I don’t think there’s much argument that there’s a continuing polarization of the pro-Beck and draft-Ryan camps here on Finheaven. I’ll readily admit I’m in the former and although I don’t dislike Ryan, I think, juxtaposing him with the last 3 draft classes, he’d be at best the 5th and possibly the 9th QB selected. While I can’t see anointing him a “Franchise QB†on the basis of his BC performance, especially since he was barely on the radar in 06 and could well be a 1 year wonder, I think he’s demonstrated sufficient upside to justify a mid teens – mid 20s draft pick, and of course a pick like that has indeed served the Fins well back in the 80’s, right?
As a Beck supporter, I have strong sentiments about risking a #1 pick on a QB whose college career was no more impressive than the QB we already have. In fact, while Beck’s stats went up each year, Ryan’s went down! Yes, Ryan won 2 bowl games whereas Beck’s merely 1-1, however in his senior year, he led BYU over Oregon in the most lopsided bowl win in the school’s illustrious football history. Speaking of that, well sorta, the argument has been made that Beck’s BYU spread offense lends itself to more accuracy than BC’s pro-style offense – and that may well be the case. I think a counterpoint though is to consider how many BYU QBs won the Superbowl, vs. those from BC.
As to Ryan supporters clamoring for a “competent†QB on the basis of Beck’s poor performance last year with the prior year’s 3 best receivers now catching passes in NE, St Louis and SD, their best RB on the shelf and a coach who had him running the scout team up until the week before he was given the starting position, I believe a fair question is just how much better, if at all, Ryan would have performed under the center. I know that last year’s “Can’t Miss†QB, the inflatable $60Million LaMarcus Russell, with a better team, one of the 6 best running attacks in 07, actually underperformed Beck in most meaningful stats excepting fumbles (and there the difference between “small-handed†Beck and ham hocked Russell was 2 fumbles.. yes, only 2 fumbles.
Excuse the long-winded buildup (it’s my natural default, LOL), but HERE’S THE QUESTION: if Ryan is drafted and over his first 4 or 5 appearances (note the distinction between “appearances†and “startsâ€)he performs as poorly as Beck, or even worse, like Russell, how many of those Ryan advocates would be calling for his head? How many would be calling him a “bum,†“loser†etc.?? How many would criticize the present “Ryan’s okay but too flawed for a top 5†camp if we were making the same criticisms of him that they make of Beck? You can argue that we risked over $60MM, or over $35MM guaranteed on Ryan so we have to stick with him, while we only spent maybe 15% of that on Beck and only a 2nd round pick, eh? Sure both Mannings were off to slow starts their first years, etc… and look how long it took for Brees to get going, so it’s not really indicative of their upside, right?? But couldn’t you say the same thing about Harrington, Couch, Carr, Leaf, either “A†Smith to name a few??? And look how much better off their teams would have been if instead of sticking with them, they went back into the draft the following year to snare a “better†QB.
So if the shoe was on the other foot with Ryan and either he rides the pine for a year (a luxury not afforded Beck) or comes in over the first several games to perform as poorly as Russell (worse than Beck)
,………. How the heck could any of Ryan’s supporters NOT be a hypocrite telling his draft critics that we’re being unfair, premature or unrealistic… especially with the next one-year franchise QB just around the bend in either the 08 or 09 draft??? Just Sayin.
As a Beck supporter, I have strong sentiments about risking a #1 pick on a QB whose college career was no more impressive than the QB we already have. In fact, while Beck’s stats went up each year, Ryan’s went down! Yes, Ryan won 2 bowl games whereas Beck’s merely 1-1, however in his senior year, he led BYU over Oregon in the most lopsided bowl win in the school’s illustrious football history. Speaking of that, well sorta, the argument has been made that Beck’s BYU spread offense lends itself to more accuracy than BC’s pro-style offense – and that may well be the case. I think a counterpoint though is to consider how many BYU QBs won the Superbowl, vs. those from BC.
As to Ryan supporters clamoring for a “competent†QB on the basis of Beck’s poor performance last year with the prior year’s 3 best receivers now catching passes in NE, St Louis and SD, their best RB on the shelf and a coach who had him running the scout team up until the week before he was given the starting position, I believe a fair question is just how much better, if at all, Ryan would have performed under the center. I know that last year’s “Can’t Miss†QB, the inflatable $60Million LaMarcus Russell, with a better team, one of the 6 best running attacks in 07, actually underperformed Beck in most meaningful stats excepting fumbles (and there the difference between “small-handed†Beck and ham hocked Russell was 2 fumbles.. yes, only 2 fumbles.
Excuse the long-winded buildup (it’s my natural default, LOL), but HERE’S THE QUESTION: if Ryan is drafted and over his first 4 or 5 appearances (note the distinction between “appearances†and “startsâ€)he performs as poorly as Beck, or even worse, like Russell, how many of those Ryan advocates would be calling for his head? How many would be calling him a “bum,†“loser†etc.?? How many would criticize the present “Ryan’s okay but too flawed for a top 5†camp if we were making the same criticisms of him that they make of Beck? You can argue that we risked over $60MM, or over $35MM guaranteed on Ryan so we have to stick with him, while we only spent maybe 15% of that on Beck and only a 2nd round pick, eh? Sure both Mannings were off to slow starts their first years, etc… and look how long it took for Brees to get going, so it’s not really indicative of their upside, right?? But couldn’t you say the same thing about Harrington, Couch, Carr, Leaf, either “A†Smith to name a few??? And look how much better off their teams would have been if instead of sticking with them, they went back into the draft the following year to snare a “better†QB.
So if the shoe was on the other foot with Ryan and either he rides the pine for a year (a luxury not afforded Beck) or comes in over the first several games to perform as poorly as Russell (worse than Beck)
,………. How the heck could any of Ryan’s supporters NOT be a hypocrite telling his draft critics that we’re being unfair, premature or unrealistic… especially with the next one-year franchise QB just around the bend in either the 08 or 09 draft??? Just Sayin.
