Master 2013-14 College QB thread

[Texas Vike]

Nowhere was Blake Bortles name mentioned.
He might go 1, 2, or 3 !
He has the look and measurables of Andrew Luck. Throws a very similar ball too.
Not sure if he comes out, but I would expect him too.

Also, Braxton Miller is a Junior, I think, and the backup Kenny Guiton, who I think is a better passer, is a 5th year Senior. I would love for the Vikings to add Guiton later in the draft.

Also, Hundley staying in college is a good thing IMO. Not ready to be an NFL QB, but next year, he will be the real deal with Winston and Mariota.

What I've seen from Bortles does not lead me to believe that he will excel in the NFL. He appears to be a one read and run kind of guy w/ very little pocket presence. He reminds me of an even bigger, stronger, Ponder. Great athlete, but not an NFL QB.

[dead_poet]

Blake Bortles - QB - Golden Knights

UCF redshirt junior QB Blake Bortles officially declared for the NFL draft on Monday.

"I have decided to pursue my dream of playing in the NFL," Bortles said. "I'd like to thank UCF and couldn't be more proud to say I played at UCF." Bortles (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) posted a 67.8 completion percentage and threw for 3,581 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions this past season. He added 272 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Bortles has ideal size, a bazooka arm and strong pocket movement reminiscent of Ben Roethlisberger. He's unproven against elite competition, however, and is already being picked apart by experts. NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah compared Bortles to Titans QB Jake Locker, and his co-worker Bucky Brooks wrote, "I don't see a transcendent star that will significantly change the fortunes of a dismal franchise."
Source: UFC Football on Twitter

[Purple bruise]

Blake Bortles - QB - Golden Knights

UCF redshirt junior QB Blake Bortles officially declared for the NFL draft on Monday.

"I have decided to pursue my dream of playing in the NFL," Bortles said. "I'd like to thank UCF and couldn't be more proud to say I played at UCF." Bortles (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) posted a 67.8 completion percentage and threw for 3,581 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions this past season. He added 272 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Bortles has ideal size, a bazooka arm and strong pocket movement reminiscent of Ben Roethlisberger. He's unproven against elite competition, however, and is already being picked apart by experts. NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah compared Bortles to Titans QB Jake Locker, and his co-worker Bucky Brooks wrote, "I don't see a transcendent star that will significantly change the fortunes of a dismal franchise."
Source: UFC Football on Twitter

yeah sounds like he doesn't have a chance to be good at the next level

[VikingLord]

As much as I'd love a top flight young franchise QB, maybe Denny had the right idea, the only successful year we've had in the last decade was with Favre, the rest of it was barely watchable quarterbacking.

Everybody would love a top-flight QB, but Denny understood the likelihood of finding one in the draft is low unless you're drafting fairly high. He also understood that with top-notch skill players and a solid offensive line a team can move the ball with competent veteran play at QB. As a result, Green knew better than to make high-risk moves in the draft and instead stuck to biding his time until the right situation presented itself with Culpepper.

Green doesn't get enough credit for his approach to the QB position IMHO, but that approach helped him to build some of the most prolific offenses in the NFL and remain at least in the playoff mix for most of his seasons running the team. Spielman would do well to study up on that bit before he is tempted to make another gamble at QB. The odds there will be a QB still on the board worth the #8 pick is extremely remote.

[dead_poet]

Blake Bortles - QB - Golden Knights

Former Bears director of college scouting Greg Gabriel would select six QBs over UCF redshirt junior Blake Bortles at this point in the process.

That list includes Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel, AJ McCarron, Derek Carr, David Fales and Brett Smith. "I am not going to deny that this player has talent, but I do feel that he would have been better served staying in college and developing his game," Gabriel writes. "He is far from being ready to come into the NFL and play." The longtime NFL exec previously said the GM and head coach who selected Bortles in the first-round would be fired within three years.
Source: National Football Post

[Purple bruise]

Blake Bortles - QB - Golden Knights

Former Bears director of college scouting Greg Gabriel would select six QBs over UCF redshirt junior Blake Bortles at this point in the process.

That list includes Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel, AJ McCarron, Derek Carr, David Fales and Brett Smith. "I am not going to deny that this player has talent, but I do feel that he would have been better served staying in college and developing his game," Gabriel writes. "He is far from being ready to come into the NFL and play." The longtime NFL exec previously said the GM and head coach who selected Bortles in the first-round would be fired within three years.
Source: National Football Post

"The Bears fired Greg Gabriel after several botched picks attributed to him. After missing the marks on high draft picks such as running back Cedric Benson (first round 2005), receiver Mark Bradley (second round 2005), defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek (third round 2006), defensive end Dan Bazuin (second round 2007) and linebacker Michael Okwo (third round 2007)."
I am not taking his advice

[Demi]

What I've seen from Bortles does not lead me to believe that he will excel in the NFL. He appears to be a one read and run kind of guy w/ very little pocket presence. He reminds me of an even bigger, stronger, Ponder. Great athlete, but not an NFL QB.

Yep. Doesn't have the skill set to succeed. But some team will fall in love with him, maybe a GM like Spielman with a pretty sketchy track record at the position. Let's hope not, the guy isn't worth drafting at all, much less in the first couple rounds.

[Mothman]

I'm not sure if this has been posted yet but it's a good read on Bortles, written by Bucky Brooks:

Film Room: UCF's fast-rising Blake Bortles not elite QB

[Mothman]

Blake Bortles - QB - Golden Knights

Former Bears director of college scouting Greg Gabriel would select six QBs over UCF redshirt junior Blake Bortles at this point in the process.

That list includes Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel, AJ McCarron, Derek Carr, David Fales and Brett Smith. "I am not going to deny that this player has talent, but I do feel that he would have been better served staying in college and developing his game," Gabriel writes. "He is far from being ready to come into the NFL and play." The longtime NFL exec previously said the GM and head coach who selected Bortles in the first-round would be fired within three years.
Source: National Football Post

Here's a link to Greg Gabriel's complete write-up. It's worth reading:

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFL ... rtles.html

[Mothman]

I agree Bortles woulda been best served going back to school.

I don't think it's a coincidence that him, Carr, and to a lesser extent Manziel's stock started rising once Mariota said he was staying and the rumors about Hundley staying (which turned out to be true) came out in late November/early December.

Bortles has Gabbert/Ponder written all over him. The team who drafts him should have a veteran stop gap for him to sit behind for a year.

I don't know if he has Gabbert/Ponder written all over him but he'd be a risky pick and I agree that he'd probably be best served sitting on the bench and learning for a year rather than being immediately thrust into a starting role. Then again, I think that's true for almost any rookie QB.

Jim

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I have completely soured on Derek Carr. His bowl performance was enough to make me become disinterested in him. My biggest fear is that Minnesota is going to take him at eight. I cannot help but feeling like this will be like 2011 all over again.

[oldskoolvikingfan]

I have completely soured on Derek Carr. His bowl performance was enough to make me become disinterested in him. My biggest fear is that Minnesota is going to take him at eight. I cannot help but feeling like this will be like 2011 all over again.

I watched the game between Fresno St. and USC and to me it looked like Carr's o-line was terrible, just like his brother's o-line in Houston. Carr even said before the game that they are 1 star recruits playing against 5 star recruits, so a 5 star d-line should easily have dominated a 1 star o-line which they did. With that said he still is my #4 qb in the draft and i wouldnt mind if we drafted him in the second or traded back up into the first to get him after we get Barr or Mack.

[Loki]

I agree on Carr I'm OK with the vikings taking him but if we do we definitely need to trade back. what team is going to take him if we don't, Titans? i think they stick with locker because of Wisenhunt. Jets? they need weapons before they can judge Geno. Cardinals? Legit possibility. So id say trade down as far as 19 and add some more picks.

[Loki]

As far as Bortles if you think hes another Ponder/Gabbert you're way off. if we have a shot at him at eight we need to pull the trigger. he might take a season to fully adjust to the nfl but he will be a playmaker.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I don't want Bortles at all. I saw Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks both mocked Bortles to us at eight. Bortles only has height on Ponder. His arm is pretty comparable to Ponder. Plus, Bortles grades out as a guy 'who can make all the throws.' Where have we heard that before?