2014 NFL draft thread (no longer too early)

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Yep. I know. But if you're sitting there going "hey, he's great, but we're still a 4-6 win team with him. Where if we roll the dice on this guy and he's the real deal, we're a playoff team" I think there's a pretty strong case for rolling the dice.

That said, some people around here know I'm the chairman of the Teddy Bridgewater bandwagon. So I think that taking him first is a no-brainer for the Texans. Of course, maybe there's a reason they didn't call me back about their GM opening.

(I would argue that the "roll the dice" theory probably applies to Manziel. Bortles, I'm not anywhere close to sold on and could see passing on him).

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

I would also be more concerned about a quarterback with character issues than a defensive lineman. Quarterback is a leadership position and a good bit more challenging mentally than defensive end.

I'm sure somebody will bring up Roethlisberger, who certainly has character issues and questionable intelligence, but he also has the height and bulk that Manziel lacks. He takes a beating, but he is built better to handle it.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

No, but it's pretty strong evidence that the whole thing is a crapshoot and that luck plays a bigger part in it than some care to admit.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Picking a quarterback in the first round is a risk -- a firing if it doesn't work out risk -- for GMs and coaches. This is why one hears so many negatives about quarterbacks prior to the draft. Then, year in and out, guys like Blaine Gabbert and Geno Smith go in the first round to teams that missed the playoffs. Not having a QB isn't a risk, it's a guarantee you'll be fired.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Didn't Geno Smith go in the second round? Otherwise, your point is well taken.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

If Clowney goes #2 to St Louis, the Redskins would have, in effect, traded Clowney, a #1 and swap of #1s for RGIII. RGIII may turn out to be a 1 year wonder

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Actually, among other things it's pretty strong evidence that Stafford's head lags way behind his arm, and how big a factor the head part is for a QB. Which, BTW, is one of the reasons I am so suspect of Johnny Manziel as a high pick.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Tough to play in a circus.

If I am the Texans, I have to take a QB, but I would be amazed if Clowney drops out of the top 10.

No way does this turn into a pusher Marino situation.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

I agree about the mental aspect, and about Manziel.

But what is really ridiculous here is the idea that Stafford would've fallen at least one or two rounds had he been the same QB, only three inches shorter.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Give that team a decent coach and see what happens.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

The thing that scares me most about Manziel's mental game is that he's never had to read defenses quickly - because he could extend the play so well with his legs. I don't know how consistently read a d and have the ball out to the right spot in under 2 seconds. BUT, that said, that is teachable, and everything I've seen is that he's willing and able to learn.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Agreed. And that's where you can get into the Russell Wilson discussion. If Wilson's success opens the door to a similar player going in the first round, that's great. Manziel, however, is not a similar player.