Hey, all. . .yours truly is finally settled into his new digs, complete with my own internet access (as opposed to having to get onto someone else's wireless) and finally think I can be back to contributing on a regular basis. The rest of the crew deserves some big props for keeping things going while I was in the process of moving. . .it's great to have so many other awesome folks to work with.
Anyway, after reading approximately 207 billion comments over the past few days about our quarterback situation, I'm tired of hearing about it. So, this post is not going to turn into another Christian Ponder/Joe Webb battlefield. If you want to satiate your need for such things, there are a ton of other places you can do that.
No, this post is based once again on something from our latest sponsors at Gillette. On their FaceBook page this week, they're asking which quarterback is "leading the pack" this season and why. However, I want to take this in a slightly different direction, and look specifically at rookie quarterbacks.
This year's class of rookie quarterbacks features three particular standouts. . .two of whom were expected, and the third probably less so. The Minnesota Vikings have gotten up close and personal looks at all three of these players. Unfortunately, they've also been on the wrong end of the scoreboard against all three of them.
The first one is Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who the Vikings saw in Week 2 in a 23-20 Colts victory. The top overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Luck was the most highly touted quarterback prospect to enter the NFL in a long time. Though he has as many touchdown passes as interceptions (currently 18 of each), he has also thrown for 3,792 yards and compiled a passer rating of 74.5. More importantly, he has an Indianapolis squad that went 2-14 a season ago in position to make the post-season.
Next, we have Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins, who was selected right after Luck. The Vikings saw RGIII in Week 6, when they fell to Washington 38-26 at FedEx Field. Griffin's 2,906 passing yards aren't nearly as many as Luck has, but his touchdown/interception ratio is much better, as he has 18 touchdown passes to only four interceptions on the season. He has the Redskins in the playoff hunt as well, as they're currently sporting the same 7-6 record as the Vikings going into this week's action.
Finally, we have the biggest surprise of the group (in my opinion), that being Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson led the Seahawks to a 30-20 victory over the Vikings in Week 9, and was thought to be an iffy pick by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. However, he beat out big money "superstar" (stifle your laughter, please) Matt Flynn for the starting job, and hasn't looked back. He has the most touchdown passes of our three rookie quarterbacks, having compiled 20 touchdown passes on the season (to 9 interceptions), and he has the lowest passing yardage total of the three with 2,492 yards. If the season ended today, Wilson would have the Seahawks in the playoffs.
So, of the "big three" rookie quarterbacks in the NFL this 2012 season. . .and remember, the Vikings have seen (and lost) to them all. . .which do you think is having the most impressive rookie season?