Post Game Thoughts

[Shane]

Matty, I am suggesting that Ramsey has not shown enough to be given the keys to the team and to therefore close our minds to other possiblities.

He may develop into a very solid quarterback, and he may also never play at more than an average level. No one knows what is going to happen with Ramsey. There are reasons to be encouraged. He has begun to feel comfortable in the system after a season in which he could absorb things while Brunell took the heat while the team struggled. He can make some excellent throws.

He also gets very nervous out there, in my view. It's just a physiological fact that when you get nervous, you get tunnel vision, and explanation that can account for much of Ramsey's mistakes on the field: the holding onto the ball too long, the forcing of plays, the lack of seeing the open receivers. This isn't a matter of learning the system, its a matter of field awareness. And as nervous tension rises, your awareness gets focused more and more narrowly.

I think Ramsey is smart. Believe me, I know its not easy what he is doing. He could learn to relax out there, and I hope it will happen.

What I would do is go into next year and open the competition at quarterback. What is to fear in doing that? If Ramsey is the best, he will win. If he is not the best, then someone else will win. Do we want the best possible player, or do we want Ramsey even if someone else would play better? Should the coaches give the position to Ramsey on a silver platter, or should he earn it?

There are always inexpensive free agents or players we can obtain cheaply. We already have Tim Hasselbeck. If Ramsey is the best, then its no problem - he will win the competition. If gets beaten out by someone else, why should that be upsetting? It would mean we have a better quarterback.

I suggested earlier that we look at inexpensive free agents. Then some people starting mocking the idea of expensive big name free agents. That isn't what I suggested.