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.

[barrett]

I wrote a whole post about being nervous about smaller college QBs. The central florida kid was terrible against UH (200 yards, 0 TDs, 1 pick). And I think I dismiss anyone who doesn't dominate at the mid-level. Then I looked at the top 20 NFL passers and found...

Rothleisberger, Dalton, Romo, Flacco, Alex Smith, and Kaepernick.

All of them were outside of the power conferences (although TCU and Utah moved into those conferences after these guys). None are what I would dream of from a top overall pick, but if we are drafting in round 2 and came away with one of those guys it would be a good pick (and many were 2nd round picks precisely because they went to smaller schools).

Of course, David Carr was a mid tier conference guy who smoked the competition. So you never really know, no matter where they played in college. Hopefully the new HC/GM is better at guessing than I am.

[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.

[WMH]

I'd have no reservations about putting Carr in a Texans uni just because his last name was Carr.

IMO, the Texans ruined David's chances at becoming a decent NFL QB, as we literally gave him a scrap heap OLine to work with for the first 4 years.

If he's the dude, he's the dude, and I don't care what his last name is.

[jaimeg]

In 2004, I bellieved we would win a super bowl with Carr at the helm. I guess that dream can still come true.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by jaimeg

In 2004, I bellieved we would win a super bowl with Carr at the helm. I guess that dream can still come true.

Second chances in life as the saying goes, so maybe Bob McNair may end up thinking just that with about another Carr from Fresno State and his dream to win a SB ?
I have no recollection about reports re the owner's relationship with the Carr family after David's departure from the local scene, but I'm guessing it wasn't entirely amicable ?

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

I have no recollection about reports re the owner's relationship with the Carr family after David's departure from the local scene, but I'm guessing it wasn't entirely amicable ?

Can't tell you but I remember Mrs. Carr had some problems with the way fans treated her and her husband, something Mrs. Schaub now probably shares.

[barrett]

Here's a pretty special TD pass. Not a great QB decision but some pretty ridiculous arm strength.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/yahoo-...6745.html?vp=1

[popanot]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Can't tell you but I remember Mrs. Carr had some problems with the way fans treated her and her husband, something Mrs. Schaub now probably shares.

The only incident I can recall, and I don't know if it is true or not, is when someone reportedly poured a beer (and I'm sure some expletives) on Carr's wife during a game. I think it was Carr's last year here when it happened. The family may have a problem with the fans, but I don't recall anything being reported as to there being animosity between Carr and McNair when he left. There shouldn't have been - at least from Carr's perspective. McNair paid him a ton of money and graciously exercised his contract option when he probably shouldn't have.

[Warren]

Saturday, Dec. 21
2:30 pm, ABC
Derek Carr (Sr.), Fresno St. vs. USC

Saturday, Dec. 28
5:45 pm, ESPN
Teddy Bridgewater (Jr.), Louisville vs. Miami

Monday, Dec. 30
5:45 pm, ESPN
Marcus Mariota (So., says he's not coming out but nothing's final until the deadline passes), Oregon vs. Texas

Tuesday, Dec. 31
1:00 pm, CBS
Brett Hundley (So.), UCLA vs. Virginia Tech

7:00 pm, ESPN
Johnny Manziel (So.), Texas A&M vs. Duke

Wednesday, Jan. 1
7:30 pm, ESPN
Blake Bortles (Jr.), Central Florida vs. Baylor

Thursday, Jan. 2
7:30 pm, ESPN
A.J. McCarron (Sr.), Alabama vs. Oklahoma

Friday, Jan. 3
7:30 pm, ESPN
Tajh Boyd (Sr.), Clemson vs. Ohio St.

[nunusguy]

So thanks for the schedule Warren, that's gonna come in real handy.
So I did watch part of the Fresno-USC game yesterday and David's little brother did not impress at all. OK, so I saw him in some of the San Jose State game
a couple weeks ago, and he was much better then than yesterdays effort.
Next up is Bridgewater, and he's still the top-rated QB prospect so I'm really looking forward to his Bowl game as I've not seen him at all yet.

[Keith]

Got an armchair QB look at Bridgewater in his bowl game yesterday. Impressive 4-TD performance in a blowout win.

What struck me about him in this game is how he seemed like an ideal WCO QB, which is ironic because he would probably fit Kubiak's offense quite well. The short- and medium range accuracy is very good, and he seems to just have a lower heart rate than most under a blitz. Pocket awareness and mobility is very good. He has a low and very quick release. Willing to take what the defense gives him. Has nice touch on his passes, though his deep balls seem to be 50/50s...

The thought of him having Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins to catch his passes is intriguing.

As I mentioned above, I want a QB adept at reading defenses and performing well under a blitz. Teddy did that in this bowl game.

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

He's a bit small (6'3") and slender (210) for an ideal NFL quarterback

I think we'll hear about his measurables being a key negative in the pre-draft talk. For anyone wanting to believe this line of thinking, go do an image search on Tom Brady at his NFL Combine. I'm not concerned.

Word was that GM Rick Smith was in Orlando watching this game live.

[Warren]

I came away impressed as well. Very nice arm, accuracy, and release -- seemingly with a flick of the wrist he zipped the ball around the field, right where it needed to be. While he's obviously very mobile, he did more moving around to keep the pass play alive than taking off down the field. That should help him stay healthy in the NFL, especially until he beefs up some.

[chuck]

I thought he looked great but as I have repeatedly said I am the worst person in the world at knowing how a college quarterback's skills will translate in the NFL.

I also suck at gift wrapping beyond anything you can possible imagine.

[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.