Yesterday, the Packers signed QB Brett Hundley. Most of the Packers blogosphere, fans, and the national news media expect this to be the last we hear of the kid (as far as regular season gameplay) until he is traded or moves on. The timeline is not quite right for Hundley to be a successor to Aaron Rogers and the kid has way too much still to prove. While I agree that Hundley, though not entirely developmental, is largely so…I would like to see him on the field….with Aaron Rodgers.
The two things I like most about Mike McCarthy are 1. He is a great organizer/manager (so important to his job as head coach), and 2. He is willing to think outside the box. Let’s take a closer look at number two for a minute.
Mike McCarthy doesn’t think of players by position as much as by skill set, body type, and ability. And when he sees an opportunity, he is willing to think outside the box. Case in point: how many were expecting BJ Raji to trot out onto the field on offense in 2010? McCarthy saw a body type he liked and did not hesitate to employ it when the opportunity for success arose. McCarthy has shown this through his early cross-training of the TE/FB position and while we have had less and less need for this as Ted Thompson has developed this team, if McCarthy sees an opportunity, I would not be surprised if he takes it. Enter Brett Hundley.
At 6’3″ and 226 pounds, Hundley was the top performing quarterback in virtually every drill at the 
Combine. The only problem is that he’s not that good of a quarterback…not yet anyway. McCarthy and the Packers brass are obviously excited to have a kid with those kind of measurables to mold into a quarterback though and, depending on how he develops, I would not be surprised to see him take the field in a couple years. If the kid develops, I just imagine McCarthy’s gears churning up two quarterback sets that have never been seen before in the NFL. And I am not talking about gimmick plays here. McCarthy is also a genius at sequencing the use of his out of the box thinking and rolling it out when it is needed. Just imagine if the Packers hurry-up offense lands the Pack in the redzone and freezes the defensive set. Then with one quick substitution, the Packers have a 4 WR set with Brett Hundley in the backfield in pistol formation next to Rodgers…or at H-back…or split out. If I was on defense, while I was glad I didn’t have to worry about Eddie Lacy, it would be a WTF moment. Such moments are at a premium in the NFL and with both Rodgers and Hundley dangerous on the ground and through the air…it could get interesting.
The kid’s got a long way to go to prove that he belongs, much less that he can be the second behind Aaron Rodgers. He is certainly far away from any play other than preseason. But I love that he is a “football nerd” and seems to be a hard worker and I just wonder what Mike McCarthy might begin to dream up if this kid develops under he and Aaron’s tutelage. I think if McCarthy is willing to think outside the box…we might see Hundley a time or two, and we might be treated to some ground-breaking football.
Go Pack!
It’s an interesting notion, but a pretty big risk. You’re exposing 2 QBs to greater risk of injury. Whichever isn’t on the ball is going to have to block, right? If not, it’s a waste of a body.
For sure, Sam. I would weight any non-quarterback activities toward Hundley and minimize blocking responsibilities by the plays themselves. Aaron should never have to block. With Hundley it could be a risk but the reward could be worth it to get him on the field if he proves to be a threat. I would like to see it for Hundley’s sake because even though there is a risk, it would build his resume even if he didn’t stay with the Packers. Definitely something that would need McCarthy’s input to minimize the risk but I would hope he is considering it..again…IF the kid grows into a weapon that would otherwise stand on the sidelines. I am also assuming Tolzien is still in the mix so that we have a backup if Hunley gets dinged. Thanks for for the input and a great point.
Hmm…You have Lacy, Jordy, Cobb, Richard Rodgers and Adams/Montgomery on the field for Rodgers to use. I think MM can scheme all he needs with that group! I doubt they spend much time with two QB sets.
The want to develop Hundley and have him ready to win a football game if needed by the 2016 season. They were burned by the back-up situation two years ago and Flynn almost certainly would have blown the Detroit game if Rodgers had not made it back to the field. They are just making it a priority to get better at the back-up QB position.
I also think they soured on Tolzien as he couldn’t even beat out Flynn last year after an entire season. They need a QB that can do more then hold a clip board. They need a guy that can go in and finish a game or be competitive if he has to start a few games. I think they see that possibility in Hundley. Mobile QB’s have some advantages in that regard as they don’t get many snaps with the first team and things are always breaking down for the backup.
This next year will be a red-shirt year and then they will hopefully have three years with a quality cheap back-up with the ability to actually save a season if Rodgers misses time again.
Everyone seems to think Rodgers will play another 8 years or so, including myself, but stop and think. What is the average age for most QB’s to fade away or retire? Mid 30’s? Rodgers is 31, and that’s the ones that are worthy of a career that long, granted Rodgers is on top of the list but what about what he thinks? Has he told Thompson/McCarthy maybe they need to start looking for his replacement since he may decide to retire in 5 years? Who knows? I don’t, So I would rather they start now looking for our next Favre/Rodgers instead of waiting for Aaron to either retire or have a career ending injury, this is football anything can happen!