Game Managers and Gunslingers
4 comments so far
June 12, 2007 by
If you haven’t heard this distinction before, it’s a good way to think about how different quarterbacks approach the game. Brad Johnson is an example of the classic game manager. He seldom excites anyone with his approach to football, but he’s won everywhere he goes. He makes sure his team is in the right play and then he executes the play. If pressure comes, he’s the first guy to check down and throw a quick pass to a running back, even if it’s a 7-yard pass on 3rd and 8. A game manager almost never loses you the game and can often out duel his opponent with superior patience.
Brett Favre on the other hand likes to be the hero. He doesn’t care if a guy is double-covered, he has the confidence that with his arm he can get the ball to his man. Even if it’s third and two, he thinks nothing of winging the ball 40 yards downfield. Favre out duels his opponent by making plays the other man doesn’t have the courage or ability to.
If Joe Ganz wins the starting job over Sam Keller it will likely be through superior game management. Ganz knows the offense better after his years in Lincoln and probably will make fewer mistakes in terms of X’s and O’s. Keller on the other hand will probably make more “homerun” plays downfield.
So who would you rather have? A guy like Favre who at his best is a league MVP and at his worst costing his team games by throwing pick after pick or a guy like Johnson who will l manage the game with patience. To me that answer lies with what’s around the quarterback. In 1994, the Huskers just needed Matt Turman to play a low-risk style game. Give me the 1994 offensive line, running backs and defense and I’ll take the game manager. In 2002, the only reason Nebraska had a shot against a team like Texas was the superb individual talent of Jammal Lord. The 2007 team might be somewhere between 1994 and 2002 in terms of what surrounds the NU quarterback. But unless we want to see another Alamo Bowl, Keller’s the man with the most upside. Maybe Ganz would be the safer play against Iowa State, but Keller’s the guy that can score the big upset. Which is why Keller is Nebraska’s best option for 2007.
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scott Jun 12 07
First of all great article. i agree with the breakdown, however, there is a third and much more rare type of quarterback who has both the arm and the game managing abilities (Elway, Marino, Peyton, Tom Brady). i think (maybe wishfully, but likely not) Keller will have a much better grasp of the offense by game one, and while Ganz may still be more fundametally sound within the system, Steve is right, Keller has more upside because of his arm strength and the big plays that can create. And with that arm strength and the knowledge he should have gained by fall, he has the *POTENTIAL* -i really stress that word- to be in that rare third group. I am not saying he will be the next great QB, i just think, for the above reasons, he could be.
'sa blang thang Jun 12 07
Even if Keller throws 3-5 picks in a game, he probably has the ability to offset that by throwing 3-5 tds pregame, and 400 passing yards. Ganz will be too green in terms of game experience, and therein lies the crux of the matter. If Ganz was a 3 year seasoned verteran on the field, I would say I don't mind the 'game manager style; as long as he has a proven winning record.
But with our schedule this year, we need someone with some field savvey already in place, someone who won't be totally intimidated by the USCs and TXs of the world. And Keller is that guy.
darren Jun 12 07
'sa blang - I gotta say that I can't live with a 3TD/3INT trade off. In my book, that almost always looks like an "L" at the end of the day.
Unforutately, Keller has had that kind of stat book-filling day (good and bad) against USC in the past, ending in defeat. Yikes.
I'm not saying Keller isn't the guy for NU. I'd pick him over Ganz tomorrow. But, Keller needs to resemble the MVP Farve who played under control more than the game-giving INT machine that Favre has been in more recent years.
Give me the gunslinger. THEN manage him. How is that for riding the fence?
'sa blang thang Jun 12 07
darren,
Couldn't agree more; I was somewhat exaggerating in my example, stating the x-treme. 4-5 INTs would surely mean L in most cases. BUT, Keller probably could git r dun, even with some picks--if those weren't for tds or too short a field. Our D will have more of an ability this year to take up some of the slack and cover for Keller's mistakes, should they occur. Our LB and DB corps are going to be very strong, and the DL and DEs won't be chopped liver either.
I think with his increased majurity this year he will be a more controlled, manageable player--AND be an extremely effective.
He gives us a great chance vs USC and TX, he's been there before, whereas Ganz might tend more toward the 'deer in the headlights' type thang in pressure situations and big games.
Everybody distinguishes Ganz from Keller rgdg. mobility, ability to run. But from what I saw in the SG, I actually think Keller is as good or better in that category too--with his feet.
Keller is more comfortable in the pocket. Ganz could develop with a season's worth of playing time as the starter and then be THE MAN a year hence, but unfortunately, I don't think that's ever going to happen, unless Keller gets injured.