Clipboard Kings: Assessing The NY Giants QB Depth Chart

PART 4 IN A SERIES:

We hear it every year at this time, the backup quarterback is one of the most important positions on the roster.  Whether it is or not is a debate for another time, but it’s under the microscope now more than ever as teams try to justify how many resources, or in some cases how few, they’ve committed to the position….and you hear reports of young QB’s who are just “killing it” in their mini-camps.

The position can either be rendered completely irrelevant: Jim Sorgi never getting his uniform dirty in meaningful situations backing up Peyton Manning from 2004 – 2010.  Or franchise altering: The Colts never addressing the position appropriately, team goes 2-14 without Manning in 2011, total housecleaning, first pick, Manning moves on, Andrew Luck now in place. 

I thought it would be interesting to take a look at every team’s backup situation.  These aren’t grades, just an overall look at the total sum of each team’s outlook if their starter were to go down.  I’ll consider the immediate situation and the longer-term picture.

I’ll go in order of my NFL Power Rankings 1.0, published May 10th.

Today, the New York Giants:

Starter: Eli Manning (9th year)

Projected Backup: David Carr (11th year)

The former #1 overall pick has never recovered from absorbing 249 sacks during his five seasons in Houston, and now qualifies as journeyman career backup.  This is Carr’s second stint with the Giants, but he didn’t take a single snap last year (probably a good thing considering the punishment he’s taken.)  He’s a career 60% passer with good size and a little bit of mobility, but he’s thrown more INT’s than TD’s and isn’t much of a threat to make big plays down the field.  If Manning were to go down, the Giants would have to shift into game-management mode to be competitive with Carr at the helm.

Verdict: Serviceable

Projected Third QB: Ryan Perrilloux (2nd year)

Perrilloux was one of the most highly regarded high school recruits in the country in 2004 when he verbally committed to Texas only to switch his commitment and choose LSU on signing day.  Some analysts touted him as as good enough to challenge for the Heisman Trophy as a freshman, but the Tigers already had Jemarcus Russell and Matt Flynn in the fold so he redshirted.  As a sophomore, he got one start when Flynn was banged up and threw for 298 yards and 3 TD’s.  But then he went off the rails, got in trouble numerous times, was dismissed from the team, and ultimately landed at Jacksonville State where he won Ohio Valley Offensive Player Of The Year award in 2009.  After a short stint in the UFL he signed with the Giants and spent last year on the practice squad.  He’s been compared physically to Donovan McNabb, but at this point his upside would appear to be solid backup, at best.

Verdict: Long-Term Project

Other Contenders: None.  At this time, no other QB’s are listed on the Giants roster.

Summary:  The Giants are a physical offensive football team that can run the ball well and has significantly upgraded their offensive weapons over the last couple of years.  Given that, I think they could win with Carr running a conservative gameplan.  But Carr is entering his 11th year in the league and those 266 sacks have taken their toll.  And does he still wear that glove on that throwing hand?  What’s that all about?!

The Giants would be well served to invest a draft pick in a young quarterback in 2013.