Colts Quarterback Curtis Painter - Isn’t It About Time? Indeed.
[caption id="attachment_13438" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Peyton Manning continues to coach up Curtis Painter"]
Peyton Manning_Curtis Painter_Indianapolis Colts_2011 Preseason Week 1_St Louis Rams[/caption]
This weekend, Indy Star writer Bob Kravitz wrote an article asking, “Isn’t it about time Colts' Painter showed he can handle his job?” I had been thinking the exact same thing and wanted to add some fuel to the fire. While I fully expect Painter to retain his position as lead backup to QB Peyton Manning, it’s ironically for the same reasons that I am so frustrated with his performance.
First, this is Painter’s third year in the league – he should no longer be wide-eyed at getting on the field against quality competition. Sure, as Kravitz points out, his first appearances were abnormally stressful, but those are now 2 years in the rear view mirror… he simply can’t blame those any more for game-day jitters. Compare Painter’s performance on Saturday to Titans rookie QB Jake Locker. Locker showed incredible poise as he recovered a fumbled snap, picked up the ball and chucked it downfield for a 45-yard touchdown. Sure, Locker was a top 10 pick and Painter a 6th rounder, but when a rookie with all of 2 weeks’ exposure to the NFL outplays a 3rd year pro, that can’t be overlooked.
Second, Painter knows more of the playbook, and knows it better, than the other backup quarterbacks, all of whom are in their first year with the Colts. This may be a bright spot in this post, as I don’t remember any broken plays from Saturday’s game. I certainly did see poor execution, but he seemed to have command of the few plays he called. The only quarterback I expect to challenge Painter in this regard is Dan Orlovsky, who’s had to learn 2 other teams' playbooks (Lions, Texans). Nate Davis is known to have a learning disability that could hamper his ability to transfer playbook or classroom concepts to the field, and Mike Hartline doesn’t come in with much expectation to truly compete.
Finally, Painter has had the benefit of 2 years’ worth of personal coaching by the smartest and most detail-oriented quarterback in football. It’s been widely reported that Manning has been a mentor to Painter from day 1 and from the accounts on Saturday, this mentorship hasn’t stopped. The season he was drafted, Painter was described by the team as being “smart” and “studious.” I didn’t see it explicitly, but I assume that “has good work ethic” must also accompany these traits, or Painter might not still be with the team. He certainly wouldn’t have been defended by perennial Pro Bowler, WR Reggie Wayne.
And yet, Painter disappointed in his first preseason outing, even after several reports that he looked much improved in training camp. I am willing to give Painter yet another pass for the first preseason game, but if he doesn’t show better poise and execution against the Redskins on Friday, I may start rooting wildly for Mr. Self-Safety.
Peyton Manning_Curtis Painter_Indianapolis Colts_2011 Preseason Week 1_St Louis Rams[/caption]
This weekend, Indy Star writer Bob Kravitz wrote an article asking, “Isn’t it about time Colts' Painter showed he can handle his job?” I had been thinking the exact same thing and wanted to add some fuel to the fire. While I fully expect Painter to retain his position as lead backup to QB Peyton Manning, it’s ironically for the same reasons that I am so frustrated with his performance.
First, this is Painter’s third year in the league – he should no longer be wide-eyed at getting on the field against quality competition. Sure, as Kravitz points out, his first appearances were abnormally stressful, but those are now 2 years in the rear view mirror… he simply can’t blame those any more for game-day jitters. Compare Painter’s performance on Saturday to Titans rookie QB Jake Locker. Locker showed incredible poise as he recovered a fumbled snap, picked up the ball and chucked it downfield for a 45-yard touchdown. Sure, Locker was a top 10 pick and Painter a 6th rounder, but when a rookie with all of 2 weeks’ exposure to the NFL outplays a 3rd year pro, that can’t be overlooked.
Second, Painter knows more of the playbook, and knows it better, than the other backup quarterbacks, all of whom are in their first year with the Colts. This may be a bright spot in this post, as I don’t remember any broken plays from Saturday’s game. I certainly did see poor execution, but he seemed to have command of the few plays he called. The only quarterback I expect to challenge Painter in this regard is Dan Orlovsky, who’s had to learn 2 other teams' playbooks (Lions, Texans). Nate Davis is known to have a learning disability that could hamper his ability to transfer playbook or classroom concepts to the field, and Mike Hartline doesn’t come in with much expectation to truly compete.
Finally, Painter has had the benefit of 2 years’ worth of personal coaching by the smartest and most detail-oriented quarterback in football. It’s been widely reported that Manning has been a mentor to Painter from day 1 and from the accounts on Saturday, this mentorship hasn’t stopped. The season he was drafted, Painter was described by the team as being “smart” and “studious.” I didn’t see it explicitly, but I assume that “has good work ethic” must also accompany these traits, or Painter might not still be with the team. He certainly wouldn’t have been defended by perennial Pro Bowler, WR Reggie Wayne.
And yet, Painter disappointed in his first preseason outing, even after several reports that he looked much improved in training camp. I am willing to give Painter yet another pass for the first preseason game, but if he doesn’t show better poise and execution against the Redskins on Friday, I may start rooting wildly for Mr. Self-Safety.
