Panthers met with Hooker per report

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Everyone is.

Technically Mitch Marrow wasn't

[MHS831]

18 hours ago, mrcompletely11 said:

my bad he is 25, that clears things up, lets draft him then

I see what you are saying and you have a point, but you are saying it as if you know the answer and others don't--.  Here is the other side of the coin you are flipping and screaming that you know it is going to land on your side--

You would get a mature QB who can develop for a season and compete for the starting job.  Let's say his first contract covers years 26-29.  You pay him a rookie contract during his prime.  The average QB in the NFL lasts 4.4 years, so age is only a factor if he succeeds.  If he does, you give him a second contract wherein he plays until he is 34.  https://thesportsdaily.com/news/what-is-the-average-length-of-an-nfl-career-by-position/

Instead of paying some kid to learn to shave while he is on his rookie contract.

I think maturity plays a role in the first round QB bust rate.  Lotta pressure on a kid to come to city and turn them into a winner.

As a second to third rounder to compete for the job, he is actually a good value with as much of a chance to start as anybody. 

As for the gimmick offense argument people are making--that is what they said about Auburn in 2010 or so.  Hooker had no control over the offense, and all he did was excel.  Look at the player instead.   If you put Pat Mahomes in the Tennessee offense, would his stats have been better? In the past 2 seasons, Hooker stats: 58 TDs and 5 Ints.  Averaging about 69%.  He is 6-4 220--perfect size.    Here is a pretty good assessment of Hooker:

https://www.downtownrams.com/single-post/2023/02/18/hendon-hooker-nfl-draft-scouting-report-draft-profile/

 

[Bear Hands]

10 hours ago, Jackie Lee said:

"Talking about a body of work, a game that was his best, I need to see more and I need to see a lot more"- Levis stans favorite 2021 game broken down on the QB school

 

He is far and away one of the most frustrating QB prospects that I can remember. I want to like him, I want to love all of these top prospects, but he just leaves so much to be desired every time I try to check him out.

He has a decent understanding of a pro offense and understands layering throws.  The tools are there, but he never seems to leverage his best traits.  For having such a strong/pro-level release & strength, his deep balls just don't consistently have the touch you want.  There's a lot of guys slowing and coming back for the ball, even though that should be his strength.  Now, it's not always the case, he's had a few great flashes that were against Northern Illinois and on his 21' tape w/Wandale.  I just saw very inconsistent accuracy this past year and highly questionable decision making.  

And after considering all of that, Coach Franklin, who I highly respect (Go Dores), stuck with a subpar Sean Clifford and essentially used Levis as a battering ram.  There was just a lot of strangeness in the staff's unwillingness to have him succeed the legend that is Trace McSorley.  And then once he hit the transfer window, I find even more strange how little interest he received with Kentucky being his only larger program option (UMass, UConn & Rutgers were the notable other options).  His skills weren't some mystery either.  He had Jimbo touting him in the CFB world.

Add on he's a super senior so should be nicely refined at this point as a passer, yet he's not.  I just can't get on board but I refuse to diss him entirely given the probability he could be our QB.  

[MHS831]

5 minutes ago, Bear Hands said:

He is far and away one of the most frustrating QB prospects that I can remember. I want to like him, I want to love all of these top prospects, but he just leaves so much to be desired every time I try to check him out.

He has a decent understanding of a pro offense and understands layering throws.  The tools are there, but he never seems to leverage his best traits.  For having such a strong/pro-level release & strength, his deep balls just don't consistently have the touch you want.  There's a lot of guys slowing and coming back for the ball, even though that should be his strength.  Now, it's not always the case, he's had a few great flashes that were against Northern Illinois and on his 21' tape w/Wandale.  I just saw very inconsistent accuracy this past year and highly questionable decision making.  

And after considering all of that, Coach Franklin, who I highly respect (Go Dores), stuck with a subpar Sean Clifford and essentially used Levis as a battering ram.  There was just a lot of strangeness in the staff's unwillingness to have him succeed the legend that is Trace McSorley.  And then once he hit the transfer window, I find even more strange how little interest he received with Kentucky being his only larger program option (UMass, UConn & Rutgers were the notable other options).  His skills weren't some mystery either.  He had Jimbo touting him in the CFB world.

Add on he's a super senior so should be nicely refined at this point as a passer, yet he's not.  I just can't get on board but I refuse to diss him entirely given the probability he could be our QB.  

Every year there are players that scare me because I fear we will draft them.  Levis is that guy this year--I would rather have AR.  With Levis I see a nomad with a cardboard sign in his hand, standing at the intersection of Hope and Despair.  (dramatic ending to my post)

[LinvilleGorge]

Levis is scarily similar to Darnold IMO.

At least with Darnold's draft evaluation you had youth and relative inexperience to lean on to justify taking him high.

[ForJimmy]

32 minutes ago, TheMaulClaw said:

Hendon Hooker is another Teddy Bridgewater, and there's nothing wrong with that, but it's not what we need.  

WTF?  I'm not a huge Hooker fan, but the man is a way better athlete than Teddy.  Bigger arm, bigger frame, and much better at running.  

[Mr. Scot]

14 minutes ago, Bear Hands said:

He has a decent understanding of a pro offense and understands layering throws.  The tools are there, but he never seems to leverage his best traits.  

He's now got something of a connection to us as well.

Liam Coen, the Wildcats OC during his more successful 2021 season, spent the other two of his last three years working alongside our new OC out in Los Angeles.

I'd imagine if Thomas Brown wants to know anything about Levis, he's got a pretty ideal source.

Edited February 22, 2023 by Mr. Scot

[Bear Hands]

24 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

I've seen both Hooker and McKee ranked higher that AR. I've seen Hooker ranked higher than Levis. This class is viewed differently than the media mouth breathers are predicting them to fall. I just cannot put any stock into who's going where this early. The underwear Olympics will have mock draft nuts throwing sh!t out there to get clicks. But until FA is over teams draft boards will not be set.

I can honestly see the argument for Hooker ahead of AR.  The dude is 6'4 220, dual-threat, great arm, ball placement/accurate, sound footwork.  He impresses me every time I tuned in, and honestly, that Bama-Tenn game was hands down the best CFB game in years.  Bryce and Hendon just laid it all on the line.  I can't unsee what Hendon did in that game.  Bama wasn't stopping him.  

People can highlight the system he comes from & age (and I get it, you want to maximize years, can't argue that), but his strengths are hard to ignore and I think teams see that as well.  Now is the time for them to check out how well he can take in an NFL playbook.  And honestly, Corral's offense in college was even more rudimentary and we've got many willing to toss him in no problem at all.  

If you can look past him being 25 his rookie year, and trust throwing him out there sooner than later, you're still getting a potential decade from the kid.  8-10 great years is better than no good years at all.  I mean, Delhomme felt like he overstayed his welcome and he came in here and emerged at the ripe age of 28.  Romo didn't shoot off until 26-27ish.   

The age gives me pause, but it doesn't discount his abilities.  I swear, if he was a junior that declared with the same body of work the past 2 seasons, the "draftnick" whathaveyou opinion would be far different. 

And like you said, I think there could be much more buzz internally for clubs than we know. 

[ForJimmy]

11 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Levis is scarily similar to Darnold IMO.

At least with Darnold's draft evaluation you had youth and relative inexperience to lean on to justify taking him high.

[TheMaulClaw]

17 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

WTF?  I'm not a huge Hooker fan, but the man is a way better athlete than Teddy.  Bigger arm, bigger frame, and much better at running.  

Hooker isn't that big and he blew out his knee in a non contact injury.  Teddy Bridgewater was a 1st round pick too.  You're acting like the guy wasn't a well regarded athlete in Louisville.  

Edited February 22, 2023 by TheMaulClaw

[Bear Hands]

1 hour ago, MHS831 said:

Every year there are players that scare me because I fear we will draft them.  Levis is that guy this year--I would rather have AR.  With Levis I see a nomad with a cardboard sign in his hand, standing at the intersection of Hope and Despair.  (dramatic ending to my post)

I genuinely want to like him as a prospect.  I want to see more than flashes of anticipation and touch with his type of ability.  I mean, his release is lightning and if you plug him in, he's a top-10 arm talent in the league.    

But in comparison, if you watch Josh Allen in school, it's night and day.  He came out of nowhere and for 2 years was recklessly bombing balls left and right, leading guys downfield, creating, even if he was inaccurate and raw as hell.  6'5 230+, running like Cam and a mad man launching balls at recess.  

Levis was mid-tier recruit used as a short yardage running-QB.  He wasn't even PSU's starting QB but they rammed him in 130+ times in 2 years at a 3.5 YPC.  Then transfers after not winning the starting job, has a McVay guy to implement a pro-offense at UK.  He does pretty well in 2021.  Then, said OC leaves after 21 and the production plummets, he regresses, and is banged up.  So you get a hint of him looking pretty good in 2021, and he has a few near elite traits.    

@Mr. Scot Put it well.  We have 2 coaches in Evero & Thomas Brown who likely have Liam Coen on speed dial.  Coen knows what he brings so that connection is a huge game breaker for the fit.    

  

 

 

 

 

Edited February 22, 2023 by Bear Hands
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[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, Bear Hands said:

@Mr. Scot put it well.  We have 2 coaches in Evero & Thomas Brown who likely have Liam Coen on speed dial.  Coen knows what he brings so that connection is a huge game breaker for the fit.

Three if you count Jonathan Cooley I suppose...

Also reasonable to think Evero might be consulted when it comes time to look at Derek Carr since he faced him as a DC twice last year.

[Bear Hands]

1 minute ago, Mr. Scot said:

Three if you count Jonathan Cooley I suppose...

Also reasonable to think Evero might be consulted when it comes time to look at Derek Carr since he faced him as a DC twice last year.

As a sidebar, it is pretty sweet how well tied our younger staff is to the good McVay regime.  Blending that with Fangio mentees & Reich's tree that stems through SD/Indy/Philly, we've got some wicked good minds in the house.    

[ForJimmy]

45 minutes ago, TheMaulClaw said:

Hooker isn't that big and he blew out his knee in a non contact injury.  Teddy Bridgewater was a 1st round pick too.  You're acting like the guy wasn't a well regarded athlete in Louisville.  

Teddy’s career rushing yards at Louisville were 226 averaging .8 per carry Hooker was 2079 averaging 4 yards a carry. Yeah they seem sooooo similar…..