league, composure and decision making of a 15 year vet. Brooks is BEHIND Roeth when I think of the decisions he makes under pressure - and you can't say Brooks has faced tougher pass Ds than Roeth, who had Philly, NE, Buffalo, Miami, and the Ravens - twice - on his schedule this year.
Roethlisberger has not faced the kind of pressure Brooks did this year. I'm pretty sure if he had 3 blitzers in his face within half a second of taking the snap he'd be making some terrible decisions too, especially when he knew he didn't have the luxury of a defense that could hold the other team off the scoreboard while his offensive line got their act together.If you think I'm exaggerating how bad the offensive line was, I've got a few tapes I'll gladly send you.Also, as for the 20 points allowed stat, keep in mind, they weren't just allowing 20 points a game. They were allowing 26 points a game -- 5th worst in the NFL if I'm not mistaken. And they've been right around 26 or 27 PPG every year for the last four years.________________________________________________________________Is Brooks "great"? No. (Contrary to what certain people here would have you believe, I have never said he is great or perfect).But is he good enough to get the job done with a decent team around him? Absolutely. And that's been proven every time Haslett has been able to get the team to play well for any length of time (first 3/4 of 2001, first 3/4 of 2002, last four games of 2004).
ISF, we all know you think Aaron Brooks is a great QB. It's ok. We're just trying to put a little reason here amidst the insanity.You've talked about how bad their defense is; how it puts poor, victimized AB in tough situations, right? Or, are you denying that one now, too.Well, if you stand by your statement about the defense (a feat in and of itself), are you willing to call Trent Green a "great" QB, too? If you take the last 3 years, Kansas City has ranked in the bottom pool of defenses:2002: 242003: 302004: 28New Orleans has ranked as follows:2002: 172003: 212004: 26And, yet, by almost every measure Trent Green has outplayed BrooksGREEN ('02-'04):986 comp1549 att61.8 comp%12320 yards77 TDs42 INTs93 QB RatingBROOKS ('02-'04):898 comp1588 att56.4 comp%10928 yards72 TDs39 INTs82.8 QB RatingMore attempts by Brooks, less completions, less yards, less TDs, and a full 10 points lower in the QB rating. This, despite the fact that Brooks has had a better defense and better receivers at his disposal. Deuce isn't the second coming of Priest Holmes, but he ain't chicken scratch, either. Plus, Green has had to deal with Priest's injury situation, particularly this year. Back to Brooks, he plays the majority of his games indoors, so the weather variable can't be used as an excuse, either.Now, most folks would look at Green and not say he's a "great" quarterback. They'd say he's adequate--good even. Green would not say of himself that he's a "great" quarterback. And, he certainly hasn't gone to the media to stab his teammates in the back, to blame his defense and others on the Saints' woes. Brooks, on the other hand, having more to work with, has performed below Green over the last three years. So, what gives? Why is it that Green can overcome his team's deficiencies, whilst Brooks cannot? Maybe it is that Wonderlic score of 17 (administered 3 x). The guy is just a flat out idiot. A microcosm of this was seen just this year, throwing a forward pass...BEHIND him. Great quarterbacks do not make such egregiously-stupid decisions, and Brooks is the author of many a decisions like that.Blame it all on everyone else, ISF. We know how much you think of your boy. But, he just doesn't cut it. He's physically talented and has a door knob for a brain. Not ever going to be a "great" QB using that calculus. Sorry.