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How does Trubisky stack up to the college stats of say, Mark Sanchez?

I think this has been covered several times. Williams may not have been a good candidate for the NFL, but he was a pretty good college qb;

624/1018 for a 61.3% completion, 7961 yd, 7.8 yd/a, 61/25 TD/Int and twice named 2nd-Team all-ACC.

Trubisky was 2 years behind him, so it was a natural for him to wait his turn. Also, remember he was a teenager, still growing and developing. It is entirely possible that Trubisky's skills improved dramatically while playing behind Williams as a simple consequence of maturation.

It seems to me that most of the teams that are QB needy took some steps that may be temporary measures that could get them through this next season. Kyle has Hoyer with him out in San Fran right? Then you have Glennon and even McCown getting signed... I think moves like that help take away that edge of desperation these teams may have about getting a QB.

I won't be surprised come Draft Day if teams sit back, gamble, and see who blinks first and take that QB. Once one goes, I don't doubt the others will follow shortly after. But I wouldn't be surprised if the 1st QB taken isn't until mid round, possibly even bottom?

There's been a lot of confusion on the subject. The decision to start Williams had nothing to do with Trubisky failing to beat out the incumbent starter, and more to do with the same knock on him coming out this year, lack of experience. Plus a bit of coaches prerogative. The arguments you've heard (his inability to beat out Williams) have been skewed unfairly as though he were somehow deficient, but that's not the case. This article sheds light on the subject.

Trubisky rising: How the UNC QB went from a backup to a top NFL prospect

In order to fully understand Mitch Trubisky's path to becoming one of the top prospects in the 2017 NFL draft, you must go back to the 2013 season, his coaches explain.

Jonathan Jones
Monday February 27th, 2017

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The day after North Carolina dropped a winnable season-opener against South Carolina in 2015, Keith Heckendorf was on the road recruiting but taking the time to check in on his quarterbacks. When the passing game coordinator and QBs coach got Mitch Trubisky on the phone, he was surprised at what he heard.

“Coach, I’m exhausted,” said the redshirt sophomore, who didn’t play a single snap in the 17–13 loss to the Gamecocks. “I lived and died on every play in that game.”

Despite a stellar training camp that year, Trubisky lost out on the starting job to Marquise Williams for a second straight year. But Williams struggled in that first game, throwing one touchdown against three interceptions—including two in the end zone—and an overmatched South Carolina team emerged victorious against the Tar Heels. Trubisky admitted to his position coach that he thought his coach would turn to him and he’d lead the Heels to victory.

“But Coach,” Trubisky continued, “I don’t want to play because Marquise struggles. I want to play because you, Coach [Larry] Fedora and everyone on this team believes that I can help us win ballgames.”

This story is emblematic of Trubisky’s ability to be a great teammate, for sure. But it also lays the foundation for the answer to the question everyone has about one of the draft’s top quarterback who started only one full season of college ball: If Mitch Trubisky is so good, why was he a backup for two seasons to a guy who didn’t make a final 53-man NFL roster?

Currently, Trubisky sits in the premiere class of this year’s quarterback crop, ranking just above Deshaun Watson and DeShone Kizer. The former Mr. Ohio threw 30 touchdowns, ran for five more and tossed just six interceptions last season for the 8–5 Tar Heels. He’s accurate with a big arm, mobile inside and outside of the pocket and features a clean character slate. To understand what took him so long to get on your radar, you have to go all the way back to 2013.

That season, fifth-year senior Bryn Renner needed season-ending shoulder surgery in early November, and UNC coaches tabbed Williams as the starter for the rest of the season. Trubisky had enrolled early at the school and performed well in the spring, but they decided against burning his redshirt in a season where the Tar Heels started 1–5 and had no shot at an ACC title. Williams won four of his six starts and rolled into the next season with that experience under his belt.

Both Fedora and Heckendorf say Trubisky and Williams were neck-and-neck in 2014, but Williams’ experience won out. The Tar Heels also knew their offensive line wasn’t strong, and Williams was the better, more powerful runner of the two. Fedora found a compromise, though. He would play Trubisky on the third offensive series of every game and go from there.

“I didn’t want Marquise looking over his shoulder every snap, and I wanted Mitch knowing that he was going in at this point,” Fedora said. “Not, ‘You’re going to go in, oh I don’t like this situation, well maybe next series, now the series after that,’ and then you don’t get him in. We were going to bite the bullet and he’s going in on the third series.

“Whether he eventually wins the job or he’s the second-team guy, now he has meaningful reps, so if something does happen to Marquise, we can roll with him.”

The rotation was awkward and never worked. Coaches reassured Trubisky that it was fine if a series ends in a punt, but naturally Trubisky pressed trying to make his mark with his opportunity. He completed just 54% of his passes and had as many touchdowns (four) as interceptions. With a historically bad defense—the Heels lost four games in a seven-game stretch by giving up 70, 50, 50 and 47 points—and Trubisky struggling to get comfortable, Fedora abandoned the rotation and the Tar Heels stuck with Williams in a forgettable 6–7 season.

With Williams leading the way on the field for the rest of that season, Trubisky kept busy in the weightroom. He came to Carolina at 195 pounds and played the 2016 season between 220-225 pounds with lean muscle gained from the gym. Before the December Sun Bowl against Stanford, Trubisky was doing 350-pound power cleans easily.

“That really propelled him into that offseason that hey I’m going to go win this job,” Heckendorf said. “We came into the offseason and I told him if you want this job, you have to go get it. He had this feeling that, ‘I’m not going to let this happen again. I’m going to be ready to lead this team going forward.’”

Well, about that…

By most accounts, Trubisky was the better quarterback in the fall leading up to the start of the 2015 season and would have been the starter in a vacuum. But the truth was that Trubisky had to be demonstrably better than Williams to get the job for three reasons. First, Williams had 19 starts to Trubisky’s zero. Second, Williams was one of the lone offensive bright spots from the previous year and boasted the charisma and leadership qualities the team needed. And finally, benching a fifth-year senior quarterback from Charlotte to start the year likely wouldn’t have played well back in UNC’s biggest recruiting hub.

There was some disagreement among the offensive staff members on Fedora’s decision but they went with it. The Tar Heels were on their way to a 3–1 record that season when Fedora yanked Williams midway through the win against Delaware because Williams was freelancing against the Blue Hens. Trubisky completed 17 of his 20 passes (with two drops) for 312 yards and four touchdowns and was named the ACC Offensive Back of the Week.

The following day Fedora told his staff that he was sticking with Williams so long as the senior would play within the offense the following week at Georgia Tech. Against the Yellow Jackets, the Tar Heels went down 21–0 in the first half, and there was a palpable feeling the offense would soon be turned over to Trubisky.

“A change may have happened” at quarterback if things had gone differently, Fedora said. “What you are thinking about in that game,” he continued, “do we need a change to try to spark something? What’s the reason that we’re down 21-0 right now? It wasn’t the quarterback.”

Williams engineered one of the greatest comebacks in team history. He led the team in passing, rushing and receiving in that game and got the 38–31 win in Atlanta, the first one for North Carolina since 1997.

“From that moment, there was no conversation,” Heckendorf says emphatically. “There was no conversation. That solidified that this is Marquise’s team.”

UNC went 11–3 that season, including a narrow loss to Clemson in the ACC title game. Conference coaches and media voted Williams as the second-team All-ACC quarterback behind Heisman-finalist Watson. Williams finished his UNC career as the school’s all-time leader in total offense and touchdowns scored. So while it’s true that Williams went undrafted last year and didn’t make the final cut in Green Bay, he’s also one of the most prolific players in Carolina history.

Trubisky’s play in 2016 didn’t surprise anyone in Tar Heel Land. He showed glimpses of it in spot duty during the 2015 season (he completed 85% of his passes and had six touchdowns and no picks), and Trubisky rolled in the first three-quarters of the season. He had UNC at 7–2 with a shot at a rematch with Clemson in the conference title game when his game (and the rest of the team) took a step back. The Tar Heels lost three of their last four games, including the Sun Bowl loss against Stanford. If the biggest knock on Trubisky is his pocket awareness, those bad traits showed in losses to rivals Duke and N.C. State. But Trubisky’s coach is willing to shoulder the blame for that.

Trubisky, a mild-mannered kid from Ohio, was suddenly atop Mel Kiper’s Big Board for quarterbacks. He made the back page of a New York tabloid. His friends and teammates teased and questioned him about his future plans.

“As I look back on it, I wish I could have done more to take some of that pressure off of him,” Fedora admits. “I wish I could have shut it down so that it would have been taken off of him so he didn’t have to always worry about it because it was there. I think I could have done a better job of insulating him from it, and down the stretch he would have been an even better quarterback.”

That’s a coach’s lament for a player who waited his turn not once but twice, who didn’t raise a fuss when he wasn’t picked, who didn’t demand a transfer in a player-coach meeting and whose parents didn’t trash the school on a message board. Trubisky will face that pressure this week at the combine, next month at his pro day and in his several individual meetings with these in weeks before the draft. Fedora is sure Trubisky can and will rise to the occasion, and Trubisky has already fulfilled one of his coach’s prophecies.

“If you didn’t follow Carolina football closely and didn’t see the controversy of the quarterbacks early on, you wouldn’t have known who Mitch was before this year,” Heckendorf said. “I would go to recruits and say by the end of this season, everybody in the country will know who Mitch Trubisky is. I believed it with every fiber of my being.

“And sure enough, the season ends and everybody in the country knows who Mitch Trubisky is.”

Link

I can see QB's in the first round. I don't see one being picked creating a panic to grab them.

I think it's entirely possible some teams have Watson ranked #1. Some Trubisky. And I think some of the QB teams that think they'll need a QB in 1 or 2 years will look at Mahomes as great value in the bottom third of the first round.

I did hear someone talking about Watson being a good fit for the Jets because of his character and having been on the biggest stage at the College level and rising to the occasion. I think there is some value to that. Risk goes up with a under exposed player like Trubisky and thrusting him into the limelight in NYC and the Jets.

Thank u so so much for that article ... EXPLAINS A TON ...

We have our answer Vers .... and its all LOGICAL and makes sense on all levels .... and as I've stated before ... he lost out to a VERY VERY GOOD COLLEGE QB .... now we have the all important details of how it broke down ....

bone u said it in another thread ... i been saying it for awhile .. the ONLY and i mean ONLY knock on this kid is his lack of starts ... that seems like a DUMB ASS REASON to not draft the kid ... he has the SKILL SET to succeed ... UNLIKE most of the other one year wonders that got drafted .... witch quite frankly ... and this isn't directed at u ...

WHO ARE THE 1 YEAR STARTERS THAT GOT DRAFTED IN RND 1 AND BUSTED .... i would love to KNOW EXACTLY WHOSE ON THAT LIST ... get ready for NOT MUCH ... not even sure if there's more than 2 or 3 ... it would SHOCK ME if there were ...

I'll be waiting ..

You could do just the opposite and get "not much".

There have been very few QB's drafted as high as you are projecting having only started on season. There's a reason for that.

Yes ... I agree ...... its called the EVOLUTION OF THE RULES and the GAME ... and Mitch was caught in a situation where the guy a class ahead of him was PRETTY DAMM GOOD ....

AND that is a new twist on your argument .... its gone from there ALL BUSTS therefore he's not worth taking high because he more than likely will be also ..... to not many are drafted after 1 year .... now u have a legite argument ...

I can't argue with that one ... *L* .... i just think its STUPID ... i would love to know WHO the SAMPLE SIZE of busts in the 1 year starter category are ... reason being .. as u we'll know .. me Luvs me some accuracy and smarts .... 1 and 1a on my list ... thats where my ANALYTICS ENDS .... *LOL* ... cause w/o those two things ... your not fitting my or most offenses ... I could care less about height, arm strength ( i am no fan of Watson early and he doesn't have a cannon .. but that 49 mph hour stat is HORSECRAP ... no way is his arm not strong enough for the NFL ... NO WAY ....) or any of the other "measurables" some use ...

and Mitch is accurate, there's no doubt about that ... does he have the brains? .. not sure but the 30 - 6 TD to pick ratio tells me theres a decent shot hes at least not an idiot ... *L* .. and i know where your going ... i only left in cause u always play fair ...

Now take your pit bull ass tenacity and leave me alone here with the LOW HANGING FRUIT ... there easier ...

Mitch Trubisky being behind Marquise Williams is exactly the same as Joe Burrow playing behind JT Barrett.

I could see Burrow playing QB in the NFL someday and maybe even a 1st round draft pick. But, now he is playing behind JT who is a very good college QB but will never play QB in the NFL.

Assuming Garoppolo is out of the equation, what are the odds Trubisky is there at #12? SF needs a QB, but between the D options available and the connection between Shanny and Cousins, they could be looking to build D this year and go after Cousins next year. Chicago is also very likely to go D. That leaves the Jets, who very well may be looking at Watson for his experience. In my mind, there is a good chance Trubisky is there at #12, at which point he makes sense (maybe not perfect sense) for the Browns to pick. And if he's not, there's Mahomes, Webb, etc., and going with who we have for another year.

QBs just seem to haunt us year in & year out. I expect we have a layered set of choices. Some are going to slide, maybe more than folks think who are experts. We need to take one if not The Man this year. JG is still my choice. But let us pick when we should for defense this year. If one draft sets up one side of the ball, well there is always more work to be done. Not like were have a fragile championship house of cards well on its way for this season. The naysayers will still give us negative stink about QB, but let us get some help from this draft and put some of the needs to bed already....

There's a whole lot of talk here about 1) trading for a QB, 2) signing a free agent 3) drafting one and let him sit and learn, 4) waiting until the later rounds for a project QB. When you've failed to find a franchise QB in almost 20 years, it becomes important to realize your failures and what your plans are offering you.

Of the 2016 starters
1) Trading for a QB: Outside of the Rivers for Manning trade during the 2004 draft, only 3 QB's out of 32 were starters after being traded: Smith KC, Palmer ARI, and Cutler CHI of which only 1 made he playoffs in 2016.

2) Signing a FA QB: 5 teams had FA starters in 2016 yet only 1 lead his team to the playoffs in 2016. In addition, only 1 of the FA's could be considered of franchise quality. Those QB's were: Brees NOS, Fitzpatrick NYJ, RGIII CLE, Osweiler HOU, and Taylor BUF.

3) Drafting one and let him sit and learn: Only one QB was rated in the top half of the league in 2016 that sat for 2 plus years before starting: Rodgers GBP. This practice is a dying option and seldom practiced anymore.

4) Drafting a QB in the later rounds: Of the 32 starters (outside of injuries and benching) 21 of the 32 starters were drafted in the 1st round. 4 were drafted in the 2nd round, 1 in the 3rd, 2 in the 4th, 2 in the 6th, and 2 in the 7th round.

Once you get outside of the 1st round, only 34.4% of the starters currently are drafted from this group. Those 11 starters include Brees, Dalton, Wilson, Prescott, Cousins and Brady but also include Osweiler, Kaepernick, Taylor, Fitzpatrick and Siemian. For every Brady there's a Fitzpatrick after round one.

Bottom line here is that the majority of the talk percentage wise is a huge crapshoot. Garoppolo may be the next Tom Brady but has just as much of a chance of being the next Osweiler or Siemien. Reaching for a QB in the first round that needs to sit and learn is even a bigger gamble since only one QB or 3% has currently done that and be a top 50% QB in the league. Drafting a later round QB also presents issues since your only looking at 50% of that 34% being viable or basically a 17% chance of getting a true starting QB.

When you're coming off a 1-15 season, anything less than 60/40 chance on a QB is a plan to fail. Add into that fact that the Browns have had a run defense that has been 30th or worst for 3 straight years and a total defense ranked 31st in 2016 and 27th in 2015, gambling on the QB position is just plain crazy. There's way more wrong with this team than just QB and gambling on one position is not the way to go to build a winner.

Thanks for that Cal

Nice post I enjoyed reading it.

There are many reasons for the lack of good QBs in the league right now. The main reason that stands out to me are inflexible OCs. They know a system and only want to use that system so they try to force it on a QB whether he fits it or not.

It almost always leads to failure because square pegs don't fit circle holes. Theses modern OC seldom have the skills to create their own system based on what skill their players already have. It's also being a slave of convenience. If they design a new system they have to have time to teach it to all the assistant coaches and then the players. On bad teams they are seldom going to have the time to find out what their players are good at, much less, have the time to install all the new plays and terminology.

That's why it's so important for the scouting department to be able to find players, especially QBs, that fit what a coach wants. Yet again though it takes a few years for scout to really understand what the new head coach is really looking for. They could be good scouts who find quality players but just don't match what the coach wants for his system. There might also be a case where there are just no players that match what the coaches are looking for.

This is why its important for a team to stick with the same HC so the team can be eventually molded to what he wants and is good at coaching. Still each year has new players so you need an OC who can adapt to the players he has. There has to be flexibility in what an OC can do. Sadly, I don't think there are enough good OC to use QBs properly. They will try to force the QB to conform to his system which seldom works out.

One reason I really like Hue is he has that mindset to adapt what he does based on what his players can actually do. For the amount of serious injuries we dealt with last season I thought our offense did OK. It will be very interesting to see what happens this year.

In response to that well thought out post, I had one main question.

Why the hell did we draft Branden Weeden to play in a WCO?

Well since we're throwing out questions, I wonder how many NCAA QB's looked great in year one only to look worse in year two, dropping their value?

A LOT of them! lol

Matt Barkley comes to mind. Probably would of been ahead of RG3 had he come out thatbyear, fell to the 4th the next.

Then you have guys like Lienart who would of been #1. Stayed. Didn't play worse. But still dropped a bit. And then ended up being crap anyways.

Another question then:

How many Qb's that have won a a College Football Championship have also gone on to win a super bowl?

Troy Aikman and Tom Brady

Aikman was on the Oklahoma team that won the National Championship in 1985. He fractured his collar bone in October of that year.

Brady was on the Michigan team that won the National Championship in 1997. He threw 15 passes that year.

So while on those teams these guys didn't lead their teams to National Championships. I apologize for not being more specific in my choice of words but most people would know that was the intent.

Regardless, even if I give you those two, no college football championship Qb in the past 20 years has gone on to win a Super Bowl.


Does that mean we shouldn't draft Watson because he won a College National Championship? I'm not saying that at all. Just pointing out that you can find all kind of anomalies. The trick is figuring which ones carry significance.

Yeah as it may be a blessing in disguise to not win the championship but win the Super Bowl.

Still it is about maturing in the position along with that of being franchise.

Jester thanks for the information!

Brock Osweiler - QB - Browns

The Chronicle-Telegram reports Brock Osweiler was present at the beginning of the Browns' offseason workouts.

Osweiler is reportedly expected to be traded or released, so it is interesting he showed up for a voluntary workout. That said, coach Hue Jackson recently promised to "treat him just like we do all of our other quarterbacks" and expects him to "come in and compete." The Browns are likely just leaving their options open until the draft to see if any team comes in with a trade offer. It will still be surprising if Osweiler is on the roster when OTAs begin.

Source: The Chronicle-Telegram Apr 17 - 9:44 PM

I think we are playing this all wrong.

We traded for the guy because we wanted the pick, but as long as he is here, we should at least act like we want him here. I mean who is going to trade for him if they think we are going to release him?

And who is to say he isn't the best QB on the roster? Maybe a change od scenery will do wonders for him. It's not his fault the Texans paid him a gazillion to come play for them. That had to bring a lot of pressure. Here, he might losen up and become a good player.

Sure, if someone wants him, trade him if that is the wish. Otherwise, let him roll in to camp and see what he does. I don't see any point in cutting him anytime soon.

Peen, I don't think we're playing this at all. I think the media has glommed onto the Sashi statement about being happy to have gotten the 2nd round pick and turned it into some type of absolute about dealing Brock. Not that we won't, but I wouldn't be shocked to seem him in camp if no deal is forthcoming. They can cut him at the end of camp just as effectively as they could pre-draft. I think it's media BS, and the team will do what is best for the team, including taking a long look at Osweiller, should no trade be available.

JMHO

I totally agree with what you have said, so what's the Browns to do? First and foremost, the window s very small to achieve what you have said. The only way a coach holds on to his job during a rebuild is to show improvement. What that improvement level is for the Browns this year is the big unknown. However, there are some very clear opportunities for the Browns but they have too understand what opportunities should take priority.

If you look at the success of the AFC North, there are some very clear tangibles each team possesses. It's no mistake that PIT, BAL, and CIN have built their franchises in this specific order to generate success. Make no mistake, they have lost players to free agency, replaced veterans, and drafted at the lower end of the draft yet continue to be contenders year in and year out.

First is stability at the front office and the head coaching spot. The other 3 teams in the division have long time stability there which the Browns do not. Second, each team possesses a strong defense. Though they may have weak points in any one particular area, they have a history of addressing those areas almost each and every year. Just take a look at the run defense over that last 3 years. The Browns have been 30th or worst each of the last 3 years. PIT has been 13th, 5th, and 6th. BAL has been 5th, 12th, and 4th. CIN has been 21st, 7th, and 20th. Those teams have 6 playoff appearances in the last 3 years - the Browns zero and that substantial difference is one of the main reasons the Browns are picking in the top 5 again!

Third, having an AFC North type QB. Size matters combined with arm strength and accuracy. Let's not kid ourselves; weather, defense strength, and defensive talent all have huge bearings on QB play in the AFC North. Big Ben is 6'5" 241 lbs and this allows him to extend plays plus play in the pocket because he can see downfield. Flacco is 6'6" 245 lbs and has the same tangibles as Ben. Prior to Dalton, Palmer at 6'5" 235 lbs gave CIN the norm for an AFC North QB. Dalton is on the small side being 6'2" 220 lbs which has contributed to his lower numbers in Nov and DEC along with having numerous passes batted down each year.

As to a trade: Garoppolo is on the small side being only 6'2" 225 lbs. If forced to stay in the pocket he will have vision problems downfield. Aside from that, though he has exhibited strength and accuracy, I am still concerned that his 6 qtrs. of play is not enough to go all in on him. IMHO, Garoppolo's demonstrated skills are more because of the system than something that would transfer to a 1-15 team.

The Draft: The QB class is average at best and would be a huge mistake for the Browns to reach for any QB. That said, there are only 2 QB's planned to go in round 1 or 2 that meet the AFC North QB assumption and consideration: Kiser at 6'4" 233 lbs and Webb at 6'5" 229 lbs. They both have the arm strength and accuracy but will need some work so reaching for either would be a huge mistake.

Roster: Kessler is way to small and arm strength is a huge issue. Hogan is bigger but at only 217 lbs, he will have issues taking the hits. Osweiler is a prototype AFC North QB being 6'7" 243 lbs. Remember, it was just 1 year ago that 2nd round pick Brock had done enough in 7 career starts and 14 relief appearances in 4 years to earn a 4-year 72 million dollar contract as a free agent. If you believe Brock didn't have the resume for a potential franchise QB, Garoppolo's 3-year resume is even less impressive. Which is the true Brock, the Denver player or the Houston player? Was Osweiler's umbers in Denver due to the system or talent? Those same questions must be asked of Garoppolo..........

As I have said before, the Browns have huge holes to fill before any QB will be successful in Cleveland. First they must fix their defense especially against the run. Just a thought that drafting Garrett for his pass rush skills does little to help the defense if they are still in the 30's against the run, Garrett's weakest area. RB is now a question with Crowell fighting for a contract. Just an info update for the Crowell supporters, 47.5% of his rush yards last year came on 16 carries meaning that overall, he actually did no better than his previous production of 3.9 yds per carry. The team does not have a clear #1 WR. The depth of this draft class could allow the Browns to fill many of these holes. Using Osweiler as a one year bridge that they have to pay anyway and using their draft picks to fill voids especially on the defensive side of the ball makes much more sense.

Why would we trade him at all? He could be the best QB we have at this point. Yeah lets get rid of him
He was decent in Denver, Hue could adjust his O to him and we could at least be Avg. which would be a big step up in the QB situation. I wouldn't be in a hurry to get rid of our best QB. just yet.

My GUESS is that right now, they don't see him as the QB of the future, and plan on finding THE GUY this year or next, via draft or trade. (JG, Trubisky, Mahomes, Cousins, Darnold, etc.) They're not going to carry a $16M contract if they don't see him as a starter immediately and can trade him. Unless he lights it up between now and the end of camp, improves his technique and really shines under Hue's system, I don't see him sticking around, and I think they'd just eat the cost. I do think he'll get the chance to prove himself. But who knows?

LOL Why did we draft him at all?

I disagree with so much of what you said.

But you wrote it in a nice organized way. And didn't yell at anyone.

So I'm ganna go back to sleep.

" Garoppolo is on the small side being only 6'2" 225 lbs. If forced to stay in the pocket he will have vision problems downfield. Aside from that, though he has exhibited strength and accuracy, I am still concerned that his 6 qtrs. of play is not enough to go all in on him. IMHO, Garoppolo's demonstrated skills are more because of the system than something that would transfer to a 1-15 team."
==========================================================

Sorry not going to let this slide.

There are plenty of very successful quarterbacks who are 6'2" both now and in the past. Look it up. Start with Rodgers.

His skill set translates to any offense in the NFL. He is not a system quarterback. He displays good movement and poise in the pocket. He keeps his eyes downfield. He can read defenses both pre-snap and post(it's on tape).
He is accurate to all points on the field. He has a quick release. He throws well on the run. All of these traits work in any system.

Hopefully, we can agree to disagree. You are obviously sold on Jimmy G, I am not. His six quarters of work as a starter proves nothing and if it was any other QB in the NFL with only 6 quarters of work you'd be negative toward the player.

Osweiler had more than twice the work as a starter and threw the ball 305 times in his 4-year career in Denver completing 187 for 61.3% for 2126 yds and was 5-2 as a starter in the final 7 games of the season. We see what happened to him when he went to a team that over valued him or maybe had a negative system for him to perform in. JG has thrown a whopping grand total of 94 passes in his 3-years at New England completing 63 of them for 502 yds. Unless you have some magic crystal ball that can forecast the future, there's no way you can predict that he'd be a franchise QB with such limited work.

One final note on JG, he's only competed in 2 games in 3-years in the months of Nov, Dec, and Jan. In those 2 games he was 11/21 52.3% for 96 yards. Just another reason to err with caution on JG since the Browns do play outside and during he winter months - just saying.

Why would anybody be negative toward that? Is it a negative that he couldn't beat out Tom Brady for the starting job? Because, since Brady almost never gets hurt, that's what you are saying...

Jimmy G was a 2nd round pick in 2014.. he has 3 years of NFL back-up experience with minimal playing time.. that's what he is.

So if he was coming out of Eastern Illinois this year, all things being equal, where would he stack up against Watson and Trubisky? I think he would stack up fairly well and a lot of people are willing to take the "franchise QB" risk on those two.. so why not on JG?

I'm not 100% sold on JG as the franchise guy but I'm every bit as sold on him as I am any of our other options that would cost us a high draft pick this year.


Not sure if this is the comparison or not but I'll consider the kid who played his HS and college ball in Illinois and his 3 years as a pro in New England over the kid who played his HS ball in Georgia and his college ball in SC or the kid who played his HS ball in Ohio and his college ball in NC...

j/c...just a presser with Kessler thought it belonged here.

www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Cody-Kessler-attacks-offseason-to-%E2%80%98make-that-leap%E2%80%99-into-2nd-season/ef90896f-b228-4d23-a51d-0e4de6b20959

I tried making a link too but it didn't work for me either.

I got to it by pasting the web address you posted. Good presser. Kessler's in the right mind-set. I think he'll improve a lot. I'm not certain but this might be his first time back-to-back in the same offense. I know he went through a lot of changes in college.

On that page there is also a lot of other links to player quotes and the like that have been posted in the past 24 hours. Hey, it's "news". lol