Backup Quarterbacks Serve Big Role in Football

Sophomore QB Peyton Ahnell will be one of the key pieces for the football team next year

Photo Courtesy of Ned Ahnell.

Sophomore QB Peyton Ahnell will be one of the key pieces for the football team next year

Noah Meyers, Staff Writer

Playing professional football in the NFL can be a dangerous job. Players are always at risk of getting injured and possibly ending their career on every play. The injury probability in the NFL is at an all-time high, and as a result, every player has at least one backup player who is ready to step in for them. The importance of backups are greatly overlooked.

One of the most important backup roles is the quarterback position. At every snap, the linemen jump to get past coverage and sack the quarterback. This is where the backup quarterback comes in. Some of backup quarterbacks are straight out of college, and others are veteran quarterbacks hoping to stretch their final moments of play out. The backup quarterback has it the hardest because they have to live up to the expectations of the team, and fans, and be able to put the team on their back to push through the game.

For however long the starting quarterback is out, the backup has to fill in the role of the starter. If they succeed, they make a name for themselves as someone who can come into a high-stress situation and deliver results.

Sophomore varsity  football player Matt Patkus is aware of what the backups need to do and how they are critical to the team.

“If the starter gets hurt, the backup needs to go in the game and do just as good as the starter and get the job done,” said Patkus. “They have a hard time because they end up going in the game and fans don’t always believe they can get the job done.”

The backup wants to prove the fans and team wrong and show that they can compete with the starters.

“It’s always nice knowing that if your starter gets hurt, you can have someone to trust,” added Patkus.

Although NFL football and high school different are different skill wise, every position needs a backup. Junior and football player Steven Krupinski knows all about the importance of backups.

“Playing out on that field is hard work. We put in a lot of effort, but when someone gets hurt its kinda disappointing but also gives someone else a chance to play,” said Krupinski.

Like most high school teams, they practice hard and everyday. Kids hustle to make the team better.

“Backups get to show the coach what they got, and show the coach why they should start over anyone else,”said Krupinski.

High school students don’t have it as hard as pro football player, but they play their hearts out, and play until the clock stops counting.

Lots of backups have made a name for themselves and eventually have gained a starting role in the organization. Some great backups that became starters are hall-of-famer Doug Flutie, Steve Young and even Tom Brady, who now is one of the most successful quarterbacks of all time.

Junior Devesh Sullivan, is an all-around sports fan, and knows a lot about the NFL .

“I think that the backup can have his luck go either way; if he performs badly, he is judged on that performance for the rest of his career; if he performs well, he has a chance of playing more”, said Sullivan.

The backups are always at risk of their position, and most of the time on a season to season contract.

“Although for some teams, even if the backup plays well in a good team, the starter will almost always come back and have a guaranteed starting role,” added Sullivan.

Some teams pay so much money for players that they can’t afford to not play their starter and possibly have the starter opt out of their contract. Teams want to win games, but also keep their players happy. If they don’t start the players that they pay tens of millions of dollars to, then they could possibly loose them.

Overall, the backups are what drives the team. Starters can know that if they get hurt, they have someone reliable in to save the game. The backups keep the team moving forward, and give the team hope.

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