Because an NFL caliber arm is about the only thing holding him back from being a round 1 QB. If he had half the arm Carr has this draft would look completely different.
Arm strength is one of the more overrated attributes in the NFL - it can be developed. It was pretty obvious Fales has REALLY good accuracy. He also went through his progressions, showed some good footwork in and out of the pocket. He can throw the football outside of the pocket as well, evident by that one TD pass. The interception he threw, he was under some major pressure. His arm strength is similar to Andy Dalton - while I am not sold on Dalton, he has had some success at this level. What I noticed from Fales is the guy steps up against bigger competition (against Derek Carr, Senior Bowl). I think your response shows you didn't do much research on him, but that is ok - not calling him a first round pick or a franchise savior. I do believe he has good traits (physically and mentally) to be a good QB. I think the Jets should absolutely draft him with their later 3rd round pick.
And if we do get him with a third, he can develop over the next two years, get some more throwing power, and you have a guy who has all the skills and drive to be successful, his arm strength is what's holding him back. I think a third round gamble to cover your bases if Geno doesn't pan out is a good one.
Fales should write a thank-you to whoever designed Fresno state's defensive gameplan. They ran press man with no safety help the whole first half and Fales just kept chucking jump balls to the edge. His receivers we're winning one on one just about every time. His big plays we're the same in the senior bowl, though not against cover zero press.
You take what the defense give you. It's not like Fales has a world beater on the outside anyway. His big plays in the senior bowl, showed accuracy, the ability to throw on the run, and showed the ability to look down-field when the pressure was coming. He was prob the 2nd best QB out there outside of Carr. If you think he's just chucking it up there for someone to grab it, you are sorely mistaken. A lot of excuses I see. I think you need to watch more game tape outside of the Fresno State Game. He struggled against Stanford, but it's worth watching that tape against one of the better defenses. Jets need a QB it's easy to see, they won't take one in their first 3 picks, but that later 3rd rounder could be the pick the Jets take a QB. Could be Fales, could be Mettenberger, could be Jimmy. Fales, I believe fits the Jets WCO the best.
If a bull had tits like a cow, it would look completely different too. What does that mean/do? You say an "NFL caliber arm" as if it's a minor, unimportant attribute. It isn't. It's a starting point, a basic minimum.
Arm strength overrated? LOL No it isn't. One can't dramatically alter one's arm strength from just lifting weights. That has to do with body type, natural coordination and strength, and talent. Accuracy doesn't mean anything if the ball floats to the receiver and the DB always has time to adjust, or if you can't make all the throws, if it limits the route tree your WRs can run, and if you can't throw the ball 40-50 yards downfield with some pep on it. Ask Chad. Look at what happened with the Jets when Chad was here. There were several routes the Jets never ran because Chad couldn't throw them and opposing Ds knew it and never had to worry about those routes. As you know, the Jets play in the NE where the wind and weather can be a major concern. A weak-armed QB just won't cut it here, especially with MM who likes to throw the ball downfield. When a team always throws only short passes, and opposing teams know that the QB can't make all the throws, they start putting 8-9 men in the box, completely stifling the rushing attach and daring the weak-armed QB to beat them deep. I did enough research on Fales. He's smart and accurate, but just doesn't have an NFL arm. He succeeded in college because of the system he was in and playing against lesser competition. I haven't read one "expert" who thinks he's a topflight prospect. None of those at the Sr. Bowl thought very much of him, either. I could be wrong, but I just think there are much better QB prospects in this draft than Fales. I don't want another weak-armed QB. I loved Chad, but saw how his limitations hurt the team, and Fales doesn't even have the arm of Chad. If the Jets take Fales, I'll begin rooting for Idzik to be fired. I do not like Fales at all. I'd rather have Mettenberger any day of the week, but if the Jets are going to take a QB in this draft, since they have no shot at Teddy, I hope it's Garoppolo.
Yes, it is overrated. Let's take a look at successful QBs over the past decade + or so with limited Arm Strength Tom Brady - never had elite arm strength, Brady improved his arm strength over his career (if you believe you cannot increase arm strength, then you are freaking insane - go google it, matter of fact look at Matt Ryan's career) Matt Ryan - Poster child for those that believe Arm Strength is everything. Matt Ryan is average at arm strength. However, it did improve over the past 2 seasons so yes, you can increase arm strength. Matt Hasselbeck - Average arm strength - never was a strong part of his game. Chad Pennington - Also average - oh btw, Pennington - Fales comparisons are very much out there. There arm strength is pretty much the same. The fact that you said Pennington has a stronger arm, really made me laugh. Fales has Deadly accurate and ball placement - you simply cannot teach that. Arm strength on the other hand can be developed, it will never be elite but it can be sufficient. Alex Smith - Average arm strength. Me thinks, you should do more research because again, you can be successful with a QB that does not have elite arm strength. We have seen it before. Plenty of QBs in today's league have great arm strength, but accuracy and ball placement? I don't think so. I already mentioned that he was not a great deep thrower. However, his short and immediate throws are 2nd to Teddy Bridgewater. The West Coast offense is not a vertical offense if you remember correctly. Which again is why Fales fits the Jets offense. Oh this excuse again. Didn't Pennington and Big Ben play against lesser competition? What does this have to do with anything? McCarron plays against elite competition and he's freaking garbage. Well this is on you to root for him to fail not me. Fortunately, you are not the GM so it's not up to you. Honestly, If I were given the option of Bortles (overrated) in the top 18 or Fales in the 3rd, I would take Fales. You simply CANNOT teach the accuracy this kid has. The ability to put the ball only where the WR can get it and his accuracy are unteachable qualities. That is something I put over arm strength. His intermediate throws have velocity in it. It's just the deep ball that people do not like.
Hey I fully agree that Fales played that Fresno game the right way. Same way that Carr identified that CB #28 as the weak link on their defense and attacked him over and over in the first half. Fales had three big plays in the Senior Bowl... The touchdown pass, which was underthrown to a WIDE OPEN receiver (Norwood) who had to sit and wait for the ball to show up before going into the end zone, the nice over-the-shoulder throw to Jordan Matthews that Charles Davis heavily credited Matthews' technique on vs. Desir, and then I can't remember the one to Gilmore. Anyways the only point that I was trying to make was that his trademark game came in a very unlikely-to-be-repeated scenario, and because it knocked Fresno out of the BCS running it gets a lot of attention. That's it. By the way a QB that showed some real skills to me that nobody is talking about is Chase Rettig for Boston College. He has good mobility, arm strength, and accuracy on the run. A good candidate for a WCO that utilizes a lot of rollouts. Not saying he's a starter, certainly not right away, but he's a developmental guy worth a look, certainly as a UDFA.
Dee Ford - Holy crap can that guy move. Seems like he'd be one to shoot up draft boards once he runs at combine. The guy makes plays. I really liked what I saw from James White, the RB from Wisconsin. Seems pretty undervalued and is a do it all back. Would be a great late round addition IMO. Jordan Matthews made one helluva play on that deep ball. Quick off the line to get by press coverage, drove the defender inside down the sideline, then faded out to adjust for the ball making a great over the shoulder catch. That is pro-ready. Crockett Gilmore, the TE from Colorado State, was making plays all over the field. He can also block. Would be a nice late round/FA addition.
If we can get Dee Ford with one of our 3rd round picks, I am all for it.. Imagine Ford and Coples on the outside with Wilkerson, Richardson, Ellis and Harrison on the line... That front would be unreal.
Yeah he can... he guesses on the snap count, though. Very impressive first step. Showed the same thing in the Nat'l Championship game. Will be a first rounder more than likely. Arkansas DE Smith was doing the same thing with almost the same results, too. Ford got credit from the announcers on the first of back-to-back plays from Kyle Van Noy against Zach Martin when Ford was lined up as LE and Van Noy beat LT Martin from RE. Yeah I like James White, too. It's hard to trust his talents with Gordon on the same team and Wisconsin's OL typically being beastly, but he really does have some skills. I gotta wonder if his ordinary name and Wisconsin stereotype is keeping him low in the media draft coverage. Yeah nice play. Charles Davis called it out as a good one. I don't think Desir has seen a lot of wideouts stack like that. He had a nice game, for sure.
If you're looking for a pass rusher in the third, Chris Smith, Michael Sam, and Jeremiah Attaochu are your best bets. Check out Attaochu vs. Clemson. He was flat out amazing in that game. Ford is likely a first rounder in my (and many others') opinion(s).
I said that arm strength can be improved, just not significantly, and it can't. I've read articles before by players and GMs who have talked about that very issue. You can't make chicken salad out of chicken shit. I didn't say that arm strength is everything, just a starting point. I also didn't say that there weren't some very good QBs who don't have cannons for arms. There have been plenty of cannon-armed QBs who were horrible QBs. Vinny Testaverde is one. Dumb as a stump. If it weren't for Favre's ability to improvise and create on the fly, I don't think he'd have been as effective or good as he was, because there was a lot he never learned from his rookie season. He was still attempting to force the ball into double and triple coverage his last year in the league. Arm strength isn't everything, but it sure helps, especially playing outdoors in the northeast. I also never said that accuracy and ball placement aren't important. I believe that if not equally important with arm strength, then they are just slightly below that quality. I never want a QB for the Jets again that has a subpar arm. I want only QBs who have above average arms. I also don't want a QB who doesn't have good accuracy. That was the other thing about Testaverde. I remember Keyshawn and Chrebet constantly having to dive, twist, soar, and turn to catch Vinny's high and wild throws. Laugh all you want. IMO in college Chad had a stronger arm. Go back and look at all the long throws he made to Moss. Chad's arm strength went to pot after all the shoulder injuries. He never had a cannon for an arm, but I think it was better than Fales. I could be wrong, but that's my belief and I'm sticking to it. I didn't say that I was rooting for Fales to fail. Don't twist my words. I have nothing against him, just don't want him on the Jets. Faced with a choice of Bortles in the 1st or Fales in the 3rd, I'd opt for Fales too, but both would be bad decisions imo, and I'd be very unhappy with Idzik, less so with Fales since it's a 3rd round pick rather than 1st, but unhappy nevertheless. It's sad that you can't just agree to disagree, but instead you have to ridicule and insult. Grow up.
I'm not sure about Smith, but I think Sam projects as a DE not an OLB, so I have less interest in him. Would absolutely love, Love, LOVE to add Dee Ford, but with our offensive needs, not in the first round. I'd be very excited to get Attaochu in the 3rd or 4th round. I'd also love to add Van Noy since he has good coverage ability, but he'll probably go late 1st early 2nd round, so is not likely.
