DKSweets wrote:Let me put it this way: You cite Mariota's 5224 yards, 57 TDs, and 4 turnovers, and those are very good. But Colt Brennan put up 5915 yards, 63 TDs, and 12 turnovers in 2006 (at a time when Hawaii was putting up silly numbers) and didn't get close to cutting it in the NFL. I'm not taking anything away from either of their college careers, because they did what they were supposed to do. That said, it doesn't mean I'm overly impressed with them as a player...I'm mostly impressed with the collective team. I want to make clear, I'm not criticizing his heisman trophy, I'm discussing his draft stock and I think being a product of their system is a valid talking point when discussing how they will translate to the NFL.
That's valid and I think you used and interesting example with Colt and Hawaii. First off, the two offenses are not exactly the same. From what I understand, run-and-shoot is a theoretical orientation...an overall offensive ideology. Spread offense is a
play ideology. It can change game to game based on what the opponents defensive tendencies show.
Additionally, if I understand correctly, the "spread" is an offense philosophy or offensive formation that is designed to take advantage of the length and width of the field by spreading the offensive line and adding more receivers...QB is typically in the shotgun. Almost every major football power uses it to some extent, but not all spread teams are the same, or even remotely similar- A team like Oregon spreads the field to execute power-running football, Washington state spreads the field to throw almost every down, and Baylor has a balanced approach.
Run and Shoot is an spread offense based vertical routes, with or without motion to expose whether the coverage is man or zone. They also look to see how many defenders are in the box, and would run if the numbers were favorable. Run and shoot can use many plays but one that unique is a play where three receivers run vertical routes and one receiver runs up the seam with the option to break the route off into any number of routes depending on a post-snap read of a certain defender- often the flat defender.
In Hawaii's run-and-shoot, for example, there was far less rushing. Hawaii only ran the ball 298 times in 2006. Oregon had 644 attempts this year.
I guess what I'm saying is it's not exactly apples-to-apples comparison between the two systems. Therefore you can't accurately compare Brennan to Mariota within them.
Their overall makeups and playing styles are also not very similar. While both were accurate, that's about where the similarities end. Colt's arm is nowhere that of Mariota's. He was also 25 entering the league and had an awkward delivery. Mariota's strength, size and athleticism are far superior to Colt's. There's a big reason why Mariota will be a R1 QB and Brennan lasted to the 6th round. They're distinctly different players and Mariota offers significantly more upside as a prospect.
To further my point, RGIII put up similar numbers in his final year at Baylor, has every ounce of the athleticism, is a gritty competitor, and could be had for a much cheaper price. When the discussion of drafting Mariota came up, Jim floated the idea that the Vikings should keep a pipeline of talented QBs behind their starter in case one (namely, Teddy) doesn't work out and/or gets injured. I think spending anything more than a third round pick on Mariota would be a ridiculous gamble when there are players who I think offer similar upside for much cheaper.
Well, he
had every ounce of the athleticism. I'm not sure he's at or ever will be at the same level he was (mentally or physically) as when he entered the league after the injury. That said, sure, I'd love RGIII as the #2 QB, but that'd never happen for a lot of reasons, obviously.