RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback Jack Strand was so good against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday that head coach Kevin Stefanski found himself fielding questions about whether or not Strand was competing for the team's QB1 job .
Stefanski's answer might have left the door open, but Strand isn't realistically pushing for the QB1 job at the moment. The comments were likely a result of Tua Tagovailoa's underwhelming play and the fact that Michael Penix Jr. has just one 11-on-11 practice under their belt.
We'd be shocked if Strand ends up starting any games for Altanta this year, but he was admittedly spectacular against the Colts - good enough to earn an "A" grade from Carter Bahns at CBS Sports.
"The Falcons might just have something in Jack Strand. He arrived in Atlanta as a relative unknown, having gone undrafted out of Division II Minnesota State–Moorhead, but he made a name for himself in two preseason outings. Following the rushing touchdown he logged in Week 1, Strand erupted for 212 passing yards, a touchdown and another score on the ground in a drubbing of the Colts. He and Cooper Rush combined to complete 16 of their first 17 throws, and his rushing ability (22 yards on nine carries) is obvious and differentiates him in the battle for the No. 3 quarterback job."
While it's a remote scenario, the Falcons can't afford to stay on their current course if it's not working out. Right now the plan should be to start Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. the first month of the season - and if he doesn't impress then the other should get the ball until midseason.
If at that point neither Tagovailoa nor Penix has proven capable of holding down the starting job, the team should at least consider the possibility that Strand is their best option at QB1.
The problem is that Strand won't be getting any reps with the starting offense, no matter how bad Tua or Penix might look in the actual games. He'd need at least a couple of weeks with the ones before he'd be ready to start a game with any confidence at all.
Undrafted quarterbacks tend not to find a long-term home in the NFL, but Strand is at least off to a promising start.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons rookie earns A grade for stellar game vs. Colts
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