Something doesn't smell right to me. Is it reasonable to think that the first four could be QBs? At this point the teams in the running for a QB are all playing games starting with SF It almost seems like SF and the Jets are trying to outsmart themselves by leaking BS info to the media. When most of the so called media experts with reliable sources are unanimous in stating who the pick will be for the Jets is automatically a red flag to me that they are going in another direction. JD if nothing else seems to keeps thing very close to the vest. If JD has a plan in motion to trade the second pick, leaking all this information about Wilson seems like it would fit a lot more in his favor than if indeed he is going Wilson at two, which would result in the worst kept secret from a leverage perspective particularly if he wants to trade Sam.
I am not sure exactly how these are measured, but to me it's always been clear Fields faced the toughest schedule and Zach weakest. That's one of the reasons why I don't really look at Indiana and Northwestern games as something that defines Fields. He came back after these with great performance against Clemson and solid against Alabama, and is a top 3 pick in my book. With that said, we have to acknowledge that Mac, Fields, and TL have the best supporting cast in FBS, probably in that order. This is not comparable to Zach's supporting cast. And here is the thing, Zach's averages are skewed by some cupcakes he played in W Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, and North Alabama. It's not like he used only these games to get his stats, he played well in other games too. Vast majority of the teams he played (9 - all but 3 named above) have SP+ defensively in 30s or below for the average of 28, and he performed well against these too. Again, I am not sure how SP+ is calculated, but if it is a metrics to go by, Zach looks great there too.
Yes, I really think when Shanahan traded up, he had Jones in mind as #3. This kind of has been corroborated by Simms, Young, and the fact he actually came to watch Mac over Fields. AFTER the Pro Day though, and Mac shitting the bed while Fields having a good day, I am not so sure.
IMO Louisiana Tech isn't the cupcake everyone seems to think they are. 2013 is the last year that they had a losing record. They've gone to a bowl game every year since 2014. Skip Holtz, son of Lou Holtz is their HC. They've had a number of players make it into the NFL over the last several years. This past season they were only 5-5, but in 2019 were 10-3.
So Army, Navy, Texas St, University of Texas San Antonio, Troy...etc. do not fall in the cup cake category?
He didn't play Army, but to answer the question, not as much as the other 3, according to defensive SP+ you referenced: Navy 30.7 Troy 27.6 UTSA 32.2 Houston 27.6 Texas st 39 Coastal 27.3 Boise 24.6 SDSU 16.7 UCF 27.6 Average: 28.1
It's not just the Jets involved but other teams and Zach Wilson himself. If other GMs are calling for 2nd overall and JD answer is always not available. Then sometime GMs/Media connect the dot. Now with Steve Young mentioning Zach Wilson family having discussion with the Jets that is very plausible too. Now if the Jets have had serious discussion with Zach Wilson's family and refuse to have talks to trade the 2nd overall pick then yes it seems quite likely that the Jets are going with Zach.
You may be right on that. I think the larger point is that while it is clear he faced weaker schedule, he faced some good teams too, good defenses, and was consistently good in all games, while his supporting cast is also not on the level of Alabama, Ohio St, and Clemson.
What is this, like a team ranking for 2019? Did you check the 2020 one: https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa/fplus/2020 ?
The OSU QB thing is used stupidly by the people wielding it for one basic reason: OSU hasn't produced any failures. It's be one thing if Buckeye QBs were drafted high and then busted, but there have been zero OSU QBs drafted with FQB expectations in the last 40 years. I mean, literally - the last time a QB from tOSU was drafted even in the top-10 was 1982. And the time before that was 1961. The only time an OSU QB was drafted in the top-3 of an NFL draft was 1938 - that's 83 years ago. So it's one thing to say you're leery because OSU hasn't produced any FQBs despite being a major program, but quite another to say the Jets shouldn't draft Fields because Buckeye QBs fail in the NFL. There is no track record of big-time OSU QBs busting in the NFL, because there haven't been any. In the context of the draft, Fields is a trailblazer, not the next in a line of succession.
Was Joe Namath the last Alabama graduate to take an NFL Team to the SB? I dont recall any QB from the Ohio State who was in a SB...of course the Big 10 gave us The GOAT Brady Drew Brees and Russel Wilson (Wisconsin). Kurt Cousins from MSU is overpriced and prob washed up The 49ers had Steve Young take them to a SB. He came from BYU (and I am sure there has not been a change in their strength of schedule in decades). Joe Montana came from Notre Dame who love to beat up on Army Navy and the Air Force Academy lol. So whether you are from Texas Tech(Mahomes) or Univ of Cal, Berkeley (A Rogers) ..the answer is TALENT Find it , evaluate it , and hopefully get it right!!
I was trying to find out if anyone has measured ball velocity for any of these guys since they didn't have a Combine this year. I didn't find anything yet, but I did come across this article which was interesting (unfortunately the embedded videos don't work): Ball Velocity Numbers Are Lying To You | The Draft Network The main point being that "ball velocity" by itself doesn't really tell you much about a QBs ability to make tough throws.
You're misconstruing 'best supporting cast,' because you're not looking at how their supporting cast stacks up in relation to the opponents that were played. Head to head, Fields' supporting cast is much better, but proportionate to their opponents, it's not like BYU didn't have the best roster on the field at all times this year, just like Ohio State sans the Clemson and Alabama games.
Their guy is Fields 95% sure. I’d be shocked at any other player. If they are smart they keep Jimmy and bring Fields up to speed.
