Four Downs with Stock (Dang) & Doc
by Brian Davis and Paul Hopkins
20/6/2009
This week Dang and Doc look at the QB's under threat – and with that in mind consider who would win from an Alex Smith – Vince Young trade. Elsewhere, what does Brandon Marshall requesting a trade tell us about Denver and the boys close out considering the rookie wide receivers' likely impact in 2009.
 Which QB most need to start out the season winning to keep their job?
DANG – TAVARIS JACKSON - There's 4 main Quarterback battles that I'm currently looking at, but the biggest for me and the one which can have the most impact on one teams season, could prove to be the difference between being a potential Super Bowl winning team, to one who may not make the playoffs is at Minnesota. The main factor in whether the Vikings progress or fail, will come down to Head Coach Brad Childress and current incumbent of the starting role, Tavaris Jackson, but he's already under threat following Sage Rosenfals' arrival in free agency, yet they both have the threat of Brett Favre hanging over them. For me, Jackson is the right man in Minnesota and Sage is ample backup, I'd put money on the Vikings going to the post season with a full season of Jackson at Quarterback as opposed to starting with Sage or bringing a certain Mr Favre out of another retirement that I'm already to sick to death of. Childress pulled Jackson out of the starting line-up too early last season, a decision which I don't believe he'll be so hasty to make this season should the Vikings start slowly. Jackson wasn't as bad as people made him out to be and was vastly improved in the second half of the season when he earned his place back, ok, so the Eagles playoff game didn't go to plan, but that Eagles defence is a pretty tasty one. If he can take that next step up in 2009 then this team could go all the way. It's up to Childress to work out how he can use Jackson more effectively to keep opposition defences honest and from stacking the box against Adrian Peterson.
DOC – JAMARCUS RUSSELL - It's a little early to be considering this ahead of camp as there are some intriguing battles ahead – in places like Denver, Cleveland and Tampa Bay (and dare I suggest Minnesota?) and whoever wins out the battles in these places will need to pull their finger out early otherwise they'll be forced to look over their shoulder. But instead I'm going for JaMarcus Russell. Of course, playing in the perpetual mess that is Oakland is not exactly the easiest place at the best of times but it's about time Russell delivered on his undoubted potential. Everything has now been put in place for him to achieve. He has the stud RB. He has the speedy wide outs for the deep ball, but now he has Jeff Garcia behind him and as much as Jeff probably isn't a good fit for how Al Davis wants his team to play if Russell doesn't kick on, the clamour for the NFL's perennial fill-in QB will grow.
 Who would an Alex Smith for Vince Young trade be a better deal for?
DANG – Whoever gets or keeps Alex Smith for me. The new coaching staff in San Francisco seems generally happy with Smith and they currently see him in contention for the starting job in the bay, at worst he's a backup who can be called upon at any given moment. Smith for me is the more accurate and stable Quarterback and can pass out of the pocket better than Vince Young, I believe he'll go on and prove his critics wrong, be it in or out of San Francisco. Mike Nolan dealt Smith an unfair hand in his time as head coach. Medical mix ups mis-diagnosing a shoulder injury picked up early in the 2007 season, to this day, still haunt Smith. Alex has more upside, despite being in the league for longer and if he wins the job in San Francisco he will be required to run a solid passing game, something which Vince Young can't manage as well. Sure Young can make plays with his feet and was a winner in the college game, but the 49ers need stability at Quarterback and either Smith or Hill will give them that next season. Vince Young will just create more problems on and off the field and a run first Quarterback is exactly what the 49ers don't need right now.
Smith has been keen to remain involved in the team, is on the sidelines most weekends and is still getting involved with the playbooks, this will again; hold him in good stead with the current Niners front office, along with his pay reduction he recently negotiated with the team.
DOC – SAN FRANCISCO – Easily, even without my bias for all things Vince. Alex Smith has shown precious little since entering the league whereas Vince has demonstrated his tremendous potential but also his frailties. Vince needs an arm round him, and always has. Mack Brown gave that to him at Texas and Mike Singletary understands the different approach needed for different players. I believe he would flourish under Singletary's tutelage. Smith on the other hand, probably needs a fresh start to try and make a successful NFL career for himself. That being said, both may fit more into the mooted respective teams. Young never really fit into Jeff Fisher and the Titans' style and Smith has done nothing but struggle on the west coast. It may be a very balanced trade but if it happened and you asked me who would do better, I'll plump for VY.
 With Brandon Marshall now demanding a trade, the Denver Broncos should be considering Josh McDaniels' position already.
DANG – FACT ! - Come back Mike Shanahan, all is forgiven. Josh McDaniel must now be in one of the hottest seats in the US of A. This isn't the first time I've been concerned about the Broncos since the turn of the year, infact, this will be the 4th! Firstly: In came Mike Nolan as Defensive Coordinator. Secondly, Jay Cutler was traded away. Thirdly: only 1 front 7 players addressed in the draft for a team changing from a 4-3 to a 3-4 which is unlikely to be enough to make a successful transition in one off season. Fourthly: Brandon Marshall now reportedly wants to be traded. Denver are in a real mess and lucky that they are in a weak division as a few wins may save McDaniels bacon for another year if they come somewhere near .500
DOC – FACT ! – How can they not? Pat Bowlen must be wondering what on earth possessed him to remove his Hall of Fame Coach now that his team are on the verge of driving out their other best player in the matter of two months. Unlike Cutler, Marshall's desire to leave may not be all of McDaniels' instigation but would either of them have wanted to leave if Shanahan had still been there? Very much doubt it. Would this have happened under another new Head Coach? Implausible. The downfall of the Broncos in the last few months comes from the imposition of this man as Head Coach; there is simply no other cause. Whether Bowlen shares the blame for the situation is not in question, he as owner is harder to remove than a coach. And you can bet that McDaniels' seat is red hot right now.
 Which rookie receiver do you see having the biggest impact this season?
DANG – It's a great question and tougher to answer than the Rookie Running Back debate we had a while back. I can put up a good argument for several of this years rookies, Crabtree, Nicks, Harvin, Robiskie and Iglesias all have massive upsides and will be impact players in 2009, but based on what McNabb did with DeSean Jackson last year then I have to say JEREMY MACLIN. If Westbrook stays fit next year, this offense could be one of the most explosive the NFL has seen in recent times, therefore, you have to like Maclin to have an immediate and large impact.
Defences are going to be looking at double coverage towards Jackson, leaving Curtis and Maclin with single cover, with Maclin's speed, vision and playmaking ability you have to love that possibility, he'll probably see some time on Kick Returning duties as well and that will only add to his impact value.
I don't think we'll see a 1000 yard season from any of them, but in three to four years time, this could be one of the best classes of receivers coming into the NFL.
DOC – JEREMY MACLIN – Maclin gets the nod from me not because of what I think he will give the Eagles at the wide out position because I don't believe he'll have a better season than DeSean Jackson did in 2008 but because in the return game I expect him to be explosive, delivering highlight reel plays that tip the balance of Eagles games (which tend to be close) in their favour. In terms of pure receiver play I don't think you can look beyond Michael Crabtree – easily the best receiver in the draft who probably won't dominate like many think he will, but he will deliver. And then there's poor Darrius Heyward-Bey.
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