Other teams have injuries and suspensions too and still get the job done. And Hoyer had cameron for some of those games we won.
How many games was Cameron the healthy player he was last year? He was playing with a sprained AC shoulder joint.
This summer ESPN i think had us last in the power rankings. We aren't "other teams". We are in a transition year with new coaches and a ton of new pieces...including a QB coming off of an ACL injury. We are trying to climb out of the cellar of the NFL. I get the fact that everyone has injuries and suspensions, but I can't think of one that lost 3 pro-bowlers on offense. That's devastating for a team that was a weak team to start with.
The rookie running backs aren't playing terrible. Nobody wants to hear that excuse, there's other teams that have rookie running backs.
It's not an excuse, it's a fact. We are 27th in the league in rushing...that's certainly not great...or even average. Sure, other teams are starting rookie running backs, but how good are they? The Browns, having lost the #1 receiver in the NFL and their Pro-bowl tight end can't afford to have a weak running game too.
I was watching the Colt's Monday night game last week. Gruden made a great point. He said that Luck wasn't having a great night accuracy wise, but at the end of the day everyone will talk about what a tremendous game he had. He pointed out several plays that were basically "hail marys" where the receivers made incredible plays. The TY Hilton catch comes to mind. He just threw up a jump ball and Hilton pulled it away from the defender for a touchdown. Gruden said that having weapons like that are a huge factor in a QB's confidence and success. He said, Peyton Manning is incredible...no doubt...but how great is it to be able to throw to Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Emanual Sanders and Julius Thomas. He finished by saying it makes you wonder what the hell is going on with Jay Cutler who has arguably the best weapons in the NFL.
Again, we were a bottom dweller in the NFL last year. This year we lost the best center in the NFL. We lost the leading receiver in the NFL. We lost our pro-bowler tight end. We have two rookie running backs and just cut our veteran running back...we are 27th in rushing. Add all that up and it's going to have a negative impact on ANY quarterback. Had i told you all those facts before the season, is there anyone on the planet that would guess we'd have 6 wins with 6 left to play? 4 wins?? 2 wins??? And no, i'm not saying give Hoyer all the credit for those 6 wins. Just saying that after all the adversity, he's done pretty well given the hand he has been dealt. Has he had a couple dogs? Sure. Would he do better if he had skill players comparable to some of the top QB's in the league? Absolutely.
Take away Dez Bryant and Jason Whitten from Romo...switch Demarco out for Terrence West. Take away his best lineman too. How does Tony Romo and Cowboys look then?
Just looking at QB ranking is wildly unfair. All the top QB's have the great weapons. We just don't have the weapons other teams have...yet somehow we still have 6 wins with 6 games to go.