O'Brien Coy About Draft Options

[Keith]

Originally Posted by barrett

I don't think arm strength is overrated. I think it is properly rated (and necessary).

It becomes overrated when choosing a QB with the better arm strength over one with more of the things O'Brien mentions in that video, namely: accuracy, decision-making, and intelligence.

A certain amount of arm strength is like a prerequisite, as in, "you must be this tall to ride the ride" of playing QB in the NFL... or in other words, your QB's arm must be strong enough to make the necessary throws accurately. I agree that 2013 Schaub could not, hence several of the uncharacteristic picks he threw last season. But you keep mentioning 2013 Schaub as though someone with as weak an arm as his was in this draft. I do not think Teddy's arm is comparable to 2013 Schaub's, do you? If so, then I can see passing over Teddy.

So if all draftable QBs in this class have enough arm strength to complete passes accurately in O'Brien's new offense, which I would think that all the guys we are discussing do, then these prospects move on in the evaluation, i.e. any additional arm strength in excess of this prerequisite is not of as much value to me as are other factors, namely accuracy, decision-making, and intelligence.

I don't dismiss Manziel as lacking these last three talents; rather I prefer them in what I have seen from Bridgewater versus whatever more arm strength Manziel can provide.

I imagine the answer to whom O'Brien prefers has less to do with what we see on pro days and far more with what he hears from them when talking about how to attack a defense. The prospect who aces that pre-draft test is the one we'll see hoisting a Texans jersey in May.

Just look at his pick for wet nursing the job... Fitzpatrick. Does his arm impress anyone? No? Or maybe he is on the roster and not T.J. Yates or someone with an obviously stronger arm because Fitzpatrick is intelligent, like Harvard-intelligent.

Of course, it seems BOB is favoring his Irishmen here as well (McGloin at PSU, now Fitzpatrick). If I'm Manziel, maybe I'm changing my last name before draft day to McCarron...