Question: Best QB in the NFC North?

Still tired of "Benson Boat" and "Baby Mama Drama" with Lance Briggs (Does this guy think he's Abraham from the Bible???)... I am on a crusade to create some substantive topics to discuss until Training Camp begins...

TO THE THREAD!!!

Who is the BEST QB in the Division at the moment?  I have listed the potential starters for each team in the North (Chicago is supposed to have a QB competition this offseason, but I'll wait and see. Until then, <<Lovie Smith voice> > "Rex Grossman is the starter...").

Follow that up with your rankings of the QBs 1-4.

This division is probably one of the worst in FOOTBALL for QBs, but I have Jon Kitna as being the best QB in this division.

Aaron Rodgers has had VERY limited playing time, Tarvaris Jackson is very streaky, and Rex Grossman...

... well... we know how I feel about good ol' Rex.  haha!

I have them ranked like this:

1. Kitna
2. Grossman
3. Rodgers (GB fans-- What has he done yet?)
4. Jackson

Thoughts?

ChiMarine... I second your every thought. Kitna is the ONLY one with any kind of respectable track record.

Based on potential I would probably give the nod to Brohm.  IF he can step in and get some time he definitely has weapons around him to be effective, then again he is a rook & we all know very well how hard it is for ANY rook to come into the No Fun League & put up right away.  Two that come to mind are Aikman @ 1-15 and Peyton @ 3-13.

I would go with Jon Kitna because, even though his skills are diminishing, he doesn't have the stiffest competition.

None of the other ones are really proven QBs. Aaron Rodgers has only ONE real game of NFL experience under his belt. Granted, he did play well against a tough Cowboys team,  but you just never know if that could have been smoke and mirrors. Rex Grossman? Well, we don't need to beat a dead horse here. The guy is wildly inconsistent right now in his career. And Tarvaris Jackson is...well...Tarvaris Jackson. I think the jury is still out on him.

You can even add in the backups if you like. John David Booty for the Vikings, Brian Brohm or Matt Flynn of the Packers, and Kyle Orton of the Bears are ALL question marks. Orton is the only one with legit NFL experience, but in all fairness, he was held back in his rookie year and still posted 10 wins without posting impressive stats. Also, he won two of the three games he started last year and did well, not that great though. Finally, who is Drew Stanton and what is he doing on the Lions? Never really seen him to be honest with you. The jury is out on all these backups as well.

Here is how I rank them:

1. Kitna
2. Grossman
3. Orton (He could be starting over Grossman)
4. Jackson (He is holding on to this spot by a weak thread)
5. Rodgers (I put him below both Grossman, Orton, and Jackson based on his lack of experience. However, I think he could EASILY move up on the list)

Rex Grossman - We all know he can lose a game but he's the only QB in the division that can single handedly win a game too.

Jon Kitna - Average QB

Kyle Orton - Average QB occassionally makes mistakes.

Aaron Rodgers - He can throw a 7 yard out that Greg Jennings can break for like 50 yards.

Tarvaris Jackson - Wait he's a QB??? John David Booty will be starting by week 4

I went with Rex Grossman. Out of all the QBs in the North, he has the best game changing ability. I know he has had some really bad games but he has also had some great games.

Aaron Rodgers doesn't have enough experience

Tavaris Jackson hasn't shown that he is any good

Jon Kitna has thrown for a lot of yards but hasn't been a game changer really. And he didn't really show to be progressing last year though the year before he threw for a lot of yards. Yards don't always tell the whole story though.

I' going with Grossman because I believe he has the most upside. Plus I really do believe he is a good qb; hopefully we will see that this year.

That list is pretty shaky when presented ChiMarine. I don't think our division will be airing it out anytime soon now that I see the list of quarterbacks. In any case, I have to agree with the majority. Jon Kitna would have to be first at this point. We all bellow and moan about the offensive line and give excuses for our quarterbacks. Well this guy has had it much much worse up their with the Lions but still displays some productivity. Our offensive line woes don't even come close to what he has dealt with.

Rex Grossman would have to be second at this point for the fact he is the only other quarterback who has shown anything at all. Sort of by default really. I think if Aaron Rodgers can show some consistency and stay on the field he can easily supplant Grossman here if Rex doesn't turn that corner. Kyle Orton is in the same boat with Rodgers. Neither have really had the opportunity so we'll see there.

Last I have to go with Tavarius Jackson for now. He really didn't have much to work with up there with the Vikings. He has the potential though and now has some more descent weapons with Bernard Berrian. Still it remains to be seen. If he puts it all together then damn...so we better hope he doesn't. He's still young and developing. This year may be his shot to get it done though before the Vikings go another direction. The pressure will rather intense for him and Rodgers this season.

I chose Kitanonly by Default...

As it stands today I would rank in order of:

(1) Kitna

(2) Grossman

(3)  Rogers

(4) Jackson

Now, if things go the way I think they will this season then by the end of 2008 it should be:

(1) Orton

(2)  Rogers

(3)  Ktna

(4) Jackson.

This same post has come up on the three other NFC North boards, so I have had time to review the  information from fans of all four teams.  The conclusion I come to is...........everyone is a homer.  "Best" quarterback is so subjective.

Jon Kitna has the best situation to be successful - as a passer.  Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson are arguably the two best wideouts in the NFC North.  And as a #3, Mike Furrey caught over 100 balls just two seasons ago.  Realistically, Kitna is an average quarterback and has never had any postseason success (the measuring stick of a successful QB).  He has been on bad teams, and has never elevated the play of his team enough to make it past the first round.  At this point, the Lions running game, defense and special teams are not good enough to support him. (I realize all teams have acquired FA's and drafted rookies, but it is difficult to assess the real impact of these additions on paper).

Tarvaris Jackson has the best situation - to be a winner.  Dominant offensive line, running game and defense.  As long as he doesn't fumble snaps or handoffs to AD or Chester Taylor, he will be an adequate game manager.  He has shown flashes - of both incredible skill and inconsistency.  But at this moment, be doesn't have an group of wide recievers that will elevate his passing skills.  A second year player and two former Bears (yikes) are his main targets.  An adequate passing game will be enough.

Aaron Rodgers has the best situation - for failure.  Coming off a 13-3 season, NFC Championship game and the retirement of arguably the greatest QB of all time, he cannot possibly meet expectations with as little game time as he has.  Just ask Brian Griese (Elway), Jay Fiedler (Marino), and Rob Johnon (Kelly).  Rodgers has a good group of recievers, great offensive line and an adequate defense.  But by gauging Packer fans expectations of Rodgers and the Packers this year, there is a ton of pressure on Rodgers as a first year starter.  Favre made the offense go for a decade and a half, and to expect anyone else to step in and provide the same results is unrealistic.

Rex Grossman has the best situation - to exceed expectations.  Honestly, if Rex comes in, and the offense averages 18 a game, wouldn't we all be happy.  The offensive line is in flux, the wide receivers lack experience (except Booker who is only a possession reciever), the running backs are not special (Forte has not had pads on yet, calm down), and the defense has injury and performance issues to correct.  Special teams will provide good field position.  The one advantage that Grossman has over any QB in the division is playoff success.  Yes, he choked away the Super Bowl.  But the 2006 loss to the Panthers, and 2007 wins against the Seahawks and Saints were marked by clutch, big time throws by Grossman.  Given the critiques by media as well as by fans of this team and other teams, any sucess by Rex would be unanticipated.

Kyle Orton has the best situation - to make a team his own.  New year, new recievers, new running backs and new lineman - the only thing familiar about the offense will be someones hand on Kruetz's butt.  On paper, the Bears have the personnel for a short/intermediate ball control passing game - which would suit Orton better than Rex. Like the Packers, we have brought in guys that can catch the ball, make a move and gain some extra yards.  The tight ends provide a prescence in the middle of the field as a safety valve.  With all this newness on offense, Orton has an oppurtunity to develop chemistry with receivers at the same rate as Grossman.  Assuming the QB competition is truly open.

Stanton, Orlovsky, Brohm, Flynn, Booty Hanie and Hill are all "potential" QB's.  Judgement on their skills will come with game time.

I have to go with Kyle Orton not because of the things he does but more importantly the things he does not do. He does not turn the ball over and does not make many mistakes his passer rating last year was 73 Grossmans 65, He has a better winning percentage then Grossman and looks like he is alot smarter on the field then any of the others in the North

1. Orton

2. Kitna (weak arm but lots of heart and experience) really bad team though.

3. Jackson better then most people think but still not very acurate.

4. Brohm (above rogers purely based on college level)

5. Rogers

6. Grossman ( signs of brilliance but to many signs of utter brain loss)