I LOVED Teddy and still do. I liked Carr, but less so than Teddy. I hated Bortles as well. Well, maybe it wasn't the QB issue. It doesn't really matter anyway. Listen, it wasn't personal. You seem like a good guy and I'd be happy to sit down and have a brew or adult beverage any time. I don't care if you disagree with me on players/talent or anything. My point was at least have solid reasons to back up your opinion perspective. IMO trying to compare Mariota and Young is like trying to compare a bowling ball to a grapefruit.
The way you've been talking, it has seemed as if you did view him as an elite prospect, because you've been comparing him to Mariota. Mariota IS an elite prospect. Cook isn't yet, at least, and may never be. It's not the end of the world if we don't get Mariota. I haven't seen even one person intimating that he is. It's just yet another blown opportunity (if we pass up on him as we did Teddy and Carr) to get a potential franchise QB. It just means that no matter how good the rest of the team gets, the chances of being consistent winners and contenders are slim and none until we get that franchise QB. If we miss out on Mariota or Winston, it could legitimately be another 5-10 years before we get a realistic shot at getting a franchise QB without making a Herschel Walker-type trade with another team. The time to get a franchise QB prospect is coming off a miserable season like we just had where you hopefully don't have to move up, and if you do, it isn't far. If the team finishes 7-9 or 8-8 it will be harder to be able to draft any potential franchise QBs next year, and if they finish 10-6 in 2016 it will be even harder in the 2017 draft. Even if (God forbid) we wind up having another 4-12 season in 2015, there might not be a prospect as good as Mariota in the 2016 draft. You just don't pass up the opportunity to draft a potential franchise QB, particularly when it's been decades since your team has had one.
To be fair to 101, I have been LOL. Somewhat hyperbole, but you've laid out the exact reasons why below. This is exactly what I've been ranting and raving about for weeks now. Like them or not, Mariota and Winston are elite prospects and the rest of this QB draft class is crap. Next's years draft class--IMHO--doesn't have any players NEAR the potentially elite level of Mariota and Winston and EVEN IF THERE WERE, we may end up 8-8 and be drafting 16 or 18 with no shot at getting them. Let's say Cook next year fixes EVERYTHING about his game, completes 75% of his passes and becomes the next Andrew Luck. We have pick 6 this year, not next year. I don't think Cook will become Luck, but if he is, we're not getting him. There's going to be 4-5 teams next year--just like every year--that are looking for franchise QBs. We are so close this year with (i) a relatively low pick (thank you very much for 2 useless wins) and (ii) TWO potentially elite level guys. Yeah, so I guess I am saying it's the end of the world if we don't get one of these guys--at least for the next 5 years or so. _
I provided solid reasons already, but OK - we both have our own perspectives and that's fine, I respect that for sure. BTW, I'll bring the beers. In my opinion the only true elite QB prospect this yr and next is Winston - there's no way we will get him in this draft. Now, I don't like his attitude, but Winston the football player that guy is one special player. Plenty of acquired skills and extremely talented. In regards to your bold, there I think you need to go back and look at Stokes posts and you will see how he "evaluates" Mariota. I don't want to classify you guys together because you seem to know more about the game and you believe in alternative ways to build our team. I don't think the Jets need a super-star at the QB position to start something special - I do believe we need someone that can operate in the pocket, win in the pocket and make the throws needed to win the game. That doesn't sound like an elite QB, but to me that's OK. I personally do not believe we will be good next year, we have an inexperienced FO / HC. I smell 6-10 next year. We need to get this offense line back to standards, find a 3 down linebacker and shore up the secondary too. Jets have some work to do, but I like this front office, this coaching staff - might not have the experience you want, but the mentality, the eye for talent is there.
The only thing I like about Mariota, is he does not throw picks. The only problem is Geno did not throw a lot of picks in college either. But he sure throws them in the Pros. Will Mariota do the same? I will stick with Shane Ray.
Jim Leonhard played Strong Safety - Rex style his entire career. Ed Reed was Baltimore's Free Safety - Rex style.
Soooooo, if Winston and Mariota are gone I suppose you are taking Brett Hundley at # 6. You do that, I'll stick with BAP.
He's a weaker armed Kellen Clemens. Saw him play 3 times this year, that's what I saw. And I keep hearing how he has "good size". No, he doesn't. He's 6-2 220. Could measure out shorter. "Good size" is over 6-3, over 220. Please do not throw away any draft pick on this guy. Unless our plan is to groom a career backup. _
I agree, some sort of skill player, anything but a fat body offensive lineman. We can get them at the end of the draft or in FA, we need way too much to draft one early.