Lions: Three Quarterbacks to target in free agency
By Bob Heyrman
Case Keenum
He wasn’t my first choice, but he’s still an upgrade over David Blough and Jeff Driskel. Case Keenum flashed some success under the direction of Pat Shurmur with the Minnesota Vikings for a season before John Elway signed him to be the Broncos franchise quarterback only to give up on him after merely a season.
With the Vikings, Keenum tossed for 3547 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Keenum is essentially an Alex Smith clone. Well, a poor man’s Alex Smith, that is, I’d much prefer a healthy Smith over Keenum any day of the week. Shurmur, a Dearborn, Michigan native and a Michigan State Alumn, managed Keenum’s short, conservative passing abilities perfectly in Minnesota.
His success led him to the head coaching gig with the New York Giants. He was let go by Mike Zimmer, the head coach in Minnesota, because he deferred to the pass more than the run. Zimmer wanted a power run team with Dalvin Cook, it’s seemed to work, but Cook’s health is something to question.
Keenum’s conservative nature didn’t play well with John Elway in Denver. It’s a match that left me to scratch my head. Elway was this athletic downfield risk-taker during his playing days but signed an athletic but conservative thrower? It was a signing that seemed doomed; the second pen met paper.
This season with Washington Keenum has been in and out of the lineup as Washington competes with Detroit for the second overall pick in the draft. He’s completed 67% of his passes this season throwing for 1501 yards and 10 touchdowns, throwing just 4 interceptions. That reeks solid backup quarterback to me.
If you are wondering, Blough has tossed 862 yards, completed 56.6% of his passes. In 4 games, he’s thrown 4 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
The Lions should consider Keenum as their backup QB for the 2020 season.