This week I have decided to take a look at the young quarterbacks in the NFL.  After the first six weeks of the season, 10 quarterbacks have started a game with three years or less of NFL experience.  The decision to start young quarterbacks always starts a great debate.  Should the quarterback sit back and watch for a year or two and gain the experience from the sidelines, or should a quarterback be thrown into the fire and take the hits that come with being a young signal caller?  There are great facts that support both, but for me being a Baltimore Ravens fan and seeing the progress quarterback Kyle Boller has made since Steve McNair entered town, I would vote for NFL teams to sit their young quarterbacks and allow them to watch and learn the ropes of playing football in the National Football League from a veteran.  I have come up with three categories to further analyze the young quarterbacks in the NFL.  The categories are: Progress Stalled, Taking the Next Step, and Waiting in the Wings. 

Progress Stalled: Quarterbacks who have lost valuable playing experience due to injuries

Matt Leinart – Matt Leinart breaking his collarbone and being placed on the injured reserve abruptly ended the progress the second year signal caller was making. Leinart’s growth as a quarterback will now be spent watching on the sidelines instead of the playing field.  Leinart had started all five games for the Arizona Cardinals.

Outlook:  Leinart did not agree with the decision that Coach Ken Whisenhunt implemented in Week 3 to use a two quarterback system with former MVP Kurt Warner splitting time with Leinart.  The system, however, was working as Leinart began to play better and the Cardinals began to win as they have improved to a record of 3-2 and are in first place in the NFC West.  Leinart is still the Cardinals future, but instead of entering the 2008 season with all the questions answered about Leinart’s ability, the Cardinals are now left with the same questions as they had entering this season.

Alex Smith – The former first overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2005 draft has been sidelined with a shoulder injury and a timetable for his return has yet to be set.  Smith, as Leinart, has had an up and down season.  Smith only threw for one touchdown up until he was injured in Week 4. 

Outlook:  The good news for Smith is it looks like he will return sometime this season.  Smith needs the reps as the microscope will continue to shine on the former first pick.  If the 49ers are in a playoff chase the team may stick with Trent Dilfer, but if Smith does take the controls of the team back he must provide a spark and show everyone that he can be the leader that the team expects from him.

Tarvaris Jackson – The Minnesota Vikings young quarterback injured his groin and has missed the last two games.  Jackson has not played well at all as he has already thrown for 5 interceptions in two games.  Jackson has been practicing and eyes a return for Week 6.

Outlook:  Jackson may never become the quarterback the Vikings want him to be, but everyone will get a better read once he returns.  The Vikings have a strong running game which should take the pressure off him.  If Jackson can just minimize the turnovers he can become an adequate quarterback.  I do not see him becoming an elite quarterback, but he can prove me wrong.

Taking the Next Step: Quarterbacks who have improved in their development

Jason Campbell – Campbell is coming off a strong performance where he threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions against the Detroit Lions.  Campbell continues to improve and the Washington Redskins are off to a 3-1 start.  Every time Campbell has thrown for 200 yards or more this year, the Redskins have won.  He is quickly becoming the catalyst for the team.

Outlook:  I look for Campbell to continue to improve steadily over the course of the season.  Campbell will have his ups and downs, but his athleticism will allow him to make plays that will keep the Redskins in contention for a playoff berth the entire season.

Vince Young – The stats are not there to back up how valuable Vince Young is to the Tennessee Titans. The record, however, shows exactly how valuable he is.  The Titans are 3-1 in the AFC South with the only loss coming to the defending champions, the Indianapolis Colts. The Titans will always be a threat with Young under center.

Outlook:  Vince Young is one of my favorite players in the league.  His stats will eventually come, but he is a winner, and you never bet against a winner.  There is always one play in a game where Vince Young “wows” you and shows exactly why he will become a great player in the league.  The Titans are still a year away from truly contending for a playoff spot, but with Young, I will never say that the Titans will not reach the postseason.

Jay Cutler – The Denver Broncos have lost three games in a row and the bye week has probably come at a perfect time as injuries have become an issue for the team.  Jay Cutler has played reasonably well, but against the San Diego Chargers in Week 5, Cutler failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in his career, a streak that spanned 10 starts.  His streak had been the longest to start a career since Mark Rypien tossed touchdown passes in his first 11 games for the Washington Redskins in the late 1980s.

Outlook:  Cutler has not had his top receiver in Javon Walker for the last two games and receiver Brandon Stokley injured his head in the Broncos last game.  Cutler has one of the strongest arms I have seen in a long time and sometimes that becomes his downfall as he thinks he can make throws based on his arm strength.  He will need to learn that sometimes the throw he doesn’t make ends up becoming the best play of the game.  Cutler also needs to stress ball security more.  He has already fumbled the ball twelve times in his career.  Even with the few weaknesses Cutler has shown, I believe he has the most upside out of all the young quarterbacks.

Waiting in the Wings:  Quarterbacks who could see action by the end of the season

Kellen Clemens – When New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington missed Week 2 with an ankle injury, Kellen Clemens answered the bell and played very well against a tough Baltimore Ravens defense.  With the recent struggles of Pennington, the call for Clemens has become greater.  Clemens has not played enough to get a strong read on his capabilities, but if the Jets and Pennington continue to waver, Clemens will get a long hard look.

Outlook:  Watching Clemens first hand, I can tell you that he has the tools to play in the NFL.  Having been drafted in the 2^nd round in the 2006 draft, the Jets feel the same way.  Clemens will continue to be the hot topic in New York with the struggles of Pennington and the team.  If Pennington struggles again this week, it would not be shocking to see Clemens get the start in Week 7.

Brady Quinn - Derek Anderson has played surprisingly well for the Cleveland Browns this year, but the bottom line is he is not the future.  I think the Browns have been pleasantly pleased with Anderson’s play mainly because it allows Brady Quinn to watch from the sidelines and gain experience.  The question remains; when is it time for the Anderson experiment to end and the Quinn era to begin?

Outlook:  The Browns have played tough this year, but they are still nowhere near being considered a contender.  The pressure of playing Quinn will mount with every loss, no matter how well Anderson plays.  Head Coach Romeo Crennel will have to make a decision that could cost him his job.  Anderson gives the Browns the best chance to win now, but Quinn is the future and the Browns mortgaged a lot to get him.

Brodie Croyle – The Kansas City Chiefs have struggled offensively all year.  The main problem has been their ground attack as it ranks dead last in the NFL.  Quarterback Damon Huard has played average, but Herm Edwards has yet to pull the plug and give second year signal caller Brodie Croyle a chance.  Croyle has not been given a strong look yet in his young career, but with each passing day it looks more and more like he will become the starter at some point.

Outlook:  Huard has an injury to his shoulder which leaves him vulnerable and may force Croyle into action.  Croyle is the “quarterback of the future,” but how soon that future comes is yet to be seen.  There are not enough facts for me to really see how good this kid is, but if the Chiefs continue to lose, the switch at quarterback will be the next move.

As always, feel free to e-mail me at Phillip@thenflexpert.com, with your comments or questions.