Now that's not even close to being a fair statement. The Falcons had a lot more talent, both defensively and offensively when the Ryan draft went down... I don't know how you can even say that with a straight face...
The only way the Dolphins are going to get a chance to draft Barkley in the 2013 draft is if they have the top pick in that draft. The second or third pick isn't going to get it done. As far as, do they draft Barkley if they have the opportunity in 2013, even if they selected Tannehill in 2012? Absolutely you take him. Barkley has a far better chance of being a franchise type QB in the NFL than Tannehill, IMO. The Dolphins can aways turn around and trade Tannehill and their first round picks in 2013 and 2014 for the chance to move up and get the top pick in the 2013 draft.
That not necessarily accurate. Colts, Rams and Vikings could very easily be the top 3 picks next year again. Colts draft Luck, but that team is in full swing rebuild and outside of Luck, will be pure garbage. Rams are also rebuilding and Bradford could have yet another injury prone season. Vikings have a terrible defense and could perhaps be slightly better, but then again, they could be just as bad. All three of those teams would probably not draft QB, so yeah, there could be a scenario where top QB prospect is not drafted with the first 3 picks.
Of course you are correct about the Rams and Colts, but I believe if the Vikings are one of these teams with the first pick in the draft next season, they will have decided Ponder is not their answer at the QB position and I would expect them to pick Barkley. In fact there will be a number of teams, Raiders, Chiefs, Broncos, Cardinals, and several others who would take Barkley with the first pick in the 2013 draft if they have the opportunity to do so. If either the Rams or Colts do get the first pick in the 2013 draft, I suspect they would want to trade down in an effort to pick up more top draft picks. Therefore even if the Dolphins have the second or third pick in the draft, they would most likely have to trade up to the top spot if they wanted to ensure that they could draft Barkley. If they decided to remain at 2 or 3 in hopes Barkley would still be available, they would stand a very good chance of losing him to a team willing to trade up to the top spot in the draft.
Ponder played during his rookie season. If he is the starting QB next year and the Vikings end up with the worst record in the NFL, I would have to think that the Vikings would have to admit that he obviously isn't their answer at the QB position. I merely look at Barkley and Ponder and I feel Barkley is the far superior talent going forward. In fact I think the Vikings would be absolutely stupid to pass on Barkley if they had just finished with the worst record in the NFL with Ponder as their starting QB. Even if they were dumb enough to stick with Ponder after finishing with the worst record in the NFL. It is very likely they would trade down in an effort to pick up extra picks and therefore the Dolphins would still have to somehow move into the top spot in order to draft Barkley. I just don't see Barkley being anything but the top pick in the 2013 draft unless he just has a terrible Senior season with USC. So assuming that a number of teams will be willing to trade up to get the top pick in the 2013 draft, the only way I see the Dolphins being able to draft Barkley is if they are willing to be the team that gives up the most to move up to the top spot in the 2013 draft. Of course the other way they could assure themselves of being able to draft Barkley is for them to finish with the worst record in the NFL next season. I don't see this happening, even though I don't see them winning more than 6-7 games. So to get Barkley next year, they will have to trade up and be willing to give up as much as the Redskins did this year to trade up and draft RG3.
Yes he could, but I would take Barkley over Ponder any day of the week. Obviously you feel differently. You asked me how I came to my conclusion and I responded. You don't agree with me or my response. I can live with that.
However if Ponder looks like he has what it takes to be a franchise quarterback, why wouldn't they want a player who can contribute on day one in another position of need?
If Ponder finishes the season with 3500-4000 yards passing @55%-60% and a TD/TO ratio close to 2/1, even if they finish with 3 wins for whatever reason, how you justify picking a QB to replace him in the first round?
Nobody is saying they should take a QB they don't believe in. But there have been reports from as far back as last October that they were high on Tannehill, so it wouldn't make sense for them to pass on a QB they are high on even if they have him as a late first rounder (like most of the world does) and they have another position player rated higher.
Then we'll get into the debates about whether or not we should trade the three 1st rounders or so it will take to get up there.
Are you saying that the Carolina Panthers are going to play so badly next year that they are going to have the first pick in the 2013 NFL draft? My earlier response was in answer to a scenario that the Vikings could end up with the first pick in next years draft. I will admit that I was never that high on Ponder and I was totally shocked when he was selected in the first round last year. He may end up being a very productive QB in the NFL but the assumption was that if the Colts, Rams, or Vikings end up with higher picks in next years draft then the Dolphins, they would not take Barkley. I can see the Colts passing on him and probably the Rams since both these teams have young QB's who were the top picks in their respective drafts. As I have been told numerous times on this forum, with the new CBA in the NFL, there is no reason an NFL team can't get rid of a number one draft choice from last year if they feel the player in this years draft is a superior talent. I happen to believe Barkley is going to be a much more productive QB in the NFL than Ponder will be. Obviously the Vikings could be terrible next year and end up with the first pick in the draft and still decide to stick with Ponder over Barkley. I think this would be dumb in this particular scenario but that is merely my opinion and the Vikings and others are certainly free to disagree with me.
I think a QB is in their plans. Perhaps they go on a trade down roll trying to see where Weeden lands. Better yet maybe they tell Cleveland you can have Tannehill at 8 if you give us the right value. All of these are possibilities, I just find it hard to believe they won't pick one.
David Garrard was a very good QB before he got hurt. If he is 100% we may have made a very good pick up that most are over looking. We may be headed in the direction you have suggested. I am not "sold" on having to draft a QB in the first round.
I don't agree Tannehill is the most likely to bust. The passing concepts they were running at A & M were way ahead of the spread teams in relation to what they will be facing in the NFL. I read that his receivers dropped over 60 passes during the season. If Ireland has him graded as a 1st rounder I say take him. If not, I'm all for Russell Wilson in the 3rd. I know, I know, he's too damn short. But the kid can play and has been very successful in a pro style offense at Wisconsin as well as the WCO in North Carolina. Leaving the draft without one of these guys would be a disappointment for me.
I dont understand how after all of these years on passing first round quarterbacks we still have fans who are willing to do it again. I also dont understand how some of our fans say to pass on a quarterback in the first because hes not worthy or hes not first round talent. To say hes not worthy is wrong because at the end of the day we really have no idea if hes worthy or not in the long run. We need to take that risk this year and if it doesnt work out we need to take that risk again and again and again and do it every year for all i care until it works because thats how important a qb is in this league and i think i speak for all of us when i say, son of a bi*** am i tired of entering the season being optimistic about our qb Joe Blow. If a list of qbs taken in the first round that may not have been first round talents was made, the list would be long
Gruden mentioned that in his QB camp with Tannehill. Basically Gruden said that outside of Luck and Tannehill nobody else in college was using so many NFL concepts and making as many NFL throws. Gruden also showed video of Tannehill making it to his 4th read in a progression, pretty much proving that anybody claiming that Tannehill locks on to receivers really doesn't know what they're talking about.
For all the mention about Mike Sherman Ireland and co. really haven't done much looking over connections to make their picks. They ignored Sintim, Chris Long, and a few other guys that you thought would be the pick. Really the question to be asked is, which position have they ignored? Not just somewhat but pretty much entirely? I'd say defensive end no? That would seem to suggest Coples based on what they want.
When it comes to whether or not we draft Tannehill, as I've stated many times already, I'll defer to Philbin. Yes, I KNOW Ireland is the GM...I KNOW he has final say on personnel decisions. I got that, but I somehow seriously doubt Ireland is going to tell Philbin "No" if he wants Tannehill...or tell him "too bad" if he doesn't. With that being said, something I want to illustrate. Depending on whose rating you read, Ryan Tannehill is ranked as the 33rd best player in the draft, 33rd!!! That means there are 32 players that are ranked better than him at their respective positions. Seeing how our team has needs other than quarterback, wouldn't it be logical to address some of those needs with players that are ranked higher than Tannehill? I'm just afraid in the desperate effort to appease the fanbase, we "reach" for a quarterback who may or may not be ready to assume the reins of the team. On the flip side of that coin however, there have been quarterbacks drafted in hte first round that made some people scratch their heads, particularly the drafting of some kid out of Pitt named Danny Marino who had a DISMAL senior year. The problem as I see it...overall, the quarterback talent pool in the NFL is lacking. EVERYONE wants the next Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, etc but these type quarterbacks don't grow on trees. They are the exception to quarterbacks, not the rule. When you look at the league and HONESTLY count the number of true "franchise quarterbacks", there's really only about 14 of them...and some of those quarterbacks are infamous for choking (ie; Romo). Following the draft, whether or not we draft who we want, we're going to learn through the media whether or not Philbin had alot of influence in who we drafted or if it was all Ireland's doing. Regardless... -If we draft who Philbin wanted and we succeed? Won't care...even if Tannehill is or isn't part of that draft class. -If we draft who Philbin wanted and we DON'T succeed? I'll scratch my head in bewilderment about Philbin...even if Tannehill is or isn't part of that draft class. -If we draft who IRELAND wanted and we succeed? Won't care...even if Tannehill is or isn't part of that draft class. -If we draft who IRELAND wanted and we DON'T succeed? Then perhaps I'll apply to be a member of the bandwagon calling for Ireland's firing...even if Tannehill is or isn't part of that draft class. Whether or not we draft Tannehill (or the outside chance of Weedon) I'm not going to be concerned at all. After seeing what Jim Harbaugh did in San Francisco with the same scrub quarterback they had for years, that all but reiterated my belief that it's the head coach, not the quarterback that makes or breaks your team.
