Bear Hands

10 hours ago, Jackie Lee said:

Seems like Stroud is good at hitting all the throwing nets, can probably get the ball in the trash cans at the pro days or whatever they do, but that's like 1/3rd of the job for a franchise QB. I really don't love the top 10 of this draft class in general. Immediate impact would be Anderson, Carter, RIngo, maybe one of the WR's, and maybe that TE Mayer but I'm not totally sold he'll translate

I agree on the top-10 overall comment.  Addison & Johnson are awesome at WR, Carter at DL most of the time, but it's pretty thin with the tier-1 talent.  

Not a big Bijan fan, same w/Anderson.  Not a really top heavy draft.  No legit 3-down DLs (Maybe Murphy, but Hutch/Walker/Thib are above all these guys), no runaway plug in LTs, no stellar DBs like the past few drafts (Ringo is alright but not Sauce/Horn/Surtain level), big question marks on QBs.

Ward still looked pretty good yesterday, I'm thinking he may want to stick around another year and boost his stock.  He's young and has some growing he can do.  WSU could be a Pac-12 contender next season.

But Penix, wow, I've been wary but he's getting hard to ignore:

18 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

The most important thing is actually NFL level ability to read the field and the ability to digest new schemes and offenses. 

The NFL arm can put you into an elite class but not without that "NFL brain" to go with it. 

Oh for sure that's a biggie, I'm more hyperbolizing & speaking to pure ability and the fact many can get lost in the stat bloomers their senior/junior years.  Scouts have a certain level of arm strength and throw velocity as a must at the end of the day and it can get looked past.  Some of the more apparent items that are musts tend to get lost in the online evals.  There's a few critical traits (in no particular order):

1-No doubt what's between the ears both on and off the field.  Decision maker, understanding the moments and what needs to get done

2-Processing speed, field surveying & progressions

3-NFL level arm -- a noodle simply won't cut it.  

4-Accuracy -- If they don't have the rocket, this is the counter balance that needs to be lights out.

5-Intangibles - Hard to really quantify and this is one that can be a bit more subjective

I like Penn Badgley

32 minutes ago, Growl said:

so weird watching these posters who watch these games hoping to see these players make a mistake (and obsessing over every one) because they so desperately want to avoid drafting a QB

(or draft some mid round future backup they “discovered”)

This^^. Evolving opinions based on evolving play be damned, some just want to bash when the opportunity is given. 

I've been lurking here and decided to join in on this prospect talk, it's just silly.  And now we're dissecting a single throw by Justin Fields lol.  

We should all want to see ALL of these guys looks as awesome as possible, it's only for our benefit to have some great QBs to choose from.  I want Levis to look better, I want Richardson's accuracy to improve, I want Stroud to look absolutely perfect.  It's as if some are actually more intent on having hard-lined unwavering stances and being right about it, waiting for the second to say a guy blows. 

Stroud had some really damn nice anticipation throws today, great moments, had a bad end of game.  That's really it. 

Showed strong ability, lived up to his hype, the D fell apart, and he couldn't will the team downfield and made some mistakes at the end. It doesn't mean he's #1, doesn't mean he's not worth it either.  

5 minutes ago, SuperBowlBound said:

Bingo - Fields having the same problems in the NFL. Just noted this on a previous post. They cannot overcome the shock of how "open" is defined in the NFL.

This is a common problem for many college QBs due to offensive scheming and modern playcalling in college.  They aren't even being given the chance to make anticipation throws and they also are being taught into being risk-averse.  Fitzpatrick had a phenomenal take on this some weeks back on PMT.  They're focused on their stats, not making INTs, and not pushing the ball.

They are essentially trained for being risk averse and modern coaching is causing them to lack ability to create plays.  Allen and Mahomes cracked the code in the modern age.  

Stroud's accuracy and anticipation does in fact show the ability to create but he has a problem with pocket hesitation.  He had 3-4 absolute NFL-tier beauties today that were anticipation throws downfield.  He has a lot to like but there's some QB "gene"/clutchness type questions that he has to start answering.

C'mon Levis!!

I can't get over how much skill he leaves on the table.  Consistently awful decision making the entire season.

Oh whoops thought you were someone else Varking

1 minute ago, Varking said:

You can’t seriously talk about Stroud not getting it done while also supporting Levis…

I'm enjoying watching & talking prospects, not supporting any of them.  You seem to want to see some go down, which is fine I guess? 

Stroud couldn't get it done, although that defense was atrocious 2nd half.  Saw some great skills from him but made mistakes when it mattered.  Can't lie even though I do like him.  

Levis and Young time.  

Jayden Daniels watch shortly.

Also VERY excited to see Ward vs. Penix today.  Really curious to who shows up between those two.  

OSU's defense is bleeding like a sieve.

Had some absolutely great throws peppered throughout the day.  Ultimately, didn't look the best at the end.  Mixed bag, a bit deflating.  The pressure situations are something to watch with him.  

Are the stars aligning for Harbaugh finally?  

WOW.  OSU's defense and non-Harrison receivers really dropped the ball.  And many balls.

1 minute ago, Catsfan69 said:

You're nuts

Yeah I can't recall him ever single-handedly losing us a playoff game the one year we were runaway SB favorites

Beautiful pass by Stroud.  Such nice anticipation on those throws

Will Levis came out swinging today

12-23 180 yards 0 TD, 1 INT

2 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

It’s also the OSU hate. I get it, I’m not a fan, but I’m also not going to deny obvious talent when I see it.

Yep. 

I don't fully understand the people clamoring to the OSU QB "omen". It's not like they've produced fools gold either.  They've only produced 4 1st round QBs...4!

2 being Don Scott and Art Schilcter...both irrelevant from by gone eras in a totally different game. 1940s and 1980s.  

There's been Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields.  And teams in the league didn't buy them as even top-10 overall talent.  So it's not like there's even monumental busts. 

Not to mention, Haskins looked capable of running an offense, maybe a long term backup/emergency starter and then died.  He actually had a few pretty respectable games in his final starts before the covid ordeal. The Skins were the worst team for him to being drafted to.

And then, you have Fields who looks respectable this year.

I don't really see a trend and both Haskins and Fields are ENTIRELY different players. 

My 2 cents.

Stroud's intelligence, accuracy, & arm shows and his play speaks for itself. 

Just now, Varking said:

Absolute study big boy response throw by Stroud.

I don’t understand the hesitation. 2 most important things you want:

Accuracy & an high end NFL level arm

He’s got both. 

That was an absolute dime NFL level throw right there. Perfect anticipation on that.

What an absolute DIME to MH Jr

People have crazy expectations. He looks like a totally viable prospect

Really solid start there. 

6 minutes ago, BrisbanePanther said:

The answer is no one. If we want one of the top two, do what we need to get them. Drafting a QB elsewhere may be a wasted pick IMO.

Yep.  The most unrealistic thing you'll typically see are those wishing for some miraculous trade down yet we get a guy we target.  You either stay put or trade up to get a guy you target.  

Only exception to not drafting high is if they like a guy enough to trade back into Round 1 in the event we don't take one with our first overall pick.  Would also not be opposed to a double dip.  I see no other path for a QB in this draft.