Draft Flacco or not?

[zach8111]

NOT! Alot of people on here are really high on Flacco and his arm strength is distracting you from ALL his weakness's. He is definitely NOT a 2nd rounder which most of you guy who want him are projecting we take him. Yes he has GREAT arm strength but his footwork sucks, can't take a snap under center very good (shotgun QB), and his mobility sucks. His stats are misleading because of the talent he plays against (div 1-AA) Other than his arm strength he isn't very good. He might warrant a late draft pick (5-7) but not a 2nd rounder. Ad the fact he couldn't beat out Tyler Palko (went undrafted last year) in Pittsburgh isn't very promising for a 2nd rounder. So if you hoped on the "Joe Flacco Bandwagon" you might want to jump right back off. I was almost on there myself.
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=NFL&columnid=60&articleid=29927&pg=2

[SIZE=+1]Joe Flacco, Delaware[/SIZE]

Height/Weight: 6'6/232
College Experience: Fifth-year senior
Projected 40: 5.0
Comparison:Andrew Walter
2007 Statistics: 331-of-521 (63.5%), 4,263 Yds, 23 Tds, 5 Ints, 4 Rush Tds

Positives/Negatives: A classic dropback passer, Flacco has possibly the strongest pure arm in the draft. His accuracy at Delaware was solid, but Flacco faced weak D-IAA competition. He possesses tremendous size and is hard to bring down. However, Flacco played in a shotgun-heavy offense in college and struggled taking snaps from center at the Senior Bowl. His footwork is poor, and he has a slow dropback. Flacco also lacks any kind of mobility.

Lewin on Joe Flacco: Flacco's inability to beat out Tyler Palko for a starting job at Pitt sends up an immediate red flag. He posted good numbers in two seasons, but they still weren't on McNair or Chad Pennington's level. You want D-IAA guys to dominate like Josh Johnson. Flacco carries a lot of risk, and isn't worth a first-day pick.

Verdict: Flacco was behind Tyler Palko on the Pittsburgh depth chart early in his college career. He transferred to D-IAA Delaware, sat out the 2005 season, and began starting in 2006. Flacco has some intriguing tools, but wasn't good enough to beat out a quarterback that ultimately went undrafted and likely doesn't have a career in the NFL. Using reason, the idea that Flacco should be a second- or third-round draft pick is illogical. Flacco is more of a second-day to late second-day prospect who should be viewed as a project, not relied on to play within the next two seasons.

 

[adamprez2003]

Flacco is the same type of project that Kolb was last year. Kolb was drafted at the top of the 2nd round last year. Flacco will need two years on the bench before you know whether he can be a pro. His arm is unbelievable, His mobility is good enough (Ben Roethlisberger type), he's got decent accuracy. The negatives are what you say; needs to learn how to play under center, needs to learn how to read pro defenses, horrible footwork. He is a major roll of the dice but the payoff is skyhigh if he succeeds. The definition of boom or bust. I think he'll slip into the bottom of the first for a team that can afford to sit him for two years

 

[FinaticalOne]

NOT! Alot of people on here are really high on Flacco and his arm strength is distracting you from ALL his weakness's. He is definitely NOT a 2nd rounder which most of you guy who want him are projecting we take him. Yes he has GREAT arm strength but his footwork sucks, can't take a snap under center very good (shotgun QB), and his mobility sucks. His stats are misleading because of the talent he plays against (div 1-AA) Other than his arm strength he isn't very good. He might warrant a late draft pick (5-7) but not a 2nd rounder. Ad the fact he couldn't beat out Tyler Palko (went undrafted last year) in Pittsburgh isn't very promising for a 2nd rounder. So if you hoped on the "Joe Flacco Bandwagon" you might want to jump right back off. I was almost on there myself.
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=NFL&columnid=60&articleid=29927&pg=2

Ok, I'm going to play devil's advocate on this one since I've seen all of Flacco's games last season.

Actually this analysis is very weak. I disagree with a few points made by rotoworld and you. I'm pretty sure that rotoworld didn't watch Flacco as often as I have this year, and I'm curious to find out if you had the chance to watch any of his games.

First I would like to address the Tyler Palko crap. Palko was highly recruited by Pitt and was given the keys to the kingdom without a challenge. Earlier in the year, I read in "the review" (a Univerisity of Delaware school newspaper) an interview of Flacco, and they asked him why he left Pitt. Flacco responded; he was told that he would not be the starting QB as long as Palko was there. Flacco was unhappy with the fact that he wasn't going to be given a fair chance to compete for the starting spot, so he transferred out to Delaware. And by the way; guess who was the genius that decided not to give Flacco a fair chance to compete......DAVE WANNSTEDT.....so enough said on that matter.

Flacco has very good mobility for his size. He's compared to Ben Rothelisberger when it comes to his mobility and after watching all of his games I say that is pretty accurate. His projected 40 will not be a 5 flat, because he ran a 4.8 at UD. He's a conventional pocket-passer anyway.

Although he did not compete against division 1A schools on a regular basis, does not mean he's not better than most that do. Flacco did not face weak Division 1-AA competition either. He played in the toughest division in Division 1-AA that sent a collegiate record, 6 schools from its conference to the national tournament. Then he led his team to beat the #4, and #1 ranked division 1-AA teams on the road before losing in the national championship game to Appalachian State (who became a household name after beating Michigan). And last but not least, he saved his best game by beating Division 1A Navy. He was 30-41 73% completion rate; 431 yards passing; 4TDs. It doesn't matter how you want to spin that, those are pretty good stats against a team that beat Pittsburgh and Notre Dame last season.

I agree that taking him in the second round, where a lot of mocks have him projected, is too high, but picking him in the 5-7 like you said would be an absolute steal. Flacco is worth a third, and should not drop lower than the 4th round; and he will prove that in the combine. He will take a couple of years to be ready, but in all reality that is most if not all QBs anyway.

I'm not on the "Flacco bandwagon" either; and from my sig, you see I don't have him as one of my projected draft picks, but some of statements made by you and rotoworld I disagree with. He's a better QB than what you believe, that's all I'm trying to say.

 

[FinaticalOne]

Flacco is the same type of project that Kolb was last year. Kolb was drafted at the top of the 2nd round last year. Flacco will need two years on the bench before you know whether he can be a pro. His arm is unbelievable, His mobility is good enough (Ben Roethlisberger type), he's got decent accuracy. The negatives are what you say; needs to learn how to play under center, needs to learn how to read pro defenses, horrible footwork. He is a major roll of the dice but the payoff is skyhigh if he succeeds. The definition of boom or bust. I think he'll slip into the bottom of the first for a team that can afford to sit him for two years

I agree with you. I think his value is a 3rd or 4th round pick. There is one other negative I will add to that. He relies too much on his arm strength. I've seen him thread the needle on a lot of occasions. He completes most of them, and on some of those completions; he would have to me saying to myself what was thinking on that throw. He can't afford to take those chances too often in the NFL. He will need a couple of years before he's ready, but in the end he's going to be a very good NFL QB.

 

[emeraldfin]

Personally think drafting any QB this year wheather its Flacco, Ainge or Ryan is not a good long term option. The reason? Tim Tebow.

Think we should give Beck the good this season. If he flops we will probably be drafting top 5 again next year, if that happens we do everything in our power to get Tebow. Think we should'nt invest in our future this seasopn, but wait till next year.

 

[Boomer]

Personally think drafting any QB this year wheather its Flacco, Ainge or Ryan is not a good long term option. The reason? Tim Tebow.

Think we should give Beck the good this season. If he flops we will probably be drafting top 5 again next year, if that happens we do everything in our power to get Tebow. Think we should'nt invest in our future this seasopn, but wait till next year.

I don't see anyway that Tebow is an NFL passer mate.

He has more chance of replacing Stephen Carr at right back.

 

[clajoie_7]

jesus enough with drafting a qb! They already drafted one last year and the team needs to give him the opportunity to try to prove that he's good. Beck had great numbers in college and Cam Cam didn't throw him in early, but instead let his first start be in Philly then the water works in Pitt. Tough for any rookie qb. That and the fact that our receivers couldn't catch a cold last year, the qb's had zero check downs to the TE because Martin forgot he was playing football, and the top two RB's went down. So yeah lets draft another qb because that will solve the long term problems! Not one qb in the league could have succeeded with the offense that the fins fielded last year and that includes Manning, Brady, Favre, and any one else you want to throw in there. They would have all been running for their lives.

 

[Conuficus]

Personally think drafting any QB this year wheather its Flacco, Ainge or Ryan is not a good long term option. The reason? Tim Tebow.

Think we should give Beck the good this season. If he flops we will probably be drafting top 5 again next year, if that happens we do everything in our power to get Tebow. Think we should'nt invest in our future this seasopn, but wait till next year.

I hope you realize that Tebow has hell to throw the seam route. If he can't throw that in college he won't do it in the pros. Oh, and his passes outside the numbers start to die, the nose tips down and then start to fall. Simply put, he doesn't have the arm necessary IMO.

 

[Motion]

Personally think drafting any QB this year wheather its Flacco, Ainge or Ryan is not a good long term option. The reason? Tim Tebow.

Think we should give Beck the good this season. If he flops we will probably be drafting top 5 again next year, if that happens we do everything in our power to get Tebow. Think we should'nt invest in our future this seasopn, but wait till next year.

On top of all the negative comments your bound to get on Tebow's passing skills, I wouldn't count on him coming out next year. He has said repeatedly and is the type of guy that stays in school all 4 years.

 

[Conuficus]

jesus enough with drafting a qb! They already drafted one last year and the team needs to give him the opportunity to try to prove that he's good. Beck had great numbers in college and Cam Cam didn't throw him in early, but instead let his first start be in Philly then the water works in Pitt. Tough for any rookie qb. That and the fact that our receivers couldn't catch a cold last year, the qb's had zero check downs to the TE because Martin forgot he was playing football, and the top two RB's went down. So yeah lets draft another qb because that will solve the long term problems! Not one qb in the league could have succeeded with the offense that the fins fielded last year and that includes Manning, Brady, Favre, and any one else you want to throw in there. They would have all been running for their lives.

With Henning's offense Martin would be a superstar. Did you know that whilst in Carolina the high for TE receptions was 34, and that was when Steve Smith was gone for the year. 34 receptions ties what David Martin had this year, so be prepared for the same. The TE will not be that important to Henning's offense IMO.

 

[McDolphins]

If he fell past the 3rd round (which isn't all that improbable) I'd take him with the first pick on Day 2.

 

[clajoie_7]

With Henning's offense Martin would be a superstar. Did you know that whilst in Carolina the high for TE receptions was 34, and that was when Steve Smith was gone for the year. 34 receptions ties what David Martin had this year, so be prepared for the same. The TE will not be that important to Henning's offense IMO.

Oh man I did not know that! Parcels as well as Sparano loves utilizing TE's so maybe that will influence some of the play calling. Or it could just be wishful thinking...

 

[fishypete]

When you have a QB thats 6'6 235....that can throw threw a brick wall but yet can throw with touch when he has too....you have to look very close at him. For those that fault him that he played less under center...so what that can be taught very easily and quickly....footwork can also be taught....what can't be taught is size and arm strength.

Here's a kid that had no help while playing in college yet he still threw 23 tds and only 5 ints....and over 4000 yds.
If he had played on a team with other weapons....we would talking about him being the first possible selection in the draft.

 

[Stitches]

When you have a QB thats 6'6 235....that can throw threw a brick wall but yet can throw with touch when he has too....you have to look very close at him. For those that fault him that he played less under center...so what that can be taught very easily and quickly....footwork can also be taught....what can't be taught is size and arm strength.

Here's a kid that had no help while playing in college yet he still threw 23 tds and only 5 ints....and over 4000 yds.
If he had played on a team with other weapons....we would talking about him being the first possible selection in the draft.

You know Josh Johnson threw like 40 TDs and only 1 INT all year on an arguably less talented team, and with 5% better completion percentage. Should he be looked at more closely?

 

[fishypete]

You know Josh Johnson threw like 40 TDs and only 1 INT all year on an arguably less talented team, and with 5% better completion percentage. Should he be looked at more closely?

Every player should be look at closely....thats why they have scouts....and GM's pull their hair out. Flacco has as much talent as any QB in this draft....and if Eli and Roth can win a SB....so could Flacco with the right pieces around him.