goflyhelo Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 By Larry Weisman Posted: January 12, 2011 When they succeed, they are the tide that lifts all boats. When they fail, they sink like HMS Titanic and suck everything into that watery vortex. We’re talking about quarterbacks selected in the first round of the NFL draft. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for this year’s April meat market is Saturday. In terms of quarterbacks, that puts the focus on Auburn University’s Cameron Newton, who is not only a member of the national championship squad but the Heisman Trophy winner as well. Given the allegations regarding requests by his father for payment for the son’s services on the field as a collegian, it’s probably a fair guess that the quarterback need not be Isaac Newton to figure out the best course here and turn pro. It’s also no secret the Redskins’ quarterback situation leaves a little something to be desired. With evaluations by the coaching staff still under way, it would be way premature to predict what the team might want to do with its first-round pick (10th overall) or its choice in the second round. It’s also true that head coach Mike Shanahan opened the door to drafting a quarterback when he benched Donovan McNabb for the final three games of the regular season to give Rex Grossman a trial run. At the time, in explaining the need to take a longer look at Grossman and also John Beck as a backup, Shanahan said he told McNabb: “I am not sure what we are going to do in the college draft.” He went on to explain that “if we were to get the top quarterback in the draft, if there was a young Donovan McNabb or maybe a Sam Bradford or something like that,” then perhaps the Redskins would go in that direction. McNabb, of course, was the second overall pick in the 1999 draft, with Tim Couch ahead of him and Akili Smith behind him. McNabb went to six Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles; the other two scripted shorter, simpler, sadder tales of failure. Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in 2010 by the St. Louis Rams, set rookie records for completions (354) and pass attempts (590) and his 3,512 passing yards are second best ever for a rookie. He nearly got the Rams into the playoffs. As the deadline for Newton’s decision approaches, so does the second round of the NFL playoffs. Eight teams remain – six are quarterbacked by a No. 1 draft pick. It was eight of 12 when the playoffs began and there were two 10-win teams that missed out (the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers), both quarterbacked by No. 1s. Read rest here: http://www.redskins.com/gen/articles/Drafting_a_First_Round_Quarterback_Has_Risks__Rewards_188667.jsp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryGreenMonk Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 you stole my thread and made it an article Larry. fine whatever. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chump Bailey Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 If Pat Devlin puts on a show at the combine and his Pro Day, I'd like us to take a chance on him in the 2nd round if circumstances permit. Forget about a QB in the 1st and try to find a partner to trade down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Adama Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 you stole my thread and made it an article Larry. fine whatever. lol And it is a fine thread indeed sir. Kudos! The Cliff Notes (Do they still make Cliff Notes? Am I dating myself on this one?) of the article: It is hit or miss drafting a QB, but if you do get a hit on a QB it can change the team. HTTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jbank31 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 There is no question that the NFL has become a quarterback league for whatever reason. Maybe it is the defenses are now ahead of the running game with the zone blitzes. I don't know. I read somewhere that the zone blitz is designed to stop the run. If a quarterback is available that coach thinks he can win with, then pull the trigger at any cost. It used to be the left tackle was the most important position on the football field now it is the quarterback. On the defensive side of the ball look at all of the great defenses and you will find an outstanding safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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