Regan21286
Wa Wa Wee Wa
Since everyone else is doing this, I thought I might post my opinions. I'm not including Quinn or Young because they're most likely staying for an extra year. I'm not including Kitna because obviously, he'd be nothing more than a stopgap. This is about the future of Dolphin QBs. So here goes:
1. Matt Leinart.
Why?: Has insane Tom Bradyesque potential. Just wins. No question on leadership and field management. Is accurate and makes smart moves. Had to deal with pressures of succeeding Palmer at SC and has proven to be as good as or better than his predecessor. Intangibles and charisma are pluses. Works well under pressure and isn't afraid to run the ball in himself (i.e Notre Dame). Not a scrambler but can get a couple of yards to avoid a sack or incompletion. A true potential franchise QB in the lines of Manningx2 and Palmer.
Why not?: For us, it could be really hard to trade up for him. We could sacrifice a lot and that's a big risk. Injury is a possibility as he does wear a knee brace and has had surgery. Average arm might not translate to performance in a Linehan system.
My conclusion: The Dolphins really need to make some moves to get him. He could be our Peyton Manning, who himself has been criticized for his average arm. For those naysayers who claim he's just like Pennington, note this. Pennington is one of the NFL's top QB's when healthy. That said, Leinart has been healthy enough to take a beating everytime he rushes for the goal line or eludes pressure. Palmer's doing well, so why not his successor? Same pro-style offense and we even have better players to help Leinart along the same way Big Ben had. If the price is right, Leinart has to be in a aqua and white uniform by next year or something's wrong upstairs.
2. Drew Brees
Why?: He's shown remarkable progress since his rookie year and has allowed the Chargers to taste the playoffs rather than yet another high draft pick. Knows how to use his weapons well. Has quality physical attributes and a decent field sense. Well liked by his teammates. A Pro Bowler if given time to throw and the receiving/running threats.
Why not?: He could be succeeding only because he has the top TE and RB in the league at his disposal. Whether that can translate to a pretty good TE and a budding RB remains to be seen. Not to mention, if Brees falls under pressure often, he'll make a few dumb throws as he has in the past. Could have a hefty price tag.
My conclusion: If we lose out in the Leinart race, Brees is a fine alternative. Whether he can perform in Linehan's system is questionable but seems like a good chance. He needs a solid OL to perform and ours is decent enough to keep Gus upright so not a high concern there. Whether he can utilize Chambers, McMike, Booker, etc should be no problem. Only thing remains is the price. Hopefully, the Fins can pick him up via FA rather than burning picks on a trade for him. Lots of fans wished we selected him instead of Fletcher.
3. Philip Rivers
Why?: Rivers had been slated as better than all the QB's in the past 2 drafts. Many Fins fans wanted him in the first place, myself included. Signing bonus has already been paid for so a plus there. Has good potential to become a franchise QB. Good character though the contract issues that caused him to miss camp and preseason sours things a bit. Good specs for a QB with a quick release and accuracy. Solid leadership.
Why not?: Hasn't proven anything. SD could keep him instead of Brees so he could be very expensive, not even including his hefty salary. Sidearm throws are a little worrisome. Not too athletic or mobile which could be a problem if our OL deteriorates. Arm strength is average.
My conclusion?: Basically, the risks and price of Rivers are the same as Leinart. But Rivers isn't as good as Leinart in that he isn't as mobile and doesn't have the uncanny win-at-all-cost intangibles Leinart has. But if SD is willing to fork him over for a good deal, Miami should take it.
4. Drew Olson
Why?: I'm a UCLA student. I know quite a bit about Olsen since I've been to games and have had the chance to meet him on many occasions in class and the practice field. A solid leader and a prolific passer. Good character and decent intangibles. Really surged in his senior year to become one of the nation's top passers. Uses his TE and RB well and manages to succeed despite having freshmen and walk-on WRs (heck, I was even giving thought to trying out as a walk-on WR :tongue: ). Knows what to do to win and has been successful in pressure situations. Led UCLA to a string of comeback victories late in the 4th quarter. Decent quick release, mechanics, mobility.
Why not?: Could be just a fluke this season. UCLA hasn't produced a NFL caliber QB since Aikman, and latest was Cade McNown (remember him?) unless you also count Tommy Maddox. Would need time to develop. Can be erratic under heavy pressure. Average or above average in most aspects. Reminds me a bit of AJ Feeley when he plays bad, which is not good news. Tends to eyeball WRs but has improved.
My Conclusion: Olson is a pretty good sleeper pick. He's improved a lot since his first tour of duty and can only get better. With some time, he could progress into a Hasselbeck or Delhomme. If he drops to a later round Fins pick, and Miami still hasn't drafted a QB, they should draft Olson. Of course, like everything, it's too early to say. He could be a gamble and would definitely need a veteran to start while he progresses.
5. Jay Cutler
Why?: A Jeff Garcia clone but a better passer. Good physical stats. Gunslinger mentality. He's a tough person who will do everything it takes to complete his play. Knows how to lead a comeback. Has experience and mobility. A lot of Fins fans are already on the Cutler bandwagon so he could already start out with his own fan base. Has loads of potential
Why not?: Has not really helped his team succeed well, which is what everyone judges a QB by. Gunslinger mentality gets him into a lot of trouble especially when he forces passes or takes risks. He will be ripped apart by demanding Fins fans who go on rampages everytime there's an interception. Despite having the arm to do so, he isn't a good long distance passer. Possbily this is due to bad mechanics. Definitely a project.
My conclusion: Jay would be a good pick even though most Dolphin fans are sick of QB's with the letter J in the name. But if he is drafted, there'll need to be someone who can take the reins of the offense for 3-4 years, and Gus ain't the answer. He reminds me of a Jake Plummer, meaning he needs a stubborn and strong-willed coach to correct his on-field recklessness. As a prospect, he's probably in the JP Losman range.
Wild Cards
1. Matt Schaub- Has played well filling in for Vick and has the look of a possible Hasselbeck-ish QB. Whether he can blossom into Hasselbeck or fizzle into a Feeley, who also played well as a backup, remains uncertain. Could be expensive and might not be worth the price.
2. Marcus Vick- Buzz on Vick has dialed down a bit after a string of bad performances. Could be a fluke but has shown instances of being better than his older brother. Ask any Atlanta fan about their opinions on Mike Vick, and they'll give you the same responses any Fins fan would give about Marino. So if Marcus can be like Mike, he could be a fan favorite. But still a big project that requires a veteran to take the reins for some time.
Any thoughts? Disputes?
1. Matt Leinart.
Why?: Has insane Tom Bradyesque potential. Just wins. No question on leadership and field management. Is accurate and makes smart moves. Had to deal with pressures of succeeding Palmer at SC and has proven to be as good as or better than his predecessor. Intangibles and charisma are pluses. Works well under pressure and isn't afraid to run the ball in himself (i.e Notre Dame). Not a scrambler but can get a couple of yards to avoid a sack or incompletion. A true potential franchise QB in the lines of Manningx2 and Palmer.
Why not?: For us, it could be really hard to trade up for him. We could sacrifice a lot and that's a big risk. Injury is a possibility as he does wear a knee brace and has had surgery. Average arm might not translate to performance in a Linehan system.
My conclusion: The Dolphins really need to make some moves to get him. He could be our Peyton Manning, who himself has been criticized for his average arm. For those naysayers who claim he's just like Pennington, note this. Pennington is one of the NFL's top QB's when healthy. That said, Leinart has been healthy enough to take a beating everytime he rushes for the goal line or eludes pressure. Palmer's doing well, so why not his successor? Same pro-style offense and we even have better players to help Leinart along the same way Big Ben had. If the price is right, Leinart has to be in a aqua and white uniform by next year or something's wrong upstairs.
2. Drew Brees
Why?: He's shown remarkable progress since his rookie year and has allowed the Chargers to taste the playoffs rather than yet another high draft pick. Knows how to use his weapons well. Has quality physical attributes and a decent field sense. Well liked by his teammates. A Pro Bowler if given time to throw and the receiving/running threats.
Why not?: He could be succeeding only because he has the top TE and RB in the league at his disposal. Whether that can translate to a pretty good TE and a budding RB remains to be seen. Not to mention, if Brees falls under pressure often, he'll make a few dumb throws as he has in the past. Could have a hefty price tag.
My conclusion: If we lose out in the Leinart race, Brees is a fine alternative. Whether he can perform in Linehan's system is questionable but seems like a good chance. He needs a solid OL to perform and ours is decent enough to keep Gus upright so not a high concern there. Whether he can utilize Chambers, McMike, Booker, etc should be no problem. Only thing remains is the price. Hopefully, the Fins can pick him up via FA rather than burning picks on a trade for him. Lots of fans wished we selected him instead of Fletcher.
3. Philip Rivers
Why?: Rivers had been slated as better than all the QB's in the past 2 drafts. Many Fins fans wanted him in the first place, myself included. Signing bonus has already been paid for so a plus there. Has good potential to become a franchise QB. Good character though the contract issues that caused him to miss camp and preseason sours things a bit. Good specs for a QB with a quick release and accuracy. Solid leadership.
Why not?: Hasn't proven anything. SD could keep him instead of Brees so he could be very expensive, not even including his hefty salary. Sidearm throws are a little worrisome. Not too athletic or mobile which could be a problem if our OL deteriorates. Arm strength is average.
My conclusion?: Basically, the risks and price of Rivers are the same as Leinart. But Rivers isn't as good as Leinart in that he isn't as mobile and doesn't have the uncanny win-at-all-cost intangibles Leinart has. But if SD is willing to fork him over for a good deal, Miami should take it.
4. Drew Olson
Why?: I'm a UCLA student. I know quite a bit about Olsen since I've been to games and have had the chance to meet him on many occasions in class and the practice field. A solid leader and a prolific passer. Good character and decent intangibles. Really surged in his senior year to become one of the nation's top passers. Uses his TE and RB well and manages to succeed despite having freshmen and walk-on WRs (heck, I was even giving thought to trying out as a walk-on WR :tongue: ). Knows what to do to win and has been successful in pressure situations. Led UCLA to a string of comeback victories late in the 4th quarter. Decent quick release, mechanics, mobility.
Why not?: Could be just a fluke this season. UCLA hasn't produced a NFL caliber QB since Aikman, and latest was Cade McNown (remember him?) unless you also count Tommy Maddox. Would need time to develop. Can be erratic under heavy pressure. Average or above average in most aspects. Reminds me a bit of AJ Feeley when he plays bad, which is not good news. Tends to eyeball WRs but has improved.
My Conclusion: Olson is a pretty good sleeper pick. He's improved a lot since his first tour of duty and can only get better. With some time, he could progress into a Hasselbeck or Delhomme. If he drops to a later round Fins pick, and Miami still hasn't drafted a QB, they should draft Olson. Of course, like everything, it's too early to say. He could be a gamble and would definitely need a veteran to start while he progresses.
5. Jay Cutler
Why?: A Jeff Garcia clone but a better passer. Good physical stats. Gunslinger mentality. He's a tough person who will do everything it takes to complete his play. Knows how to lead a comeback. Has experience and mobility. A lot of Fins fans are already on the Cutler bandwagon so he could already start out with his own fan base. Has loads of potential
Why not?: Has not really helped his team succeed well, which is what everyone judges a QB by. Gunslinger mentality gets him into a lot of trouble especially when he forces passes or takes risks. He will be ripped apart by demanding Fins fans who go on rampages everytime there's an interception. Despite having the arm to do so, he isn't a good long distance passer. Possbily this is due to bad mechanics. Definitely a project.
My conclusion: Jay would be a good pick even though most Dolphin fans are sick of QB's with the letter J in the name. But if he is drafted, there'll need to be someone who can take the reins of the offense for 3-4 years, and Gus ain't the answer. He reminds me of a Jake Plummer, meaning he needs a stubborn and strong-willed coach to correct his on-field recklessness. As a prospect, he's probably in the JP Losman range.
Wild Cards
1. Matt Schaub- Has played well filling in for Vick and has the look of a possible Hasselbeck-ish QB. Whether he can blossom into Hasselbeck or fizzle into a Feeley, who also played well as a backup, remains uncertain. Could be expensive and might not be worth the price.
2. Marcus Vick- Buzz on Vick has dialed down a bit after a string of bad performances. Could be a fluke but has shown instances of being better than his older brother. Ask any Atlanta fan about their opinions on Mike Vick, and they'll give you the same responses any Fins fan would give about Marino. So if Marcus can be like Mike, he could be a fan favorite. But still a big project that requires a veteran to take the reins for some time.
Any thoughts? Disputes?
