QB or not QB

   This post is written in response to the overwhelming amount of people who think that the Rams should just jump out there, draft Bradford or Clausen pay them 50 million and throw them to the wolves.  This may be the sexiest decision but, more often than not it is disastrous.
 

   QB is the most important position in all of football and I do agree that we are badly in need of a competent signal caller.  However QB's are a fickled position to draft and more times than not a QB drafted in the first round is out of the league in 3 to 5 years.  In fact, since 1995 only 17% of the Quarterbacks drafted in round one become successful starters (using a formula of statistics and winning %).  Now that being said, the deeper into the draft you go, the slimmer your chances get of finding Tom Brady (6th round), Joe Montana (3rd round) or Tony Romo (undrafted). 

   However, you are paying cents on the dollar to put him into the test tube and not locking him into a long term, huge money deal.  If you draft a QB in later rounds the pressure is not as great on management, the head coach or the QB and you don't tend to push him into action long before he is mentally ready to play.

    There is also way too much hype put into the NFL Scouting Combine and the interview process.  Athleticism and having a big arm often gets guys like Jamarcus Bustell "the guy can throw 60yrds from his knees!" Well that will certainly help him read complex NFL defenses and make him want to work hard. Physical characteristics are the least of a scout's worries in my book.  How many QB's in the draft fall into these parameters?  A male between 5'11'' and 6'6'' 190-240lbs, can throw the ball 60 yards and can hit an open receiver in combine drills.  Right, all of them can.  So what should the Rams be looking for?  Test scores, leadership, and character.  Call someone on the team that doesn't like him; get their opinion on him, exhaust all avenues.  Sounds funny but, you are about to put millions of dollars into this kid.  Things like mobility, 40yd dash times, arm strength, media savvy ness (if that's a word) mean absolutely nothing and if you are not careful may get you Joey Harrington or Tim Couch on draft day.

   There are a few quarterbacks in this draft that may amount to something but unless you are as sure as you can be about drafting Bradford or Clausen, don't do it!  Look at guys in the second or third round like Lefevour or Pike and put a veteran over them for a year or two (Delhomme, Mcnabb, Anderson).  Use the Aaron Rodgers formula and you can take a possible flop and give him a chance to succeed as a starter in the NFL.  One guy said that we should not get Mcnabb because we have a 3-4yr plan to win a championship.  It boggles my mind how stupid people can be.  You can not deny that any job is easier if you have time to develop and ease into the position.  A pro bowl QB that can pass down a wealth of "been there" knowledge and win us a bunch of games while QB-X holds a clipboard and learns the system is a bad decision?  I think most would agree that a veteran stop-gap and a rookie QB just make sense.  Draft Suh or trade the pick and Go Rams!

Just a little reminder about first round, combine gods!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JaMarcus_Russell