It's Scott Tolzien or bust against Vikings
Touchdowns or interceptions, his expression doesn't change.
When Jon Beason fooled him, the Green Bay Packer quarterback trotted back to the sideline with a few glances up at the video board. When Jason Pierre Paul robbed him in the fourth quarter, he didn't flail in frustration. He hardly blinked. Instead, quarterback and coach spoke immediately on the sideline.
And now, with the 2013 Packers in peril, Tolzien remains the starter. Mike McCarthy made that clear less than 24 hours after Green Bay's 27 13 loss to the New York Giants, and then he took it a http://www.officialnhlhockey.com/CAM_NEELY_JERSEY_AUTHENTIC-c-1_13_28.html step further. The coach, who, you know, has worked with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, said he's never seen a quarterback "hit all his big throws like that in a game."
On the brink, season slipping away at 100 mph, the Packers are sticking with Tolzien. More specifically, they're sticking with Tolzien's cool, focused personality navigating them to a win in an absolute must win Sunday.
Coaches. Family members. Current and former teammates from Madison to Green Bay echo each other.
Tolzien is the same person. Always. "Up 20 or down 20," one Badgers receiver repeated, the guy won't flinch. He overcomes these obstacles, they say. Now, fresh off three interceptions "put that on me," he said Tolzien has to rebound.
Moments after the loss, Tolzien didn't acknowledge the positives, let alone try to spin Bruins Cam Neely Jersey them. In three years covering the team here, I haven't seen a player accept responsibility for a loss with such raw sincerity.
The sting from this loss practically emanated from his pores.
"It's my job, first and foremost, to take care of the football," Tolzien said at the podium. "Guys work their tails off. That's Football 101. From the time you play youth ball to high school, college, pro, every level, officialnhlhockey.com/DAVID_KREJCI_JERSEY_AUTHENTIC-c-1_13_18.html that's the starting point for every quarterback. You have to take care of the ball. I did not do that today. And you have to learn from that."
No one in their right mind could have imagined that the team's playoff hopes would hinge on Tolzien. He is officially the team's fifth backup quarterback in four months. One reason he's here, one reason the Packers are sticking with him is the thick skin.
Former Wisconsin receiver David Gilreath assured Tolzien is "real goofy, nerdy," but never rattled on the field.
"He's one of those guys," Gilreath said, "that even if he's second , third , fourth string or whatever, he's going to prepare like the starter. That's just how he is."
Gilreath remembers tossing the ball around with Tolzien in the off season. Tolzien snapped it to himself. He'd stop mid dropback. He was obsessed with the details.
Former pro Rob Johnson, who has worked with Mark Sanchez, Carson Palmer, Matt Schaub and many others, called Tolzien one of the most diligent workers he's ever had. And, Johnson assures, the guy belongs in the NFL.
"I'd listen to guys on TV questioning his arm strength, and I'm working with the guy every day," Johnson said. "I spent 10 years in the NFL and he can make every throw and go hard on every throw. He was very consistent. Came to work every day."
On Sunday, he made the throws Graham Harrell couldn't in the preseason and Vince Young couldn't in a walk through period. He does belong. Through the Packers' telegraphed run to pass game plan, Tolzien connected with Jarrett Boykin (52 yards) and James Jones (45 yards) off play action.
He stood in the teeth of a blitz to hit Jordy Nelson for 29 yards. Bruins David Krejci Jersey
Talent isn't an issue. Balancing when to take a chance and when to be cautious may be.
Tolzien didn't see Beason. And afterward, Tolzien admitted you should never throw that pass if you don't see the linebacker. That pick six? McCarthy indicated the offense didn't make the right adjustment pre snap. Pierre Paul was virtually the 12th man in Green Bay's huddle. He told reporters afterward he knew the play was coming.