After Newton, there's little consensus on QB draft class

[mav1234]

Oh, so sit on our hands and hope that a franchise QB falls out the sky next year?

Gotcha.

Nah, actively peruse one. Build on the youth we have -because we have plenty of QB youth as it is - and if that youth fails to take signficant steps forward, then you get the best quarterback you can next year.

Meanwhile, we've drafted a solid #1 prospect with very few questions. That prospect should be an instant upgrade and a first day starter, contributing immediately - and maybe by quite a bit. A big DT? Would instantly improve our defense, helping to fill a void that has existed since, well... Jenkins? How about a great CB? I don't know about you but I'm ready to not have Gamble be the best cover guy we have. Even AJ Green would give us one of the scariest WR corps in the game IMO.

If we go rookie QB, we're taking a HUGE risk on a player with a ton of questions. It's not that the above players don't have risk too, they do. But these QBs all have major, major questions. The biggest are obvious, but there are more minor issues between each of them: For Gabbert it's his pocket presence, for Newton it's his total lack of consistency in his passing game.

If we need to, we can trade up next year. It's not like we'll be stuck at #6 and have no chance of going anywhere and getting anyone good. Plenty of great quarterbacks in this league have been taken before that, and plenty of teams have shown you can trade up to snag a player if needed.

[MattB]

Plus, you don't need to draft a QB #1 overall, or top 3, to get a great starter. A lot of people say Newton is the next Freeman or Big Ben... Okay, but look at where Freeman was drafted, Flacco, Big Ben, Drew Brees (IMO he might as well be considered late first round, lol), Aaron Rodgers. Sure, we may not be in a Green Bay situation, but the fact remains they found one of the best QBs in the NFL and he sure wasn't taken early.

Exactly though those guys were mid 1st round picks. I mean the Seawhawks went BPA with Aaron Curry in '09 but would they be better off now with Sanchez/Freeman?

[mav1234]

This team won't be competitive with Clausen/Moore/whoever at QB. We might not even be with Newton either but at least you have something to build around. We have a new coaching staff coming in, it's a perfect time to draft a rookie QB.

How do you know we wouldn't be? With Clausen at his absolute worst we were still in a ton of games. Nobody will go into next season resting on him as a starter, nor Moore, but a good veteran could have won us many more games last year. With less injuries and a defensive upgrade, our defense is a top 5 unit and it would have us in contention for a wild card spot with even average QB play. But if we don't invest in the D, it won't stay our strong suite forever, not with the big holes it has.

[mav1234]

Exactly though those guys were mid 1st round picks. I mean the Seawhawks went BPA with Aaron Curry in '09 but would they be better off now with Sanchez/Freeman?

Hard to predict, but one thing is certain: You can get a good QB outside of the top 3 of the first round, don't you think?

It's not just about going BPA. QB is not our only hole on this team, and it's not our only gaping one... but it is our only gaping one with tons of question marks about if we may have part of the answer on this roster.

However, Gabbert is used to doing everything himself and probably would like to keep it that way which is just not going to happen.

As a percentage, more of Missouri's touchdowns were scored on the ground than in the air than even AUBURN. Yes, that's right - Gabbert apparently wants to do so much himself his offense scored on the ground more than Auburn as a percent of total scores. They barely threw the ball more than ran it at Mizzou.

[teeray]

MAV's thought have merits. I just think Cam Newton is too talented to pass on. To keep it short I think his negatives have been blown way out of proportion. He has a great release, great arm strength, plenty of intelligence, and is perhaps the most unique athlete we have ever seen play the position. At least the most unique since Mike Vick.

Does he have more questions than Luck did? Sure. But I don't believe he is as far away as some people think and I think he has an upside with his mobility that is even higher than Luck's. Some guys disagree with me on that point but that is my opinion and I am sticking with it.

[MattB]

Hard to predict, but one thing is certain: You can get a good QB outside of the top 3 of the first round, don't you think?

It's not just about going BPA. QB is not our only hole on this team, and it's not our only gaping one... but it is our only gaping one with tons of question marks about if we may have part of the answer on this roster.

QB is not our only need but it is by far the most important. How are we supposed to compete in the division without a franchise QB? There is no guarantee that next year's crop will be any better that this years or that we'll even be in a position to draft one. Obviously if the FO does not think Newton is the guy than you don't take him but seemingly they are high on him. You don't get a chance to draft a blue-chip level QB every year.

[mav1234]

QB is not our only need but it is by far the most important. How are we supposed to compete in the division without a franchise QB?

By grinding them into the dirt. Throwing them on their back. Making it impossible for them to complete a pass... and then running Stewart and Williams over their D-Line.

Obviously if the FO does not think Newton is the guy than you don't take him but seemingly they are high on him.

You're right, if they are high on him they take him and I would support them 100% in it. I just see other paths to building a championship team that don't require us drafting a QB THIS year.

[Mr. Scot]

You're right, if they are high on him they take him and I would support them 100% in it. I just see other paths to building a championship team that don't require us drafting a QB THIS year.

Agreed.

[MattB]

By grinding them into the dirt. Throwing them on their back. Making it impossible for them to complete a pass... and then running Stewart and Williams over their D-Line.

I love tough defense as much as the next guy but there are no elite teams in the league playing foxball anymore.

[teeray]

If we het PP or Dareus I certainly won't be cryimg myself to sleep. I think PP has overtaken Dareus as my number 2 bc of his ability to contribute to special teams.

[teeray]

I love tough defense as much as the next guy but there are no elite teams in the league playing foxball anymore.

Fox ball will no longer work in the NFC South anymore. The QB in our division are too good IMO.

[mav1234]

I love tough defense as much as the next guy but there are no elite teams in the league playing foxball anymore.

You're right. But the two teams that just competed for a Superbowl were #1/#2 in defense and each drafted a quarterback in the later rounds of the draft because they built two solid units with good picks and then went for a quarterback. Sure, who knows what would have happened if they ahd been picking as early as we were though. Different situations.

Still, the idea that elite defenses don't win games is a bit silly - Which I know isn't what you said, but it is what has been implied at times by others.

[teeray]

You're right. But the two teams that just competed for a Superbowl were #1/#2 in defense and each drafted a quarterback in the later rounds of the draft because they built two solid units with good picks and then went for a quarterback.

I agree with you (about the defense not about waiting on a QB) but just to play devil's advocate, how good do you think our defense would have been if they were healthy and actually able to get some time to rest on the sideline??? I think our talent is top 10 on that side of the ball. Hard to be effective when you are on the field 70% of the game.

[mav1234]

I agree with you (about the defense not about waiting on a QB) but just to play devil's advocate, how good do you think our defense would have been if they were healthy and actually able to get some time to rest on the sideline??? I think our talent is top 10 on that side of the ball. Hard to be effective when you are on the field 70% of the game.

I think that our current talent level there is very high but I think it still needs help, particularly at DT and CB. I don't think settling for being in the top third of the league in defense - possibly lower, considering we are losing Marshall and replacing him with ??? - is really the best place to be. It's hard to say - perhaps if we had a QB who wasn't turning the ball over a ton and able to sustain drives, our defense would have looked much better. They were quite strong early but they still had their moments of weakness, often having trouble forcing people off the field because we couldn't really generate pressure when we needed it most...

Obviously I don't want to settle on offense, either. But our offense is already so young. I just don't think as highly of Cam Newton as a prospect as you guys do, which I think is where our difference in opinion comes from.