A different (promise) poll on Luck that...

[KSpan]

i don't watch college football, but when i saw his name start to be tossed around i watched videos of him.

not highlight packages, but actual game videos. there are lots of them on youtube where they show every play he made during a game.

what i saw was that most of his completions (and there were a LOT of incompletions) came to wide open receivers. not much tight coverage or perfectly threaded throws. he's not going to see many wide open receivers in the NFL, so it makes me trepidatious.

My observation as well. Not to say the guy isn't good - he's made some great plays and his numbers are sparkling. It just seemed to me that a lot of his completions were shorter throws to open guys that ran after the catch.

[mick eye]

Instead of starting yet another thread i figured this is as good a place as any to explain why i have reservations about Luck.

I saw him play his freshman year against Wake Forest. Riley Skinner scored the go ahead touchdown with seconds to spare. Gerhart ran all over Wake and Luck looked pretty good but made freshman mistakes. Point being he lost a game against WAKE.

Secondly, color me unimpressed with the DEFENSE they play in the Pac 10. Oregon has the most creative and NFL like defense and they confused Luck. The rest of the teams are GARBAGE. Arizona was the only ranked team Stanford beat and they finished the season badly. AND do not play defense.

Lastly, are there not a half dozen QB's in FA and in the upcoming draft that have the potential to either be a mentor/stopgap or the prized "franchise QB."

I mean some NFL team is gonna hang their future on the following.

1. Cam Newton

2. Ryan Mallett

3. Blaine Gabbert

4. Nick Foles

5. Christian Ponder

Agreed Luck is the consensus best of this group but they all have upside. I just don't see QB being a spot we can not improve more cheaply and while upgrading other spots on the team with a trade down.

[mick eye]

OH and after the Orange Bowl i will be officially onboard the Luck Bandwagon or not.

Bowl Game pressure against a opponent from a division that does play defense.

[I'm New Here]

I have not seen Luck play, other than videos on Youtube. He seems to have the arm, which is a plus, considering what we've had to witness with Clausen the last half of the season (five yards and clouds of dust).

However, the hype around Luck scares me because it reminds me of the reports on Clausen last year before the Gruden interview and McShay reports:

"born to play Qb"; he was touted as being the most NFL ready Qb because he played in a pro style offense under a great* name coach (Weiss); he was said to have all the tools, pedigree, coaching, intangibles, etc. that a Qb should want and need.

Unfortunately for us, we all found out this year that the kid doesn't have what it takes (the guts, mental toughness, courage, or arm) to compete on a high level on Sundays.

This is why terms like "can't miss" and "once every ten years" need to be retired. It's statements like these that get fans and sometimes front-offices into deep poo.

They are no more than terminology that talking heads and the publications/networks use to generate buzz about players in the upcoming draft.

I will not believe in Luck until I see how he reacts and plays in his first bowl game on a national stage against a top 20 defense (VT-16).

[TheRealDeal]

I've watched nearly every game of his and I don't think my choice is up there. I think he has a lot of pro tools that will translate well to the NFL level but I don't think he is the GOAT.

I'm still not sure that he isn't just a product of a weak draft and QB class. I don't think he'll be a bust (open to some interpretation of the word) but I don't know yet how he'll do without Harbaugh.

[Urrymonster]

I have not seen Luck play, other than videos on Youtube. He seems to have the arm, which is a plus, considering what we've had to witness with Clausen the last half of the season (five yards and clouds of dust).

However, the hype around Luck scares me because it reminds me of the reports on Clausen last year before the Gruden interview and McShay reports:

"born to play Qb"; he was touted as being the most NFL ready Qb because he played in a pro style offense under a great* name coach (Weiss); he was said to have all the tools, pedigree, coaching, intangibles, etc. that a Qb should want and need.

Unfortunately for us, we all found out this year that the kid doesn't have what it takes (the guts, mental toughness, courage, or arm) to compete on a high level on Sundays.

This is why terms like "can't miss" and "once every ten years" need to be retired. It's statements like these that get fans and sometimes front-offices into deep poo.

They are no more than terminology that talking heads and the publications/networks use to generate buzz about players in the upcoming draft.

I will not believe in Luck until I see how he reacts and plays in his first bowl game on a national stage against a top 20 defense (VT-16).

This ten times over.

The exact same things Luck is being praised for Clausen was as well. The downside of both was a 'quirky' throwing motion (admittedly Clausen had another couple of areas highlighted). Only difference was Clausen had a non existent line whereas Luck has a great one.

The major thing that I have liked about Luck is his movement in the pocket and ability to evade the pass rush (reminds me of Rodgers in this aspect), however his accuracy does not wow me, nor does his decision making. Both are good, just that is not what sets him apart from the rest.

So as it is we have a QB who people are not highlighting weaknesses, yet mainly touting his Pro-readyness. Frankly I do not buy that ANY college QB can come through without any weaknesses, because it's the most pressured job in the business.

I still think we should pick him, but I am not expecting what a lot of people are building him up to be.

[Urrymonster]

I've watched nearly every game of his and I don't think my choice is up there. I think he has a lot of pro tools that will translate well to the NFL level but I don't think he is the GOAT.

I'm still not sure that he isn't just a product of a weak draft and QB class. I don't think he'll be a bust (open to some interpretation of the word) but I don't know yet how he'll do without Harbaugh.

You are openly hostile about Clausen and now starting to doubt Luck, what are you thinking the right course of action is?

Do we draft Luck in the knowledge that he might not be the prospect people are banking on him being? Do we address one of the major problems on defence? Could a coach like Harbaugh get anything more out of Moore/Clausen?

Just intruiged on how you would proceed considering how strongly you feel about Clausen and now having reservations about Luck?

[TheRealDeal]

You are openly hostile about Clausen and now starting to doubt Luck, what are you thinking the right course of action is?

Do we draft Luck in the knowledge that he might not be the prospect people are banking on him being? Do we address one of the major problems on defence? Could a coach like Harbaugh get anything more out of Moore/Clausen?

Just intruiged on how you would proceed considering how strongly you feel about Clausen and now having reservations about Luck?

To be fair everyone but a few posters is openly hostile about Clausen. I'm not doubting Luck, he has to be the pick. I said he has all the tools you would want in a draft pick, he's big, has a big arm, is smart, is athletic, etc but I caution people expecting him to be Manning, that's all.

Luck is the pick and like I said will be a good QB, but I think people have such high expectations just because no one is in this draft is even close to him.

For example:

In reality Luck is probably 3-4 steps ahead of everyone else due to the lower amount of question marks in comparison to Locker, Newton, Mallet, etc:

Luck 90 everyone else 80-81

Since that is such a big disparity, the media and public perceive it as this:

Luck 110 everyone else 80-81

To most people that automatically means Luck will bring us a dynasty and I'm just trying to reel in expectations. He has some flaws but far less than anyone in this class and anyone in last years class (Save Bradford). He should be a good NFL QB, I just don't expect him to be the GOAT but he could be.

[Woodie]

My observation as well. Not to say the guy isn't good - he's made some great plays and his numbers are sparkling. It just seemed to me that a lot of his completions were shorter throws to open guys that ran after the catch.

That's the WCO influence Stanford runs.