Fitt: We want Corral to have time to learn and develop but he's going to compete

[Proudiddy]

That's paraphrasing, but listened to all of Fitt's presser today and I loved this back and forth about Corral.  Both he and Rhule said Corral was in the building on his own volition early and was prepping for TC.  Our media asked Fitt how he felt about Matt not taking the rookie redshirt year sitting down and he said that's what they love about him, and expected as much.  He said they liked what Sam has done since the end of the season and brought Baker in so Matt wouldn't have any pressure and could sit and learn for a year and take his time to develop.  But, obviously, even with adding Baker, Matt is still being a class act about it, but he is letting it be known he is not accepting that redshirt role just yet and wants to compete to start still.  Now, what's interesting, is a reporter then followed that question up with one about if Fitt felt there were any similarities with this situation with Matt and what they had with Russ his rookie year in Seattle.  He said it is very similar as they had ran through a QB carousel for the immediate years prior to drafting Russ, and then paid Flynn a big contract only for him to wash out and he said Russ just kept competing everyday...  he just kept coming and wouldn't accept the role they had planned for him because his play each day was just better than others at his position.  

I really believe Baker is hands down the best QB we've had since prime Cam, and likely the second best QB we've ever had outside of Cam in our franchise's history, based off of what he's already shown (not intending to discount Jake, because I love that guy).  But we still don't know what we have with Matt aside from amazing talent and traits...  still, I can't wait to see what he does in the preseason, and although I love the approach ro let him sit and learn, it would be so awesome if he came in here from day 1 and shows the ability and talent to push for the starting job as a rookie.  

Also, it's gonna be the first time in a very long time, thanks to the addition of Baker, that watching the 3rd and 4th qtrs of preseason games will actually have any meaning, being that it pushed such a talented rookie to 3rd on the depth chart.  I look forward to it!

And fwiw, two years into this pandemic and my family and I just got over our first bout with Covid and hope we don't have to go through that again...  whew!  But man, are we glad to be on the other side of it!  Shed a ton of anxiety with it!

Hyped for TC!  Keep Pounding, ladies and gentlemen!

[top dawg]

Glad your fam got through Covid. My fam had its bouts back in January. It's not fun. Some extended fam even as late as this month as well. I'm gonna tell y'all right now: don't get complacent with BA.5. At least keep aware of what's going on with it. 

Y'all already know how I feel about MC9. It's time to watch.

I am smiling at the thought of this appearing to be a genuine competition as opposed to a Mayfield coronation. May the best QB win!

 

[Jackie Lee]

The preseason games will definitely not have a dull moment QB wise. I guess PJ could be considered a waste of reps but you never know with injuries

[glenwo2]

It's inevitable that if Sam starts, you will hear the Baker chants immediately.

Though I think Mayfield starts, imo. 

And Corral will have a front-row seat watching the world burn in front of him. 

[MHS831]

They will be shopping Darnold for a future conditional seventh rounder and they will eat most of his salary if MC9 shows enough to be QB2.  That is the only scenario I see for Walker to make the team--and I am ready to move on from him, frankly.

[rippadonn]

Matt Corral ain't trying to hear that bull. He came to be your QB NOT bubble wrapped and coddled.

Fitt is hanging with Rhule too much apparently all those coddling vibes. Not building not teaching. Coddling.

Soft as f'

[rippadonn]

I'm even more on the bandwagon with the rookies take no prisoners attitude.

The media was trying to ask him about this same notion of redshirting, sitting behind inferiors.

Guess what? He's not trying to hear that soft Jelly Donut GM/ soft as f' coach stuff.

He hasn't taken on a loser mentality like this FO and coach and owner. 

[rayzor]

glad y'all made it through and hopefully there's no long haul effects. 

that said... Corrall is the QB of the future and I hope that future starts sooner rather than later. Baker *might* be good, but I'm not a believer, especially not as a long term guy. Both him and sammy have tools, but I'm not trusting what's between the ears. I'm just anxious to see what Corrall brings to the table and I'm glad he's not settling for a back seat and I'm hoping it's a true competition that all three guys are really pushing themselves for and the best gets brought out. 

[ForJimmy]

Glad to hear you all recovered.  It seems to be more treatable now that a couple years ago, but you are right about keeping your guard up.  I'm just happy our QB room is MUCH better than last season.  Baker/Corral > Sam/PJ and it's not even close!

[ladypanther]

Good post @ProudiddyGreat thing about this situation is that Coral does not have to be rushed into things before he is ready.  If he is ready sooner than later that is great. He gets to move forward  and work to earn the position while having the chance to learn rather than struggle to survive.  Much better for him and the team. First thing Rhule has done right with the QB position since he has been here.

Glad you and your  family got thru covid ok. Hope for no lingering effects.  Have an appt this morning to get a covid test.  Felt like crap yesterday with a fever.  Not as bad this morning but am going to be safe.

[Captroop]

I'm in no particular rush to see Corral out there. I haven't seen this much hype for a third round QB since...

 

...hold on, I'm sure I can think of one.

I really don't understand the rush for Corral to get all the reps, get all the starts, be the future NOW!!! Aaron Rodger was a first rounder, and everyone was shocked he lasted until the late first. And he spent the first 3 years on the bench behind a fading Brett Favre.

I'd say that experience on the pine worked out well for Aaron and the Packers.

Matt Corrall fell to the second day of the draft. He was taken in the same round as Will Grier. Historically, that's the level of quality NFL franchises thought Matt Corral is in the same league as. And everyone here acts like he's a surefire stud and the future of the franchise. If you honestly think he is, then you shouldn't have a problem with him spending a couple seasons learning the speed of the NFL game as a backup.

[rippadonn]

Corral was QB1 on their draft board. THAT'S why, if you trust your own evaluation he should start and beat out washed up, inferiors.

He believes he's the starter. He's not scared of Sam or Baker. He's an alpha in a building full of beta men.

[PizzaTheHutt]

“I took the easy way out because I felt I could play right away,” Corral said about his decision to play for the Rebels, per The Charlotte Observer. “Knowing what I know now and trusting my instincts and trusting my work ethic, I would have went to a place that would have made me compete.”

awwww man. I love the dude to death and he played his butt off for Ole Miss, but I wish that he would have phrased this better. And I get what he's saying about quarterback competition in the locker room...but come on my dude, you played in the SEC West. THERE is your competition. 

Someone get #9 some media lessons along with his playbook. 

[davos]

1 hour ago, Captroop said:

I'm in no particular rush to see Corral out there. I haven't seen this much hype for a third round QB since...

 

...hold on, I'm sure I can think of one.

I really don't understand the rush for Corral to get all the reps, get all the starts, be the future NOW!!! Aaron Rodger was a first rounder, and everyone was shocked he lasted until the late first. And he spent the first 3 years on the bench behind a fading Brett Favre.

I'd say that experience on the pine worked out well for Aaron and the Packers.

Matt Corrall fell to the second day of the draft. He was taken in the same round as Will Grier. Historically, that's the level of quality NFL franchises thought Matt Corral is in the same league as. And everyone here acts like he's a surefire stud and the future of the franchise. If you honestly think he is, then you shouldn't have a problem with him spending a couple seasons learning the speed of the NFL game as a backup.

NFL Draft: Round-by-Round QB Study (1994-2016) | Football Outsiders

It's a mix.  You have to roll with what's working, sometimes those guys can be ready sooner than later, others take time, and MOST others it's apparent they aren't NFL caliber--the Hackenbergs, David Greenes, Clausen, Griers of the world.  It is made EXTREMELY apparent in camp and preseason if a guy is clicking with NFL speed and mentality or not. It was pretty damn clear with Jimmy & Grier and those hype trains fizzled very quickly once seen by fans on the field.

The good examples (bolded SB winners):

Kordell, Plummer, Brees, Derek Carr, Kaep, Dak, Wilson, Cousins, Mills, Jimmy G, Foles, Schaub (early career)--there are plenty of examples of moderate to Super Bowl Day-2 success. 

3 super bowl winning QBs, 2 SB losing QBs were Day-2 picks since 2010.  Out of the winners, that is excluding Brady (Day 3) who takes up 4 of those. The rest were the Mannings (1-1), Flacco (1-18), Rodgers (1-24), Stafford (1-1), & Mahomes (1-1).

To make my own counter argument, if you open it up and look at all 4 QBs in champ games, then it gets obvious to prefer taking a QB in the top-20.  

That's not me saying, "well let's just throw Corral in unseen", but it shouldn't be black and white, well Grier sucked, don't rush this kid on.  It's entirely situational, team/supporting cast dependent and based on the individual.  Come the season, if he seems to have the locker room and playbook and let's say Baker is shaky, let's kick the tires on him.

 

Edited July 27, 2022 by davos