For a player like Rhett Bomar, it is all about time and opportunity.
It is remarkable how the Giants could leave this rookie QB unprotected last season. You take a QB in Round 5 and then enable him to get snatched up 4 months later? Despite doing nothing wrong? He has a cannon arm (great for the wind of the Meadowlands) and he also has a very quick release.
People have been getting spoiled by the media. Crowning guys like Roethlisberger, Ryan, Flacco and Sanchez in their rookie years only creates the perception that QB maturation can/should be immediate. We know that is the exception. For guys like this who are fighting to get snaps, it is a process. After the first three games of 2009, Sanchez was looking like the next Dan Marino, and three weeks later he couldn’t even throw the ball away. Time and repetition are the only way they can get control of the myriad number of items they need to manage.
We know the pressures of 53 roster spots. One of the strengths of the Giant organization is their patience. The coaching staff was fortunate to get a second bite at the same apple by having their roster spot and not losing Bomar.
Listen to the tone of Bomar’s voice. He is in such a different place now. Give this lottery ticket a chance. If he makes little progress this camp, fine, cut him. But his real test will be if he can be THE backup in 2011. Do we have to remind people that Brady was a 6th round backup who could have been buried on depth charts if not for some circumstances FORCING him to be played?!! These types of players need time and opportunity. I am not equating Bomar’s skills to that of Brady’s. Merely, that QB is a position where a great deal of patience is required for most of these guys.
We’ll make a list of training camp items to look out for. Number one on that list is obviously the health and availability of Kenny Phillips. But somewhere further down that list will be the improvement of Bomar. While Bomar’s maturation will likely have little/nothing to do with the success or failure of the franchise in 2010, it will still nonetheless be an important item to watch next month.
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