Dionysus22
Waterboy
CBS SPORTSLINE said:At this time of the year, we're always looking for the NFL team that might be ready to make the big leap, perhaps even that Super leap.
In studying potential candidates, the focus almost always moves to the quarterback. As we have said in this space for the past four years, a good one can cure a lot of ills. Without one, you're in trouble.
Kyle Boller has been given more weapons on offense in Baltimore. (Getty Images)
There have been exceptions, but those teams (see the 2002 Baltimore Ravens) had to play extraordinary defense.
The 2004 playoffs were proof of the value of having a good quarterback. The final eight teams included a who's-who of quarterbacks, New England's Tom Brady, Indianapolis' Peyton Manning, Atlanta's Michael Vick and Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb among them.
If you have issues at quarterback, postseason play is almost always a fantasy. With that in mind, we thought it a good time to take a look at five quarterbacks who must take a big step forward for their teams to have a Super chance in 2005.
The five: Aaron Brooks of the Saints, Kyle Boller of the Ravens, Byron Leftwich of the Jaguars, David Carr of the Texans and J.P. Losman of the Bills.
Every pass they throw this offseason is being scrutinized, coaches and teammates gauging how far they have come and how much work they have left to do. When training camp opens in July, fans and the media will jump in line, too -- their assessments probably a lot more biting.
The quarterback who makes the biggest leap just might get his team -- all non-playoff teams from last season -- deep into the postseason.
Those who falter could put heat on their coaching staffs and open up the chance there could be a quarterback controversy, whether it involves a capable backup or fans' outcry about blowing a high first-round draft pick.
Good passers are vital to Super Bowl success. Do these five have what it takes for that to be reality?
Check back in December. By then, we'll have our answers.
David Carr, Texans
There is a perception in Houston that maybe Carr isn't the guy the Texans thought he would become when they used the top pick on him in 2002. The Texans don't believe that at all.
"That's absurd," Texans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer said. "David is making the strides we expected him to make."
In his first two seasons, Carr took a beating. Playing behind a bad offensive line, he was hit and sacked way too many times, setting a sacks record (76) in his rookie season.
Carr had his best season in 2004, completing 61.2 percent of his passes while throwing for a career-best 3,531 yards. He threw more touchdown passes (16) than interceptions (14) for the first time. That number has to get better in 2005, as does his passer rating, which is still too low at 83.5 (that was up significantly from his 69.5 in 2003).
Carr has all the tools to become a Pro Bowl-type passer. With Andre Johnson as his top weapon, look for those two to become a dominant passing duo.
If the offense continues to improve as it did in 2004, the Texans could be on their way to pushing for a playoff spot.
With all of this recent hoopla about us...should we start believing the hype?