This was the year to tank because the Jets were already 2-11 after 13 with 2 games left on the road and the Pats the 3rd game. It's hard to tank in the NFL. You have to be just a doormat of a franchise to get out late in the season with any real chance at losing the 14 games you need to lose to get the #1 pick. I'm not saying they should have tanked for one of the QB's but this was the year the Jets were getting the 1 pick if they wanted it and instead they won 2 out of 3 down the stretch. Since they beat the Fins and scared the Pats I'm more than good with that.
2011 deserves an honourable mention only because three Top-12 picks were wasted on three of the worst to ever start a game since I started watching the NFL
Chad didn't get "gap toothed", he dove for a first down and tore his shoulder apart. Don't blame that great OL for his dumb mistake.
Pennington had a great offensive line. The only time they ever let him down was when they got manhandled by the Raiders DL that took them to the Superbowl. After that game teams figured out that Penny had problems handling pressure.
Well next year looks very similar to this year in terms of QB's. It looks like there are 2-3 who would be worth a top 10 pick(Hackenberg, Cook, and maybe Cardale). If you like those guys more than Mariota or Winston then that's fine, I understand that. That's just not the way I feel.
Yeah that time and when Tim Brown had some milestone and the officials allowed them to stop the game and wheel Tim's mom onto the field to commemorate while the coaches and Jerry Rice designed a play to go long right after that. That had Al Davis greasy mitts all over it. But after Penny wrecked his shoulder he was easy pickings for any smart DB.
I feel people are overlooking Hackenberg because of the season he's had. Put him behind half competent OL play and suddenly he looks great. Penn State is a team to watch for that reason next year, IMO.
The difference is, all of those QBs listed all have ran the pro-style offense. This coming draft, only 1 guy (Winston) has ran the pro offense. Mariota, Petty the next 2 guys in line haven't had that experience. It's a different draft, these guys in 2016 will be bringing something different to the table. Their potential may not be as high - but you have an established foundation of these players being familiar with the pro offense. The transition will be much easier then a Mariota / Petty. I like the classic pocket passer that can operate and move in the pocket. Cook, and Hackenberg are just that. You develop them the right way, you may have a Carson Palmer, or a Jay Cutler (w/ a better attitude and better footwork)
I hope I didn't sound like I think Hackenberg is a bad prospect because that isn't how I really feel. He is a good prospect, and while he struggled this year I think he could be a really good QB in the NFL. However, do I think he's a better prospect than Mariota? No, I take Mariota all day over Hackenberg.
That's fine, and like I said, I understand why some people want us to wait and try to get Hackenberg, Cook, or Cardale. I really do. I just don't see any of them having the ceiling that Mariota has. Sure, Mariota may have a lower floor than those guys for the reasons you just stated, but why would we base picking our franchise QB on who has the highest floor?? You say Hackenberg and crew could be Carson Palmer/Jay Cutler but could they not just as easily wind up being the next Andy Dalton/Matt Leinart/Brady Quinn? While at the same time Mariota could be the next Russell Wilson/Aaron Rodgers(perhaps a bit unrealistic, but not entirely), or he could be the next Geno. I'm not saying he will be anything one way or the other and that goes for all the QB prospects I've mentioned, it's just too much of a crapshoot. There's certainly a lot of wiggle room when trying to decide how a QB will translate to the next level. IMO though I would much rather take someone who I perceive to have the higher ceiling than someone who has a higher floor. Even if that means we get the next Geno.
I love it when people say certain QB's next year will be busts. That can be said about any player. Mariota and Winston can be huge busts or they could be great. As for the class next year, already labeling them busts is pure ignorance. Let's focus on the draft ahead of us and worry about next year's draft in 2016.
Mariota no doubt has tons of potential, that you cannot deny - however it's the lack of established fundamentals compared to the QBs in the 2016 draft that make me want to wait until 2016. You simply build on what they have already established as with Mariota - you will need to put a lot more work in. A lot of things are unknown with Mariota, can he learn to operate in the pocket? A lot of questions surround him - far too many for my taste. Mariota could easily become the next big time bust also. It is a crap-shoot I agree. I personally believe Hackenberg has tons of potential. He's doing it all on his own out there in Penn State. If he comes to an established team w/ good coaching he has a great chance to blossom. Cook has improved every yr as a QB - a lot of his skills translate to the next level. Both run the pro offense.
I agree it would probably be more work with Mariota than a QB that comes from a pro-style offense like Hackenberg, Cook, or even Winston this year. However, even those guys have question marks too. Hackenberg was awful this year, yes I understand that his team was awful but still I expected better numbers out of him. 2,977 yds, a completion percentage of 55.8%, and a TD/INT ratio of 12/15 is pretty concerning. Cook put up better numbers than that. 3,214 yds and a TD/INT ratio of 24/8 sounds pretty solid until you see his completion percentage at 58.1%. We all know Winston's question marks and I'll just leave it at that. I'm not saying these guys won't turn into good or even great QB's in the NFL. I see the potential in them just like you. There's just nothing that makes me go, "oh man, we have to get him" or "I think we've found the next Luck". Mariota jumps out at me, he just seems like someone who will be the next great QB. Great football IQ, great athleticism, great work ethic, good arm, etc. Maybe I'm being fooled by Oregon's offense, it's certainly possible. I just see so much potential in Mariota that I think he's worth the risk if he's sitting there at 6.
I think Mariota, Cook, or Hackenberg can all be great QBs at the next level, some have a tougher road then others. It just goes back to your preference and what you want in a QB. Andrew Luck is on another level, we won't see a prospect on his level for a long time. We don't need an Andrew Luck QB to win the SB - we can find a 10 yr starter that can help us win. That's why I like a player like Connor Cook. Hackenberg was in a really bad situation this yr in Penn State, go back look at what he did as a Freshman with good coaching and a decent receiver. This yr I think Hackenberg returns to form. Cook will continue to improve just as he has done each yr as a starter.
