The problem is I'm not sure what stats you are referring to as being elite. Is it 65% completion rate? Jay Cutler did that once (almost twice). And yet at no point would I call him elite. Is it an 81 QB rating? I'd say, at best, it's average. If this was 1995, sure, id get your point.
I was referring to the fact that you said he put up average stats (in some kind of game chunk unknown to me) while dealing with below average talent around him. I inferred that means he was playing elite during that stretch in the fact that he elevated play of those around him. If that's not what you meant, ok fine. But you have to admit it seemed that you were implying if he had better WRs his stats would go from "average" to above or better.
As of now, I'm supposed to accept that there is faith based analysis because I said Mitch got better and better (and we could do it with each 4 game chunk) as the season progressed. If that wasn't true, why would he have so many more pass attempts as we continued forward? Why did his stats get better?
But he didn't get better and better.
The only good game he had in all 3 categories together (%, yards and TDs) was Cincinatti period. (and he benefited from the fact that the Bengals defense had no desire to play that day having just lost the playoffs the week before). But hey, oh well, he played good and did what he had to.
Outside of Cincy though, he struggled mightily to even reach 60% (the 80% against SF is an outlier when he refused and/or was coached to not throw downfield and don't worry about any TDs or anything in that "barn burner" of a loss to the SF kicker). That's because when he WAS asked to put the game on his shoulders in DET he threw 3 costly INTs and showed he isn't ready yet for that. In his last game as he "got better", he threw 55% and 181 total whopping yards with 0 TDs rushing or throwing.
Overall, game-by-game, he did not show growth and was massively unproductive both in yards and scoring. If he did burst out in yards here or there, it did not come with TDs and was not consistent in professional-quality completion percentage.
This stayed true all year despite a blip of good stats here and there in completion %(SF and CIN ) or yards (GB and DET) and the only good TD game he ever had yet was CIN.
But as to the elite issue, I will gladly say that my personal belief is he does own elite potential. If he didn't, he wouldn't have been drafted second overall. Here is a nice breakdown of some plays that make him, in my mind, capable of being a special player
Awesome, and if you believe he will show that potential this year, hats off and salut. Your evidence does not directly lead us there because I can also produce the same type of elite-esque plays and scouting reports from Jeff George, Jamarcus Russell, Ryan Leaf etc.
I know, I know: also Peyton Manning, Rodgers, Roethislberger etc.
The point still being that reasoning is based on faith not credible evidence as far as I can see. There is nothing WRONG with that either imo. Just pointing out it's the way it is.
