I'm going to comment on your "Top Gun" aside. I don't see myself watching the new film for the same reason I don't remember the old one. I'm a guy who tries to find films that enrich rather than merely entertain. I want to come away feeling like I learned something or grew as a human being. I have zero hope that a "Top Gun" remake would leave me feeling that I had accomplished anything beyond wasting a couple hours of my life and whatever they charge for a ticket these days.
Last night I saw a film I loved, which is unusual. Every year, I see just a handful of films I can honestly recommend. The film is, and I shit you not, "Bathrooms Over Broadway" on Netflix. It's intelligent, funny and heart warming (all in one). I'll admit it's not a film for everyone. It's likely to appeal to those with sardonic humor, who were early fans of David Letterman (before he got really famous, when he did dry, offbeat stuff), for students of film and more intellectual/egghead types. If you're someone who prefers to be simply entertained with special effects, there's nothing wrong with that. Different strokes and all.
As for Lock and Smith, I don't put them in the same basket. As others have said, though we've not really heard this much from you, Kenneth, we've seen enough of Gino Smith to have a good sense of his ceiling and his floor. He could carry us to a five, maybe six, win season. Perhaps more if the defense or the running game is great.
Lock was on track at one point to maybe become the Denver starter. He looked fairly promising coming out of college. His first four NFL games were wins. Between covid and the lack of support he received in Denver, it's not fair to place him in the "forever backup" column just yet.
Unlike Wilson, who seemed more the backup coming out of college (based on body type if nothing else), he didn't grab the bull by the horns. Brady is another guy who stepped up and took advantage of his opportunities, even as his college coach tried to shuck him aside. We've not seen that from Lock. But we know he's got tools. Strong arm, mobility, size, stature. All of which does not a great QB make. The question is really more about his mentality. Can he gain the composure to stop making game and career imploding mistakes. We'll see. I hope the Hawks give him a chance. I think they will.
If I have been lacking in takes on Geno Smith, it is probably because my expectations are that low. Surely more will need to be said as Smith gets closer and closer to starting in Week 1.
Early David Letterman is such a specific and good reference point that I will have to check out Bathrooms Over Broadway. The world is missing comedians like Early Letterman.
This film was done by one his comedy writers. Letterman appears in the film. What begins as a lark grows into an obsession and ultimately a sort-of-movement. If you liked early Letterman, I think you'll like this film a lot (but let me know).
I'm not surprised that your Gino expectations are low. They are for pretty much all of us. You don't seem to hold a lot of hope out for Lock growing into more than he's been so far. I think his chances are less than 50/50. Maybe more in the 20% or 25% range. But I could see him evolving into a true NFL caliber starter. Russell Wilson caliber? Extremely unlikely. But that's true of even Stroud and Young. One has to get lucky to find a true franchise QB.
It is not logical to think that Bryce Young and Drew Lock are comparable as prospects in 2022. One is a top tier 21-year-old QB prospect who hasn't gotten an opportunity to pass or fail in the NFL yet. The other is a 25-year-old who was a mediocre draft prospect and has failed multiple times at the NFL level with many different coaches who had nothing to gain by him failing. I'm just being realistic.
I'm not saying they're comparable prospects. That's obviously nowhere near true. One is likely to be a top five pick in next year's draft. If Lock were traded by Seattle, they'd be lucky to get a day two pick. More likely day three. They're not even close.
You misunderstood my point. I was saying that even Young and Stroud are longshots to be as good as Russell Wilson. Sure, it's a lot more likely than Lock, and one might wind up being even better.
Perhaps my thoughts would be more clear if I put it this way. I'm not an odds maker but let's just say Yound and Stroud both stand a reasonable chance of being as good or better than Wilson. How likely is that? Maybe 20%? The chances of them being servicable starters with NFL careers that last 5 or more years is higher. Let's call that 50%. Chances of them playing in the league as starters or backups for 5 or moe years is yet higher. Let's call that 80%. Just guesses on my part but you get the idea.
If I were to assess Lock in a similar light, I'd say his chances of being as good or better than Wilson are almost zero. I'm saying it that way because 1% would be too generous. His chances of being a servicable NFL starter for 5 or more years is probably around 20%. His chances of sticking around for 5 or more years as a starter or backup is let's say 45%.
On all counts, his chances are way lower than Young and Stroud but not so low as to be written off before he even gets a chance. I disagree with you in asserting that Lock's essentially on par with Mayfield. Baker has shown real promise at times. Injuries have set him back. It's not clear if his attitude is up to snuff. I wouldn't want him unless Seattle could get him so cheap it wouldn't be a big deal to let him go. But I do think Seattle with Mayfield under center would have a far better chance of making the playoffs than if we went with Lock, Smith or Eason.
Well I hope not to put any words in your mouth, so I apologize if I assumed anything incorrectly. It is easy for me to say that I don't have optimism in any of the Seahawks quarterbacks and I think that is self-explanatory. I don't think that Baker Mayfield is worth the trouble. Opinions on these issues won't change until more football is played, which is quite a ways away, so we'll have to just let it be.
No worries, Kenneth. I'm enjoying the dialogue. Personally, I'm with you in hoping Seattle makes no moves at QB this year and goes with who they have. Let's draft a QB in 2023.
If we want serviceable, we should go get that Minshew guy everyone is talking about. He's already in that category.
In seriousness, I think Geno's ceiling is in the "serviceable" tier while his floor is "existent" tier. I think the most likely outcome is something barely serviceable. I think Lock on the other hand has real "good for a minute" tier upside. He's much more likely to turn in an "existent" tier performance, but I think both those outcomes are more interesting (and better for the franchise) than a probable "serviceable" performance from Geno.
I'm being nice to Gardner because I didn't feel it fair to put him a tier below some of the mediocre QBs in the serviceable tier, but I don't think Gardner should be starting in the NFL.
There are plenty of Seahawks sites and writers on the internet who will indulge in a fan's desire to dream about a positive future with either of these quarterbacks. I will not be one of those writers. This post is intended to slow down questions about how "good" Drew Lock or Geno Smith will be. The Seahawks don't have their 2023 starting quarterback. If a Case Keenum type season happens, all that means is that the QB has a Case Keenum future. The realistic angle here is that the Seahawks don't have any QBs that have a supposed "Ceiling" worth forecasting. If Lock looks remarkably different during the season, I'll re-address. But it's a bit of a waste of time to keep re-hashing Drew Lock and Geno Smith. 99% of the evidence says we don't need to think about either of them for very long.
Wow, Rex Reed's review is harsh! Sounds like he may not be into avant-garde films, including Cronenberg. It was well-reviewed by NPR/Fresh Air. I'll see it!
One of the methods of sports commenting is to link guys to the past. It's like at the beginning of games when they show team's win/loss head-to- head.
Problem is, most of the head-to-heads happened before the current guys were on the team.
It's fair to look at Drew's accuracy in the past and say it's relevant. But is it a 1 to 1 equivalent? When you see tape and see guys drop catchable balls that Lockette won't, then maybe not.
Many of the interceptions are bad. Game changing bad? Depends. Matthew Stafford is hailed as a hero, but if Tartt picks that ball and the 9ers win, they Stafford's the Lions QB that can't win the big one, and they have to extend him 'having not won the big one,' and SF has an even bigger mess of their hands of JG won the SB.
Lock has intriguing athleticism, QB skill set, a few years in the Broncos' farm system, and confidence to want to look.
He's young enough and skilled enough that if he hits, someday they're be a list with Drew Lock saying it CAN be done.
After all, it was Seattle that have Russ the chance to do what hadn't been gone previous to that moment.
I don't know if Geno or Drew are similar but, if they could have a similar Tommy Maddick season I would be elated. Your post has actually given me a little more optimism.
Our defense will have to get to the QB and cause turnovers. The short field with a strong run game is a winning combo.
My only worry and it has been the same since 2012 Russell 1st year. I have always felt Pete puts to much pressure on the Quarterback to not turn the ball over. Matt Stafford threw the second most picks in the league last year, and won the Super Bowl. I think Drew was under similar pressure in Denver. The head coach who is a good D coordinator gave Teddy check down Bridgewater the starting job. I would hate Seattle having the self serving Bridgewater. I am not saying just chuck it up but if there are turnovers which there will be, learn and move on.
Chris, Tartt had that interception gift wrapped in the fourth quarter of the championship game. He picks off Stanford's pass right there and SF wins. Stafford is in a whole new light.
For Pete's offense, coming off play action, the TE slips behind the linebackers, the receivers run their routes open or not, and the RB chips and goes into the flats.
Russ seemed to like the receiver routes.
Pete just wants the open read.
I think that's fair.
Lock can hit those passes. Can he make the two or three throws a game needed to separate the good ones from the great ones? We'll see.
Sure that's fair but you can take the wind out if a person's sails. Of course you want the right reads but don't overreact if it goes wrong. Players need to be built up not torn down. I think Pete does a good job of that. This is the only part he needs to make sure his guy will cut it loose. I am a Pete guy
If not Baker, my next choice would be Tannehill. Next to that, sign Fitz out of retirement. 4th choice is Minshew. He lacks a ton of what you want as a starting QB, I realize. But he doesn't throw picks, and is cautious to a fault which I suspect is what this org wants for a stop gap quarterback.
I was listening to 710 a good bit this week and the hosts were all at attendance for minicamp. The biggest thing I heard over and over is that on offense there was never a single "wow" play from our passers like when we had Russell. Not that I'd expect many from Smith working with the starters and Lock with the 2nd team (seriously, they aren't even rotating these guys?) but it's wasn't "There weren't many wow plays," it was "there wasn't one single one. And we used to see one a drive."
I realize I come across as a Baker fanatic here and that almost embarrasses me. But I have watched nearly every Browns game that didn't conflict with a Seahawks game since my wife picked them to be her 2nd favorite when she saw them celebrate their only win of a season years back. I have watched a ton of Baker Mayfield, and in my opinion 2020 wasn't an outlier. He just had the best cast around him that year and the most things finally break the Brown's way... as they tend to when you're a pretty good team. But in 2020, he was special. And he showed me that he was tough as nails when he delayed surgery to trot out there with a broken body last season. I'm still mixed on him as someone I'd want leading my team. But for the love of everything holy he seems the best available QB for us THIS year that wouldn't cost us a crazy ton of capital. I just want us to be good this year and not terrible. The QB decision will determine that.
Ryan Tannehill. He had a better career in Miami than Lock had in Denver, but it wasn't great. He's been at least good for a minute in Tennessee, though no one outside of Tennessee will be shocked that his minute already ended. I think he deserves a spot on that list though, and I think that first-year-Titan-Tannehill is the 2022 hope for Lock. Geno Smith is Blain Gabbert.
If the Hawks brain trust see real playoff potential with this team, Lock will be traded, Gino becomes QB 2 and and a new Q B. will be the starter. Minshew, Mayfield, Jimmy G. or TBD.
I've always felt the same way about Dave Krieg that is written here about Fitzpatrick. Great backup (relatively speaking), but pushed into a starting role he just wasn't equipped to handle. I always used to say he was good for about 8 games a year and that's it. At least he was better than Kelly Stouffer, Dan McGwire, and Stan Gelbaugh.
I never got to watch the Zorn or Krieg years in real time. It's interesting to consider how many seasons Krieg would've gotten with the Seahawks and in the NFL after the Seahawks, if he was coming into the NFL now. Doesn't seem like teams would wait out more than 2-3 years of certain type of QB play. Krieg got so many years! 12 with the Seahawks, 5 more after the Seahawks. How long would he start in the league now?
My answer is that Dave Krieg would not even get a look. Trey Lance is an outlier because good athleticism, but Carson Wentz coming from a small school is a closer comparison. And his measurables, I'm sure, are way past what Dave was.
Krieg was like the guys I the bottom of your list above. Wouldn't even get a fair shot today imo
You're right. Krieg was lucky to get a chance back then but it would take more luck now. Brady was lucky to get a chance. So many guys never get a shot? How many of them might have been good enough? Is there a Tom Brady who never got to show what he could do? I bet the answer is yes.
Doug Flutie seems the poster child for guys who didn't get a real shot. How many guys who didn't win the Heisman were deemed "too short" and nobody noticed? How many black QBs never got a shot simply because no one believed a black man had the intelligence to play the position back in the day (until quite recently in fact).
I caught part of the Krieg years. Seemed we always had hope that he'd turn in a great season and then he'd fall short. That was really the entire team during the Knox years. Promise and frustration. Talk about a guy who was committed to running it up the middle!
Fitzpatrick threw for 223 TDs That's tied with Kirk Cousins for 36th most all time. He was a pretty good quarterback, and played more at the level of a solid journeyman than a backup.
I'm going to comment on your "Top Gun" aside. I don't see myself watching the new film for the same reason I don't remember the old one. I'm a guy who tries to find films that enrich rather than merely entertain. I want to come away feeling like I learned something or grew as a human being. I have zero hope that a "Top Gun" remake would leave me feeling that I had accomplished anything beyond wasting a couple hours of my life and whatever they charge for a ticket these days.
Last night I saw a film I loved, which is unusual. Every year, I see just a handful of films I can honestly recommend. The film is, and I shit you not, "Bathrooms Over Broadway" on Netflix. It's intelligent, funny and heart warming (all in one). I'll admit it's not a film for everyone. It's likely to appeal to those with sardonic humor, who were early fans of David Letterman (before he got really famous, when he did dry, offbeat stuff), for students of film and more intellectual/egghead types. If you're someone who prefers to be simply entertained with special effects, there's nothing wrong with that. Different strokes and all.
As for Lock and Smith, I don't put them in the same basket. As others have said, though we've not really heard this much from you, Kenneth, we've seen enough of Gino Smith to have a good sense of his ceiling and his floor. He could carry us to a five, maybe six, win season. Perhaps more if the defense or the running game is great.
Lock was on track at one point to maybe become the Denver starter. He looked fairly promising coming out of college. His first four NFL games were wins. Between covid and the lack of support he received in Denver, it's not fair to place him in the "forever backup" column just yet.
Unlike Wilson, who seemed more the backup coming out of college (based on body type if nothing else), he didn't grab the bull by the horns. Brady is another guy who stepped up and took advantage of his opportunities, even as his college coach tried to shuck him aside. We've not seen that from Lock. But we know he's got tools. Strong arm, mobility, size, stature. All of which does not a great QB make. The question is really more about his mentality. Can he gain the composure to stop making game and career imploding mistakes. We'll see. I hope the Hawks give him a chance. I think they will.
If I have been lacking in takes on Geno Smith, it is probably because my expectations are that low. Surely more will need to be said as Smith gets closer and closer to starting in Week 1.
Early David Letterman is such a specific and good reference point that I will have to check out Bathrooms Over Broadway. The world is missing comedians like Early Letterman.
This film was done by one his comedy writers. Letterman appears in the film. What begins as a lark grows into an obsession and ultimately a sort-of-movement. If you liked early Letterman, I think you'll like this film a lot (but let me know).
I'm not surprised that your Gino expectations are low. They are for pretty much all of us. You don't seem to hold a lot of hope out for Lock growing into more than he's been so far. I think his chances are less than 50/50. Maybe more in the 20% or 25% range. But I could see him evolving into a true NFL caliber starter. Russell Wilson caliber? Extremely unlikely. But that's true of even Stroud and Young. One has to get lucky to find a true franchise QB.
It is not logical to think that Bryce Young and Drew Lock are comparable as prospects in 2022. One is a top tier 21-year-old QB prospect who hasn't gotten an opportunity to pass or fail in the NFL yet. The other is a 25-year-old who was a mediocre draft prospect and has failed multiple times at the NFL level with many different coaches who had nothing to gain by him failing. I'm just being realistic.
I'm not saying they're comparable prospects. That's obviously nowhere near true. One is likely to be a top five pick in next year's draft. If Lock were traded by Seattle, they'd be lucky to get a day two pick. More likely day three. They're not even close.
You misunderstood my point. I was saying that even Young and Stroud are longshots to be as good as Russell Wilson. Sure, it's a lot more likely than Lock, and one might wind up being even better.
Perhaps my thoughts would be more clear if I put it this way. I'm not an odds maker but let's just say Yound and Stroud both stand a reasonable chance of being as good or better than Wilson. How likely is that? Maybe 20%? The chances of them being servicable starters with NFL careers that last 5 or more years is higher. Let's call that 50%. Chances of them playing in the league as starters or backups for 5 or moe years is yet higher. Let's call that 80%. Just guesses on my part but you get the idea.
If I were to assess Lock in a similar light, I'd say his chances of being as good or better than Wilson are almost zero. I'm saying it that way because 1% would be too generous. His chances of being a servicable NFL starter for 5 or more years is probably around 20%. His chances of sticking around for 5 or more years as a starter or backup is let's say 45%.
On all counts, his chances are way lower than Young and Stroud but not so low as to be written off before he even gets a chance. I disagree with you in asserting that Lock's essentially on par with Mayfield. Baker has shown real promise at times. Injuries have set him back. It's not clear if his attitude is up to snuff. I wouldn't want him unless Seattle could get him so cheap it wouldn't be a big deal to let him go. But I do think Seattle with Mayfield under center would have a far better chance of making the playoffs than if we went with Lock, Smith or Eason.
Well I hope not to put any words in your mouth, so I apologize if I assumed anything incorrectly. It is easy for me to say that I don't have optimism in any of the Seahawks quarterbacks and I think that is self-explanatory. I don't think that Baker Mayfield is worth the trouble. Opinions on these issues won't change until more football is played, which is quite a ways away, so we'll have to just let it be.
No worries, Kenneth. I'm enjoying the dialogue. Personally, I'm with you in hoping Seattle makes no moves at QB this year and goes with who they have. Let's draft a QB in 2023.
If we want serviceable, we should go get that Minshew guy everyone is talking about. He's already in that category.
In seriousness, I think Geno's ceiling is in the "serviceable" tier while his floor is "existent" tier. I think the most likely outcome is something barely serviceable. I think Lock on the other hand has real "good for a minute" tier upside. He's much more likely to turn in an "existent" tier performance, but I think both those outcomes are more interesting (and better for the franchise) than a probable "serviceable" performance from Geno.
I'm being nice to Gardner because I didn't feel it fair to put him a tier below some of the mediocre QBs in the serviceable tier, but I don't think Gardner should be starting in the NFL.
Kenneth, an interesting article might be 'ceiling,' and/or ' floor.'
Seems like draft terms get involved in discussions that potentially muddy the waters.
Example: both Smith and Lock should/could be viewed in a positive light for a team that's not in full on rebuild mode.
I mean, Smith's younger than Wilson I think. Lock is 26 with three years experience.
If Smith was ready to hit his pro stride, and he had a four year window, some would set his ceiling is capped.
But 4 years is forever in this league.
Seems those terms get used to say whether a player is good or not, and it may not help the overall discussion.
This is no knock against any one poster, but just a general thought/question/ article primer
There are plenty of Seahawks sites and writers on the internet who will indulge in a fan's desire to dream about a positive future with either of these quarterbacks. I will not be one of those writers. This post is intended to slow down questions about how "good" Drew Lock or Geno Smith will be. The Seahawks don't have their 2023 starting quarterback. If a Case Keenum type season happens, all that means is that the QB has a Case Keenum future. The realistic angle here is that the Seahawks don't have any QBs that have a supposed "Ceiling" worth forecasting. If Lock looks remarkably different during the season, I'll re-address. But it's a bit of a waste of time to keep re-hashing Drew Lock and Geno Smith. 99% of the evidence says we don't need to think about either of them for very long.
Alright, that's why we watch the games.
And I'll speculate because I think Pete ball is about the QB not being THE man, but one of them-- albeit a key one
Wow, Rex Reed's review is harsh! Sounds like he may not be into avant-garde films, including Cronenberg. It was well-reviewed by NPR/Fresh Air. I'll see it!
One of the methods of sports commenting is to link guys to the past. It's like at the beginning of games when they show team's win/loss head-to- head.
Problem is, most of the head-to-heads happened before the current guys were on the team.
It's fair to look at Drew's accuracy in the past and say it's relevant. But is it a 1 to 1 equivalent? When you see tape and see guys drop catchable balls that Lockette won't, then maybe not.
Many of the interceptions are bad. Game changing bad? Depends. Matthew Stafford is hailed as a hero, but if Tartt picks that ball and the 9ers win, they Stafford's the Lions QB that can't win the big one, and they have to extend him 'having not won the big one,' and SF has an even bigger mess of their hands of JG won the SB.
Lock has intriguing athleticism, QB skill set, a few years in the Broncos' farm system, and confidence to want to look.
He's young enough and skilled enough that if he hits, someday they're be a list with Drew Lock saying it CAN be done.
After all, it was Seattle that have Russ the chance to do what hadn't been gone previous to that moment.
I don't know if Geno or Drew are similar but, if they could have a similar Tommy Maddick season I would be elated. Your post has actually given me a little more optimism.
Our defense will have to get to the QB and cause turnovers. The short field with a strong run game is a winning combo.
My only worry and it has been the same since 2012 Russell 1st year. I have always felt Pete puts to much pressure on the Quarterback to not turn the ball over. Matt Stafford threw the second most picks in the league last year, and won the Super Bowl. I think Drew was under similar pressure in Denver. The head coach who is a good D coordinator gave Teddy check down Bridgewater the starting job. I would hate Seattle having the self serving Bridgewater. I am not saying just chuck it up but if there are turnovers which there will be, learn and move on.
Chris, Tartt had that interception gift wrapped in the fourth quarter of the championship game. He picks off Stanford's pass right there and SF wins. Stafford is in a whole new light.
For Pete's offense, coming off play action, the TE slips behind the linebackers, the receivers run their routes open or not, and the RB chips and goes into the flats.
Russ seemed to like the receiver routes.
Pete just wants the open read.
I think that's fair.
Lock can hit those passes. Can he make the two or three throws a game needed to separate the good ones from the great ones? We'll see.
Stafford got away with that one though.
Sure that's fair but you can take the wind out if a person's sails. Of course you want the right reads but don't overreact if it goes wrong. Players need to be built up not torn down. I think Pete does a good job of that. This is the only part he needs to make sure his guy will cut it loose. I am a Pete guy
If not Baker, my next choice would be Tannehill. Next to that, sign Fitz out of retirement. 4th choice is Minshew. He lacks a ton of what you want as a starting QB, I realize. But he doesn't throw picks, and is cautious to a fault which I suspect is what this org wants for a stop gap quarterback.
I was listening to 710 a good bit this week and the hosts were all at attendance for minicamp. The biggest thing I heard over and over is that on offense there was never a single "wow" play from our passers like when we had Russell. Not that I'd expect many from Smith working with the starters and Lock with the 2nd team (seriously, they aren't even rotating these guys?) but it's wasn't "There weren't many wow plays," it was "there wasn't one single one. And we used to see one a drive."
I realize I come across as a Baker fanatic here and that almost embarrasses me. But I have watched nearly every Browns game that didn't conflict with a Seahawks game since my wife picked them to be her 2nd favorite when she saw them celebrate their only win of a season years back. I have watched a ton of Baker Mayfield, and in my opinion 2020 wasn't an outlier. He just had the best cast around him that year and the most things finally break the Brown's way... as they tend to when you're a pretty good team. But in 2020, he was special. And he showed me that he was tough as nails when he delayed surgery to trot out there with a broken body last season. I'm still mixed on him as someone I'd want leading my team. But for the love of everything holy he seems the best available QB for us THIS year that wouldn't cost us a crazy ton of capital. I just want us to be good this year and not terrible. The QB decision will determine that.
Ryan Tannehill. He had a better career in Miami than Lock had in Denver, but it wasn't great. He's been at least good for a minute in Tennessee, though no one outside of Tennessee will be shocked that his minute already ended. I think he deserves a spot on that list though, and I think that first-year-Titan-Tannehill is the 2022 hope for Lock. Geno Smith is Blain Gabbert.
If the Hawks brain trust see real playoff potential with this team, Lock will be traded, Gino becomes QB 2 and and a new Q B. will be the starter. Minshew, Mayfield, Jimmy G. or TBD.
I've always felt the same way about Dave Krieg that is written here about Fitzpatrick. Great backup (relatively speaking), but pushed into a starting role he just wasn't equipped to handle. I always used to say he was good for about 8 games a year and that's it. At least he was better than Kelly Stouffer, Dan McGwire, and Stan Gelbaugh.
I never got to watch the Zorn or Krieg years in real time. It's interesting to consider how many seasons Krieg would've gotten with the Seahawks and in the NFL after the Seahawks, if he was coming into the NFL now. Doesn't seem like teams would wait out more than 2-3 years of certain type of QB play. Krieg got so many years! 12 with the Seahawks, 5 more after the Seahawks. How long would he start in the league now?
This is a fair question...spot on.
My answer is that Dave Krieg would not even get a look. Trey Lance is an outlier because good athleticism, but Carson Wentz coming from a small school is a closer comparison. And his measurables, I'm sure, are way past what Dave was.
Krieg was like the guys I the bottom of your list above. Wouldn't even get a fair shot today imo
You're right. Krieg was lucky to get a chance back then but it would take more luck now. Brady was lucky to get a chance. So many guys never get a shot? How many of them might have been good enough? Is there a Tom Brady who never got to show what he could do? I bet the answer is yes.
Doug Flutie seems the poster child for guys who didn't get a real shot. How many guys who didn't win the Heisman were deemed "too short" and nobody noticed? How many black QBs never got a shot simply because no one believed a black man had the intelligence to play the position back in the day (until quite recently in fact).
I caught part of the Krieg years. Seemed we always had hope that he'd turn in a great season and then he'd fall short. That was really the entire team during the Knox years. Promise and frustration. Talk about a guy who was committed to running it up the middle!
Fitzpatrick threw for 223 TDs That's tied with Kirk Cousins for 36th most all time. He was a pretty good quarterback, and played more at the level of a solid journeyman than a backup.