Let's Talk QBs in the 2014 Draft

[Keith]

Took this from the Keenum thread as I thought it was a good starting point for a new thread:

Originally Posted by barrett

I do not like Bridgewater. He has not been awesome against poor competition and that concerns me. UH largely shut him down and that concerns me. For a lower division guy he doesn't really look the part and appears very slim built, that concerns me.

As much as I'm in favor of a new QB, I don't like Bridgewater or Mariota at all. Mariota seems like a faster Locker. He cannot pass unless he can run, which means he cannot really pass.

I am intrigued by Manziel and don't really know too much about Hundley other than he looks the part. I liked Boyd coming into the season but he was abysmal against FSU.

I don't think there is a QB that I would feel good about at #1 overall, especially since it appears I could have a guy like Boyd at #33. If we traded down or were drafting between 5-10 I would be tempted to go Manziel, but I don't think I could pass on Clowney (or possibly the UCLA DE?) if I was drafting 1 or 2.

I am just starting to look at 2014 QBs, beginning with Bridgewater. The slim build doesn't concern me. He plays at Louisville, which has had a decent record even though it's lower division, regardless of whatever lack of success he might have had against UH.

Seems he is 'clutch' from what I hear, though so were many collegiate QBs who can't hack the NFL game. As I mentioned in the other thread, I think the team needs a guy who is going to be a star at reading defenses and performing well under a blitz. Is that Teddy? I really have NO idea. Not yet. More research needed.

He does have more than adequate arm strength, and he is capable of throwing more than just a fastball, too. Early on in my reviews though, I get a little of a Leftwich vibe (not a good thing), and listening to him in an interview, I don't hear someone who seems unusually smart. Small sample size hopefully.

I definitely think there's a possibility that there could be a guy with fewer eyeball measurables than Bridgewater who could be a good pick later in the draft. But who? Any faves? Fales? McCarron? Boyd? Anyone else?

[HPF Bob]

I did some reading up on Bridgewater last night and he appears to be an accurate thrower with good zip who has some running ability but is not a "running quarterback". He's a bit small (6'3") and slender (210) for an ideal NFL quarterback and not entirely consistent either. He'll take more time to develop than a typical 1-1 quarterback and, in a normal draft year, might be an 8-15 guy instead of Top 5.

But the tools are there. The intelligence and maturity are said to be there. Louisville's offense will adapt him for the pros far easier than Oregon's (Mariota) or A&M's (Manziel), so he's the safest of the three choices.

[Keith]

Scratch Marcus Mariota. He says he is returning to Oregon for his redshirt junior season. Not a big surprise. Ought to make guys like Johnny Manziel and Derek Carr happy though.

[WMH]

Mettenbergers stock takes a hit due to ACL tear in his bad knee. Tough break for the kid. Could be had in 2nd/3rd now.

[HPF Bob]

I really hate to say this but that QB Carr out of Fresno St. is looking better and better.

[jaimeg]

I am kind of leaning towards taking a qb in the second round. Carr, or the kid from Central Florida or even Manziel may drop. Heard on espn radio this morning that the central florida (Bortles?) is clutch. Didn't they beat Louisville with a game winning drive. The scout on the radio was high on this kid.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

I really hate to say this but that QB Carr out of Fresno St. is looking better and better.

I saw some of his game over the past weekend vs San Jose State and he impressed (as did SJSU QB David Fales), and his team is scheduled to play again Saturday night and it may be nationally televised, not sure ?
Wow, wouldn't it be a real dilemma for McNair/Texans if they decided that Carr was their top choice in next years Draft and they ending up having the opportunity to in fact choose him ?
***********
http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/12/04/...#storylink=cpy
Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr was named the Sammy Baugh Award winner and receiver Davante Adams earned the Paul Warfield Award, the Touchdown Club of Columbus announced Wednesday.
Carr has completed 388 of 552 yards for 4,462 yards and 45 touchdowns. He joins older brother and former Bulldogs star David Carr as the first brothers to both win the Baugh Award, which has honored college football's top passer since 1959.

[popanot]

Luck/RG3 vs. Bridgewater... Feels like we're getting the K-Mart blue light special with our #1 overall. He's OK, but #1 overall? I think I'd rather take my chances someone decent will be there at our #2 or #3. This kid, Brent Smith, from Wyoming seems intriguing as a mid-to-late round pick.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by popanot

Luck/RG3 vs. Bridgewater... Feels like we're getting the K-Mart blue light special with our #1 overall. He's OK, but #1 overall? I think I'd rather take my chances someone decent will be there at our #2 or #3. This kid, Brent Smith, from Wyoming seems intriguing as a mid-to-late round pick.

I'd rather not draft a QB than take someone "decent" in the 2nd or 3rd round. You don't win with decent QBs. If we are in love with some guy with a 3rd round grade and like him more than Bridgewater, then wait and draft him at the top of the 3rd (maybe he's Russell Wilson after all). Or if we don't like the 1st round options pass on drafting a QB altogether.

But why tie ourselves to a decent young QB that stops us from acquiring a great young QB for the next 2-3 years. If the talent at QB is bad in this draft, just sign a vet and delay the young gun for a year. Don't draft an Andy Dalton in the 2nd round, hoping he can edvelop into 2011 Matt Schaub so we can get bounced in the 1st or 2nd round of the playoffs again.

Draft the young QB you are convinced will be great or don't draft one at all.

I for one hope that last night made someone in the NFL fall in love with Teddy enough to trade up for him.

[chuck]

I will simply add that Andy Dalton is somehow, some way 11-5. Dalton is not terrible but he is nowhere near good.

Actually, sometimes he is terrible.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by chuck

I will simply add that Andy Dalton is somehow, some way 11-5. Dalton is not terrible but he is nowhere near good.

Actually, sometimes he is terrible.

Joe Flacco won the Super Bowl last year for crying out loud. Proof you don't have to reach at QB with your #1 overall.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by popanot

Joe Flacco won the Super Bowl last year for crying out loud. Proof you don't have to reach at QB with your #1 overall.

Joe Flacco was a first round pick.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by barrett

I'd rather not draft a QB than take someone "decent" in the 2nd or 3rd round. You don't win with decent QBs.

Draft the young QB you are convinced will be great or don't draft one at all.

By using the term "decent" I didn't mean "settle" for some schlep. I'm saying if Bridgewater isn't worth the first pick and someone else is (Clowney, perhaps), then use it on that player rather than reach at QB. Furthermore, I'm sure a lot of people considered Russell Wilson a "decent" prospect last year. Same with Foles and others... I'm merely saying use the pick wisely and not just draft a QB #1 overall just because you need a QB. If they find Bridgewater is head and shoulders above the other prospects and he's the guy, then so be it. Personally, I like Bridgewater. However, I also like some of the other QB prospects and think at least 2 or 3 of them will be really good NFL QBs.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by popanot

I'm merely saying use the pick wisely and not just draft a QB #1 overall just because you need a QB. If they find Bridgewater is head and shoulders above the other prospects and he's the guy, then so be it.

Those are my sentiments, because I'm concerned the Texans will be under so much pressure to bring in a "promising" young QB prospect now to reinvigorate fan interest/support they might very well reach for a QB in this years Draft.

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Those are my sentiments, because I'm concerned the Texans will be under so much pressure to bring in a "promising" young QB prospect now to reinvigorate fan interest/support they might very well reach for a QB in this years Draft.

I hope they resist the pressure to draft Manziel the way they resisted the pressure to draft Vince Young. But Rick Smith is going to get an earful from a lot of Aggies who think Johnny Football is God (just as Longhorns did with Casserly about VY).

If they don't like Bridgewater, I hope they trade down a few notches and get Matthews.

[popanot]

More comparison stats (might need a Twitter account to see this...):

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BdpBVjsCAAACtOs.png:large

[Nconroe]

This article talks about two QB , Matthews and Garrapolo, who will be in East-West Shrine game this weekend.

http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...ractice-report

[Keith]

Wade told the Texans to take Manziel during his HC interview.

And at the end of the season when he met with McNair and his brother Cal, the team's chief operating officer, he let them know that Manziel was their best option.

That's what Phillips told "In the Loop with Nick and Lopez" on SportsRadio 610 (via CBS Houston).

“When I did the interview with the McNairs, I told them they ought to take Johnny Football," Phillips said on the show.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...9229--nfl.html

Of course, the Texans chose to hire someone else to be their next HC...

[popanot]

Just covers the top QB prospects, but great analysis on rotoworld:

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cf...back-conundrum

[chuck]

Derek Carr is the complete opposite, throwing 33% of his passes behind the line of scrimmage...

Why am I not surprised? I wonder how often he runs out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage.