Marcus Mariota
- Thread starter wildchild
- Start date
Against powerhouse Wyoming 
That "highlight" reel wasn't impressive at all. The scrambles were nice (albeit against non BCS Nichols state, and scrub defenses like Wash st and pathetic Colorado), but his passes to WIDE OPEN receivers were usually not in stride and quite a few of the receivers needed to dive or completely turn around to catch them. Rewatch the video and tell me I'm wrong....But more accurate throws would have resulted in at least three more touchdowns by my count.
Not hating on MM, but let's see some highlights against legit top 20 teams ON THE ROAD.
The best NFL QB in each draft is almost always the sleeper from a small school not in the Top 30 ....
This guy will fizzle like all the other highly thought of QBs of bygone drafts.... Manziel included....
Has there been any Heisman winners at any position who excelled in the NFL since the 80s? Doesn't seem like it...
This guy will fizzle like all the other highly thought of QBs of bygone drafts.... Manziel included....
Has there been any Heisman winners at any position who excelled in the NFL since the 80s? Doesn't seem like it...
90's- Charles Woodson is a first ballet HOF'er and Eddie George and Ricky Williams had solid careers.
00's- Carson Palmer has been an above average QB.
That's basically it. IMO.
Evaluating college QBs is probably the hardest task a pro GM faces. Get it right, eg Tom Brady, and your franchise is set for a long time. Get it wrong, and you have some variation of an RG III, JaMarcus Russell or Tim Couch debacle. The list of disasters is a lot longer than the successes.
I have to think a large part of it is the coaching these guys get when they get to the pros, plus the team around them. If Peyton Manning is getting pressure in his face and getting clobbered on every play and playing from behind, he is going to look ordinary.
Owners in particular are often swayed by flashy athletic skills in a college guy, see RG III. Those are nice to have, but many of the great QBs were pretty ordinary athletes, eg Brady and Manning. The really good guys all tend to process what is unfolding very quickly and intuitively. They don't have to think about who is going to be open. Then they are quick getting rid of the ball.
A big arm is a great thing, and the really elite guys have it, but you can be very successful with an average arm if you are quick with the ball and accurate. And you don't throw it to the other team.
I have to think a large part of it is the coaching these guys get when they get to the pros, plus the team around them. If Peyton Manning is getting pressure in his face and getting clobbered on every play and playing from behind, he is going to look ordinary.
Owners in particular are often swayed by flashy athletic skills in a college guy, see RG III. Those are nice to have, but many of the great QBs were pretty ordinary athletes, eg Brady and Manning. The really good guys all tend to process what is unfolding very quickly and intuitively. They don't have to think about who is going to be open. Then they are quick getting rid of the ball.
A big arm is a great thing, and the really elite guys have it, but you can be very successful with an average arm if you are quick with the ball and accurate. And you don't throw it to the other team.
If I were a GM trying to rebuild a bad team, I don't think I would concentrate on the QB position. I would try to build up a dominating defense, great special teams and a really solid O line, and hope the right QB fell into my lap at some point. Look at Philly, Seattle, even SF and NO. They were smart/lucky and got a good guy without paying up. Dallas too. Compare that to the Bears or Skins.
There's a lot to be said for getting some good team's backup or a guy who has worn out his welcome. Often, the problem is more the former coaching staff or surrounding cast of players. Other than Russell Wilson, there aren't too many rookies who have come in and produced right off the bat. Well, RG III and Tim Tebow did but then poof. Let another team train them and season them, then sign them.
There's a lot to be said for getting some good team's backup or a guy who has worn out his welcome. Often, the problem is more the former coaching staff or surrounding cast of players. Other than Russell Wilson, there aren't too many rookies who have come in and produced right off the bat. Well, RG III and Tim Tebow did but then poof. Let another team train them and season them, then sign them.