What's with the Thigpen fixation?

[doomy3]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

That's the thing, it's very unlikely that you can have your cake and eat it too.

Say we draft Sanchez. I don't think anyone has a problem with him sitting for at least the 1st half of 09, if not the whole year.

But by doing that, it mean that either:

a) You have to bring in a veteran to run your pro style offense, or

b) Thigpen has to be proficient enough to warrant playing while Sanchez sits.

You're not going to draft a QB at 3, and pay him that money to sit and learn an offense you're not planning to use him in. You can't have him sitting on the bench learning a real offense, while the rest of the team is running the Pistol, because that's the only thing Thigpen can run.

Otherwise, option c) is to start Sanchez right away.

After what we all saw early in 2008, I have a hard time believing that anyone thinks that b) is an option. There's no way that in one offseason, Thigpen can get to a level of proficiency in a pro style offense that either Sanchez or a veteran already have.

So like I said, something has to give.

I think it's impossible to know. He didn't get any work last offseason, so it will be interesting to see how much he improves his dropback game this offseason.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by doomy3

I think it's impossible to know. He didn't get any work last offseason, so it will be interesting to see how much he improves his dropback game this offseason.

I agree, it's impossible to KNOW.

However, I'd be shocked if you didn't agree that it's a pretty fair assumption that a 7th round pick out of Coastal Carolina who knows nothing but the spread - with ONE offseason of prep-time - is going to be anywhere near as proficient in an offense that a veteran or Stafford/Sanchez have been running for their entire football careers.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I agree, it's impossible to KNOW.

However, I'd be shocked if you didn't agree that it's a pretty fair assumption that a 7th round pick out of Coastal Carolina who knows nothing but the spread - with ONE offseason of prep-time - is going to be anywhere near as proficient in an offense that a veteran or Stafford/Sanchez have been running for their entire football careers.

Regardless of that, he has football experience and despite what people have said to knock him down, he was at least average on the pro level. I would say that even considering the offense, he has already far outperformed guys like Kyle Boller, Joey Harrington, Alex Smith, and Tim Couch. I think too many are assuming that Thigpen's performance in 2008 was easily replicable. Even if it was a college-form offense, it was still a pro style offense simply because it showed some effectiveness on the pro level.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Regardless of that, he has football experience and despite what people have said to knock him down, he was at least average on the pro level. I would say that even considering the offense, he has already far outperformed guys like Kyle Boller, Joey Harrington, Alex Smith, and Tim Couch. I think too many are assuming that Thigpen's performance in 2008 was easily replicable. Even if it was a college-form offense, it was still a pro style offense simply because it showed some effectiveness on the pro level.

No, it didn't. It showed effectiveness for half of each game.

You can't compare Thigpen to guys that play in a real offense, they are being asked to do way more than Thigpen is.

Considering he was running the spread, his numbers aren't really that great.

Like I said before:

Tyler Thigpen wouldn't start on any of the other 31 teams in the league.

Why?

None of them would be willing to scrap their current offensive philosophy to install the Pistol so he can be somewhat effective.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

No, it didn't. It showed effectiveness for half of each game.

You can't compare Thigpen to guys that play in a real offense, they are being asked to do way more than Thigpen is.

Considering he was running the spread, his numbers aren't really that great.

Like I said before:

Tyler Thigpen wouldn't start on any of the other 31 teams in the league.

Why?

None of them would be willing to scrap their current offensive philosophy to install the Pistol so he can be somewhat effective.

But let me say a few things. First, there seems to be an obsession with the idea that the spread is a dead option. And yet, the Steelers and the Patriots have taken teams to the Super Bowl the last two seasons using a spread offensive look. If it's such a gimmick, then why are the best two teams in the NFL using it so much? But secondly, I think there's this impression that Thigpen was running such an easy offense--no offense on the NFL is easy to run, and it's not as if the entire offense was a quick hitch route offense every single play. I don't see why we are discounting the fact that maybe if you can run the spread offense as a base, that it's destined for failure. Actually, it's one of the hottest offenses in the NFL right now (at least, variations of the offense are).

Because on the same token, do you think Joe Flacco could have replicated Thigpen's success when you take away a top 5 running game and a top 5 defense? I don't think you would. And while Brady ran under center his rookie season, let's not forget that his offense revolved around very quick patterns and quick strikes, and that the Pats were the team that really brought the idea of spreading defenses out with 4-5 receivers onto the map.

I agree that Thigpen needs to learn to run under center one way or another. But I'm not at all convinced that as long as they keep adding wrinkles to the spread, that it couldn't be an effective base offense. Even if you bring in a guy like Sanchez, who would probably be outstanding in the offense given his ability to move around in the pocket.