Do you think that Petrino will be allowed to name Matt Schaub as his starter this year?

Question

I think Matt Schaub has waited long enough to become Atlanta's starting QB. Michael Vick is just not getting the job done. After witnessing his total incompetence against Carolina in Atlanta and Mora not taking him out in favor of Schaub told me that Arthur Blank is making coaches play Vick because they overpay him. I know that I, as a fan, go to see the Falcons win. Seeing Vick self-destuct before my eyes tells me that he can never bring a Super Bowl title to Atlanta. I wonder if Petrino will be allowed to play the best QB Atlanta has, and that is Matt Schaub, not Michael Vick. I was hoping the Oakland trade rumor was going to happen so the Falcons could draft Calvin Johnson, but they say Vick is the QB. i am tired of paying my hard earned money to see the Falcons only to become infuriated with the inept play of Michael Vick when there is a better man for the job in Atlanta in Schaub. I just hope they don't lose him and he becoming another Brett Favre who once was a Falcon, too.

Answer 1

I like Matt Schaub but I don't think Petrino could or would name him his starter. The Falcons have already invested so much into Vick. I also think the Falcons will not use another 1st round pick on a WR since they haven't had success with doing that. They need a Veteran WR with a proven record. I think they will draft a safety like LaRon Landry or Reggie Nelson to improve there pass defense which got burned last year

Answer 2

This is my thing. You're one of the few Falcons fans that I have encountered (especially on here) that isn't still in love with Michael Vick. So obviously, to keep butts in the seats the Falcons are going to continue to play Vick until he makes himself look so God awful that the fans don't want him anymore.

And I think that's exactly what's going to happen this season.

If you'll remember when they first hired on Petrino, there was all this talk about giving him "control" of the team. Petrino likes a QB that can throw the ball. Being a Louisville Football fan that's watched Petrino in his whole tenure there I can tell you Vick will implode in his system. After a few games of horrible Vick performances Petrino will start playing Schaub. My guess is Schaub will be relatively successful and then you'll see the shift in fans that want to get rid of Vick. But the Falcons organization won't do it without complete support from the fans because they don't want to run into the whole "because he was black" scenario. It's already been brought up in a few articles I've seen with football outsiders, so they have to be super careful about how they go about it without it turning into a race relations war.

And if for some reason Schaub playing doesn't pan out, the organization will ditch Petrino because he was the one that "had control" and made the decision.

I know it sucks because it's at the expense of your team. I'm a Buccaneers fan so I TOTALLY understand.

Answer 3

i'll answer each thing you brought up one at a time...

schaub has waited long enough to become a starter, but he has not been particularly impressive as a replacement when vick gets hurt

vick is incompetent 80% of the time as a QB, and the caoches aren't necessarily forced to play him by arthur blank, but that they feel his talent is too much to keep off the field

vick will not bring a super bowl to atlanta or anywhere else he may go, because he makes everyone around him worse, not better...this is because coaching staffs are forced to do some "special" things for him because he does have talent and athletic ability(that he doesn't use effectively)

petrino is a great offensive coach, and will find ways to make vick better, but not good enough to be a championship QB

i think the favre comparison is inappropriate only because vick has seen significant playing time in atlanta for years now, while favre was never really more than a backup

Answer 4

Petrino will start Vick, no question about it. Petrino will give a full season to assess Vick. Not only does ownership want Vick, his contract is so huge and untradable that the Falcons have to keep him.

If Vick fails this upcoming season, Petrino might go with Matt Schaub but I think Vick's talent is so tantalizing that Schaub will probably be traded or leave via free agency in the future.

Answer 5

Strange how you posted this question after the Falcons stated they will put Schuab on the trade block. He only has a year left on his contract and as such good trade bait, the Falcons can most likely acquire a second or third round pick in the upcoming draft.

But hypothetically, Schuab is much overrated. He played in a dozen games against mediocre teams, see how he does after he plays a full season. He's a backup and teams don't really prepare for him the way they do for Vick. Whenever he takes the field in Vick's absences, he has a bonus of playing a team that is not suited for him. An example of the importance of preparation, Tony Romo. After his first lost against the Saints, other teams knew how to beat him and he went on a 5 game losing streak.

Answer 6

The Falcons have to keep Vick because of salary cap numbers (if they cut him, he still costs them something like 22 million and no one will absorb that kind of salary cap hit to trade for him), and he won't play another position (think of Vick as a slot back... very dangerous). So Petrino is stuck trying to make him a quarterback. I personally believe that with their running game and their defense, the Falcons can win with Vick. They should add a better vertical receiving threat to take advantage of Vick's arm

Answer 7

You are right, Vick will never win a Super Bowl with Atlanta and he is overpaid. But why in the hell do you think Matt Schaub, some kid who's thrown something like 5 passes in his entire NFL career, is gonna be able to come in right away and lead you guys to a Super Bowl.

Answer 8

Matt Schaub for sure. He has the #a million receiver from very last year and a respectable #2 receiver and a sturdy tight end. operating recreation is likewise getting extra useful that could also help out the passing recreation.

Answer 9

The real underlining problem is that ATL is paying Vick way too much money to bench him. Even if Shaub is better, for monetary reasons, they cannot bench Vick. No one else will pick up his salary so a trade is next to impossible, but whether or not Shaub deserves it he will never get that chance in ATL unless Vick gets injured.

Answer 10

probably not, like you said, they overpay vick and yet he doesn't produce. sure he might have a game or two that he plays well, but he isn't consistent. i think shaub is a great qb. but if you over pay somebody, wouldn't you want to play the hell out of him???