If I were an NFL GM I wouldn't draft Mariota in the top 10

[Alsacs]

Mariota just doesn't look like a good pro prospect. He runs the Oregon system well but unless he plays in Philly for Chip Kelly I don't think he will succeed in the NFL. James Winston looks like the better pro prospect but his character flaws will red flag him. If Jameis passes the psych tests I would take him over Mariota.

Mariota last night when his first read was covered last night wasn't quick to get rid of the ball. Oregon dropped some passes early but Mariota isn't good if his first read is covered he looked to run and Ohio State defended him well and when Oregon fell behind his arm didn't bring Oregon back after Ohio State went up 8 points.

Cardale Jones looked like a mini Big Ben Rothlisberger last night. With all this said Mariota won't be drafted below 2nd overall even though he doesn't scream NFL passer to me.

 

[JKinPhilly]

Cardale Jones looked like a mini Big Ben Rothlisberger last night.

Let's be clear...there's nothing mini about Cardale Jones. A 255 lb. QB? Dude is a load to bring down.

 

[Full_Rebar]

Great college player. Maybe not a top 10 pick, but I don't know how much I'd put on last night as he was missing 3 of his better options on offense.

If those two 3rd down balls are caught in the 1st Q, Oregon might score 21. Not that they would have won the game, but those drops killed a lot of their early momentum.

Cardale Jones will probably declare. We know he doesn't want to play school and at 22, it's hard to see his stock being higher by returning.

 

[sufandu]

I don't know that I trust Mariota or Winston to be my franchise QB. As you said, I don't have enough evidence that Mariota isn't a product of the Oregon system, and, even if he passes the psych tests, I don't trust Winston to touch him with a ten foot poll, despite what he does on the field.

 

[Alsacs]

I would take a fiyer on Jones in late 2nd round or 3rd round. He was better at reading the defense when to get rid of the ball and when to run. He extended plays in the pocket like Rothlisberger he won't go early in the draft but he would excite me in a later round.

 

[upperdeck]

Im not sure either will be a great pro, mariota has a huge learning curve and a bad release point that needs to be changed. Winston is a huge head case, Jones with 3 games is a flyer pick. how often does 3rd team QB in college become a pro starter?

 

[sufandu]

I would take a fiyer on Jones in late 2nd round or 3rd round. He was better at reading the defense when to get rid of the ball and when to run. He extended plays in the pocket like Rothlisberger he won't go early in the draft but he would excite me in a later round.

I was thinking 4th round, but agree with your reasoning.

 

[44doubledees]

I am not high on Winston, even without all the baggage off the field I just don't think he has the makeup of an NFL QB, my Bears pick 7th and I am scared to death they take him.

 

[Alsacs]

I am not high on Winston, even without all the baggage off the field I just don't think he has the makeup of an NFL QB, my Bears pick 7th and I am scared to death they take him.

Winston won't last to 7 IMO. The Jets would be hard to pass him if he fell to them. Winston is a million dollar player, ten cent brain type of guy. He needs to grow up which is scary, but he has shown NFL QB throws in college more than Mariota.

Mariota is a good kid and class act, but just runs a complex run/pass offense that uses space well. When Ohio State pressured him and they did often and his first read was covered he struggled badly. Now Oregon WR's dropped passes and that hurt him, but in the red zone Mariota was awful and Oregon lost the game in the red zone.

Your Bears are likely dealing Cutler and would be in the market for a QB, but I think your Bears need way more help on the defensive side as the Bears D got old and slow real fast this year.

 

[Millhouse]

Mariota just doesn't look like a good pro prospect. He runs the Oregon system well but unless he plays in Philly for Chip Kelly I don't think he will succeed in the NFL. James Winston looks like the better pro prospect but his character flaws will red flag him. If Jameis passes the psych tests I would take him over Mariota.

Mariota last night when his first read was covered last night wasn't quick to get rid of the ball. Oregon dropped some passes early but Mariota isn't good if his first read is covered he looked to run and Ohio State defended him well and when Oregon fell behind his arm didn't bring Oregon back after Ohio State went up 8 points.

Cardale Jones looked like a mini Big Ben Rothlisberger last night. With all this said Mariota won't be drafted below 2nd overall even though he doesn't scream NFL passer to me.

if your goal is to be assured that your draft pick will play and you want to make sure he gives you something, draft some ordinary cornerback or defensive lineman. they all play and make some tackles.

but if you're in that spot, you need a QB. i don't know how last night knocks him down. he had a good game even with a bunch of drops

draft the qb, if he sucks, then you'll suck and you can draft the next qb

 

[Alsacs]

if your goal is to be assured that your draft pick will play and you want to make sure he gives you something, draft some ordinary cornerback or defensive lineman. they all play and make some tackles.

but if you're in that spot, you need a QB. i don't know how last night knocks him down. he had a good game even with a bunch of drops

draft the qb, if he sucks, then you'll suck and you can draft the next qb

Mariota's passing numbers looked good, but he didn't make good decisions when his first read was covered. The first half was fine and he was killed by drops in the 2nd half when Ohio State forced him to throw he was horrible outside that 70 yd TD which was wide and if his first read was covered he was flustered and Ohio State contained him.

He doesn't look anything like NFL QB with that performance. Ohio State's DL had NFL prospects in Bennett and Bosa(next yr) and they made Mariota look ordinary. Winston is a moron and red flag, but he looks like a better NFL passer than Mariota.

The safest pick in this draft USC DE Leonard Williams.

 

[Millhouse]

Mariota's passing numbers looked good, but he didn't make good decisions when his first read was covered. The first half was fine and he was killed by drops in the 2nd half when Ohio State forced him to throw he was horrible outside that 70 yd TD which was wide and if his first read was covered he was flustered and Ohio State contained him.

He doesn't look anything like NFL QB with that performance. Ohio State's DL had NFL prospects in Bennett and Bosa(next yr) and they made Mariota look ordinary. Winston is a moron and red flag, but he looks like a better NFL passer than Mariota.

The safest pick in this draft USC DE Leonard Williams.

safe DE picks are great if you want to be the texans

 

[Stern]

The thing that scares ya about Mariota is on the CBS NFL Pregame show last month when asked if he can take a snap under center, his answer was..."I am working on it." When asked if he can call a play in a huddle his answer..."I'm working on that too"

I'm sorry if your a QB and have to work on calling a play in the huddle and on taking a snap under center...I wouldn't use a Top 10 pick on ya. I know alot of College QB's these days are in similar situations due to the offensive style that is run at their school, but if you are possibly the #1 overall draft pick or a Top 5 or Top 10 draft pick at that position, the basics you should be able to do!

 

[OrangeFoo]

Mariota is going to have the same big problem that EJ Manuel, Geno Smith, Jonny Football and a lot of other recent college QBs have had when he transitions to the NFL and that is they are used to throwing to open receivers and when I say open I am talking about no one within 5 yards. Those windows just don't exist in the NFL and the QB has to often lead a cover receiver open. The only college QB who seems even remotely capable of this type of thing is Winston and even he has mechanical issues. Having said that I think someone will spend a high pick on Mariota, I hope he can adapt to the NFL.

I watched more college football bowls this year than the last 4 or 5 combined and I was amazed at how bad college QBs have gotten. It's because everyone uses the spread system which relies on hitting wide open guys and YAC. If I am an NFL team without a QB I believe in I am very worried right about now because I don't see any Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, or Peyton Manning in college these days. I think Bryce Petty might be the closest I've seen to Russel Wilson in terms of being able to throw and run but Petty is not as athletic. I think the Boise State QB looked a lot like Matt Schaub and he was able to throw guys open. I think Cardale Jones was asked to make maybe one read and that's it but he has a cannon arm and is a big dude, if I'm the Saints or Patriots or another team with an aging QB I take Jones and see if I can get him ready.

 

[Millhouse]

we just saw a bunch of teams draft tacklers over teddy bridgewater who just finished up with a 103 rating over his last 5 games

talking yourself out of drafting QBs is how you end up like the bills

 

[Alsacs]

Bru

we just saw a bunch of teams draft tacklers over teddy bridgewater who just finished up with a 103 rating over his last 5 games

talking yourself out of drafting QBs is how you end up like the bills

Bridgewater was obviously the top QB in last year's draft IMO. Louisville ran a pro offense not a spread offense and the kid made NFL throws in games(worth noting he did have 2 NFL WRs but still). The draft process tore the kid down because he had a poor pro day when nobody has poor pro days. The fact Brotles went ahead of him had something to do with the fact Jacksonville is run by morons and Bridgewater tanked his meetings with Cleveland because he didn't want to go there. Minnesota got a steal at 32.

 

[Alsacs]

Mariota just doesn't make NFL throws in games. He always has windows like OrangeFoo said above. Winston has thrown back shoulder throws, and cross field across the hash throws. Mariota bless him is a good kid, but isn't a big kid physically. Last night was the first game this year he had to make throws to win and couldn't just throw to his first read and he didn't impress. Now his WRs let him down in the first with two huge drops on 3rd down.

I just watched the kid and here all this talk about him being a top 2 overall pick and I don't see it. He won't be close to be ready to play next year. His speed will negated in the NFL as LBs run 4.5 40's. He needs to work on throwing the ball.

I would rather spend a 3rd round pick on Cardale Jones than a top 5 overall pick on Mariota. If Jameis Winston can get the Dez Bryant lifehelp posse in the NFL he would interest me more as well.

 

[sufandu]

Bru

Bridgewater was obviously the top QB in last year's draft IMO. Louisville ran a pro offense not a spread offense and the kid made NFL throws in games(worth noting he did have 2 NFL WRs but still). The draft process tore the kid down because he had a poor pro day when nobody has poor pro days. The fact Brotles went ahead of him had something to do with the fact Jacksonville is run by morons and Bridgewater tanked his meetings with Cleveland because he didn't want to go there. Minnesota got a steal at 32.

I thought all last year that Bridgewater was the most NFL ready. I think scouts fell in love with Bortles arm strength, but anyone could see TB could make all the throws even when under pressure.

 

[dasher]

we just saw a bunch of teams draft tacklers over teddy bridgewater who just finished up with a 103 rating over his last 5 games

talking yourself out of drafting QBs is how you end up like the bills

A.J Manuel?

 

[Ozcuse]

If Jameis Winston can get the Dez Bryant lifehelp posse in the NFL he would interest me more as well.

I would take that job. Pay me $80k a year to follow Jameis around and say, "I don't think _____________ at the club at 2am is a good idea. You should go home and sleep instead." Best insurance policy a team could buy.

 

[TheCusian]

Mariota just doesn't look like a good pro prospect. He runs the Oregon system well but unless he plays in Philly for Chip Kelly I don't think he will succeed in the NFL. James Winston looks like the better pro prospect but his character flaws will red flag him. If Jameis passes the psych tests I would take him over Mariota. Mariota last night when his first read was covered last night wasn't quick to get rid of the ball. Oregon dropped some passes early but Mariota isn't good if his first read is covered he looked to run and Ohio State defended him well and when Oregon fell behind his arm didn't bring Oregon back after Ohio State went up 8 points. Cardale Jones looked like a mini Big Ben Rothlisberger last night. With all this said Mariota won't be drafted below 2nd overall even though he doesn't scream NFL passer to me.

Rodgers was dinged as a system guy coming out of Cal.

 

[Millhouse]

A.J Manuel?

i talking about years and years. reluctance to draft qbs, drafting running backs, dbs, and midget kick returners instead.

manuel was probably a swing and a miss but it's not like it hurt them that much, the rest of the roster was fine. keep doing it. who knows, manuel might play this year, we'll see.

they've picked 2 qbs in the top 20 picks in their entire existence. they've had 50 top 20 picks.

 

[Alsacs]

Rodgers was dinged as a system guy coming out of Cal.

Rodgers played in a pro system at Cal Jeff Tedford his college coach has been an NFL coordinator since he left Cal.
He didn't play in a spread/run system the Ducks run.

Comparing Mariotta to Rodgers is not a good comparison.

 

[Stern]

Recent QB's drafted early who played in a pro style offense in college and had success...Luck (obviously), Tannehill with Mike Sherman at A&M in a West Coast offense, Russel Wilson came from a non-spread offense and a very pro style offense.

And the QB's drafted early who came from the spread offenses or a "gimmicky" offense have struggled badly...Brandon Weeden, RGIII, Manziel, Tebow

 

[longislandcuse]

I thought Cardale Jones has looked pretty good but he also has had the benefit of a running game averaging like 10 yards a clip. That makes Quarterbacking much easier.