The Importance Of 'Plan B'

2013 has been The Year of the Backup Quarterback.

Today we will see Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning - unquestionably the best rivalry in NFL history - for the fifteenth time, but the biggest quarterback-themed story this season has been about replacement quarterbacks.

The injury epidemic involving starting quarterbacks - particularly the one suffered by Aaron Rodgers - has stressed the importance of teams having a capable backup.

In the NFC North alone, three teams have had to replace their starters: in Chicago, Josh McCown stepped in following Jay Cutler's groin injury. In Green Bay, Seneca Wallace replaced Aaron Rodgers, and then Scott Tolzien was forced to step in for Wallace when he was injured. Minnesota saw both Matt Cassell and Josh Freeman replace Christian Ponder in the wake of Ponder's rib injury.

Seventeen NFL teams have turned to backups in the wake of injuries, and in many cases their on-field performance has been elevated after the arrival a new signal caller. The Philadelphia Eagles have a 4-1 record under Nick Foles, the Bears are 2-0 with Josh McCown at the helm and the Cleveland Browns went 3-0 after Brian Hoyer replaced Brandon Weeden as starter (before Hoyer himself went down injured). Matt McGloin also led the Oakland Raiders to a win in his first game as starter.

However there are many teams that have struggled in the wake of injuries to their multi-million dollar franchise-leading investment, and it's probably unfair to criticise any team that does so. Despite this, it is becoming abundantly clear that teams cannot afford to overlook their starting quarterback's potential replacement.

So what do what do teams look for in a backup quarterback? Looking beyond the obvious questions of talent and tangible factors, it is important to consider the intangibles. Recent trends suggest that well-run teams look to tick a number of boxes when trying to find a viable replacement.

Firstly, they first need to consider whether the quarterback fits their system and how familiar they are - or will be. It's no coincidence that Scott Tolzien (Wisconsin) and Case Keenum (Houston) have ended up playing for the Packers and Texans, respectively. Those teams will have seen them extensively at the collegiate level and know whether they can fit into their system. The same goes for players who have been called up from the practice squad to the main roster.

Tolzien wasn't with the Packers until after training camp, which brings up the question of how adaptable a quarterback is: are they intelligent enough to pick up the playbook quickly and make smart, safe decisions on the field? In many instances, physical talent might be overlooked in favour of someone who can manage a game efficiently.

Finally, character is a major deciding factor when it comes to picking a last-resort quarterback option - NFL teams frequently turn to players with unblemished disciplinary records and no character concerns (ever wondered why Vince Young can't land a job?). They look for players who are competitive - players who have gone to countless workouts and hopped from team to team in search of an opportunity. Being hungry is a sign that they will be well-prepared when they

This is, of course, not a concrete formula - but it is no coincidence that many successful backups (you can see some of the best here) conform to many of these criteria.