The NFL training camp starts winding down and the Detroit Lions have decided to let backup QB Tim Boyle go and keep David Blough as the sole backup to starter Jared Goff. Okay, I said it. Done deal, right? Well, the problem is that head coach Dan Campbell had to pick the “lesser of two evils” in this situation and while I’m not implying that either player is evil, the Lions have little choices on their current roster to fill the QB room this season.
The Lions need to take a hard look at their own QB roster.
However, today is the NFL-wide final roster cut day and there are plenty of quality quarterbacks available to join the Lions roster or the practice squad. Let’s face it, neither Blough nor Boyle inspired any real confidence in the preseason and with the inclination of starting QB’s going down at alarming rates by mid-season with serious injuries, the Lions need a reliable backup who can step in without missing a beat and inspire this team to keep moving forward.
Most backup QB’s receive only a few reps each week in practice; in reality, the third string QB may only receive “mental” reps which certainly doesn’t adequately prepare you for stepping into an NFL game against a quality opponent on a Sunday afternoon. David Blough doesn’t seem to be ‘that guy” who can carry this team to multiple victories just in case Jared Goff goes down with an injury. I may be wrong and I may be just an old high school football coach but running offenses before I can tell you – right guy, you’re going to win; wrong guy, big time losses will start piling up.
Should the Lions start looking for another backup QB?
I cannot fathom that the Lions aren’t looking for possible backup quarterbacks right now. Given the plethora of available players cut from other NFL rosters, the Lions have plenty of choices from unemployed QB’s. One of my favorite QB’s recently cut is Chris Streveler who was just released by the New York Jets. The Jets may well pay for this decision or decide to keep Streveler on their practice squad but all this young man do is help the Jets with three consecutive come-from-behind victories in the preseason to finish undefeated. Again, being undefeated means nothing in the preseason – remember the 2008 Lions? They were undefeated in the preseason and went 0-16 in the regular season.
Chris Streveler helped orchestrate three straight victories and looked in total control of the Jets offense during his preseason playing time. Streveler led the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to win the CFL Grey Cup in 2018, largely with come-from-behind victories. A QB like Streveler knows how to win and could sign a contract quickly and cheaply with the Lions. The Lions need to look at all of their options when deciding who will back up Jared Goff this season. As things like right now, Chris Streveler is ready to go at a moment’s notice.