Playoffs or bust for these five QB’s
Even before the 2010 NFL season begins these five QB’s will face the pressure of making the NFL playoffs. Some more than others, and some of them have their coach’s jobs at stake as well. With that being said here are the five NFL QB’s, who must lead their teams to the playoffs or risk losing their gigs as their teams rebuild:
1. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans– Schaub led the NFL in passing yards in 2009, and led the Texas to a very respectable 9-7 record. He threw 29 TD passes, and completed 675 of his passes, now he and his team must take the next step and win 9-11 games and make their first appearance in the NFL playoffs. Matt will need to not throw INT’s in back to back games like he did in 2009. For the Texans the time is now.
2. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears– Cutler threw 26 INT’s in 2009, and now new Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz must find a way to make him into a better version of what he was with the Denver Broncos. Martz will not stand for poor play, and everyone’s job in Chicago is on the line.
3. David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars– He has done it before; in 2007 he led the Jags to the second round of the playoffs. Since then his performance has declined and now the Jags find themselves in a make or break situation. Make the playoffs and he and Head Coach Jack Del Rio keep their jobs, fail to make the playoffs get fired and watch the Jags move to Los Angeles.
4. Matt Leinart, Arizona Cardinals– They will have to adjust their focus from being a prolific passing attack, to being a more balanced offense that will allow Leinart to mature as a starter. He has the best receiving corps in the game, so the leash will be short, should he fail the Cardinals will be looking to draft a QB in the 2011 draft.
5. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers– The team found out he is their best QB, and now he must take the next step. This is a very good team that must continue to move forward. He must prove that he can handle the ball under center, and work towards becoming a more complete NFL QB. They play in a weak division, and they need to take advantage of that fact.
