Quarterback Brett Hundley was largely a disaster as a starter for the Green Bay Packers in 2017.
The most telling statistics are these: nine starts, nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Hundley had a 70.6 rating and a 60.8 completion percentage. He didn’t throw a touchdown at Lambeau Field.
DeShone Kizer was similarly a disaster as the starter for the Cleveland Browns in 2017.
In 15 starts, Kizer threw 11 touchdowns and a league-leading 22 interceptions. He finished with 60.5 rating and a 53.6 completion percentage.
So naturally, the Packers traded for Kizer to compete with Hundley for the backup quarterback job.
What does Hundley think of that? Not much, apparently.
“In this game, everybody is always trying to compete for their job, whether it is Kizer or [Joe] Callahan,” Hundley says. “I don’t focus on anybody other than myself. We’ve all had to go through a lot of struggles to get where we have gotten. It’s not about the other person; it’s about pushing yourself to get better. You only get so many opportunities in this game, and you have to make the most of them.”
To be fair, Kizer is stouter competition than Callahan. Even though Hundley struggled mightily and coach Mike McCarthy said he wasn’t prepared, McCarthy also refused to play Callahan.
Callahan is gone now. It will be a battle between Hundley and Kizer for the job.
Kizer was a 2017 second-round pick. He has all the physical tools. If he can get the mental part of the game, Kizer has a chance to be a pretty good NFL quarterback.
So this will be a different competition than what Hundley has seen in the past.
Frankly, we think Hundley should be worried. We fully expect Kizer to get the job. The team didn’t trade cornerback Damarious Randall for Kizer just to cut him.
That could realistically leave Hundley out of a job, at least in Green Bay.
6 Comments
I used to think McCarthy had one strength and that was coaching quarterbacks. After all, Rodgers didn’t look all that great his first or second year in the preseason games he played but got better each year. But this whole Hundley fiasco has made me rethink this.
How could McCarthy think Hundley was a good quarterback? Were they just trying to build him up as trade bait? Did he really not see he had a guy who could not throw more than 15 yards down field?
“If he can get the mental part of the game, Kizer has a chance to be a pretty good NFL quarterback.”
Two key words, “if” and “chance.” As far as competition goes, watching the two worst quarterbacks in the league from last year battle it out for a backup position isn’t something that peaks my interest. This is Kizer’s job to lose. Then again, him and Hundley are both god awful so I guess anything can happen. Good to see the backup position is still a big question mark since it’s going to be filled by another unproven project player. Why can’t they pick up someone they know is half way decent like Neckbeard Orton, or even Matt Flynn. Heck, I’d take Tim Tebow over Brett Hundley any day.
I’m going to cut Kizer a little slack, he was thrown into a starting role in, i think week 2 of his rookie season. Not only that, he was with the Browns. While Hundley has been bathing in the joy of his MVP pre-season some years ago. The pre-season that apparently still feeds Hundleys confidence….even today. I don’t dislike a lot of people in life, but this guy chewing his gum open mouth and talking like he’s done something in the NFL makes me want to punch him in the mouth. I’d be perfectly happy never to see this clown again.
So these to are competing for #2. I doubt it will be close, even with Hundley going into his fourth year here. That alone speaks volumes. I may be wrong, but how often does that happen.
Joseph has it nailed, Hundley should be worried about Kizer, but not only about his job in Green Bay, but in the NFL. 53 man cut down day might be the last time Hundley see’s the inside of an NFL locker room.
Hundley is no competition for anyone. The last time he sees the inside of the locker room should be today or tomorrow. There is no reason to keep him around…everyone knows he sucks. They could not trade him for a roll of tape.
MM still hasn’t learned much.
Hundley who? Wasn’t he part of a disaster 2017 novel written by McCarthy?