Jonathan Rand: What if (Matt) Ryan's there?

[shaneo69]

What if Ryan's there?
Apr 10, 2008, 2:15:51 AM by Jonathan Rand

What should the Chiefs do if Matt Ryan from Boston College, considered the standout quarterback in this draft, is sitting there when it’s time to make the fifth overall pick?

Thousands of Chiefs fans would be screaming, “Take him!” Some of these same fans, no doubt, were throwing chairs at their big screens last year as the Chiefs declined to trade up during Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn’s free fall. The Browns traded up with the Cowboys to grab Quinn at number 22 and the Chiefs, sitting chilly in the 23rd spot, took LSU wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.

Quinn, whom many fans urged the Browns to draft with the third overall pick, now backs up Derek Anderson — a sixth-round choice in 2005 who was waived by the Ravens.

Bowe enjoyed a standout rookie season. Had the Chiefs traded up, they would have lost Bowe and an extra high draft pick that they would have had to give to the Cowboys. For the Chiefs, trading up would have been a big mistake.

Drafting quarterbacks is a lot trickier than you might think. The list of first-round busts at this position is much longer than the list of first-round successes, which is bizarre when you consider how much tape, statistics and workout information is generated by quarterbacks.

But the adjustment from college football to the NFL is so dramatic that “can’t-miss” quarterbacks are few and far between. We still don’t know if JaMarcus Russell, the LSU quarterback picked first overall by the Raiders a year ago, was a wise pick.

The Chiefs need, first and foremost, a top-flight offensive tackle. But if Michigan’s Jake Long is one of the top four picks, the next-best tackle may not be a good enough athlete to justify taking with the fifth pick.

The Chiefs could then try to trade down or take the best player still available. And what if they consider Ryan to be that player?

Chiefs coach Herm Edwards attended Ryan’s campus workout, and should have an educated opinion on whether he’s a superior prospect to incumbent Brodie Croyle. Ryan, 6 feet 5 and 224, gets positive reviews for his size, arm and ability to throw on the run.

The Chiefs haven’t committed a first-round pick for a quarterback since they misfired with Penn State’s Todd Blackledge in 1983. Considering their long-term failure to develop a young passer, is it time now for them to finally take the plunge?

Even if the Chiefs could draft Ryan, they’d have to wonder who’d be blocking for him. It makes no sense to commit a high pick to a quarterback if you can’t protect him, and the Chiefs stand three starters short of a decent line. When the Browns drafted Quinn, they’d already solidified their protection by taking Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas with the third overall pick.

Houston’s David Carr was a classic case of a highly drafted quarterback who received scant protection. The first overall pick in 2002, he was sacked 249 times during his first years as a Texan. Recently released by the Panthers, it’s tough to know whether Carr ever had the tools to win in the NFL. But it’s fair to say it was hard for him to develop while staring at the sky.

If the Chiefs consider drafting Ryan, they need to be convinced he’s a “can’t-miss” prospect, project him as the opening-day starter and feel confident they can quickly rebuild their offensive line. The chances of Ryan being the real deal and getting enough protection to help the Chiefs progress this year appear remote. It would come as a surprise if they draft him.

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/04...f_ryans_there/

[suds79]

Originally Posted by milkman

This is the dumbest argument one could possibly make against drafting a top 5 QB.

Yeah, JR, we can't possibly consider taking a QB, cause there isn't any hope at all that the O-Line can't be fixed with later picks in this draft, and in the next draft.

100% agree.

What I love even more about that argument is that there's not an O-linemen that will be available worthy of the 5th pick when we draft anyways. Long will be gone and everybody else IMO will be a reach at 5.

So we won't begin to rebuild the O-line until round 2 anyways... It's the same thing.

[NUMBER7]

Originally Posted by suds79

100% agree.

What I love even more about that argument is that there's not an O-linemen that will be available worthy of the 5th pick when we draft anyways. Long will be gone and everybody else IMO will be a reach at 5.

So we won't begin to rebuild the O-line until round 2 anyways... It's the same thing.

Excellent point...why take a chance when you can pick the number 4 rated player in the draft.

[Manila-Chief]

Originally Posted by Coogs

I'm kind of a Croyle backer, but what if the guy does not have it? Rayn this year, and Oher next year sounds a whole lot better to me than Long this year and Tebow next season.

Are you saying we will have the top pick next year? I doubt we have a shot at Oher next year. I sure hope you are correct coz we need him but more impostantly .... it will mean we had a terrible upcoming season and just maybe Clark cleans house.

I think it is 99% sure that Tebow will not come out next year. He is only a Jr. His family is certainly not rich, I met his parents before he was born (have not met him), but he has the type of character that will keep him in school. Plus, I'm not sure he will be a great NFL QB. But, maybe after 2 more years he will be that "Elway" type of guy???

Originally Posted by Mecca

If he's there at 5 they have to take him period.

I don't!!! Too, many question marks about him. To me he smacks of the David Carr's of the draft ... and there have been a number of them lately.

Originally Posted by eazyb81

Like I just said, every single analyst would agree that the only area that Croyle can match or beat Ryan is in arm strength. That is why Ryan is a top five overall prospect and Croyle was a middle-round nobody.

Thus, if you think Croyle can do everything that Ryan can do, you must place a HUGE priority on arm strength.

It's already been said, but Croyle fell to the 3rd. because of injury concerns not his ability. Now, granted had he demostrated outstanding ability he would have been taken earlier even with the injuries.

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Considering Ryan has yet to play a NFL game, I'm not sure how you can say that.

The only thing you can say with any certainty that Ryan > Croyle is injury history while in college.

Otherwise, their college stats are similar.

Ryan 60% completion percentage, Croyle 56%

Croyle 13 yards per attempt, Ryan 11.5

Croyle 1.86 TD's per INT, Ryan 1.51

Matt Ryan is no more guaranteed to be a good NFL QB than Croyle is to bust.

Crapshoot.

I agree 100%. I'll put forth the disclaimer ... I'm a Croyle homer ... but, I'm hoping that with a true OC (who maybe able to talk a little sense into Herm about turning his offensiveless offense up a notch or 2) that Croyle will begin to make some positive progress this year. With our offensiveless game planning last year no QB could have been successful ... teams knew what we were going to do and thus it was easy to stop us. Now, in addition to being a Croyle homer ... I hope he is successful, coz that means we have that peice of the puzzle and can patch other holes.

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Actually, almost "every single analyst" said on draft day that Croyle had 1st round talent, but that his injury history scared teams off.

I affirm what you wrote. I heard the same thing.

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

You bet your ass that I'd be up for taking Oher in this draft at 5.

The three names that I keep hearing as comparisons for Oher?

Orlando Pace, Walter Jones, Jonathan Ogden.

The two names that I keep hearing as comparisons for Jake Long?

Jon Runyan and Jeff Backus.

Hey, maybe we can draft him this year but only get him next year when he comes out??? Kinda like a deposit. If he is that good sounds like an excellent idea to me!!!!

[Brock]

What's your plan if Croyle doesn't make it? Oh yeah, I forgot, we're the Chiefs. We'll trade for some old guy again.

[Manila-Chief]

Originally Posted by Brock

What's your plan if Croyle doesn't make it? Oh yeah, I forgot, we're the Chiefs. We'll trade for some old guy again.

And your plan if Ryan doesn't work out???

[Mecca]

I really wish people would stop throwing up names like David Carr, he and Ryan are so far apart from each other in the type of players and prospects they are. Every QB rated high is not like every other one...compare Ryan to guys he is actually like. He is not a guy with nothing but a cannon arm who vaulted up due to scouts loving that which is what many of the guys who busted he gets compared to were/are.

Also guess what, Croyle fell because of injury history and not talent? He's still getting injured..anyone have confidence that guy can play a whole season...I certainly don't.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Brock

What's your plan if Croyle doesn't make it? Oh yeah, I forgot, we're the Chiefs. We'll trade for some old guy again.

You are on Matt Ryan's dick like a cougar on an 80 year old oil magnate.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Manila-Chief

And your plan if Ryan doesn't work out???

Take another one a few years later.....the Colts missed on Jeff George at #1 guess they shouldn't have taken Manning some years later eh? QB is a very important position you fire till you get it right because that one position means that much to your team.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

You are on Matt Ryan's dick like a cougar on an 80 year old oil magnate.

Well you have to have a QB and they are going to get harder and harder to find. Atleast in the NFL mold because more and more college teams continue to go to the spread option look which is awful for pro game development.

I still contend that if Matt Ryan had a big arm he'd be the lock #1 pick and well arm strength is an overrated category for a QB as long as he doesn't have a horrible girly Pennington arm.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

If Ryan is there, you have to take him. It's time to give this another shot.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

You are on Matt Ryan's dick like a cougar on an 80 year old oil magnate.

That is utter nonsense. I'd take Sedrick Ellis or Glenn Dorsey over Ryan. I also like Brian Brohm almost as much as Ryan. Try to pay attention to what is being said instead of what you think is being said, dumbshit.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Manila-Chief

And your plan if Ryan doesn't work out???

I think you need to face the fact that the odds are very, very much against Brodie Croyle ever playing a complete season in the NFL. A guy like Ryan or Brohm or Henne would at least be able to take a beating, and probably play better overall too. I sort of like Croyle too, I'm sure he's a nice kid, but come on. He has done nothing - NOTHING - to keep the Chiefs from drafting a quarterback.

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

I called Bulger would be a good QB for the Rams too when he came up.

funny. I'm pretty damned sure he would've been a great SAINTS qb, seeing as they drafted him.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by milkman

I would bet that almost all these "defensive homers"

Tongue in cheek Milkman! You know I respect your opinion. Just tongue in cheek stuff from Coogs.

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by H5N1

funny. I'm pretty damned sure he would've been a great SAINTS qb, seeing as they drafted him.

http://www.nfl.com/players/marcbulge...e?id=BUL162264


semantics, I still thought he would be a good QB when came up from West Viginia