With Sam Bradford out for the season the Rams turn to Shaun Hill at quarterback. While teams never want to have to depend on a back up quarterback, it is important to have a reliable option in case of emergency. So who has the best clipboard holders in the NFL? Here’s the top 10 (NOTE: Rookies were not included):
- Kirk Cousins WAS
He struggled at the end of last season when he was able to start the final three games for the “injured” Robert Griffin III. However that may have been more of a consequence of playing under a coach who had lost his team than a reflection of Cousins’ talent.
- Mike Glennon TB
Last season as a rookie Glennon stepped into the starting quarterback role for Josh Freeman who was given the boot. In 13 games he threw for 2,608 yards, 19 TDs and only 9 INTs.
- Shaun Hill STL
Hill will be the starting quarterback when the season opens due to an injury to Sam Bradford, but since he is still technically a backup he makes the list. When he was with the 49ers and Lions he was asked to step in for injured quarterbacks 23 times and has held down the fort with a respectable QB Rating of 81; 16 TDs and 12 INTs.
- Matt Hasselbeck IND
Entering his 16th season there is not much that opposing defenses can throw at Hasselbeck that he hasn’t seen before. His skills have diminished but his experience will ensure that he doesn’t make any mistakes if asked to step in for Andrew Luck.
- Jason Campbell CIN
Campbell had a lot of bad luck in his NFL career. In Washington he had to learn new offenses seemingly every season and when things were starting to look up for him in Oakland his season was cut short due to an injury. Last year he was one of the Browns’ three starting quarterbacks and performed well throwing for 223 yards per game and 11 TDs and 9 INTs.
- Michael Vick NYJ
Vick might find himself starting before the end of the 2014 season. Even at the age of 34 he is still a threat to run as well as pass.
- Matt Moore MIA
Moore has only had a few opportunities to show what he can do but he has made the most of them. In 2011 he was asked to start 12 games and he was able to rack up 2,497 passing yards and 16 TDs with an 87.1 quarterback rating.
- Kellen Clemens SD
Clemens stepped in for Sam Bradford last year and while he didn’t set the world on fire he was able to provide the Rams with consistent quarterback play. With a better supporting cast his numbers would have been better.
- Mark Sanchez PHI
Sanchez has gotten a bad reputation ever since his disaster of a season in 2012 in New York. People are quick to forget that he was good enough to lead the Jets deep into the post season twice.
10. Christian Ponder MIN
He is a disappointment in Minnesota because the Vikings wasted a first round pick on him. But as far as backups go Ponder can provide value. In 2012 when he played 16 games he threw for 2,935 yards, 18 TDs and 12 INTs for a QB Rating of 81.2. While those numbers aren’t going to put him in the Pro Bowl they are good enough for Ponder to be the number two option for a team
