Atlanta Falcons likely to prioritize stability over potential when picking backup quarterback

Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn doesn't want to contemplate a worst case scenario where he's made to rely on a backup quarterback. Heck, none of us want to think about that. (In fact, I'm not even writing this; what you're looking at now is just a figment of your imagination.) But Thomas Dimitroff certainly had that worst case scenario in mind when he signed free agent QB Matt Schaub during the offseason.

Schaub, a former Falcons draft pick, was a familiar name. He's arguably only a shell of his former self. That said, he's a player that puts Quinn's mind at ease. (Credit to The AP's Charles Odum for the quote.)

Falcons coach Dan Quinn says the experience is valuable — even though Ryan hasn't missed a start since 2009. Schaub has made a strong first impression with Quinn, who says the veteran has "a real coolness about him." "When the pressure is on, he kind of looks at you and smiles and says ‘This is what we're going to do,'" Quinn said last week. "That's an assuring feeling, knowing that's an important job for us."

Quinn must've felt unsettled watching his franchise quarterback hit the deck over and over last season. In response I'm sure he asked Dimitroff to seek out a temporary fix during the offseason. To Schaub's credit, he's met and exceeded expectations during training camp. No knock on Sean Renfree, but at this point, his "potential" is seemingly less important to Quinn than Schaub's track record.

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