MHS831

Give us your take on Darnold---genetics or environment?

Damn. He's good.

Did you want Fields? If so, the obvious question is, "Are you big in OSU QBs? At least USC had Carson Palmer.

Since you brought it up... I still think SF goes with Jones. If they do not, Cincy and Miami get offers from Denver, NE, Wash, etc. Which means 5 QBs gone. Fitterer stated that there is a top level--that ends about halfway through every draft---with 5 QBs going in the top 10, that is likely to be about 18 players---12-13 non QBs. So you inspired me to rank them. Yes, I will do it for free. These are rankings based on their potential impact as football players, barring all team needs: 1. Penei Sewell: You have to consider the position and the rarity of elite talent there. Sewell is not only the best player at his position, he is the best player at LT--since Joe Thomas. 2. Kyle Pitts: Almost as rare at his position (they will probably have to create a new position for Pitts) Pitts hit the NFL at the right time, when the once devalued TE is becoming loved again, because he is a matchup nightmare. His hands, speed, and size make him unmistakably the best TE to come out in a long time. STOP. To me--the elite players in this draft--the "once in a decade" players--stop here. So I will list the rest of the top shelf players, without explanation after some Chase comments--he nearly made the "once in a decade" cut. One or two will surprise you. 3. Ja'Marr Chase: Normally, a good QB can make a WR better; this WR makes the QB better. Average sized, he is able to not only make a play on the bad throw, but he has the ability to do something with it after the catch. It is hard to pinpoint what makes him better than the other great WRs--his nonverbal communication with the QB, his body control, his big play ability--yes to all. He is going to be great. 4. DeVonta Smith WR 5. Micah Parsons LB 6. Jaylen Waddle WR 7. Patrick Surtain III CB (Damn, Bama) 8. Rashawn Slater T/G (I am not sold on the LT talk--he would be a great G) 9. Jaycee Horn CB 10. Caleb Farley, CB 11. Christian Darrisaw OT 12. Najee Harris RB 13. Zaven Collins LB (sleeper, a freakishly large LB from Tulsa) BONUS: Pass rushers will be the rage mid first round: Azeez Ojulari, Paye, Rousseau all knotted here as mid-first round edge rushers) Analysis: Sit tight at #8 and take Sewell or Pitts--trade back if neither is there. Chase? Well, there are a lot of talented WRs--just a notch below Chase.

Part of the smokescreen? Players know to stay out of it.

I just thought you were trying to turn me into an introvert. (Jung humor)

No you didn't! Not in memes.

This logic suggests that we should avoid Fields, Lance, and Jones too.

I know of one trojan condom I wish did not burst.

I think they would hear, "Kaaaachingggg!" Move back (staying in the 9-20 range--which includes 9. Denver 12. Philly 14. Minnesota (my dark horse move up for QB ) 15. New England (the ideal trade partner) 17. Vegas 19. Washington 20. Chicago

We will upgrade QB if and when we get a chance. We are more likely to wait until after the draft and sign an aging veteran to hold a clipboard and mentor Darnold, until he shows us what he can do here. But I think they weighed it this way: Sam Darnold: A young QB with some redeeming qualities who can be developed. He has cost us the equivalent of a third, a fifth, and a sixth rounder. That comes to about 300 trade value points. Trey Lance: A young QB with some redeeming qualities who can be developed, but he might not be there at 8, so trading down to #5 or #6 (and that would likely cost us a second round pick, in addition to our first round pick). Lance would cost us between 1700 and 1900 trade value points. Mac Jones: A young QB with some redeeming qualities who can be developed, but is probably close to his ceiling athletically. He is likely to be there at 8, but not guaranteed. (He would cost us our first round pick, obviously). Jones would cost us 1400 trade value points. Drafting Darnold allows the Panthers the opportunity to trade back or take a strong player at #8--like a LT such as Sewell. OK, you just made Darnold better because by trading for him you saved your first and second and third round picks. Now you can get the LT to play opposite Moton. Miller is no slouch, and Paradis was improving. LG is the only hole, and with Daley, Erving, Elfein all able to play LG, are we suddenly solid on offense? What if we add a TE to go with Arnold?

So, you dream about bananas, do you?

Here is what people do not get- QBs have an internal clock. They get hit (or hurried) at 3.4 seconds after the snap (making this up) 76% of the time. Darnold is hit or hurried 88% of the time at 3.1 seconds. Mentally, do you think he is in the same place as a Drew Brees or a Dak Prescott--teams known for their OL play? The threat of pressure can be as real as the pressure itself-human nature. It is called "defense mode" and the amygdala in the brain sends a signal to the hippocampus, shutting normal functioning down and sending the brain into "fight, flight, or freeze" (defense) mode. Ever get really rattled when you were ALMOST in a car accident? Same thing.

Is that the kid from the commercial? The kid loosening up his arm, taunting Cam? All I got.

Bengal fans are thinking its down to Chase and Sewell. Pitts makes sense though

This thing is going to play out as if we paid Teddy Checkdown $40m for one season. Move over Mahomes. Nice.

Why did we give Darnold a chance to start? The culture, the coaches, the OL, the system, the play calling, etc. have everything to do with a player's chance to succeed. It takes a village.

Wasnt it Cosell who said something like, the system is critically important for any young QB? Darnold did not start playing QB until he was a Jr in High School. Four years later, he is in the NFL with a bad coach, bad OC, bad team, etc. expected to work miracles. This was not a gamble--it is a low-cost, calculated risk--the kind of move that either propels you to greatness as a team, or you lose a second rounder in 2022. No brainer.

And when you are playing from behind all the time you force it because that is your competitive nature. Still, there is some criticism of his field vision. Film OL, and Brady can fix that.

People wanted an established QB with a winning smile and record. That player is not available. And every time we have a great QB draft (1983 comes to mind) half of them do not make it. So you all are bitching about the equivalent of a third, a fifth, and a sixth rounder for a QB that might become good in our system--and that has nothing to do with what happened in NY- Or would you have preferred that we sent our 2021 first and second rounders and our 2023 first rounder to trade up for a QB with about a 50% chance of becoming special? This is a very shrewd move, and it does not suggest that we are done. For example, Mills needed another year of college--would have been a first rounder next season, some say. Why not add him? If Darnold develops, we could trade him for a first rounder or more. If Darnold flops, you have a guy you have been grooming for a year. Some wanted to keep Teddy for a season if we drafted a rookie--then cut him. This is a better option because Darnold is 23 and might just have a future.

I have been trying to analyze his comments all day---there is a dropoff around 16 (and I see it) and then between 20-40 there is no difference. So do we trade back with a team like New England (15) and then take a player, adding a pick in the 20-40 range? I am so confused.

This is getting eerily close to conversation my wife and I had recently...

I think we do something like this---we need 3 players in round 2 in my "imagination" and it takes me anywhere I want to go. I want a #1 CB, a starting LT, and Mond or Mills (QB). In round 3, I would like a 3 Tech and maybe a developmental G in round 4.

Ryan Kalil was not that good at G--too small, but he was a nice center. I like what I am hearing and want to believe it all...

I thought he was as good as cut this year--he did step up a bit, probably getting strength back after the injury, but he is no star.