As a QB prospect coming out of college, Geno Smith is greater than...?

[RealSNR]

Poll forthcoming.

Remember, we're talking about these players as prospects. I don't care what has happened to Jay Cutler or Brady Quinn or Aaron Rodgers. If you think those QBs had more to work with as potential pros, then check them off.

[O.city]

About even with tannehill IMO

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

At this point (meaning draft time before any pro snaps by any of them) I would put him ahead of everyone on that list aside from Luck, Griffin, Aaron Rodgers (woefullly underdrafted) and Matt Stafford.

Luck.

Stafford, with a solid supporting cast and a great running game, never put up the elite level completion numbers at Georgia. Huge arm, but the accuracy issues were a concern.

Griffin wasn't considered an elite prospect by nearly everyone until 3/4's through his final college season, which was a marvelous year statistically. Most people thought of him as a Denard Robinson type player. And if anyone questions Geno stats based on the system, Baylor was running a true spread option versus the Air Raid which Geno ran at WV. His injury history was also a concern.

And Luck, while the most technically/fundamentally sound QB prospect I've seen over the last decade, did have an offensive line that featured two high round NFL draft picks and a top 20 defense. Geno's offensive line was a sieve and the defense his senior year was one of the worst in college football. He was constantly throwing from behind and forcing throws to keep his team in the game and he still put up numbers that were identical to Luck's final season in college.

Rogers had almost the exact same positives and negatives coming out of college as Geno does:

POSITIVES: Athletic passer with the physical skills and mental intangibles needed to lead a franchise at the next level. Quickly sets up in the pocket, sells ball fakes and technically very sound. Poised under the rush, steps up to avoid defenders and works to keep the play alive. Patient, buys time in the pocket and waits for receivers to come free. Does an excellent job with his reads and natural looking off the safety. Does not make mental errors and throws the ball away rather than toss the errant pass. Times the short and intermediate throws well, as receivers rarely wait for the ball out of their breaks. Outstanding vision and immediately spots the open receiver. Possesses a quick release, live arm and zips the outs or gets the ball downfield. Throws with touch. Sits in the pocket and takes a big hit in order to get the pass off. Fleet-footed and picks up yardage with his legs when necessary.

NEGATIVES: Though accurate, lacks top pass placement and has receivers extending vertically to pull the ball out of the air. Must improve his accuracy down the field. Lacks top footwork releasing the ball off a three step drop. Lacks pocket stature.

And Rogers greatly benefitted from being able to sit for a couple of year behind Favre and correct those small negatives which allowed him to become one of the true elite QB's in the NFL. I think Geno has that same opportunity due to his skill set.

[The Bad Guy]

I would really love to know how people could vote that he was a better prospect coming out than Vick.

Vick was a tremendous prospect. Skill set wise, off the charts. Geno isn't in that ballpark.

[The Bad Guy]

Let's be honest here, Stafford didn't put up great completion % because he threw the ball consistently down the field. Geno's completion % were benefitted greatly from the short routes.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Let's be honest here, Stafford didn't put up great completion % because he threw the ball consistently down the field. Geno's completion % were benefitted greatly from the short routes.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Nice pass.

It doesn't change the fact that Stafford played in a more vertical scheme at Georgia. The chart was posted about the majority of Geno's passes being short routes and screen passes.

I'm not knocking him, but I don't think he's the prospect Stafford was.

[ptlyon]

Ahhhh the promised Geno thread. Just in time too!

Well done SNR!

[WhawhaWhat]

Willie Beamen

[FringeNC]

Where's Case Keenum? Keenum put up better numbers in the exact same offense.

[Fat Elvis]

I think hindsight has really colored people's perception. I think Geno is only better than about five of the QBs on that list coming out of college: Ramsey, Grossman, Campbell, Leinart, and Tebow. Otherwise he is only as good or worse than the others. You put Geno in any system of the teams with a top ten pick this year other than the Chiefs or perhaps the Eagles and that guy will crash and burn. People will say, "Oh well, maybe he wasn't as good as we thought he was going to be; its a good thing we didn't draft him."

The bottom line is this: you can take a guy who was a really good QB in college and throw him in a dumpster fire and chances are he will get burned himself. While QB is the most important position in football, it is still a team sport. You still need to have some other pieces in place in order for a QB to succeed. Like him or not, Eli Manning understood this and refused to play for the Chargers because of this simple fact.

This is also one of the reasons why I'm not so down about us trading for ASmith. (We should of gotten him for free, but that is another discussion.) ASmith was thrown into a truly hot dumpster fire in SF, but seems to have come out of the other side. Will he be a great QB? I don't know. But I am willing to bet that he will be a better QB on the Chiefs than Geno will be on another team.

On the Chiefs, in Reid's system, I think Geno will make a fine QB. Coming out of college, however, I think most of those QBs on that list would of had fine careers if they were stepping into same situation that Alex or Geno or any other potential QB that the Chiefs might select in the draft.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Nice pass.

It doesn't change the fact that Stafford played in a more vertical scheme at Georgia. The chart was posted about the majority of Geno's passes being short routes and screen passes.

I'm not knocking him, but I don't think he's the prospect Stafford was.

The simple fact is that you can't run as vertical a system with the offensive line WVU had versus Big 12 defenses (a statement which in and of itself should tell you how bad that line really was, because Big 12 defenses generally aren't all that...).

He had a couple of off games, but the reality is that he did an amazing job with what he had to work with, including losing their top running back for most of the season (Shawne Alston). I shudder to think what that offense would have looked like without Austin and Bailey.

And Bailey, in particular, is a reason why you'd feature shorter passing. You want to get the ball the hands of a player like that any way you can. That doesn't denote a weakness on Geno's part as much as an effort to take advantage of one of the school's few strengths (or two, if you count Smith's ability to get him the ball in a variety of ways).

That said, I'd agree with putting him behind Stafford, but that's only because of Stafford's insane arm strength. I'd probably favor Geno's passing skillset aside from that. And when I say behind, I don't mean very far behind.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

Where's Case Keenum? Keenum put up better numbers in the exact same offense.

What do all of those QBs I listed have in common?

[RealSNR]

Knowmo's responses are hilarious. Odd that he included Tim Tebow on his list. I guess that ship has sailed for him.

[Messier]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Hey look, a gif! This one play proves beyond a doubt that Smith consistently threw down field.

[Molitoth]

Originally Posted by O.city

About even with tannehill IMO

Bullshit, lol.