Name a few QB's who had a slow start and blew up late season...?

Question

I'm just interested to know some QBs (any season, any time period) who started off slow (say week 1 - 7, give or take) and blew up beyond that and had a stellar year.

If you could help me that would be extremely excellent. I have a bet with someone who said he can't name one QB who started slow and later blew up.

Thanks,

-Jamie

Answer 1

lienart came on strong last year after that dissapointing loss to the bears

jp losman is always under the radar but he had a good second half as well

jeff garcia you can make a case for because he had a great second half, considering he was on the bench the first half

Answer 2

It is more common for QBs to have better first halfs than second halfs (or at least you certainl hear about it more). This makes sense as the wear of a football season has to be immense.

My first thought was Alex Smith from last year, but this proved to be wrong. My next thought was JP Losman (Bills) from last year and this one proved to be right. Losman threw 7 TDs and 6 INTs in the first half and 12 TDs and 8 INTs in the second half. The passing yard numbers seem to be up too, but it's kind of close.

Generally, think of teams that have performed better in the second half or have young offenses and you may come across some other examples. Both of these things fit the bill for the Bills.

EDIT - Carson Palmer seems to work from last year as well.

Answer 3

I don't think the 49ers knew they had the best QB in history and 4 Super Bowls in their future when they drafted Joe Montana back in '79...Currently, Tom Brady was not very heralded out of Michigan when the Patriots drafted him back in 2000...They figured he would be a solid backup to Drew Bledsoe...Then Bledsoe got injured, and Tom Brady has 3 Super Bowls and counting...Matt Leinhart is coming on strong for the Cardinals now...but they still need to put a team around him...Vince Young, Rookie of the Year last year...Steve McNair came on strong in the second half of last season, until the playoffs...

Answer 4

I'll have to add my support to JP. Not only did he get better statistically, he also lead the team from behind for victories against the Texans and Jaguars. Not exactly the class of the NFL, to be sure, but no one starts with stuff like "The Drive." I'd also like to point out that a young, athletic QB with a lot of potential who is beginning to prove he belongs under center is easily top 20 material...

Answer 5

gabe.encinas: How do you figure Matt Leinart had a bad start with the Bears? If anything I think that was the best game he had last season. He didn't do anything wrong, Neil Rackers is the one who lost them the game, Leinart got him into range for what should have been a chip shot but Rackers shanked it.

Tom Brady always starts slow but then explodes a few games into the season. Its just the way he plays I guess.

Answer 6

I'd say Drew Brees this past year. In his first 6 games only had two/300 yard games and three games below 200 yards also 8 td's and 4 int's, not stellar. His last 8 games, he had 6 games over 300 yards and one game over 500 yards passing, 18 td's and 7 int's quite an improvement.

Answer 7

wow this is a great question... let's see
i know in 2005 Miami Dolphins started out 3-7 and won their last 6 games to finish 9-7. the QB was Gus Frerotte.
can't think of any one else

Answer 8

Well for one and there are many, Terry Bradshaw. He only won one game his first season, and was labeled the dumbest
QB in the NFL. Lo and behold he went on to win 4 superbowl
rings. Go figure.

Answer 9

Carson Palmer in his 2nd or 3rd year, where he started out slow and slowly developed chemistry with his receivers and exploded to an amazing finish and was layer of like the last month or somethin like that...

Answer 10

Drew Brees had a rocky start, but ended up bringing the Saints to the NFC Championship game.

We've never gone to one before!