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What are the Rams getting in Oregon State's Sean Mannion?
In a word; throwback.
Sean Mannion is the prototypical pocket passer. Feet set in concrete, he will hang in the pocket until the ball is gone or he is eating dirt. But is that a bad thing?
Not if you understand just where Jeff Fisher is coming from and what he is trying to create.
Thus far, the best news to come out of this draft is a clear message from the Rams; We will run the ball. We will play great defense. We will enforce our will and you will like it.
With the choices of RB Todd Gurley, OT Rob Havenstein and OT/OG Jamon Brown it is very, very clear that the Rams offense is centered on a strong running game. The deep ball is still a necessity though, to keep defenses honest and take full advantage of the play-action.
Consider it- Air-Coryell Lite.
Sean Mannion just might be the perfect quarterback to lead this new identity in St. Louis.
Setting 18 school records at Oregon State, Mannion was a four year starter and at 6' 6" and 229 lbs he is a bit over ideal size. Most significantly, he ran a pro style offense, unlike many competitors in the draft. His conversion to the pro level should be a short one, so long as the Rams scheme is as simple and as punishing as it is shaping up to be.
Joe Lyons, St. Louis Post-Dispatch-
He enjoyed a big junior season, completing 66.3 percent of his passes for 3,487 yards with 37 touchdowns and 15. That year's receiving corps included speedy Brandin Cooks, the New Orleans Saints No. 1 pick in 2014.
This season, Mannion's play regressed a bit; he completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 3,164 yard with 15 touchdowns and eight picks.
A four-year starter in a pro-style attack, Mannion finished with 18 school passing records. In 47 games and 43 starts, he completed 64.6 percent of his passes with 13,600 career passing yards to go along with 83 touchdowns and 54 interceptions.
On the flip side, scouts have decried his slow reads; plodding his way through his progressions. His poise in the pocket is also seriously questioned, with most of his interceptions coming while facing a rusher or two. As mentioned above, he is not mobile. Don't expect him to extend plays with his feet. When he does have the time, however, he finds his target with urgency and precision.
So, what does all this mean?
It means that the Rams acquired a powerful, accurate arm that needs work.
With Nick Foles, presumably taking the helm this year as starter, Sean Mannion will have the time he needs to adjust to the NFL level and hone his game to fit this clear directive from on high.
The question is- will the offensive line give him the time, to make the read?