I have been largely critical of Tarvaris Jackson, the quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks. And let's face it, with all the injuries the Seahawks have sustained, you can't really say the guy has done a poor job. However, there have been many things standing out this season against the guy, the most notable being he failed to lead us on a game-winning drive all season. In the seven Seahawk victories, 2 were games the defense protected the lead just barely, and the rest were blowouts thanks to mainly the efforts of Marshawn Lynch and the defense. And of the 9 losses, 5 were games where he and the offense had the ball in the final quarter with a chance to tie or take the lead. Not once did the offense do that. Good quarterbacks win at least 1 or 2 of those games. But Tarvaris failed each time to lead the team on a game-winning or tying drive.
Now we can't pin this all on Tarvaris, but anyone watching the Seahawks this year has noticed some semi-bonehead moves on his part, such as holding onto the football too long or throwing to checkdown receivers unnecessarily. Folks, there's a reason the Vikings didn't want him anymore. There's a reason tons of Vikings fans didn't like him as their quarterback. He's just not a franchise quarterback. He is not a guy who will ever lead a team to the Super Bowl. So why are we sticking with him?
I understand why the Seahawks signed him this past offseason. There was the lockout, plus the Seahawks were able to get the offensive coordinator Jackson had worked with in Minnesota, Darrell Bevell. He was a short-term fix for losing Hasselbeck. But now what? Scary as it may seem, but head coach Pete Carroll has been saying things like "Tarvaris is our guy", making us wonder if there's something we're not seeing. Tarvaris should be nothing more than a short-term fix.
The Seahawks are in a difficult spot with their quarterback situation. They have two choices. Stick with Tarvaris and hope he can somehow get better in the clutch, or get someone else who will have to learn a new system and a whole new offense. Neither is extremely appealing. But the idea of another unfulfilling season with Jackson at quarterback is extremely depressing. But just look at what ROOKIE Andy Dalton has done with the Bengals. He's in the playoffs, even with the lockout and the fact that he is a rookie. If the Bengals can do it, so can the Seahawks.
Here's what I ask: That the Seahawks draft, sign, or trade for a quarterback this offseason. Charlie Whitehurst's contract will be up and he probably won't be resigned. So, the Seahawks will need a new #2. I want the Seahawks to acquire a quarterback fans like myself can get excited about. Someone like a Matt Flynn, Landry Jones, or a Jimmy Clausen to get us thinking we can be in this for the long haul. The Seahawks won't be in it for the long haul if they stick with Jackson. I'm not asking that we get rid of Jackson, but I don't want to see him declared the #1 starter in training camp like he was this season.
I'm tired of settling. There will be a lot of noise for the Seahawks next season, and not just in CenturyLink Field. And there will be even more noise if the Seahawks acquire a franchise quarterback. My pledge is this: If the Seahawks get a QB that can someday be a franchise quarterback, I will continue to believe and follow in this team. However, if we keep Jackson, and either resign Whitehurst or bring in another ho-hum quarterback, then I am done. I won't follow this team, because I refuse to get let down--again. Your move, Pete, John, and Co. Get us a franchise quarterback, or you can kiss the playoffs in 2012 goodbye.
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