The mittens are long gone, but the expectations remain unfulfilled. David Carr, the 2002 first-overall pick, never approached franchise quarterback status in Houston, and eventually flamed out, before landing the backup gig with the Giants. But not before setting single-season sack records with the Texans and costing then-offensive coordinator Chris Palmer his job two weeks into the 2005 campaign. Palmer was also the sacrificial lamb hired to lead the expansion Browns when the team returned to Cleveland in 1999, so he has some experience with disappointment.
Since 2007, however, Palmer has been the Giants quarterback coach, and he's not going to let Carr ruin another good thing for him. When asked about Carr's performance this preseason, Palmer was very matter of fact.
"I'm not pleased with David right now," Palmer said. "I think he's got to be more consistent. He's a quarterback, he's got to prove he's a winning quarterback and I think there are certain things that he has to improve on, and I've told him that. He has the ability to play in this league, he's a very, very talented player, but he's got to do the things the way we want them done."
And that includes staying in the pocket long enough to complete a seven-step drop, although it's perfectly understandable that a guy sacked 249 times during the first five years of his career might now be a little gun-shy.
"Yes, we've talked about [running out of the pocket]," Palmer continued. "Sometimes you have flashbacks and you want to stay in the pocket. I compare him very much to Steve Young. Steve Young was beat up in the USFL, as you know, beat up in Tampa Bay, and the coaches out in San Francisco took him, settled him down and he turned into a Hall of Famer. So I think sometimes you just have to be patient, and hopefully the person will understand what you're trying to do with them.
Um, yeah, the similarities between Carr and Young end with "getting beat up a lot." But Hall of Fame talk aside, the team's season could hinge on keeping Eli Manning healthy. Obviously, most teams can't afford to lose their starting quarterback, but Palmer admits that Carr was much more reliable a year ago.
"Every year is a new year," Palmer said. "Sometimes you break a horse and sometimes he goes out to pasture and when he comes back in you have to retrain him. So we're in the process of retraining him right now."
Nothing like comparing the backup quarterback to Mr. Ed to give him the confidence he needs to do the job. Don't know how this doesn't end well.
