BigBuff423 Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Given the earnest and incessant debate on this message board about which QB the Bills should Draft, whether they should trade up, stay put or take one in the following rounds, I find it interesting that nearly 20 years ago to the day - April 5, 1998 - this same debate raged on, regarding the Colts #1 selection. The argument about taking a very gifted QB with all the physical traits a GM and HC would covet versus a QB with the mental acumen to play QB in the NFL but lacks the "wow" factor in the arm. It's not news breaking or anything revealing that such a debate continues, but that it continues with such zealous representation I do find interesting. Because, history does NOT seem to be on the side of physical ability when the mental acumen is missing. And please, do NOT turn this into a Lamar Jackson discussion as that has been beaten to death elsewhere. But, maybe more about the general idea of how a QB is valued in the Draft over how he is valued once the lights come on and the games matter. Brady is one who didn't have a great arm but there are others throughout history who've done well absent a great arm. Either way, I thought it was a nice topic of discussion given how salient this debate is to us as fans this Draft season. 8 11 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddaryl Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Awesome find 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Hahaha. Classic Vic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA OC Bills Fan Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Great find, thanks for posting this. i live about halfway between LA and San Diego. At the time, I mostly listened to San Diego sports talk radio. I remember after the Chargers traded to the #2 spot that most that called in were very afraid that the Colts could take Leaf and they’d either be “stuck” with P. Manning or would take a non QB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Byrd Man Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 How fortunate for the Colts he wasn't involved with the selection process. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojo44 Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 The more things change .......... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburnbillsbacker Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Bill Polian said on NFL radio that after he worked out both Manning and Leaf he discovered that Manning actually had the stronger arm of the two. This completely went against the narrative of the 2 QBs at that time. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagon127 Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Yeah, its why I'm ok with whoever the bills take at QB. I will wait to see what the guy can do on an NFL field, and not worry about what he did in college. I trust the process, that the Bills will make a sensible decision this year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBuff423 Posted April 6, 2018 Author Share Posted April 6, 2018 31 minutes ago, ddaryl said: Awesome find Thanks but I can't take credit. Freezing Cold Takes posted it on Twitter.....so i didn't really do anything other than share it. Just found it interesting this same debate continues with heated arguments on both sides and yet arm talent rarely translates to being a good or great QB in the NFL unless you have it between the ears also....most don't. Most of the time you're always trying to play the middle: find a guy who has the mental sharpness to be a great QB and "enough" arm to get the job done. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalobloodfloridahome Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 (edited) I would take head over arm all day long. Peyton really showed that in his last super bowl win. He had almost no velocity left and he was still dropping balls with accuracy and anticipation. I know their defense was legit and truly carried the team, but what have they done since he has been gone? His ability to play chess with the defense always made him dangerous. He should be a coach some day. Edited April 6, 2018 by buffalobloodfloridahome 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jahnyc Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 The Chargers have had an interesting history with QBs. Rivers has been very good, Leaf was a bust and Brees left in free agency after a bad shoulder injury. Rivers and Brees have been two of the best QBs over the last 10 plus years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlonce Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 57 minutes ago, GunnerBill said: Hahaha. Classic Vic. There were a lot of people who thought Leaf was the best QB. Happens all the time and is going to happen in this draft. Hindsight is 20/20. There could be a guy not considered in the top 4 that will go on to have a better career than guys like Darnold/Rosen. Then again,maybe not. It’s a crapshoot we hope the scouts and Beane have nailed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Call_Of_Ktulu Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Allen has the Brains and the Arm, if he fixes his footwork and accuracy he will be the best QB from this draft. Lot of ?????? marks from all the QB's in this draft. The feeling I get from the top 4 QB's is 2 will be great and 2 will be solid, I don't think any will be a Ryan Leaf type QB. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 6 minutes ago, dlonce said: There were a lot of people who thought Leaf was the best QB. Happens all the time and is going to happen in this draft. Hindsight is 20/20. There could be a guy not considered in the top 4 that will go on to have a better career than guys like Darnold/Rosen. Then again,maybe not. It’s a crapshoot we hope the scouts and Beane have nailed. Leaf was well before my time watching the league let alone trying to evaluate college prospects. I don't agree the draft is a crapshoot though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 3 hours ago, BigBuff423 said: Given the earnest and incessant debate on this message board about which QB the Bills should Draft, whether they should trade up, stay put or take one in the following rounds, I find it interesting that nearly 20 years ago to the day - April 5, 1998 - this same debate raged on, regarding the Colts #1 selection. The argument about taking a very gifted QB with all the physical traits a GM and HC would covet versus a QB with the mental acumen to play QB in the NFL but lacks the "wow" factor in the arm. It's not news breaking or anything revealing that such a debate continues, but that it continues with such zealous representation I do find interesting. Because, history does NOT seem to be on the side of physical ability when the mental acumen is missing. And please, do NOT turn this into a Lamar Jackson discussion as that has been beaten to death elsewhere. But, maybe more about the general idea of how a QB is valued in the Draft over how he is valued once the lights come on and the games matter. Brady is one who didn't have a great arm but there are others throughout history who've done well absent a great arm. Either way, I thought it was a nice topic of discussion given how salient this debate is to us as fans this Draft season. Nailed it Vic.... head of the nail 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondo in seattle Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 (edited) The Browns were thinking like Vic when they drafted Johnny Football. Who will be this year's Leaf/Manziel? Edited April 6, 2018 by hondo in seattle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagon127 Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 2 hours ago, GunnerBill said: Leaf was well before my time watching the league let alone trying to evaluate college prospects. I don't agree the draft is a crapshoot though. A crapshoot is a bit of an exaggeration. Unfortunately there are way to many variables that occur between draft day, and how long it takes for a player to hit their prime and establish who they are as an NFL player. Any GM could probably write a novel defending why they took a particular QB, but it takes the player to put in the work after he gets thrown a ton of money, and the team to find a way to get the most out of that player. Its as much of a crapshoot as drafting a fantasy football team. It doesn't mean you don't try to put in the work to draft what you feel will be a good team. Whenever the draft is over, its now time to go to real work. No matter who of the Top 6 QB's they take, I will be excited to see what that guy will do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CuddyDark Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 7 minutes ago, hondo in seattle said: The Browns were thinking like Vic when they drafted Johnny Football. Who will be this year's Leaf/Manziel? Top choices are Allen and Rosen IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrod's friend Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 9 minutes ago, hondo in seattle said: The Browns were thinking like Vic when they drafted Johnny Football. Who will be this year's Leaf/Manziel? Sam Darnold - contrarian, sure, but that is the very definition of Leaf. If Allen goes high enough, sure. But see him falling to the point where he isn't a LeafBust, but even if he goes high I don't think any team plays him day 1. There is almost no history of QBs with the limited track record of Sam Darnold being a long term success in the NFL. Add in his turnover issues, the likelihood that he'll be drafted very high? Some team is going to stick that guy as starting QB, day 1, and get destroyed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schoolhouserock Posted April 6, 2018 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Which of these QB prospects has the brain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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