regardless of how the pre-season "competition" goes... unless of course Frerotte shows enough skills to be looked at as a legitimate pro-bowl contendor this year, and I think that is unlikely.
Hear me out...
Feeley, DEFINITELY has natural skill when it comes to throwing the ball. He throws accurately, has the strength to make any throw, and generally hits the receiver in stride when he has time to throw. His problems are mainly that he is young and inexperienced, and because of this hasn't learned the nuances of the game as far as reading defenses, looking off defenders, and maintaining his composure in the face of a pass rush.
These are all things that can be learned and most QB's develop these skills over time. I mean as much as Fiedler gets hate, no one can deny that he improved greatly in those categories (although he was never afraid of a pass rush) the longer he started here. His problem was he never had the arm to make all the throws, and I would argue with the injuries he sustained while he was here his arm got worse and worse. If you look at just about ANY rookie QB in the league (even Roethlisberger) none of them have these skills until they have started about 1.5-3 years worth of games. Look at Peyton Manning, if they had given up on him after his first full season, they would have missed out on one of the most Successful QB's in the league over the last few years, and he developed MUCH faster than most. Feeley doesn't have much more experience than a rookie does at this point in his career, so he should be looked at pretty much the same way... although with a bit shorter leash, because of age, and the situation the team is in with rebuilding.
We have invested a lot in Feeley, and I think we need to find out if that investment is worth it. Put him in, let him play at least half the season in the new offense, and see what he is made of. Even the most optimistic fans of the team don't expect much better than 8-8 out of the team (and that's a stretch), so why continue to hold back the development of a player we have invested a lot in, and get no closer to finding our long-term solution at the most important position on the team, by starting Gus, who will not likely be a long-term solution?
If Feeley makes it to the midpoint of the season, and hasn't shown any progress, and no signs that he is the answer... fine. Pull him, let Gus take over, and give some of the other players on the team a chance to finish with a bang and get some confidence leading into next season. Then, do everything we can to draft a top QB early next year, and let him play behind Gus and come along slowly.
We have too much invested in Feeley, to not give him the chance needed to show if he is worth it. Personally, I beleive it is unfair to expect Feeley, a guy with limited experience in a new system, to be able to WIN a competition against a Veteran, like Frerotte, who already knows the system. As long as he shows promise and some flashes, which I beleive he already has (See New England last year), I beleive he should be given the position and a chance to grow into the starter.
