has time for a project. On the roster.
Davis to the PS?
I don’t see any justification for throwing Davis on the practice squad in favor of keeping a guy like Huard on the roster. Even if the 49ers released Huard, it’s VERY likely he would still be in free agency if it ever got to a point when the 49ers need another arm. Heck, if they ever reach the point where they need a third strong QB, they’ll have a bigger problem than worrying about Nate Davis starting under center.
Hill, Smith, Davis
I don’t understand any arguments against Davis. He has a laser rocket arm, size, athleticism, pocket presence, and great timing. A learning disability has nothing to do with the outcome, only the time it takes to get there.
I think it was a good pickup. I wanted McGee but Dallas took him before we even had a reasonable option.
I'm going with the Majority on this one..
1Hill 2 Smith 3 Davis. Huard was signed before the draft, the 49ers would not have wasted a 5th round pick on a QB, only to let him get swept up by someone else, and if you think Ziggy is safe on the PS, there is no way, Davis will. However, I am gonna trust my gut and think this season Hill plays well, stays healthy, and takes us to the playoffs!
by Josh G and the Shaun Hill band wagon on May 28, 2009 12:06 PM PDT reply actions
Huard was signed before Smith resigned
Ultimately Huard was insurance against not being able to work out a deal with Smith and not being able to find a project QB in the draft. The Niners did both of those so Huard is completely expendable.
Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.
by methodrampage on May 29, 2009 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Nate Davis as #3? Are you kidding me!!!!
Neither Hill or Smith are known being durable. At least Huard gives the team a shot to win games if he is forced into the starter the role because of injury. Every game Nate Davis has to start is an almost automatic loss. Even if it’s for two games that probably the difference between being a playoff contender and not. Why would you do that to the rest of your team?
Another point, do you really have to protect Nate Davis from being signed by another team by adding him to the roster?. He’s a 6th round pick! He held his pro day and 1 team (Colts) showed up to watch him. Do you really think any NFL team is going offer him a 53 man spot considering he’s such a late rookie pick, would be signed with zero training camp knowledge and is no way ready to help any team for the 2009 season.
Yes
Are you going to trust a rookie to come in and not turn the ball over or a veteran? You can reasonably expect that Huard will take care of the ball giving the running game, special teams and defense the opportunity to win the game. Nate Davis is going to feel the game is played at light speed while still not knowing what he is doing.
Huard
is a dime a dozen. We don’t need to hang on to an old fart at the expense of a young player with potential. If a situation that dire arrises, we can just resign Huard from FA, cause who else is going to take him?
Not a dime a dozen
Huard would have a training camp, know the system, familiar with the personnel and philosophy. His talent might be a dime a dozen, but the rest makes him unique to the 49er team. You cannot assume he will be available in the free agent market. One or two other QB’s in the league go down and he probably makes a roster.
You are overvaluating Huard
IF (big if) Hill and Smith go down (not likely), we will have bigger problems than worrying about Nate Davis starting.
by SportsChicken on May 28, 2009 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions
If Hill and Smith both go down..
We can put them on IR, and I’m sure we can find a guy like Huard to step in in FA, all the while keeping Davis’ in a back up learning role. To to his physical ability, Ithink he is better to be kept on a short leash.
by Josh G and the Shaun Hill band wagon on May 28, 2009 2:21 PM PDT up reply actions
You are making my point. If Davis is never going to get in the game than leave him on the practice squad to develop. You don’t want to search the FA market in season to find your starting QB the week of the game.
Also
what’s with the assumption that Davis will never get into the game. That’s the beauty of an unknown. He may thrive in that situation. Push comes to shove, I’m not counting him out. Neither choice is ideal, but Huard has no upside at all. He won’t fumble as much? I’ld take my chances with the potential over the has (not) been.
My point is..
..I wouldn’t risk losing him off the PS, when we don’t have to take the risk. If we lose him then we wasted a 5th round pick, and I just don’t see that making our GM look very good. I think he makes the roster in order to protect him from leaving. You think he will be safe on the PS, I say why take an unecessary risk.
by Josh G and the Shaun Hill band wagon on May 28, 2009 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m 99% sure the rest of league isn’t interested and he is safe on the PS. The Colts already drafted a late round QB this year and appeared to be the only team considering Nate Davis. Even with Peyton Manning, I doubt they can afford to have rookie QB on their roster with zero training and experience in their system.
Nate Davis would have to a great preseason to get anyone interested. If he did, than he clearly beat out Huard for the #3 spot.
99%
Thats still %1 chance of wasting a 5th round pick, so we obviously are on opposite sides of the fence on this one.
by Josh G and the Shaun Hill band wagon on May 28, 2009 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Not far off
But that 1% could jeopardize a playoff spot if the injury bugs appears at the QB position. Hill and Smith have both been injured at the same time before. Even if it’s for a week, the team is giving away a game in division projected to be a tight race.
So what if..
We get someone else, as soon as the first one goest down? ..IMO it’s 99% likely Huard will be waiting for a phone call?
by Josh G and the Shaun Hill band wagon on May 28, 2009 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions
As Ninerhead stated;
Remember Trent Dilfer and how well he “Managed” the game when Alex Smith went down. He did all he could to not trip over himself while dropping back. I expect much of the same from Huard.
The cake is a lie.
by Sultan of Seitan on May 28, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree with........
bignerd. I don’t think anyone will pick Davis off of our practice squad. Do I think we should risk it? NO. Which is why I think we MAY carry 4 QBs. Hill and Smith are injury prone (especially with Hill running with his helmet off vs AZ) and I would start Huard over Davis THIS year. I know Davis has more potential, but like bignerd said, we are living in THIS yr, with a chance for playoffs in a tight division. We can’t afford to let a rookie, with a documented learning disability, start a game for us. I think he is a long term project, and he needs to be out of any equation of starting for us this year.
I just don't see..
Huard, beating out Ziggy, Battle and Sheets..but I could be wrong.
by Josh G and the Shaun Hill band wagon on May 28, 2009 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions
And RJF, and Boone.
The cake is a lie.
by Sultan of Seitan on May 28, 2009 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Hill is not injury prone.
I don’t think he has ever been injured….other than his finger (but he played through it)
In the event that both Hill and Smith go down, not even Huard would be able to salvage the season.
by SportsChicken on May 28, 2009 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions
He got hurt in 07
He missed the last game of 07 because he hurt his back or some finger. But that isn’t being injury prone though
How many teams make the playoffs with their #3 QB?
If Hill and Smith miss concurrent extended periods of time I’d rather take the higher draft pick in ’10 than give Davis away for Huard.
Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.
by methodrampage on May 29, 2009 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions
99%
You are just spewing nonsense.
If you want to say 99% of teams would not be interested in Davis you should at least try to prove it…..
I’m supposed to take your word for it?
Please….
by SportsChicken on May 28, 2009 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm 99% sure that a crappy team would take a shot on him
You don’t spend a 5th round pick on a PS player. You stick an UDFA on the PS.
Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.
by methodrampage on May 29, 2009 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions
If nobody wants/wanted Davis why did he get drafted? Teams draft players to secure the rights to that player. By placing Davis on the practice squad you give up your rights to that player and have effectively wasted a draft pick. Davis was drafted as a project and the Niners knew that if they drafted him as a project that they’d have to protect him by putting him on the 53 man roster. It’s not like the Niners didn’t know about Davis’ shortcomings prior to selecting him.
Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.
by methodrampage on May 29, 2009 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions
stop it
why is nate davis any worse of a canidate to win other than who we already have. hill is the only qb we have that has shown at least he can move the offense. Smith is what been hurt for two years looked semi ok when he had a rb who ran for 1700 yards come on you could be the worst qb and get to the playoffs if your rb runs for that much yardage. and guess what we didnt hmmm what a surprise
Huard-Right?????
Seems to me this is the same old crap I heard about Dilfer and O’Sulivan. Why should we place our future in another over the hill tired old dog and not invest in the future. I still say Hill can take us to the playoffs if he remains healthy and the running game producse like Singleary has advertised..
the quartbacks
it will be hill smith and davis. coach sing. has already said he was really glad to have davis. I’m telling you people don’t count smith out, remember his come from behind games at seattle and at denver in his second year with norv turner as oc and bryant as his # 1 receiver. now we finally have a good receiving core for alex to work with. and at the end of the seattle game gore predicted they would win the west next year,so gore has confidence in alex i’m sure some of his other team mates do too. alex also took every snap that year so he has shown he can stay healthy.
by bmcrae83@yahoo.com on May 28, 2009 2:46 PM PDT reply actions
Davis has to make it
He has a lot more upside than Huard. How many teams would be interested in Huard? A 34 year old career backup. Davis has much more upside in that he could be like Morgan and just shine in training camp. Davis could even beat out Smith in training camp. Huard would just be a safe back up just in case we need another QB. Even if we cut him and another team signs him, there are other QBs who could be signed if needed.
Davis has too much potential to be
risked on the PS. There’s no way any of us can gauge other teams’ interest. Therefore you’ve got to assume that there’s at least one team out there willing to take a chance on him. I’m especially not willing to risk that in order to keep Damon Huard around.
exactly
There are plenty of teams that could pick up a Davis-like player to groom. Pats are kinda thin on backups. Broncos need a new franchise QB etc. Why take a risk and put him on the PS? Keep him on the roster.
nate davis
in two years at most nate is going to be behind center this kid is tuff and knows what its like to work up hill, and have people trying to doubt him . i think he will impress the coaches and bring us to a new level once the change is made.of course he has to learn but learn he will and shock some people while he does it
I'm shocked to see how many people value Huard over Davis.
The #3 QB is practically the definition of a developmental roster spot. Nearly every team carries 3 quarterbacks, but only in freak disaster scenarios does anyone ever put those guys on the field. For a franchise to draft a late round guy to develop while you have two semi-reliable players with starting experience ahead of him is about the best thing that can be done at that position.
Do you really expect to lose both Hill and Smith to major injuries? At the same time? And if such a crazy thing happens, do you really think that Damon Huard is going to become the team’s savior? Please.
11 and 13 are both under contract for another two years, if I’m not mistaken. That means that we should be relatively stable at QB for at least that long. Keeping Davis on the roster to show us what he’s got is a low-risk, high-reward move. If he turns out to be something special, he could be starting for us in 2011. If things don’t work out, then we can cut ties with him and try again. No matter what, the number 3 probably won’t see the field.
Benchwarmer Davis vs Benchwarmer Huard seems like a no-brainer to me.
by shlecko on May 29, 2009 1:50 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Of course it'll be Davis
QB is not like any other position on the football field. These guys are not intended to see the field right away, not even stud 1st rounders.
Adjusting to a new NFL playbook is difficult, which is what Shaun and Alex are going through. Learning the pro game from scratch is ten times harder, look at how bad Mark Sanchez was struggling in Jets OTAs. Davis is not expected to look good in camp, he’s expected to work hard and show progress. Yes Huard is more game-ready, but they made the decision to cut him the minute they picked Davis.
Now that Huard is out of the way......
The only logical chioce was Davis. IMO we start and keep Hill (no brainer), if he gets hurt then let Smith show his skills. Don’t overload him him with responsibility, he folds under that pressure. Next year trade him. Keep Davis as a project, for now, while he learns the system. Next year Draft another starting QB.
Moreover, there are several FA that are still available for all those who are afraid of the injury bug, that IMO are a big improvement over Huard. Gus Frerotte, J.P. Losman, B. Johnson, and my personal fav……..Rex Grossman. Laugh if you want, but, in the last 6 years, Rex hung one of our worst defeats to us….AT HOME.
K.C.Edwards -AKA- "THE" DarkkStarr
Throwing without using the laces
I have a question (first-time poster, go easy on me) – when Davis was drafted, everyone said there where two drawbacks to him, the learning disability and the fact he throws without using the laces. Can someone who knows more than I do tell me why the latter is such a problem? Nobody mentions it as much now – is it something likely to adversely affect his game?
RE: Throwing without the laces
Frankly, it’s weird and not fundamentally sound. The only reason the laces are on a football are for QB to use to grip the football and for Dan Marino to turn them out when Ray Finkle is lining up a FG. It might not be a problem per se but it doesn’t make any sense not to use the laces and once he gets coached up his accuracy and what not might improve if he starts using the laces.
Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.
by methodrampage on May 29, 2009 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions
yes and no
I am head football coach for a team in utah and if you have monster hands holding on to the ball fumbling wont be a problem and i have players that can throw a sprial that way but thats what is concerning everyone is the sprial they say you cant throw sprials for the recivers i watched davis play and i think he just has huge hands and throws lots of sprials but that what the deal is sprials and fumbles
cppeter
by foreveryoung66 on May 29, 2009 11:42 AM PDT reply actions
Thanks
Hey foreveryoung66 – thanks for the explanation. That makes sense. I guess therefore it may be less of a problem in Singletary and Raye’s run-based offensive system?
by LondonNiner on May 29, 2009 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions
100%
in agreement with Fooch on this position. The only wild card that could factor in is if Smith’s shoulder is not healed and they have to cut, PUP, or IR him. In that situation Huard sticks as the #2 and Davis as the #3. But Davis makes it for sure.
I want winners!!
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