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Matt McGloin is Doing his Thing Again

I know some of you weren't 100% behind Matt McGloin when he was here (coughs politely behind his hand). Grit and determination were hallmarks of McGloin's tenure here. The unheralded walkon with no starz, politely waited his turn behind the anointed starter. Over and over again, we cursed and drank during the early parts of games, only to cheer like mad when McGloin bailed us out in the end.

Okay, maybe that's a bit revisionist, but we know that when Bill OBrien got aholt of him, things changed. The kid turned out to be a good QB. He went out and played ball...even though some of those throws were hard to watch.

Fast forward to the NFL. Again, no starz. No draft pick. He's too small. Weak arm. Not an NFL-caliber QB. Blah blah blah...

Instead of bailing, he works his way onto the Raiders roster. Then he outcompetes several star-laden QBs to make the team. Improbably, he works his way into the starting rotation by the end of the year.

That should be impressive all by itself. But now there's this year.

The Raiders go out and buy a starter - Matt Schaub, draft another starz-studded QB - Carr and McGloin is back to fighting for a roster spot.

So he does what he does. Works hard. Doesn't get down. Rallies the team around him (third stringers scrabbling for special teams spots or the practice squad)...and wins games.

After the first three weeks of preseason, guess who is the number one ranked QB in the NFL? Yep...Moxie. Here's the scoop from Profootball Focus:

1. Matthew McGloin, OAK: +7.4

Breakdown: After Oakland acquired Matt Schaub and drafted Derek Carr, the writing was on the wall for McGloin right? Wrong. You figured he could be in line for a Max Hall (who?) type fall from favor but he’s likely ensured a job in this league for at least another year whatever happens with the Raiders.

Signature Plays: Q4, 50 seconds to go against the Packers. Back to back plays show firstly McGloin, with pressure coming loft a ball into a spot only his receiver can get to it. More impressive is the next effort as with pressure coming and a bracketed receiver he fits the ball in down the sideline for a big gain.

That puts McGloin ahead of guys like Ryan Nassib and Blake Bortles.

I'm impressed with this kid. The NFL has had a million highly touted college QBs pack it up and leave the game with a fraction of the difficulty Matt faced.

This kid never quits. I'm impressed.

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