he's got plenty of arm strength and has been much more accurate then Jake. For his career he's completing 66% of his throws, and has an unbelievable TD to INT ratio of 49 - 6 (sounds like a Duck halftime score lol). Here's highlights from last Saturday's game which he tore it up on the ground and through the air making it all look easy [video=youtube;sDC4LEndxaM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDC4LEndxaM[/video] STOMP
He would be amazing in Philly, but I don't see how the Eagles will be low enough to draft him. They'd have to make a huge trade to pull it off.
Let's also remember that this kid isn't even 20 yet!!! Knowing how humble he is, expecting him to go into the NFL and command men with huge egos seems a bit premature till he learns how to command a team vocally. I think he stays another year, grabs his degree, and becomes the vocal leader needed to make a huge splash in the NFL!
I would like to see one more year of Mariota. I don't want to be greedy, and I think the kid has earned a trip to the NFL, but I think one more year would be awesome.
I would love one more year out of Mariota but IMO it isn't going to happen. I think he is going to be probably if we keep winning and he keeps playing well a top 3 pick. You just can't pass up that kind of money.
Barkley was exposed as a short nervous pocket passer. Marcus is prototypical physically and much more then just a pocket passer. The world is his oyster and he'll be choosing between two great options. Instantly set for life or get a multi-million dollar Lloyds of London injury insurance policy continue living the life, get a degree and be the next Payton Manning/Tim Duncan. I won't blame him either way STOMP
Regardless, Barkley was a sure thing high first round pick, he stayed in school and ended up completely destroying his draft stock. I just wouldn't want to see the same thing happen to MM.
was he really? I wouldn't have guessed being a short unathletic pocket passer was the rage with NFL GMs these days. Those facts would have been revealed by the combine regardless of when he declared. Baring injury, I'm pretty sure the combine will reveal facts that only drives the interest in Mariota up. I can recall chatter about Barkley's draft prospects not living up to the LA hype prior to him deciding to come back and lose in the Sun Bowl to Georgia Tech. STOMP
Hmm, everything I had heard was that he was a high pick, but he never did do the combine, so you might be right. Do you think that's why Barkley didn't declare?
who really knows? When listing reasons he came back for his Sr year, he noted his family is already really wealthy, so the allure of an NFL contract wasn't the carrot for him that it is for others... he was already set financially. I'm sure that being a starting QB at a big time college program is pretty great. He didn't have his degree yet. Maybe being realistic about his draft prospects factored in too, but even if so I'd guess that was down the list. STOMP
Dan Patrick once again pushing the "Mariota as #1 pick" storyline this morning, this time during an interview with Dungy. Dungy calling Mariota a franchise player, a special player, a legit 4.45 guy who also makes great decisions.
Marcus will be the greatest Duck QB EVER! He's a mix of M Vick speed with Montana touch and that comes along almost never in a 6'4 package! That said he needs another year to learn one skill, how to come out of his shell and lead men with larger than life egos. He wont be ready for that in 6 months at the ripe age of 20 years old.
If you want to listen to the Dan Patrick interview with Dungy, the part about MM starts at the 8:40 mark. [video=youtube;VYCau_D7fsk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYCau_D7fsk#t=525[/video]
Serious question: what do people see in Mariota that makes them think he is a better prospect than Harrington was?
I love Harrington but Mariota is a lot more athletic. Harrington was also drafted #3 after 4 years at Oregon. If you look at Harrington in his 2nd year there is no comparison with Mariota this year or even Mariota's freshman year. I also think Harrington wasn't given the best situation with the Lions and after failing he lost confidence and never was given a real chance in the NFL again.
I would say the one thing you can't teach, Marcus is unflappable and doesn't force, he takes what is given and capitalizes on it in ways Joey was unable to do. That and he's faster, has more touch on his ball and has freakishly long fingers which helps a bunch with ball control and zip. That said I think Joey got a raw deal in Detroit and we many never know how good he could have been. He was running for his life for years!
Joey Harrington had something that Marcus has not yet shown. Leadership. Joey could make you believe, regardless of the odds. I'm not even sure how many comebacks he led, but the guy was just amazing. He walked into Detroit as a rookie and took an absolutely shitty team and actually won a few games. No, he wasn't nearly the athlete that Marcus is. Not even close. Overall, I think Marcus has the best chance of any Oregon QB to be successful in the NFL, but Joey had that ability to always keep the Ducks in the game. He never gave up, and he'd lead a team through the gates of Hell if he had to. I will always have very fond memories of his Duck team.