Well statistics aren't everything, and can easily lead people astray. So you want to keep it simple. His college passing percentage indicates his likelihood to transform into an NFL starter is low.
But a lot of things goes into accuracy, especially for any that played under center for us last year. Given that he was a rookie thrown into that crap show I know he is simply a better QB then what he showed last season.
He may be a career backup. A guy who is out of the league anywhere between this year to the year of or a year after his rookie contract is up.
The problems I have with the article is that they forget the simple things.
1. Would any rookie QB that isn't an expected star be able to do anything last year? Probably not even Luck could have salvaged our season, though he of anyone would have had a shot.
2. Inability to finish drives? Hell I watched a team that no matter the QB they didn't have the ability to START drives. So...
3. Again he's not accurate, but his head was spinning and our line sucked pretty bad. His timing was off. He didn't miss guys by that much because he is THAT inaccurate. He missed by that much because he simply didn't grasp the offense to the point where he knew where players were going to be. He didn't. His timing was off, thus his passes were off. Some of this is lack of ability. But most of it is that he simply wasn't ready, and we put him in a no win scenario. In football the Kobayashi Maru test was any QB who took a snap for us last year.
4. Wasted roster spot? We need 3 QB's. I can see a team going 2 QB's for a week or two if need be for some strange injury reason. But you want 3 QB's. Thus this example of 'wasted spot' could be applied to ANY 3rd string QB. I thought the critique was about why LINDLEY shouldn't be on the roster. If the debate is about not needing a 3rd QB, then that belongs as part of a different debate.
5. If Lindley needs to be cut. Who replaces him? This goes back to #4, as obviously Church feels there shouldn't be one. I for one disagree and feel if they want a different #3 I'm ok with that. But who is it? I do feel Lindley should be given a chance with the new staff and behind a better oline and a year of teaching. But if you want someone else, well who? Free agency has come and gone. Draft is over. QB's don't grow on trees. If you want someone else as your 3rd QB, the time to get them is over. That doesn't mean it isn't possible to find one between now and week 1, we do still have June 1st cuts. But the pickings are slim and those that get placed on the scrap heap come at a slow pace. So if we want Lindley gone, then we should have already found a replacement. You don't get rid of him and THEN think about who the replacement is. You find potential replacements first and then weigh whether or not you cut the guy.
