With OTAs over and training camps beginning, there are several teams who are not sure who will be under center week one. They will use the next month of camps and preseason games to find their guy. This is how I see it playing out for the Browns, Vikings, Raiders, and Jets.
Browns: Brian Hoyer vs. Johnny Manziel
Projected winner- Brian Hoyer
Brian Hoyer has outplayed Manziel in OTAs and training camp so far and I imagine that this will continue through the preseason. Browns GM Ray Farmer was quoted saying Hoyer was “phenomenal” during training camp. I’m a huge Manziel fan and he is the future of the Browns franchise but right now Hoyer is their guy. I expect that Manziel will take over the starting job at some point this year because without Josh Gordon I don’t expect Hoyer to be able to shoulder the load for an entire season. Manziel will get the job because he has the dual threat ability that this team will need at some point in the second half of the season.
Projected QB switch: Week 11 vs. Texans
Vikings: Matt Cassel vs. Teddy Bridgewater vs. Christian Ponder
Projected Winner: Teddy Bridgewater
The Vikings know what they have in Christian Ponder and it’s not good. This is really a fight between Cassel and Bridgewater. All of the early reports from OTAs and training camp have been in favor of Cassel but he is 32 years old and isn’t getting any younger. It makes more sense to play Bridgewater now while the team can depend on Adrian Peterson to carry the load. If the team waits a year or two to play Bridgewater there is no guarantee Peterson can take the pressure off him.
Projected QB Switch: None
Oakland Raiders: Matt Schaub vs. Derek Carr
Projected Winner: Matt Schaub
The Raiders went out and signed Schaub with the intention of making him their starter. Carr has impressed so far in OTAs and training camps but the coaching staff wants to see what Schaub has left before sending him to the bench. Unless Schaub comes out and blows everyone away I imagine by week 16 Carr will be the starter who they begin to build around for 2016.
Projected QB switch: Week 11 vs. Chargers
New York Jets: Geno Smith vs. Michael Vick
Projected Winner: Geno Smith
This is a do or die year for Rex Ryan as the head coach of the Jets. Geno Smith will be the starter week one but I don’t think he will last long. Vick still has something left in the tank and I think Rex Ryan’s need to win will force him back into a starting role early on in 2014. This QB battle will go back and forth all year as the team continues to lose. Side Prediction- Jets finish sub .500 and Rex Ryan is out of a job.
Projected QB switch: Week 5 vs. Chargers, switch back to Geno Week 12 vs. Bills.
Two other teams to keep an eye on as the season progresses are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Josh McCown struggles early they could switch to second year QB Mike Glennon. McCown has all the weapons in the world in Tampa so if he struggles the blame can only fall on his shoulders. In Jacksonville it is not a hard thing to imagine that Chad Henne may struggle early and often so top rookie QB Blake Bortles could end up in the starting lineup at any time.
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