Clipboard Kings: Assessing The Detroit Lions QB Depth

PART 6 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 Detroit Lions:

Starter: Matthew Stafford (4th year)

Projected Backup: Shaun Hill (11th year)

Simply put, Hill is one of the best backups in the league.  Now 32 years old, he’s 13-13 in career starts playing for mostly bad teams.  He was spectacular at times while starting 10 games when Stafford landed on Injured Reserve in 2010.  That season he completed 62% of his passes (right at his career average) for nearly 2,700 yards, 16 TD’s and 11 INT’s playing on a team that hadn’t matured yet.  If Stafford were to go down again, the Lions offense would be in capable hands with Hill.

Verdict: Reliable, can win with him. 

Projected 3rd QB: Kellen Moore (Rookie)

The only way Moore makes it in this spot is because the Lions don’t have another QB officially signed to the 90-man roster.  Reports out of Detroit are that Moore was extremely shaky in mini-camp, and gave credence to the critics who pointed out his lack of arm strength, size, and athleticism as reasons for Moore not getting drafted in April despite winning more games than any QB in NCAA history.  Some have even said that Moore was at times outperformed by R.J. Archer, a non-roster player who took leave from the Arena Football League to attend mini-camp on a tryout basis.  Still, Moore could be a gamer.  There were similar reports about how bad he looked in practices leading up to the Senior Bowl but looked good in the game.  He could raise his stock once the preseason arrives.  If he doesn’t, look for the Lions to scour the waiver wire once other teams start making cuts.  There’s also a chance that Detroit only carries 2 QB’s, a point head coach Jim Schwartz alluded to recently.

Verdict:  Not a lock.

Summary:  The Lions are in good hands with Stafford approaching elite status and Hill as the veteran who’s content to embrace the backup role.  It’s a position other teams surely envy.  Moore doesn’t have starter potential, so I’d like to see the Lions try and upgrade the third spot.  Still, it’s hard to argue with their top-end depth at the QB spot.