Miami Dolphins Preview: Backup QB

Matt Moore must be getting tired of the yearly backup quarterback battle. But another Miami Dolphins training camp ultimately means another competition for the right to hold the clipboard and see if one of the 46 sacks Ryan Tannehill averages means a chance to play.

This camp’s matchup is between Moore and once promising young quarterback Josh Freeman. Moore has left all who challenged for his second string role behind Tannehill in his wake, but does Freeman’s skillset make him the ideal backup QB in Lazor’s offense?

2014 Review

Well, both these guys have done nothing for the past two seasons. Freeman wasn’t even on an NFL roster in 2014 and played a combined four games in 2013 for Tampa Bay and Minnesota.

Moore has been Tannehill’s backup since 2012 and, if nothing else, Tannehill has proven he can take a licking but keep on ticking. This means Moore has played a combined five regular season games since 2012.

So without a recent body of work to go by. Let’s break down their career numbers.

Freeman was outstanding for Tampa Bay for the better half of four seasons. He threw for over 3,000 yards in three of his four seasons as a Buc as well as 25 and 27 touchdowns in 2010 and 2012 respectively.

Freeman’s drawback though is he turns the ball over. Frequently. In his career, he has thrown 67 interceptions and fumbled the ball 25 times in just 61 games. Those numbers are outstandingly bad.

Moore, on the other hand, has never really been a starter. His best season was his 2011 campaign with Miami that saw him usurp Chad Henne’s starting position. That was the only season in which Moore has played more than nine games.

2015 Preview

Moore has done this before. He’s sent guys like Chad Henne, David Garrard, Pat Devlin, Brady Quinn and the like packing. He has a handle on the offense and is the consummate professional. He, by all accounts, is likely penciled in as the backup.

It’s Freeman that has to prove himself out of the gate. He has to show the coaching staff that he is clearly the better choice to make the team.

Yes, make the team. Does it make sense to carry both Moore and Freeman? Especially since Tannehill gets up after beatings like Rocky Balboa.

The Dolphins do have another quarterback on the roster, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who can go on the practice squad while filling the third string role.

So there isn’t a buffer spot for Freeman or Moore. One gets the backup spot and the other gets sent on his merry way.

The cap shouldn’t stand in the way of the decision either as Moore signed a one-year deal this offseason as did Freeman. The Dolphins can get some small relief by cutting Moore and marginal relief by cutting Freeman.

Expected Challenges

Tannehill doesn’t get hurt often and when he does, he’s back the very next game. So getting on the field will be an issue for Moore and Freeman.

Moore is the ultimate backup, the guy the fans want to come in when the going gets tough. His familiarity with the offense should help him throughout camp.