General manager Rick Spielman is on the record saying he has the utmost confidence in veteran quarterback Shaun Hill to be the the team’s starting quarterback.
The Minnesota Vikings may be adding another quarterback soon, but regardless of who they bring in, Hill is the pressumed starter when Minnesota opens the season on Sept. 11.
Here are four reasons why the Vikings can be successful with Hill as the starting quarterback
He knows the system
Hill has been with the Vikings since last season, serving as the backup to Teddy Bridgewater. Even if a new QB is signed it will take him a few weeks to learn the playbook and there’s no guarantee he’ll get reps with the first-team.
Remember when the Vikings brought in Josh Freeman and Minnesota thrusted him into a starting role? That didn’t exactly go so well.
Takes care of the football
Throughout Hill’s career he has always done a solid job of taking care of the football, throwing 49 touchdowns and just 30 interceptions.
His career touchdown percentage of 4.1% is near last year’s NFL league average of 4.6%. He has also never thrown more interceptions than touchdowns in a season during his career.
Not your average backup
USA Today published an article on Aug. 31 on the NFL’s best backup quarterbacks. Hill checked in the list at No. 23 but his ranking is a bit deceiving.
Of the top ten options USA Today lists, Hill actually has a better passer rating than 9 of them. Only A.J. McCarron had better numbers and he only started three games last season.
Age is a good thing
Shaun Hill may be 36-years-old but how many quarterbacks can you name who have stuck around the league for 10 years?
Hill has started 34 games in his NFL career for three different teams and has won 16 of those starts.
