Ghost of

I called Tom Brady as a floor of very good system QB (remember those?!) but with a higher ceiling because of how he performed in the really big moments at Michigan. Just saying. My only question about him was the deep out and he improved his throwing base in the early stage of his career (wasn't as concerned about the deep ball he didn't seem to have an issue with that.) Any of you sons of guns going to pay for my newsletter? It's titled "Deez."

McCarthy used them enough. As I watched the Championship game, I said he was going to have to run to get comfortable again. Apparently backed up near the end zone, he had already recognized Cover 2 (maybe Tampa 2) and exploited it for a huge gain to get them out of trouble. I see a guy like Josh Allen and while I don't think you want JJ running like that or trying to truck people, he can definitely use his legs while he gets comfortable. I found that he often didn't run but instead ran outside on play action of some kind or another and did well on those plays on short and intermediate throws (between layers of the defense.) Having heard him break down what he saw that caused him to throw to Roman Wilson vs. OSU, or that he should run to get out of trouble in the title game, I think he's much more adept than his career has shown (in the film room.) I want guys who mix fantastic physical skills with demonstrated results in winning and the sort of temperament that lends itself to leading and winning as a quarterback. Arguably, a lot of guys have great tools and people salivate over but they haven't shown they are winners. Others may be winners or good leaders like Colt McCoy was, but lack the tools to consistently deliver. McCarthy not only has both but grew up in an organization that develops players and team chemistry (at least for now, if Harbaugh leaves who knows what effect that has).

Don't forget me. I've been trying to educate people on ES because as someone who actually watched him, know his achievements at all levels of competition, and I just don't see it from these other guys. At least we know that Caleb has the physical tools. I just prefer a guy who demonstrated time and again he will do what's necessary for the team, was a 5 star recruit, only lost once as a starter, and has shown that he has the physical tools to thrive in a more modern NFL attack. Some guys just win because they're pretty good college players who are surrounded by super elite talent. The Wolverines develop talent and have a winning and team-oriented culture now. Here's what you do: 1. Grab JJ McCarthy (skip Maye, not because i know he's going to bust but I don't know what he is or is not), 2. get yourself something to drop down (or perhaps do a swap after everyone's selected). Let him sit like he did at Michigan but maybe get him some occasional reps. Then look to start in year 2. Getting Alabama guys made sense for awhile (mainly because of talent but also winning culture) but I think the gold standard of organizational culture even before winning the championship was Michigan and we're possibly going to have a HC who helped build that.

I don't know enough to understand what this means but I heard someone call one of the Sirius sports shows saying they wanted EB to be head coach or they're going to be mad. What in the world are these people smoking?

Why did you specifically call out Allen and Jones as runners? Seems odd and your description of Allen seems especially weird since he's been running since HS.

People who pan McCarthy don't understand the sacrifices he made to play in a system like that. He has a very good pro arm and often makes pro throws dropping a ball in narrow windows or over defenders. He was injured in his throwing base since Penn State. That affected the rest of the regular season in terms of performance and the playbook. He won a state title, a national title with IMG, was actually a 5 star recruit. And then he overcame some bad plays last year in a shootout to make it close. Then returned and went 15-0. Lost one game as a starter and repeatedly made big plays to win games or bail the team out. See multiple in the CFP alone. He has to progress but he has the mental makeup and physical tools to win in the NFL. It would be a mistake to dismiss him as a journeyman in a league where Brock Purdy is a starter on a top 3 team.

I want winners! And I want people who want to win! We picked a guy from a strong organizational culture in terms of executive leadership and talent acquisition. The Ravens have been a standout organization for a long time now and the DCs who did their apprenticeship at Michigan seem uniquely talented and get results just about immediately. And they're from the Ravens. I think the QB, offensive head coach pairing is overrated.

People acting like McDonald is a new name or didn't have a top defense in college too and turn around the fortunes of Michigan. You saw what another Ravens tree coach did to Penix, Jr., the award winning offensive line and 3 nfl wideouts in the national championship? And you guys don't want continuity there on that side of the ball? Yeah please avoid the system that limits or even strangles the top qbs and offensive systems in college and pro game.

McDonald is a great defensive coordinator. This isn't his first rodeo against a talented Stroud. People forget he and Minter were the difference makers in beating Ohio State for Michigan. McDonald is who we want for coach unless Ben Johnson is just that much better a head administrator.

I assure you that while Cade, in retrospect, probably wishes it was Michigan, he is indeed a Buckeye. Good player, though.

As a counter to Warhead not caring about the first two points: 1. Ohio State, which was an excellent team this year, rolled out a backup freshman QB vs. Mizzou and couldn't muster any offense. Yes, they were missing McCord and MHJ but Ohio State always has a great deal of talent. Furthermore, the CFP committee doesn't agree with this frame. They kept FSU out because the FSU offense looked mediocre with a backup and terrible with the 3rd string. The fact that USC's backup goes in and looks like Drew Brees is...suggestive. 2. How you play against top teams matters. That's why many top QB prospects are top prospects, their play against good teams not Western Vermont. As an additional piece, Peyton Manning could not beat Florida and choked in big games in college (not all, just that's why he didn't win the Heisman, frankly.) In the pros, he seemed to carry the exact same problem with him. He was good in "pressure" moments but not the "highest pressure" moments.

I used to do small research projects relating to what conferences produced at certain skill positions most reliably but that's all changed and now that PAC schools are going to the Big Ten and ACC, no idea how that interacts or molds these programs into something different. Other than one legendary family's connection to the southeast, it could have been argued at one point that the SEC did not produce very good QB prospects. And that was when they all played relatively pro-style offenses. It would be interesting to see a similar analysis of the last 5-10 years (any more and I think you run into issues with how offensive innovation burst onto the NFL but was then countered and now you see all sorts of non-pro style concepts in regular use in the NFL.) For instance, the PAC teams don't play defense very well from a statistical standpoint. But does that enable their QBs (aside from USC) to develop their passing skills more? What is the recent record for QBs. Yes, Aaron Rodgers went to Cal, but that was so long ago, I don't know that I'd put stock in it unless it represented continuity with the present.

It's wild that Charles Rogers is deceased. I believe there is another former Lion wideout, less acclaimed, who had severe mental health issues and is also gone way too soon.

The security guy for Jerry Springer who went on to have his own talk show? Big, charismatic? Sure. But I don't think he's head coach material.

Yo bro. My first major thread on that was a correct diagnosis of the Brunell problem in 2004. Lost like...tears in rain. Looking back, the Campbell debates (Was right on that too) were a less joyful reiteration of the Brunell debates. I'm so old, I remember when ASF did an intensive projection of Greg McElroy being the next Tom Brady. Lol

That's true actually.

Randy In college sacks count against rushing totals.

Ok I totally misread your post, my bad.

Josh McDaniels? Lol he's not getting another HC job.

That's largely why I think the league is weaker than it used to be. Continuity matters and while it can work against an organization that is in a bad place, of course, the great teams are really great.

Jalen Hurts, to me, is still not a great QB and yet he was a hair's breadth from being Super Bowl MVP after a great season. I don't know that I used an adjective like "super" just that he is more reliant than people think and maybe instead of improv, there's another term we can use that's not just repeating things like 'off-schedule' or 'off-platform.' Honestly, I think Aaron Rodgers is another QB who is capable of magnificent feats but isn't quite the pocket passer (in terms of reading a defense consistently) that other great QBs have been.

You mean "strikethrough"? Man, life must be good to not have to master Word.

I think mental makeup combined with the physical tools is what you need at QB. There's a guy who basically never loses (State Title in Illinois, IMG Academy National Title, College Football National Champion) and has significant ability to run and make NFL throws (but lacks consistency, partially because I think the running game can make you get out of rhythm) that may or may not be available. But as for Mahomes, I think he's way more reliant on improv plays than people think and one reason he's had struggles isn't just because a receiver dropped a ball (which is true a lot this year) but because he is not a great pocket QB, he's a great hybrid. He does struggle breaking down a defense at times and that's one reason he seems more vulnerable/beatable than the guys who are in the GOAT conversations.

Really? You don't think the fact that nearly every coordinator and great offensive head coach is not a former tailback matters? It's not that being a RB means you will want to run the ball, but that how you process the game (running backs are not regarded as cognitively demanding positions like QB, offensive line, possibly TE maybe) is laid down in your playing days and subsequently limits or enhances your ability to master an offense and call the plays in the most advantageous ways (as well as innovate.) That's like talking about head coaches and saying there's nothing to the fact that offensive coaches and offensive continuity are seemingly valued highly right now.

Yes, I think people are wanting the charismatic/"Great Man" style leader for GM, when what you want is someone who is an expert at instituting administrative structures, cultural values, and competencies. Because if Peters were to get sick, to retire or simply leave, you'd want continuity, not a Diadochi crisis.