Whither Callahan?

[SMBASS]

I'd put Callahan out there just to find out if either one of them is worth keeping around next year or if I need to start the entire backup process over again. You really have no idea what someone is made of until you put them in a game situation. Callahan has been in the system long enough that you should be able to run a decent sized chunk of the offense and he actually didn't look too bad in some exhibition games.

This is a far-fetched example, but nobody ever though Brady was going to amount to anything except a 6th Rd. potentially competent backup until Bledsoe got hurt and he had an opportunity to show what he was capable of doing in a game. If Callahan bombs BFD. He wouldn't be the first or last brutally terrible backup or even starter we've had in GB. I just haven't seen anything out of Hundley that would make me want to invest much more time into him and it's not like we're going anywhere this year anyways.

[bobblehead]

Yep. Paraphrasing others and adding my own bit: Find out which QB should be the back up next season. I feel safe saying it shouldn't be Hundley. If Callahan isn't better we need to know it now so we can sign Josh McCown or some other 40 yo veteran QB. If you are so sure that he isn't better than Hundley then put him back on the practice squad, you are wasting a roster spot.

Very few QBs would still be starters with the 3 games Hundley has put in so far.

[call_me_ishmael]

Does it make a difference? Probably not. I think we've seen that Hundley isn't a tradeable asset might as well keep playing him and complete the tank job to get some pass rushing talent on this team.

[mraynrand]

Very few QBs would still be starters with the 3 games Hundley has put in so far.

true, but they might be back-ups

[pbmax]

Hundley starting is a win-win.

You want to tank and get a better pick? Start Hundley - Win

You want to develop a young player and see if they can make it? Start Hundley - Win

Callahan can have his shot in five years when a Lion breaks Rodgers collarbone next.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Hundley starting is a win-win.

You want to tank and get a better pick? Start Hundley - Win

You want to develop a young player and see if they can make it? Start Hundley - Win

Callahan can have his shot in five years when a Lion breaks Rodgers collarbone next.

Sounds more like a lose-lose thing to me. Lose games, lose the season. Unless you believe Hundley will do neither. Is that what you believe?

[pbmax]

Sounds more like a lose-lose thing to me. Lose games, lose the season. Unless you believe Hundley will do neither. Is that what you believe?

Do you really think Callahan gets you to the playoffs?

I think there is a remote, outside shot Hundley and McCarthy figure something out and win a few games. I have even less certainty about Callahan. Maybe Callahan can run the current close to ARod version of this offense better, but he didn't look fantastic in preseason either.

If remote are the best odds they have, then the best info is whether Hundley can play. Callahan is a secondary consideration that can be made later.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Do you really think Callahan gets you to the playoffs?

I think there is a remote, outside shot Hundley and McCarthy figure something out and win a few games. I have even less certainty about Callahan. Maybe Callahan can run the current close to ARod version of this offense better, but he didn't look fantastic in preseason either.

If remote are the best odds they have, then the best info is whether Hundley can play. Callahan is a secondary consideration that can be made later.

This isn't about Callahan getting us into the playoffs. It's about Hundley. It's about the rest of this year and next year.

As I see it, the best case scenario is that Hundley loses his bad habits and bad instincts and the Pack eeks out a couple wins to get into the playoffs. Arod comes back and we repeat the 2010 season.

What are the odds of that happening? Probably zero.

A more likely scenario is Hundley finishes out the season and maybe eeks out a win against the Browns. He flashes signs of ability, maybe even brilliance. Hell, Flynn set records against Detroit one year.

If that likely scenario happens, where are we with regard to 2018? Same place we are now.

Odds are they won't hang on to Hundley, who by the season's end will be a known quantity, and Callahan will continue to be an unknown quantity. Odds are he'll be gone too and next year we'll go into the season with some drafted rookie as backup. Or at best, Hundley, if we don't get rid of him.

And in the meantime we suffer through more games like yesterday's.

I've got to hand it to the Vikes. Bridgewater went down and they went out and got Bradford. Bradford goes down and they went out and got Keenum. We stand pat.

The Viking game plan puts them into the playoffs and maybe the Super Bowl.

Us????

[pbmax]

They just didn't get Keenum. They got a whole new offense. Rebuilt the line, finally hit on drafting receivers and replaced Peterson with a top player.

You seem to be convinced that Hundley will never develop and the need to get on with evaluation of Callahan. I believe in Callahan less than Hundley, but regardless, there is less time with BH and more time for Callahan. Need to decide on Hundley with more than 4 games of info.

M3 has got to stop game planning and install an offense he can run.

And not laying this on Maxie, who has not made this point, this is the reason most teams have no excuse for not hiring Kaepernick. The offense will change regardless.

[mraynrand]

I hate to always harp on the injuries and circumstances but it’s hard to install an offense when the evil traitorous TE bolted two running backs get hurt and the tackle - at least on one side is marginal.

The exact O you (Stubbers) wants to run is killed by those problems, not to mention Hundley’s hesitancy.

[mraynrand]

I guess the Vikings are the team building strategy du jour.

[pbmax]

I hate to always harp on the injuries and circumstances but it’s hard to install an offense when the evil traitorous TE bolted two running backs get hurt and the tackle - at least on one side is marginal.

The exact O you (Stubbers) wants to run is killed by those problems, not to mention Hundley’s hesitancy.

Sure, it doesn't help. But right now those right tackles are worse in pass pro than run blocking. Or perhaps, there is less risk to the franchise if they blow run blocks than pass blocks.

Losing your blocking TE doesn't help either, but there are adjustments and two FBs, at least one of which can catch a pass.

But what really makes me wonder is that the Ravens have had trouble with the run. Sure they got one run stuffer back, but they aren't as effective as they are heavy. Williams found some room even as his average wasn't great. Inside the tackles he normally got his three yards and started off a bit better.

So I get expecting the Ravens to commit to stopping the run and hoping to force Hundley to throw. But realizing that is their strategy shouldn't cause you to give in to it immediately. That is the time to vary when you pass (first down) and when you run to go against tendencies. Running no huddle and not letting the Ravens get the pass rushers out there was nice, but it wasn't enough.

[Maxie the Taxi]

You'd guess wrong, Rand. Just throwing shit against the wall to see what sticks. So, if you were the Vikes you would have promoted Kyle Sloter to the #1 QB when Bradford went down instead of going shopping for a Keenum?

As far as injuries and player losses, welcome to the NFL. Minnesota is the poster child for that, Dallas isn't far behind. Look at Miami. Fix it Stubby!!! We impatient fans demand action now! I'm mad as hell and I ain't going to take this anymore!!!!

hahahahaha

[mraynrand]

I think if the Packer thought Rodgers was going to be a question mark to return they would go shopping or recruiting in the off season too. They had a lot of holes to fill this offseason. Upgrading backup QB prob wasn’t as high on the list.

[Maxie the Taxi]

They just didn't get Keenum. They got a whole new offense. Rebuilt the line, finally hit on drafting receivers and replaced Peterson with a top player.

Your coming awful close there, pb, to endorsing free agent signing.

Minnesota replaced Shaun Hill (who might look good on our roster right now) with Case Keenum; Jake Long with Riley Reiff, signed Latavius Murray and four others.

Did I mention they're prospects this year in the NFL are exactly the opposite of ours?

They got Keenum on March 31 of this year which makes the Vikings look smart right now and us stupid. When Bradford went down the Vikings had an experienced QB in the well. When Rodgers went down we had two backup QB's neither of whom had played a down in the NFL.