Whitlock thinks RG3's speed is a curse

[Hammock Parties]

Excellent article.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/R...nalysis-022712

My professors at Ball State warned me that my good looks, perfectly sculpted body and high intellect might impede my career as a journalist. They feared my seemingly endless physical and intellectual gifts would prevent me from developing a singular focus.

I have similar fears when assessing Robert Griffin III’s NFL prospects. Abundant talent can be a curse.

The biggest news of the NFL Combine was RG3’s blazing 40-yard dash time. He covered 40 yards like a shutdown corner, clocking a 4.41. The instant-Twitter analysis of NFL experts was that Griffin’s show of speed increased the value of the Rams’ pick, the one right after the pick the Colts are expected to use on Stanford QB Andrew Luck.

In my opinion, Griffin’s speed doesn’t enhance his draft stock. It damages it.

I am not a Robert Griffin hater. I love RG3. In all likelihood, he will be my favorite NFL player next season. He could quickly become my favorite active athlete, ahead of Tiger Woods, Ray Lewis and Jeff George (has yet to file his retirement paperwork).

But I’m worried about Griffin. He’s blessed with too many tools. Oftentimes, the greatest athletes are physically limited, which strengthens their focus. Bill Russell could never match Wilt Chamberlain’s size and limitless athleticism. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson weren’t the greatest leapers or the quickest on their feet.

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are relatively immobile. They play from the pocket because they have no choice. They mastered the art of playing from the pocket because they had no other choice.

NFL games are won most consistently by quarterbacks who play from the pocket. If a quarterback leaves the pocket, he’s going to get hit. If a quarterback gets hit regularly, he’s going to get hurt. If a franchise quarterback gets injured, his team has little chance of winning the Super Bowl.

NFL teams are looking for the next Manning or Brady. Or the next Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger. A little mobility is good, especially if the quarterback moves in the pocket in an effort to throw downfield. Rodgers and Big Ben are terrific at moving to throw. Is that how Griffin will use his athleticism?

Or does Griffin have so much speed that he’ll channel Michael Vick?

Vick had too much talent early in his career. The game was too easy. The temptation to fix problems with his feet was too great for him to master QB play from the pocket. He’s just now attempting to play the game from the pocket. Even now, he gives in to his blazing speed and exits the pocket prematurely.

OK, we know RG3 is vastly different from the young Michael Vick. But it took Donovan McNabb a few years to commit to pocket play. Steve Young had to sit behind Joe Montana in San Francisco to learn to fully appreciate the pocket.

NFL fans are going to want to see Griffin run. When you’re faster than everyone on the field, it makes sense to run. Griffin is going to be fighting common sense and his natural instincts.

And what if he gets paired with the wrong head coach, a coach who is looking for a quick-fix rather than Griffin’s long-term success?

There is talk that the Redskins might want to move up in the draft to get RG3. Mike Shanahan is under pressure in Washington. He needs to win right away to ease the public pressure and prevent Daniel Snyder from firing him. Shanahan could play Griffin as a rookie and allow him to run because his legs might produce eight or nine victories quicker than his arm.

All coaches prefer to win now. It’s the only way to guarantee another season. Is there a proven, confident coach in a stable organization willing to properly support Griffin’s development?

Environment and fit are the keys to Griffin’s success. That’s why Luck is the better prospect. Luck is extremely gifted, but he won’t be tempted to outrun James Harrison or Terrell Suggs. The only way for Luck to consistently avoid big hits will be with quick reads and a quicker release. He’ll be forced to play QB the “right” way.

That is not to say Luck will be a better NFL quarterback than Griffin. My money is on Griffin being the second coming of Steve Young. But I’m just a fan. It won’t be my job to teach him to shy away from his God-given talent.

[TheGuardian]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Yeah because he wasn't thought of as a 1st round pick before the draft.

As high as the 4th or 5th in the first?

Uhhhh no. It was a really stupid ass call by you. Monumental proportions.

I agree with Guardian as well. You have to win from the pocket. There's no other way. That's like saying humans need oxygen to breathe.

So I guess one could summarize Guardian's critique of Griffin as, "I have issues with Griffin because humans need oxygen to breathe."

Makes about as much sense.

A run around QB coming from a spread offense = huge chance to be a bust

No thanks.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by TheGuardian

As high as the 4th or 5th in the first?

Uhhhh no. It was a really stupid ass call by you. Monumental proportions.

From NFL.com

The Panthers surprisingly land a franchise quarterback in the second round with the selection of Jimmy Clausen. The former Notre Dame star was expected to come off the boards in the early part of the first round, but questions about his leadership skills and personality led to a dramatic slide down the charts. Although the free fall has surely dampened Clausen's spirits, the opportunity to go to a franchise without an established starter could lead to early playing time, if he performs to his potential during the preseason.

[TheGuardian]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

From NFL.com

That means one guy gave his opinion on that.

I can do this too.......

ESPN's Todd McShay says Jimmy Clausen is likely to be taken in the first round, but considers him a second-tier quarterback prospect and would not draft him in the top-15

And this guy predicted he'd free fall just like he did because his stock had dropped.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/n...radford-041810

Point is, Clausen never looked like a high first rounder. But some people on this board, like you, want to waste a first rounder on a QB JUST BECAUSE.

I'm all for drafting a guy in the first if he looks like the real deal. Clausen never did. EVER.

[The Franchise]

Yeah....and we all know how much Todd McShay loved Jimmy Clausen before the draft. Way to find the one guy who ****ing hated Clausen.

[qabbaan]

How do we know RG3 is not another Clausen waiting to happen?

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by qabbaan

How do we know RG3 is not another Clausen waiting to happen?

[ChiefFripp]

This article is stupid and is basically saying owners are not willing to take a chance on a black quarterback because they are afraid he'll choose the run option too much.This article is just more thinly veiled racism from Fatlock. From what I've gathered RGIII's greatest assest is that he has the mental side of the game down as well as the physical. I don't think it's fair for Fatlock to assume owners will automatically compare RGIII to someone like Vick.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by qabbaan

How do we know RG3 is not another Clausen waiting to happen?

We don't. That's the REALLY scary part.

The Chiefs have done a really good job of avoiding the big busts at QB in the past 30 years. We need to continue not drafting QBs in the first round if we want to prevent the franchise-crippling busted QB in the future... especially as we make playoff runs.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by SNR

You guys are arguing a straw man, you do realize?

RGIII's mobility doesn't take away from his skills as a passer. There's absolutely no reason at all why he couldn't be like an Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.

That's the thing. Idiots like Guardian and eric see that Griffon has incredible skill running the ball, and just automatically assume that he's a "Run first QB". They just can't wrap their little brains around the fact that running skill and passing skill don't have to be an inverse relationship. As RGIII's stats clearly show, you can absolutely be a great pocket QB, and also be a damn good runner. It doesn't have to be one or the other.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by TheGuardian

A run around QB coming from a spread offense = huge chance to be a bust

No thanks.

With the exception of Andrew Luck, RGIII has potentially the best arm of any QB drafted since Jay Cutler.

THAT'S why you draft him. He's a smart kid, he's a leader, he works his ass off, and he's got every possible tool imaginable that you want in a QB.

Is it that you don't think he can learn a pro offense? I didn't see your qualms about Sam Bradford in 2010. Just because he's a gifted runner that means Sam Bradford can make the transition but Griffin can't?

Do you think football teams are seriously going to say, "Robert, we don't want you to throw from the pocket. We're not going to teach you how to do that. Learn on your own if you want, but not on company time. We have no desire whatsoever for you to adapt to the game inside the pocket in a pro offense."

[Brock]

In my opinion, Griffin’s speed doesn’t enhance his draft stock. It damages it.

yeah, Jason, it's going to damage him all the way to the #2 pick.

[Setsuna]

Robert is a product of racial profiling. Luck is a tenth of a second slower than him. Whitlock is a racist, and I hope the Chiefs get him because this spread offense bullshit of a myth is going to make me punt babies. All of you and get over it.

[RealSNR]

The Guardian must be a bitch when he's shopping for cars.

GUARDIAN: Hi, I'm Guardian. I need a car for my wife and three kids. It's going to have to be a mini-van or an SUV, something that gets the job done and has lots of cargo space. It also needs to be ultra safe, with the highest crash test rating. I'd also like it to have good gas mileage. Oh, and my wife wants leather seats and onstar and all that luxury garbage too.

SALESMAN: Well, that's going to be pretty expensive. We only have one kind of car like that. Does it have to be a mini-van or SUV? This sport wagon has just as much cargo space and seats the same number of passengers. We can soup it up with all of the stuff your wife wants, too. And for the price of only a few miles off the fuel economy, it also has 100 more horsepower than the other model.

GUARDIAN: WEREN'T YOU LISTENING? I SAID I DIDN'T WANT A SPORTS CAR!

[The Franchise]

JFC.......RGIII is basically Eric Berry at QB. Down to earth....hard working....physically elite.

[Setsuna]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

JFC.......RGIII is basically Eric Berry at QB. Down to earth....hard working....physically elite.

Don't tell Guardian that. He'll ****ing blow up on your ass.