Colbert watching Bridewater

Just read he will be at the Rutgers game tonight to watch Bridgewater.....HHhhmmmm

Cajun-

 

Did he say he was going to watch Bridgewater because there is also Cumberland playing tonight.

 

He didn't actually say anything. It's just being reported he's there.

This is nothing new. It's due diligence.

I'm a Ben supporter big time. I think the calls for drafting a quarterback are insane... but I will say I really like Bridgewater (even though he didn't have a great game last night). For those that love to talk about how Ben doesn't watch film, Teddy is a very smart kid, and reportedly lives in the film room.

 

I think the Team has to have options moving forward...The 1 huge question is do we build around Ben or do we need to start from scratch?

Either way Bridgewater is a guy we need to keep a close eye on...After watching him more he is a QB that I would consider a Franchise QB...

At this point we are in competition to be able to draft him,they need to have a plan as to whether they would select him or trade out for a kings ransom....

 

And if they keep Ben they might want to groom a QB like GB did with the Rogers pick...

How many seasons does Ben have left?We need to consider that when we consider the mileage on Ben...IMO he has just a few seasons left...

 

That's just crazy talk, modern medicine will have Ben playing for at least 10 more years.

 

I understand that thinking, but if you want to steer out of this hell we're in right now, that's not the way to do it. You'd be spending a first round pick on a guy that's going to sit, and not help this team. I understand what you're saying for sure, but...


My thought is that a real franchise quarterback is by far the hardest position to fill on a roster. It's why they're paid so much more than any other position. You can win a Superbowl with some holes, but not at quarterback.

Looking across the board, we have tons of holes. But imo QB is one of the very few positions we're good at (including Grad at backup). Looking at first rounders over since 2001 (not including this year)...

Luck
RGIII
Weedon
Tannehill
Newton
Locker
Ponder
Gabbert
Bradford
Tebow
Stafford
Sanchez
Freeman
Ryan
Flacco
Russell
Quinn
Young
Leinart
Cutler
A.Smith
Rodgers
Campbell
E.Manning
P.Rivers
Big Ben
Losman
Palmer
Leftwhich
Grossman
Boller
Carr
Harrington
Ramsey
Vick


I bolded guys that I think are franchise guys, or could be potentially. I think the jury is still out on RGIII, Newton, and Stafford. But just look at how man guys there are like Ponder and Gabbert who were very high picks and just abysmal in the NFL.

I understand you've got to try, but my point is we HAVE a franchise quarterback. Don't be so quick to give him the hook. Get him some protection and see how his game changes. I think a left tackle could strengthen both ends by putting Mike Adams back where he was doing well on the right side.

 

True, but sticking your head in the sand thinking Ben will play forever and not at least attempting to prepare for the future is myopic.

 

I agree too. Franchise qb's are ridiculously hard to come by. One thing, however, that MIGHT make it a bit easier is the fact that now qbs are so protected by the league that even an average guy when kept upright can pick teams apart. I don't think it takes as much to be a franchise qb under the new rules as it used to. I think Stafford isn't NEARLY the qb Brees or Rodgers or Brady is but he can still throw for 5,000yds because you're not allowed to hit him and you can't play physical on wide outs either because of illegal contact and PI getting called constantly. The rules are so slanted towards offense that it helps average guys seem above average.

 

Who said anything like that?

Do it when you need to. I think all the stuff about Ben's career being shortened by sacks is overblown. He's a tough dude, and he seems like he's trying to do too much, but does his arm or his ability to move really look any worse than it did his rookie year?

I decided to look at some numbers on the number of sacks a guy took in his career (per game, since Ben is younger than them obviously) and the age he retired...

John Elway: 2.23 (age 38)
Warren Moon: 2.25 (age 44)
Drew Bledsoe: 2.41 (age 34)
Big Ben: 2.76 (age 30)
Dave Krieg: 2.94 (age 40)
Phil Simms: 3.00 (age 39)
Randall Cunningham 3.58 (age 38)

 

and at Ben's current career pace if he plays 20 years like Favre he'll have been sacked 770+times. If he makes it 16 years like Elway 616. Both of which shatter the current record. If the idea of sacks shortening his career,performance, or even a single season wasn't an issue then there was no need for AR2 to change the offense. There's a reason why he's only played one complete season, these hits a take a toll on your body. The older you get the longer it takes to recuperate. That's not conjecture and Ben being tough or a gamer has no bearing it's a simple fact of life.

 

Someone throw up Discount Double Checks sack number and pro rate them for a career.....No one seems to be saying anything about him,

HACK

 

I don't have the numbers handy ,but he has had numerous concussions just like Ben and I believe his career will be ended soon as well...

IMO the style that Teams are now playing will lead to shorter years by QB'S...

 

Rodgers has been sacked 213 times as a starter (I subtracted the 9 sacks he had in his first 3 seasons), which is over the course of 5 seasons and 4 games.

Big Ben was sacked 202 time through his first 5 season + 4 games.

 

TY for the numbers,,as I suspected he has took a beating just like Ben....

One huge thing to consider is how many hits has Ben took after the delivery ? And how many hits has he broke away from to make a pass ?

No way to really get that number ,but by my eyes he is by far the most abused QB in the NFL...

 

Sure, you can point to those types of things but there's no way of proving guys like Rodgers don't get hit just as much.

My point is has he lost any arm strength? Does he seem to move any slower in the pocket? Does he seem any more injury prone?

I would say, no. So if the Steelers draft Jake Matthews, and build a good OL to protect Ben, what makes you think he couldn't play AT LEAST 5 more years?

 

If we go that route I hope you are right and I am wrong ......He does seem a step slower to me ,but behind that OL Carl Lewis would look slow...

 

I just think, despite the awful production so far, this team honestly isn't that far off of having a championship roster. Get Ben a little time and we've got a good enough offense (and Bell can take some heat off him as well).

The defense is still not terrible, but they lack difference makers. Guys that can make an offense scared. Give Shamarko and JJ a season to get comfortable and they could be difference makers.

In my scenario you're building around Ben, because he's the hard piece to find.

In the draft a QB to groom scenario you're blowing the whole thing up. Which honestly if they wanted to go that route I'd rather sign a vet like a Carson Palmer type guy to play while you rebuild, and trade Ben for draft picks. Might as well get something for him, rather than wasting him for a couple of years when you're not competing.

 

but at what level? a lot depends on us getting some useful pieces around him in that time. even the great joe Montana was let go. I also don't agree on the thinking of waiting until he's gone to try and find his replacement. that's cowher thinking about the qb spot. I liken that to colberts thinking about o-linemen.

to me, if there is a chance to get a pretty decent qb right now to go with an eventual decent qb (l.jones), we should. we may never draft this high again if this doesn't turn around this year. I couldn't tell you if there is a franchise qb in this bunch, personally I don't think there is. there are however some good one's.

teams will also pay well for good talented backups down the road if something better pops up. maybe in the future landry might be coveted by the cowboys, when they get tired of romo. it's not always about just this year. that's my thinking on it.

right now we have the luxury of having ben for at least two more years after this one. it gives us time to see what we have behind him without having to start them.

same if we draft a TE in the first round. it doesn't mean we get rid of heath. it means we have two good one's.

 

And how many of those other guys have gone through the windshield of an SUV WITHOUT A HELMET?!

 

Very interesting, question is concerning age of retirement, How many of these QBs played and played great until they retired.

Fact is it only takes one hit to end or alter a career. One hard hit can ruin a good season as we've already seen.

Cajun-