Holcomb was far more accurate with his passes, which at least kept them out of an egregious number of third-and-long situations. Even if he didn't stretch the field, his completions made the difference between 3rd and 11 vs. 3rd and 2, or 3rd and 8 vs. 1st and 10, or 3rd and 7 vs. 1st and 10, or 3rd and 10 vs. 3rd and 5. Five drives either kept alive or kept within managable distances on third down because Holcomb managed simply throw an unspectacular completion.
Other than that...you're right. Irrespective of the QB, this offense sputters and stumbles its way through a game. Like my signature says: if the answer is Kelly Holcomb, someone's asking the wrong !@#$ing question.