Carolina Panthers: Best Backups in the Business?
The Carolina Panthers have enjoyed a recent run of success and part of that is because of the stability of the quarterback position.
The Carolina Panthers have had a big benefit during the entire Cam Newton era that we don’t really think about too much. A tool that can prevent a team from taking a step back should the worst results happen. That tool is the backup quarterback, Derek Anderson.
The Panthers franchise has had a common theme of surviving due to strong backup quarterback play. The team beat the 49ers in 1996 when Steve Beuerlein stepped into the pocket for an injured Kerry Collins. The 2003 Panthers had Rodney Peete on standby if something should happen. Matt Moore played his ball as a backup.
Then there has been Anderson. The former Browns quarterback was brought in as insurance for new quarterback Newton. Anderson has played a couple of games in the succeeding seasons. Most notably Anderson swept the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in two starts in 2014. Considering that team lived on a razor’s edge at the end of the season, those two wins made the difference. Ultimately they enabled the Panthers to win three straight division titles.
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Anderson’s capability has been recognized outside of Charlotte as well. Will Brinson of CBS Sports set up a metric to measure the value of backup quarterbacks in the league. Anderson and Joe Webb combined to finish fifth on the metric, but Brinson promoted them to first in his list anyway. Consistency and competence do account for something.
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Joe Webb was also part of that calculation. Webb is probably raring to go for the most prominent role he will have this season, preseason star. More so than Anderson, Webb is something of an exhibition sensation. He has commanded the third string offense for the Panthers to close or exciting finishes the last two years.
Of course Webb also does this while being an active member of the special teams unit. His wide receiver body almost put him on the Pro Bowl roster last year as the specialist. A few more votes and maybe we could get it done next year.
Next: Taking it to the NFL Street
A solid backup quarterback position is a necessity for sustained success in the NFL. Fortunately the Panthers have found themselves into a good one.