Chris Brown of Grantland and SmartFootball.com wrote an interesting piece on these three guys.

 

<p style="margin-left:40px;">"...Bortles, Bridgewater, and Manziel are all first-round talents with fifth-round flaws, and which of them a given personnel man or fan likes best says as much about that person as it does about that quarterback. They’re different players, but they’re united by the uncertainty that surrounds them. Each QB is a Rorschach test for the evaluator, which makes examining these three prospects in turn a way to study the larger, gut-wrenching process of evaluating and drafting players who can make or break careers
..."

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I'm trying to make myself more informed and less opinionated.

Stop saying whatever stupid thing you're talking about and pay attention to all the interesting things I have to say!

He's one of the better nfl people out there. Like how he broke down Bortles mechanics. I always knew something seemed off but I had no idea how to pinpoint what was wrong.


Think he nailed the teddy part too. Everything you want but the build.

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To me, I'm always concerned about Bortles.  The first positive things that people say about him are his prototyical QB size and potential; the negatives are his inconsistent footwork and mechanics and need more polishing. 

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To me, I'm always concerned about Bortles.  The first positive things that people say about him are his prototyical QB size and potential; the negatives are his inconsistent footwork and mechanics and need more polishing. 

 

You forgot "he takes over room"..... another useless trait.

 

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The thing with Bortles though is that you get the impression that he is going to be able to withstand the punishment of an NFL schedule and still make enough plays to keep you in games while you work on fixing all of his odd mechanics. I admit that whenever I read that he 'passes the eye test' I get worried because there needs to be more to a player's analysis than that, but that doesn't mean he can't play.

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I'm trying to make myself more informed and less opinionated.

Stop saying whatever stupid thing you're talking about and pay attention to all the interesting things I have to say!

Honestly, this confirms what I've already felt, and that is that I want either Manziel or Bridgewater to be a Jag.

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He's one of the better nfl people out there. Like how he broke down Bortles mechanics. I always knew something seemed off but I had no idea how to pinpoint what was wrong.


Think he nailed the teddy part too. Everything you want but the build.

To me TB's build concern is overblown by the media.  I know he has a wrist injury (that he played through), but that's entirely different than getting hurt and can't play.  I mean, you would think a guy criticized for not having an ideal build to have some sort of injury history, but not once has he shown to be "injury prone".

 

In  the NFL, it's either you're injury prone or you're not.  Example, Jake Locker and Sam Bradford, both with ideal QB size, have had injury history in college, and it's no different now that they are in the pro.  Stafford has no such history, but got injured twice his first two seasons.  Since then, he's been injured free.   

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The thing with Bortles though is that you get the impression that he is going to be able to withstand the punishment of an NFL schedule and still make enough plays to keep you in games while you work on fixing all of his odd mechanics. I admit that whenever I read that he 'passes the eye test' I get worried because there needs to be more to a player's analysis than that, but that doesn't mean he can't play.

I really try not to bring up the Gabbert comparision, but it's hard.  Just from watching him play this season, I known that Bortles is mentally tougher than Gabbert.  But the way they rose through the draft and the manner which they did are too similar -- prototypical size, measurables, potentials, not quite pro ready, need more polishing, rose during the draft process instead during the college season.

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I agree with pretty much everything said. All these QBs are talented. All of them need work. It could really depend on where they go.


GO JAGS!!

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Let's Get Em!!!! Go Jags!

I really try not to bring up the Gabbert comparision, but it's hard.  Just from watching him play this season, I known that Bortles is mentally tougher than Gabbert.  But the way they rose through the draft and the manner which they did are too similar -- prototypical size, measurables, potentials, not quite pro ready, need more polishing, rose during the draft process instead during the college season.

 

The Gabbert comparison is ridiculous.  Bortles improved, while Gabbert regressed.  Bortles played in a pro-style offense, while Gabbert played in the spread (and didn't put up the numbers you'd expect for it).  

 

And before anyone decides to say "You're just a UCF fan!"  I'd like to point out that I'm a VT fan.

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I was wrong about Trent Baalke. 

To me TB's build concern is overblown by the media.  I know he has a wrist injury (that he played through), but that's entirely different than getting hurt and can't play.  I mean, you would think a guy criticized for not having an ideal build to have some sort of injury history, but not once has he shown to be "injury prone".

 

In  the NFL, it's either you're injury prone or you're not.  Example, Jake Locker and Sam Bradford, both with ideal QB size, have had injury history in college, and it's no different now that they are in the pro.  Stafford has no such history, but got injured twice his first two seasons.  Since then, he's been injured free.   

 

His slight build may not be an issue against the defenses he faced at Louisville.  He'll be facing guys who are 300+ lbs who can run who are being paid to separate his head from his body on a snap-by-snap basis.  That frame isn't built to take the kind of beating he can expect in the NFL.  Maybe he'll be lucky and won't suffer injury?  Maybe he won't.  It's still a legitimate concern.

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Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

His slight build may not be an issue against the defenses he faced at Louisville. He'll be facing guys who are 300+ lbs who can run who are being paid to separate his head from his body on a snap-by-snap basis. That frame isn't built to take the kind of beating he can expect in the NFL. Maybe he'll be lucky and won't suffer injury? Maybe he won't. It's still a legitimate concern.

It's a concern for every nfl player because they all get hurt.

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The Gabbert comparison is ridiculous.  Bortles improved, while Gabbert regressed.  Bortles played in a pro-style offense, while Gabbert played in the spread (and didn't put up the numbers you'd expect for it).  

 

And before anyone decides to say "You're just a UCF fan!"  I'd like to point out that I'm a VT fan.

 

While I wouldn't call the comparison ridiculous, they do share some superficial traits, I agree with everything else you said.

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I was thinking maybe the jaguars really don't care for any qb at the top. Jaguars could improve other spots around on the roster early in the draft and throw a 3rd or 4th round pick at a few different teams to pick up a guy with some upside. Guys like Glennon, Locker, Cousins... etc. High risk/high reward. Maybe the injuries kept a guy like Locker from reaching his potential? 25 years old...for a 4th rounder with some experience? not the worst idea ive ever come up with. 

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Coughlin when asked if winning will be a focus: "What the hell else is there? This is nice and dandy, but winning is what all this is about."

Ted seems to be the right QB in the wrong package (like Leftwich, probably a star in a different body.)

 

Bortles has the opposite issue, the right package but questions elsewhere.

 

Manziel is a total wildcard... boom or bust.  Can the magic work at the NFL level?  Would be the shortest ever to go in the first if he does.

 

All have enough holes in the resume to raise enough flags to push them down from the top of the draft.

 

None of them have given me confidence that they'll be certain franchise QBs, and that's why I've never liked them inside the top 10.

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"You do your own thing in your own time. You should be proud."

I really try not to bring up the Gabbert comparision, but it's hard.  Just from watching him play this season, I known that Bortles is mentally tougher than Gabbert.  But the way they rose through the draft and the manner which they did are too similar -- prototypical size, measurables, potentials, not quite pro ready, need more polishing, rose during the draft process instead during the college season.

 

Thing is, guys that have the physical traits that Gabbert, Bortles, et al have are always going to rise. There's only so many human beings on the planet that can walk onto an NFL field and not get murdered by the other team. Players with those traits give you a longer time frame, i.e. better chances, to develop than someone who does not have those traits.

 

It's a bit sad I guess, but it's the way it is.

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I'm trying to make myself more informed and less opinionated.

Stop saying whatever stupid thing you're talking about and pay attention to all the interesting things I have to say!

Thing is, guys that have the physical traits that Gabbert, Bortles, et al have are always going to rise. There's only so many human beings on the planet that can walk onto an NFL field and not get murdered by the other team. Players with those traits give you a longer time frame, i.e. better chances, to develop than someone who does not have those traits.

 

It's a bit sad I guess, but it's the way it is.

 

Rick Gosselin's take:

 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/columni...ollege.ece

 

<p style="margin-left:40px;">"But understand that the NFL draft is not about college production. It’s about a player’s measurables. It always has been and always will be. The NFL covets players who best fit the position prototypes, because having the ideal height, weight, strength and speed give them the best chance for success at the next level."

 

Right or wrong, that's the mindset.

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"You do your own thing in your own time. You should be proud."

His slight build may not an issue against the defenses he faced at Louisville. He'll be facing guys who are 300+ lbs who can run who are being paid to separate his head from his body on a snap-by-snap basis. That frame isn't built to take the kind of beating he can expect in the NFL. Maybe he'll be lucky and won't suffer injury? Maybe he won't. It's still a legitimate concern.

It's a legitimate debate, but it's way over analyzed. Drew Bree's is 6'0 and 210. Yes, he suffered shoulder injury in the past, but since then he's injury free. Look at Joe Montana and his chicken legs. Steve Young and his Vick-like scrambles? If you're not injury prone, then you're less likely to get injure than someone who is. Brady and Manning have had a serious surgery in the past, but they haven't miss a game since. Brett Favre has huge arms, but he's not exactly Gabbert-like in size, but he never missed a game.


On the other hand you have Bradford who has prototypical QB size and Locker who's built like a fullback. But both have missed significant playing time because of injury. Bradford was barely touch when he ran out of bound and hurt his ACL. As for Locker, I can't imagine what his body would be like had he started his rookie year.


Not knowing what we already know about Gabbert, if he and Russell Wilson declare at the same year, who would be perceived as more likely to get injured? But in reality, that's not the case.


Some players have the unfortunate luck of being injury prone, others avoid that bug bite. And its not just for the QBs, but all positions apply as well.


(I also like to point out that while TB gets knock for "potentially" get hurt playing against NFL defenses, but Manziel, who is actually smaller -- he looks like a high school track student when he ran the 40 at the combine -- get a pass from the media. Who knows, maybe both can avoid the injury bug in the NFL. That's the one thing that we can't really predict unless they have had some injury history i.e Jake Locker.)

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Rick Gosselin's take:

<a class="bbc_url" href='http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/columnists/rick-gosselin/20140225-gosselin-why-nfl-won-t-care-how-jadaveon-clowney-played-in-college.ece'>http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/columnists/rick-gosselin/20140225-gosselin-why-nfl-won-t-care-how-jadaveon-clowney-played-in-college.ece</a>


<p class="bbc_indent" style="margin-left:40px;">"But understand that the NFL draft is not about college production. It’s about a player’s measurables. It always has been and always will be. The NFL covets players who best fit the position prototypes, because having the ideal height, weight, strength and speed give them the best chance for success at the next level."



Right or wrong, that's the mindset.

And that's the reason why people hyped up Gabbert but slept on Russell Wilson and Drew Brees.

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I still have Bortles rated the highest. IMO he has the highest ceiling, his game is very similar to Lucks.

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<b>We Believe In Victory..</b>