Per Jim Thomas, Jeff Fisher stated this morning that Shaun Hill will replace Austin Davis at quarterback for the Rams this Sunday at home vs Denver.
This continues a strange trend we have seen in the NFL the past few weeks. Rex Ryan in New York benched his 24 year old quarterback Geno Smith for a 34 year old Michael Vick. Lovie Smith in Tampa benched his 24 year old QB Mike Glennon for 35 year old Josh McCown. Now, Jeff Fisher is jumping ship on his young QB for the veteran Hill.
Hill, as we know, was signed to be the backup to Sam Bradford in the offseason. He started the opener vs the Vikings, got hurt, and subsequently lost his job to the upstart Davis. This seemed to be the right move, as Hill is a 34 year old career backup who hadn’t started a game since 2010 with the Lions.
Despite Fisher’s announcement this morning, it still is the right move. Shaun Hill should not be starting for this football team going forward.
Austin Davis has been serviceable at best and downright awful at worst this season. During the last two games things have started to really unravel for him. Following the game in Arizona on Sunday, Davis is now up to six touchdowns that have come directly from his turnovers: four interceptions returned for touchdowns to go along with 2 fumbles that have been taken the other way for scores.
That being said, what is the point of starting a career backup QB who will turn 35 in less than two months? The Rams know what they have in Shaun Hill, and they know that he is not the answer long term. Granted, Davis does not look like the answer either, but after only 8 NFL starts they’re willing to pull the plug on a guy who has exceeded expectations after being the 4th string QB in camp?
It’s baffling.
This team has been outplayed and outcoached en route to a 3-6 record on the season. They have now been outscored 155-59 in the second half of football games. They have numerous injuries on both sides of the ball. This team is not going to the playoffs.
So why the change? Why not ride the storm out, evaluate the young players, and see what you have going into next season? Is Davis just a scapegoat here?
Rather than following the likes of Ryan and Smith, Fisher should take note of Bill O’Brien in Houston, who benched veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick for the unknown in Ryan Mallett or Ken Whisenhunt who gave rookie Zach Mettenberger the ball over Jake Locker and Charlie Whitehurst.
It’s time to stop chasing meaningless wins and look towards the future.
