April 23, 2005: What scouts were saying about Aaron Rodgers

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http://archive.jsonline.com/sports/packers/203116571.html

What NFL scouts told the Journal Sentinel's Bob McGinn before the draft about quarterback Aaron Rodgers:

Marc Ross, Buffalo: "He's a little short. The thing you worry about is those (Jeff) Tedford guys. They don't do anything for a couple years and then they have a good year or two. Who of his quarterbacks has done what they're supposed to do? None of them. Is he just working magic with great college quarterbacks or just manufacturing guys?"

AFC scout: "I like him. He's a very talented guy. A lot of quarterbacks that were system people have not done very well. That puts up a red flag. Not that he is one of them. He could be an exception. But I can't get it out of my craw."

Rich Snead, Tennessee: "I like him. I just don't know if he's maxed out. He's more accurate than (Kyle) Boller but probably not as athletic. He's a better player than Akili Smith. He's more athletic than (Trent) Dilfer was. He's a little more mobile than Joey Harrington. He had to go to a JC because no one would recruit him because they said he was too small. He's been busting his (expletive) his whole life to get to this point. I just don't know how much more he has to give."

NFC scout: "(Alex) Smith is the better athlete."

AFC scout: "I think he has some upside although there are some things that are just ordinary about him."

Jerry Angelo, Chicago: "I'd give Rodgers the edge (over Smith) just because he was easier to evaluate. And there's a little more arm. But the edge is negligible."

Jerry-Angelo.jpg


NFC scout: "I think he has a good chance of being a bust. Just like every other Tedford-coached quarterback. Thing I struggle with him is he gets sacked a lot. He doesn't have great ability to change the release of the football. He's mechanically very rigid. Brett Favre can change his release point and find different windows. There will be more growing pains with Alex Smith but in the end he has a much better chance to be much better."

NFC scout: "The guys that Tedford has had, what have they developed into? They're too well-schooled. So mechanical. So robotic. I don't know if they become good pro players. I think Rodgers is in that same mold."

AFC scout: "I don't like him. He's a clone of Harrington and Boller. They all throw the same way. What have those guys done? Nothing. If you take him in the second round, fine. Heady guy. They do a marvelous job of coaching quarterbacks there. I don't think he's as good as the top quarterbacks coming out last year."

AFC scout: "I don't think he's in the class of the quarterbacks that came out last year. Strong arm. Pretty good athlete. Still has some holes in his game."

Bill Polian, Indianapolis: "I see a guy who has good arm strength. I see some athletic ability. I see a guy who was pretty good with a good team. I see a guy who's in a pretty efficient offense. Am I certain that he's going to come in and lead my team to the Promised Land? I can't say that. I'm not even sure I can say that about Alex Smith."

AFC scout: "He's a system quarterback. 3-, 5-, 7-step guy. Can't create on his own. Panics under pressure. Gets flustered easy. I don't think there's a quarterback in the draft worthy of a first-round pick. I'm dead serious. None of them are worth it."

NFC scout: "He fit right into the Cal system. He probably executed that as well as anybody. He doesn't have as strong an arm as Boller but can make the same reads and play the scheme as well as Boller did.
 

Treehorn

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I never knew AR size was an issue, he is 6'2" 220-225.
 

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So. I guess the point of the article is that experts (scouts) don't know dick about how well a college QB will fare in the nfl.
 

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Whatever criticisms there were about Rodgers (I remember he used to hold the ball high, exposing it to easy strips), GB did the right thing and had him sit and learn for 3 years. AR shouldnt be a story for fans and GMs to kick themselves over, he should be a lesson on how college players can improve when you bother to be patient and groom a player to be an eventual successful starter. GB gave themselves time to iron out whatever bad habits he had, and then found a coach whose system worked for their QB of the future.

Not saying that we have time to let a guy sit for three years - we dont have a future HOF QB on our roster to play in front of him. Also, unless the QB we draft is a first round pick, we would only have a full year of starts before it was time to sign him to a new contract. But the idea is right on, you gotta be patient and give a young QB time to learn before you entertain the idea of moving on.

Though I think we should all laugh at that last AFC guy:
He's a system quarterback. 3-, 5-, 7-step guy. Can't create on his own. Panics under pressure. Gets flustered easy...
 

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That and GB rebuilt him a bit. Those were not wrong. It's just tough to project these guys. What I don't get is that if JA thought him better than Smith, why did we take Benson?
Lovie Smith.
 

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Whatever criticisms there were about Rodgers (I remember he used to hold the ball high, exposing it to easy strips), GB did the right thing and had him sit and learn for 3 years. AR shouldnt be a story for fans and GMs to kick themselves over, he should be a lesson on how college players can improve when you bother to be patient and groom a player to be an eventual successful starter. GB gave themselves time to iron out whatever bad habits he had, and then found a coach whose system worked for their QB of the future.

Not saying that we have time to let a guy sit for three years - we dont have a future HOF QB on our roster to play in front of him. Also, unless the QB we draft is a first round pick, we would only have a full year of starts before it was time to sign him to a new contract. But the idea is right on, you gotta be patient and give a young QB time to learn before you entertain the idea of moving on.

Though I think we should all laugh at that last AFC guy:

I agree with everything you said except on thing. Holding the ball high does not allow for easy strips. It's actually the opposite. What it does do is limit your arm angle (something that is thought of as a good thing because it improves accuracy). But in doing so it also can make a QB stiff and unable to create arm angles to make plays (as the scout mentioned). It also affects mobility in the pocket.

Not trying to nitpick, but I see this all the time on this board and it's simply wrong.
 

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Jimmy G sure had pretty similar path like this Aaron guy... :smug2:
 

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I agree with everything you said except on thing. Holding the ball high does not allow for easy strips. It's actually the opposite. What it does do is limit your arm angle (something that is thought of as a good thing because it improves accuracy). But in doing so it also can make a QB stiff and unable to create arm angles to make plays (as the scout mentioned). It also affects mobility in the pocket.

Not trying to nitpick, but I see this all the time on this board and it's simply wrong.

I see. Well, point still stands that being patient with Rodgers allowed the team to iron out whatever problems he had as a prospect, which allowed him to become a long-term success.

My worry is that, as fans, if the QB doesnt start day 1 with immediate success, that the majority of the fanbase will jump ship at the drop of a hat. I predict that the boo birds will come out on his first turnover.
 

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Green bay had him going back to his high school mechanics and throwing motion and started from there and had him sit behind a HOF QB.

More so than finding the right QB is putting him around coaches who can get the most out of him, case in point Dak Prescott.
 

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You can quote a few and be ignorant about it but fact is most believed he would go top 5 at least. Some had him above Smith while others didn't.

All any scout can tell you for sure is that the Bears should have drafted him instead of Cedric Benson.
 

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You can quote a few and be ignorant about it but fact is most believed he would go top 5 at least. Some had him above Smith while others didn't.

All any scout can tell you for sure is that the Bears should have drafted him instead of Cedric Benson.

Angelo was busy replacing Thomas Jones with a slower player and probably believed in "his guy." Grossman? At the time. Hard to believe.

But we are the Bears and never try to keep looking for QB down the depth chart. Just looking for that savior with blinders on.
 

r1terrell23

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I just watched Rodgers highlights and lowlights on youtube. I remember he was projected to be the number one pick for a while and then kind of fell. Watching him play a little I have no clue what those scouts were talking about. I watched Smith and Rodgers in college and thought Rodgers was much better and Smith was a noodle arm system qb. I remember the show Rodgers put on at that all star event for college qb's. His accuracy and arm strength was ridiculous.
 

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AFC scout: "I don't like him. He's a clone of Harrington and Boller. They all throw the same way. What have those guys done? Nothing. If you take him in the second round, fine. Heady guy. They do a marvelous job of coaching quarterbacks there. I don't think he's as good as the top quarterbacks coming out last year."

AFC scout: "I don't think he's in the class of the quarterbacks that came out last year. Strong arm. Pretty good athlete. Still has some holes in his game."

AFC scout: "He's a system quarterback. 3-, 5-, 7-step guy. Can't create on his own. Panics under pressure. Gets flustered easy. I don't think there's a quarterback in the draft worthy of a first-round pick. I'm dead serious. None of them are worth it."

Same shit every year. At the end of the day, drafting a QB high is always a risk. Always. That doesn't mean you don't do it.

Do your homework, scout everyone, and take your favorite. Thats all you can really do. The whole "outsmart the NFL" by intentionally waiting for a Dak Prescott is not a real thing as a pre-draft strategy. Not if you are looking for a starter. Thats like trying to pay your mortgage with lotto tickets.
 

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I see. Well, point still stands that being patient with Rodgers allowed the team to iron out whatever problems he had as a prospect, which allowed him to become a long-term success.

My worry is that, as fans, if the QB doesnt start day 1 with immediate success, that the majority of the fanbase will jump ship at the drop of a hat. I predict that the boo birds will come out on his first turnover.

Fans can't actually ruin a QB. They can't create more pressure than comes from coaches, the team, and family. If a QB can be ruined by fans, no way he can hold up to other more significant pressure.

All players need a dose of delusion to be successful. Its why they say some of the dumbest shit during interviews or when trying to be analysts.
 

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I don't think the answer is just to cast your lot into the QB sweepstakes because you think you need one.

Barkley showed me alot. In a bizzarro world Barkley could have been a first round pick. There is no reason to just take Watson/Kizer or Trubs and then cross your fingers if there is all-pro talent sitting there.

Garrett/Hooker.

Don't pass on those guys for a sweepstakes ticket.
 
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