Marty Vs. Billick

Marty once said that statistics are for losers.  ...ok it might have been Sam.

Anyway in a recent Hoyer-bashing session, Brian Billick cited Hoyer's statistics and the reason why the Browns would kick him to the curb for a short quarterback with 24 college starts in a non-pro two-read system.

59%.

That's Brian Hoyer to Brian Billick.  59%.  Certainly, using statistics without considering trends or context is for losers.

Well, Hoyer completed a little over 55% in his first start vs. the Vikings.  It was a rough start, with two interceptions in the second quarter, and one in the third.  I'm not sure, but think the third quarter pick was the perfect pass that got deflected.

Anyway, the ongoing issue was that the Browns had no running game to speak of, so that even before the Vikings had established a lead, it was on Hoyer.  

He and his recievers dug the Browns a hole, but come crunch time when he had to, he scored twice to turn defeat into victory.  Aside from an above 73% third down and fourth quarter percentage, his aggragate stats don't show this, and former quarterback Brian Billick ought to know it.

(Oh yeah...Billick was a career backup....HMMM!)

By rights, we should just throw out the first half of that game.  It was rust.  But I won't.

Anyway, then it was the Bangles in Cinci.  This was a very good defense.  Pasrush and coverage.  Marvin Lewis.   Here, Hoyer was excellent for the entire game (statistically elite).

Forget Pettine's Bills.  Hoyer was injured too early in that game for his (2/4) stats to have any meaning.

Other comments on Hoyer vs. Manziel: Rich Gannon feels there's no substitute for game experience under fire, and young QB's should play.  Jim Miller says there's a LOT of benefits to taking it slow and letting the youngster master the mental parts first and getting practice reps before throwing him in.  

Former safety Solomon Wilcotts said that if it's a read-option it should be Manziel, but it it's the base offense it needs to be Hoyer.  A bunch of people ganged up on him.  He kept reminding them of how deceptive that defense is, how raw Manziel actually is, and all the other obvious reasons.

They kept talking about "excitement" and "magic".  Wow.

Obviously I agree with Miller/Wilcotts.  I think so would Colt McCoy, Tim Couch, Brian Sipe, Kelly Holcomb, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Montana, Drew Brees, and Bernie Kosar.

You get used to the terminology and NFL recievers with NFL DB's covering them.  You get used to the rythm and timing.  You acquire habits that won't leave you the first time you get hit.  You're ready.  They train our pilots on simulators--not in combat.

Boxers shadow-box, hit bags, and spar.  Want to see what happens to a kid who doesn't?  You don't.

Stalin gave the peasants pitchforks and antique rifles and threw them at Hitler.  Is that your plan here?

Yes, Kosar had time too.  He was a prodigy, but still had four games behind Danielson before he had to come in.  And Kosar was a pure pocket quarterback, coming out of a Pro style system designed by Jimmy Johnson.

Game one vs. Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh?  You want the run-around kid with twenty four college starts--really?  Really?