MHS831

I just see the tea leaves spelling out that we are going to aggressively pursue a QB in this draft.

If we are this aggressive going after the coaches, how aggressive do you think we'll be going after a QB? Discuss.

I think the players they like for this offense: Stroud, Levis. I am not sure Young is the guy, and he could fall as a result of his not being tall enough to ride 50% of the rides at Carowinds. If AR is there at 9 and they have not moved, I think they could go after him, but I expect him to be scrutinized by scouts / GMs by April and he will drop to the end of Round 1.

Reading the tea leaves It just seems as though we are preparing to go with a young QB, and there must be a guy or two in this draft they like. Here is my thinking (with my brain): 1. The staff is built around developing a QB 2. The CMC trade was to give them the coins to move up in the draft. 3. With Next year's expected cap situation, trading a first rounder this year (if needed) would not be as big a hit in 2024 as it may have in other years. 4. Fitterer likes the idea of having a starting QB on a rookie deal for 4-5 years. 5. While he had some success, acquiring retreads at QB has not been the long term solution in Reich's case.

I used to go watch a few OTAs each year and I noticed that players tend to hang around their buddies when possible during the moments when they could. They'd warm up together, for example. Smitty did not seem to have any personal relationships with teammates---except 1, and to me, it was the last person you'd expect. Smith would warm up with this person at the back, and they would be talking the entire time--Every time I went to see them. I was so close, I could almost hear them, but you could tell from facial expressions that they liked each other. The other player? John Kasay.

A Joseph Conrad reference? Impressive

It is ok to voice an opinion, but when half of the QBs drafted in the first round bust and few second rounders ever produce, it is because GMs and their scouts can't predict NFL success for college QBs that effectively. So please do not call someone "dumb" for having an opinion that differs from yours. This aint middle school (or maybe it could be).

Having encountered Smith a few times, I can endorse the fact that he is an asshole. He has the MHS Grade A++ Gold-plated seal as a 5'7" custard launcher and advanced certification in Rectal Spelunking. Here is what everyone forgets about Smitty: Name a rookie WR who did well here while he was here? I saw him verbally abuse Dwayne Jarrett all day long at an OTA--Spoke to Jarrett about it after the practice, and he was biting his lip he was so pissed off. He slapped my hand when I offered it to support him, and he slapped it hard. It made me think about Smith's altercations with teammates (fists). I know Clausen sucked, but he went after him in public-not the professional way of addressing that issue. While his stats and performance as a player were solid, what did it cost this team because he sucks as a person and teammate? Hard to say.

He is his own agent Almost as bad as what the say about the person who represents themselves in court has a fool for a client. The devil is in the details.

At this point, it is like arguing whether Pocahontas was a willing participant in the John Smith fling. It don't matter now. Time to let it go. At least this is not as bad as the Annual Green Bay Packer QB off season attention grab...AR learned a lot from BF.

Same thought--however, Atlanta has a lot of needs, (WR, C, G, T) on offense, so this would be interesting. The Falcons also have the second largest cap space (about $50m--which is about what Jackson will cost them).

Why you do not want this to happen--- 1. Atlanta gets Jackson 2. Baltimore needs a QB, they get #8 overall and have the picks to move to #1. Stroud goes first, Young #2, and then Indy is likely to take Levis at #4. AR is not a top 10 pick--but he might be the only option for Carolina if that happens. Carr is starting to sound better every day--but we shall wait and see.

So when you see something you disagree with you stop reading? Says more about you than me.

A lot of people are saying, "Since Bridgewater, Darnold, and Mayfield didn't work out, this is stupid." Carr is on a different level. He has been successful and his bad year is better than any QB we have had since 2018. A team could get 5 quality years out of him, based on his playing style. During that time, you find and groom his replacement. How did Green Bay do when they signed Aaron when Brett was getting it done? Did the Niners have a bad problem when they signed Young to sit a while behind Montana? So it could be part of a winning formula, if you think long term. What about Hurts behind Wentz? Even if the starter is not so great, it gives the franchise time to develop a second or third rounder and not have to draft early round 1 and hope he is the messiah. Many ways to go about this, so if you are certain you are right and denouncing alternative opinions, all you are proving is how narrow minded and uncreative people can be.

yup

My theory---put your money in the OL and the RB, TEs, QB, and WRs get better.

This acquisition did not hurt the reputation this staff is building.

Or Tommy is his nephew?

I was scared to death about that. I know others don't care, but character matters to me. Hard for me to root for a person like that, and I realize there were some ambulance-chasing attorneys in the mix. I just thought the money and the picks would kill this franchise before it saved it. And I was born in Columbia SC when my father was playing for the Gamecocks, so I might be a little biased

The inside source is a Raider player, and he likes Carr. He said that some of the players are not responsive to his kind of leadership--so you are right. He said he rubs people the wrong way--Source said--at times he is like a less offensive, watered down Russell Wilson--may have been a joke. Actually, the person who told me that was not the player but his Dad. I think it is the religion--but not sure. I did not throw Carr under the bus by any means...You are correct in the way Carr handled one situation very well.

Time for a statistical deep dive comparing getting Carr for free vs. spending a "windfall" of picks to pay top $$$ for Jackson Threw these numbers together to see if Lamar Jackson is worth the cost. Here is what I found.... Age it matters, but if you consider playing style, Carr could have as many years left as Jackson--(See Newton, Cam) Carr 32 Jackson 26 Character: Advantage Jackson, but not an issue for either. Based on the fact that Jackson's teammates like him and so do other who meet him. Carr is religious and has no skeletons, but has some people on his team that are not "big fans" (insider info) Overall Derek Carr has averaged about 11 Interceptions a season against 24 TDs. (4.4% of his passes are TDs, 2% INTs). he has a career average of completing 64.6% of his passes. Lamar Jackson has a career 6.1% TDs, and 2.4% interceptions but he throws less-- but he has struggled in the playoffs- 2.2% TDs, 3.7% Ints. He has a career average of completing 63.7% of his passes Yards Passing Per Game ( big advantage Carr) Carr Yards per game: 248 (7.1 per attempt) Jackson Yards per game 174 (7.4 per attempt) Rushing Per Game (Huge advantage Jackson) Jackson obviously offers more in the run game-- In 2022, in the 12 games he played, he averaged about 64 yards per game. Carr averages (for career) 6 yards per game rushing. Combined Passing and Rushing (wash: The reason I call this a wash, is a rushing QB is more effective in the red zone, when yards are not as big a factor. Makes it harder to cover all threats. While Carr has a 16 yard per game advantage, it is not substantial enough to crown a 1 dimensional QB over a dual threat) Carr: Passing and rushing--254 yards per game Jackson: Passing and rushing--238 yards per game MHS take: Since this is only comparing 2 options (potentially) for the Panthers, I do not see the cost of going after Jackson being worth it. He is a running QB and they have shorter careers--as RBs do vs. other position players--the body can only take so much pounding. Carr could play another 4 years at a high level, and Jackson could be hitting a wall at the same time (the peak for an NFL RB is 27 years of age, then they drop off, on average, at a rate of about 30% per year--look it up. It gives you some idea of the wear and tear on offensive player that run the ball, although a QB would run the ball maybe 10 times per game vs. 20 for a RB.) My concerns about Jackson: He is a running QB and he missed 5 games last year. He would take a 5-year contract worth about $250m and he may not continue to produce through the entire contract. He will also require a Watson-like windfall of draft picks and players. He throws for about 175 yards per game and runs for 65. Carr would cost much less per season, and he should be a decent to good QB for 4 years. A bridge? Yes, but this team is young and they need a young General on the field. We can still develop a young QB and let him compete, which is another reason you don't spend your future 3 first rounders and more to get Jackson so you can pay him $50m per season. I'd rather have Jackson, but the price tag and smart move is to purchase a used Carr.I am sure that Jackson is a lot more attractive for fantasy football owners, but for NFL owners, is he worth what it would take to take him over Carr? I don't see it. And I know some will start rambling about a different option, like drafting a QB--but that is not the point here. Those are the people who are unlikely to read this far, so get your popcorn ready and watch them go.

Then is it safe to assume that they had a good run-blocking OL, but if the QB pressures stat was near the bottom, it must have been a really good run-blocking team?

I see your point--I genuinely do--however, if you take Jackson (even at 26, he has been pretty durable considering how he plays) but I try to read the tea leaves. What I want and what I share are not always the same thing--I try to analyze what they will do based on the moves already made, my assessment of risk, etc. Emotions are great on the field, but off the field, they would get you fired. Keep pumping out your perspectives--you are not always wrong!

I think it was Orlovski (Sp?) on ESPN who said it is shaping up to be the best staff in the NFL.