In the Tony Dungy link which you just relayed, one of the first things he lists when talking about MM's top shelf NFL prospects is his leadership ability. Of course, TD knows Marcus up close and personal from practice & the locker room and he's got some decent insight into what makes a good leader in the NFL. No Marcus hasn't led the Ducks to nearly as many comeback wins as Joey did. Instead he's led them to blowout wins where he's sliced and diced worthy opponents in the first half. Both Duck QBs led their respective teams to final #2 rankings and BCS wins. I get that you fondly recall Joey Heisman's era, but I don't get why you're bad mouthing MM over this... do you have any examples of his lack of leadership? I doubt he goes into broadcasting after his playing days are through as he doesn't have Joey's bubbly personality or natural ease in front of the camera, but those traits are hardly the only way to be an effective leader of a team. STOMP
At one time he was rated the #2 QB of the draft after his Jr season. He stayed, sucked, and fell appreciably. But that was his choice to suck and have a crappy attitude. MM is way better with respect to attitude.
I don't really mean that he has no leadership skills at all, but that Joey was a natural born leader, and was very inspirational in the huddle and on the sidelines. I've heard MM mention repeatedly in interviews that he's naturally a very quiet guy who keeps to himself, and that the coaches have had to push him to be more vocal with his teammates. I think he's probably more of a lead-by-example type of player, which is fine, but Harrington was the kind of QB that could lift up the entire team with his "bubbly personality." Mariota is still very young, and I'm sure he's improved quite a bit over the last 1.5 years, but I think he has a long way to go before he can be compared to Harrington in that department. I just haven't really seen that kind of leadership from Marcus yet. It seemed like he wilted under pressure against Stanford last year, but he was a freshman, so it's understandable. Harrington didn't take over as the starting QB until his junior year, so he was obviously much older than MM at that point. Mariota hasn't really been faced with a ton of adversity. The team has blown out most of their opponents, so he hasn't really had to keep the team focused and motivated when they're already down and it isn't looking good. That's really what I'm talking about. I don't know why you think this is bad mouthing him. He's a far better QB overall than Harrington. I said I think he's going to be much more successful in the NFL than Harrington was. I just haven't seen the kind of leadership out of him that I saw from Joey.
He has a long way to go before some fan's impression changes. An independent expert who knows him very well (Dungy) sites his leadership as one of the reasons he could go #1 overall. Who to trust? you really don't think saying "Marcus hasn't shown leadership yet" is bad mouthing him? Granted it's not saying Marcus sucks, but it's not exactly high praise. It reads exactly like you were bashing him about something I don't think any of us mere fans have a real clue about. Hell, for all I know many of Joey's teammates could have hated him STOMP
I think that leadership is one thing that he needs to work on. He's a quiet guy. He has admitted it himself. He has said the coaches have encouraged him to be more vocal. That's from his own mouth. I've seen him making an effort on the sidelines, so obviously he is improving. With that said, I think it's the one thing that Harrington has over Mariota. You obviously disagree, that's your opinion. How do you quantify leadership? It's all based on opinions, and I have mine. Dungy has his. You have yours.
mine is that smart esteemed and relatively unbiased people who actually know the person are in a lot better position to judge them the rest of us outside the fishbowl. I don't pretend to know how Marcus or Joey are really viewed inside the locker room by their teammates because I don't know and it should be obvious to the rest of us outside the fishbowl that if I do make that claim I'm posturing Teammates always glow about their teammates in interviews, if they don't it's a story. Smart players often downplay their act to the press to come off as humble/likeable. Hell, I thought OJ was a good guy. The point is we have a pretty blurry lens to view our heros through Whats a good leader? Well I've always thought the Joe Cool focused competitive grinder type of personality that Montana displayed is the best type to have leading your team. The rah rah emotional types often seem to be overcome by the moment when the spotlight shines brightest and I've seen people rally around the calm cool and collected many times. As Dungy noted, MM makes good decisions under pressure and also brings ideal size and athleticism. He's been killing it since his first start... you really think guys are having any issues at all following him? STOMP
I work with a 3-time All American LB who lost his shot at the pros due to an injured shoulder and he was telling me the rah rah QB types drive everyone nuts. But equally so do the church mouse types. He believes the best leaders are the 'have it all together' types who play smart, compete hard (and not stupid) and get results. The kind you never want to let down as a fellow teammate. I think Montana was a perfect example. I think MM is more the church mouse type to a certain degree. Perhaps as he gets more comfortable being 'the man' he will become a Montana prototype. But first he has to prove himself at the pro level. I read that Joey was the big rah rah type and teammates really disliked that about him.
Check out this article on Bleacher report by Matt Miller. I know the stigmata that comes from that website but this guy knows his stuff. Was calling Mariota a top 5 pick way before CBSsports or the guys on ESPN had him on their big boards. Just saying good read. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...riota-comparing-the-top-qbs-in-2014-nfl-draft
I think it would be pretty stupid to skip out on being a top5 pick. That is millions of dollars you could be flushing away. Luck was a rare guy that really enjoyed college and could afford the insurance. I'm not sure how much those cost but if you can afford to buy it for injuries or slipping draft stock that is the only way he should stay. Or if his stock slips and he won't be a high pick.
How many 20 years olds make it in the NFL as a starting QB? I don't know, just thought it might be a factor when leading full grown men. I think it could be 26.5 as an average age, but what's in a college degree and a masters worth of football knowledge at that level? I'm sure going to an awful NFL team with a crappy O line will increase Marcus's overall chances of success and starting all of what, three years of football in life can be completely overlooked. Cheers to that! Or let him develop another year, get his degree, groom Morgan and have the best backfield in the nation to create with.
Ya know what Peyton and Eli Manning, Rivers, Brees, Brady and Wilson all have in common? 4 years of college and a degree..... Even Roethlisberger had 3 years.... I'd say that's the who's who of NFL QB's today!
He doesn't necessarily risk losing millions if he decides to return next year. He could take out an insurance policy ala Marqise Lee. http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/coll...se-lee-picks-10m-insurance-policy-source-says McShay said on sportscenter that he think he's the number one draft prospect for 2014. Clowney is incredible, but franchise QB's>game changing defensive end.
To me Mariota reminds a bit of Aaron Rodgers. Not saying that he'll be as good but he just reminds me of him. Their release and footwork in the pocket are very similar, Rodgers is more accurate, maybe stronger arm too, Mariota is more mobile. I don't know that's just my comparison.
I think he's the #1 pick in this draft, especially if he wins the Heisman. Clowney has really dropped the ball this year. He's showing to be very immature. Reminds me a bit of Nick Fairley.
I see Mariota staying one more year. You only go to college once, and he has room to improve. Unless the Bucs grab a QB guru in a Greg Roman as a HC, I don't see him declaring. Besides, the Bucs' facilities are supposed to be garbage
I wonder how much insurance costs? If he is a top5 pick I can't imagine it being worth the risk of putting that beating on your body an extra year but if he can find the money to get insurance and doesn't have poor relatives to take care of... Well there are other QB's like Luck, Leinert, Barkley who've done it.
Even with the insurance, it's a risky proposition, because the insurance only pays out for career-ending injuries. If he suffered an injury that severely impeded his draft-stock, or his game as a whole, but he was still able to play at the pro level, he would realize no benefit from the policy.
