Andy Dalton Anyone?

[SteelerOfDeVille]

For the answer to that question, try checking his mock draft in his sig.

funny - i laughed when i read the reply

[SteelerOfDeVille]

It's super unlikely that we get the next Ben.

I think we should really just be shooting for a guy that can be an average QB in the league (which is actually pretty hard to do). If we get something better than that, that's great. But the Bills have been looking for the next Kelly for a while...and the Dolphins the next Marino.

If only QBs were like coaches and we could keep them for longer. I don't think we'll see someone as good as Ben under center for a while.

considering how many QBs are drafted and how many have been as good as Ben, it's very unlikely to find the next Ben. BUT, i do see a situation like GB did this year... take the 4th best QB in the draft, down in the 20's and hope...

[pfelix73]

This is why I think the Dobbs and Mason picks were wasted. Landry was a reasonable back up.

I would have rather used those picks to try to make the team better and then suck for a few years when Ben's done and try to get a good QB.

I guess our problem is that we never really suck and it's tough to get an elite QB picking out of the top 5. Even with Ben, we got lucky that there were 3 franchise QBs in that draft and the Browns are the Browns and picked a bad TE instead of a franchise QB.

------Yep!

[NorthCoast]

NE drafted something like 9 QBs during the Brady regime. Were all those picks wasted? I think not. And in at least a couple of cases they got some nice draft picks out of them.

[Northern_Blitz]

NE drafted something like 9 QBs during the Brady regime. Were all those picks wasted? I think not. And in at least a couple of cases they got some nice draft picks out of them.

That's a fair point. But if NE is the benchmark here, I think we should compare what they got for Jimmy G vs. what we got for Dobbs. Maybe they win a couple of close playoff games if they picked guys with a chance to see the field?

I would call their Jimmy G pick a waste if they didn't get a great haul for him.

And even if they did keep him, they'd still have the problem of him becoming a starter pretty much right when he signs his 2nd contract. I want to maximize the time that our next above-average QB plays on his rookie deal because I think that's how you win in the NFL.

The price for that is probably having a few bad years after Ben. Although if our D stays like this, I doubt we'll be bad enough to get a very good QB (like in the 90s).

[Steel Maniac]

NE drafted something like 9 QBs during the Brady regime. Were all those picks wasted? I think not. And in at least a couple of cases they got some nice draft picks out of them.

Don't you have to factor in Josh Mcdaniel's (NE management) for being that good of an offensive coordinator/QB developer too? If NE were not that good at QB development, would they have taken as many QB's as they did?
Our offensive management team isn't known for developing guys (not yet at least) so the jury is still out on weather they can or can't.

We saw what happened when Matt Cassell came in that year for the Pats after Brady got hurt. Not to mention Jimmy G looking good in his limited opportunities.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Don't you have to factor in Josh Mcdaniel's (NE management) for being that good of an offensive coordinator/QB developer too? If NE were not that good at QB development, would they have taken as many QB's as they did?
Our offensive management team isn't known for developing guys (not yet at least) so the jury is still out on weather they can or can't.

We saw what happened when Matt Cassell came in that year for the Pats after Brady got hurt. Not to mention Jimmy G looking good in his limited opportunities.

you could make the case that the steelers have had similar accomplishments with their WR... Between the trades and supplemental picks, we've actually done well at the position MikeT actually played...

[Steel Maniac]

you could make the case that the steelers have had similar accomplishments with their WR... Between the trades and supplemental picks, we've actually done well at the position MikeT actually played...

I agree; we do that well. Everyone looks at us as an organization that develops WR's well.

[NorthCoast]

Don't you have to factor in Josh Mcdaniel's (NE management) for being that good of an offensive coordinator/QB developer too? If NE were not that good at QB development, would they have taken as many QB's as they did?
Our offensive management team isn't known for developing guys (not yet at least) so the jury is still out on weather they can or can't.

We saw what happened when Matt Cassell came in that year for the Pats after Brady got hurt. Not to mention Jimmy G looking good in his limited opportunities.

I'd have to go back and see what their QB success rate actually was but don't feel like spending time on NE history.
Every coaching staff has their strengths and weaknesses. I don't think Andy Reid is known for building all world defenses but he is known as an offense innovator.

[Steel Maniac]

I'd have to go back and see what their QB success rate actually was but don't feel like spending time on NE history.
Every coaching staff has their strengths and weaknesses. I don't think Andy Reid is known for building all world defenses but he is known as an offense innovator.

Oh yeah; That's what Reid does well. But since drafting QB's and grooming them into being serviceable (starter material) in the NFL isn't our coaching staff's strong suit so taking a ton of QB's probably isn't a good idea. In the next couple of drafts, hopefully we can take a first round talent in a QB.

[NorthCoast]

Oh yeah; That's what Reid does well. But since drafting QB's and grooming them into being serviceable (starter material) in the NFL isn't our coaching staff's strong suit so taking a ton of QB's probably isn't a good idea. In the next couple of drafts, hopefully we can take a first round talent in a QB.

Actually SM, I'm thinking just the opposite. If a staff is weak at coaching up a starting caliber QB, then they damn well better be drafting one regularly hoping they eventually hit on one.

[Steel Maniac]

Actually SM, I'm thinking just the opposite. If a staff is weak at coaching up a starting caliber QB, then they damn well better be drafting one regularly hoping they eventually hit on one.

I think (maybe it's me) that if Colbert found a supposed first round talent, and really did his due diligence on him and found him to be a can't miss (in his opinion) guy , then we move up to get him in the first round. I'd much rather go that route. We got Ben in the first round because he was a legit first round talent. We wouldn't have gotten him in round two.

But I understand where your coming from. You can look around the league and find examples of both ways to find your QB of the future. I"m thinking there is going to be another QB who also steps forward
next year to go along with Trevor Lawrence. There always is.

[Northern_Blitz]

I think (maybe it's me) that if Colbert found a supposed first round talent, and really did his due diligence on him and found him to be a can't miss (in his opinion) guy , then we move up to get him in the first round. I'd much rather go that route. We got Ben in the first round because he was a legit first round talent. We wouldn't have gotten him in round two.

But I understand where your coming from. You can look around the league and find examples of both ways to find your QB of the future. I"m thinking there is going to be another QB who also steps forward
next year to go along with Trevor Lawrence. There always is.

I think it's unlikely that we'll have enough capital to go up and get an elite QB as long as we have a good D. If there's a can't miss QB prospect, I think the team with the pick will get him or someone will likely pay more than us (because we tend not to overpay for things).

Look at last year. Our QB play was terrible and we still finished 8-8.

Even under Cowher, we were only bad enough once to get a very good QB. And we really only got him because there was a super strong QB class (not just hype, but actually 3 very good starters), and Cleveland is Cleveland.

[NorthCoast]

I think it's unlikely that we'll have enough capital to go up and get an elite QB as long as we have a good D. If there's a can't miss QB prospect, I think the team with the pick will get him or someone will likely pay more than us (because we tend not to overpay for things).

Look at last year. Our QB play was terrible and we still finished 8-8.

Even under Cowher, we were only bad enough once to get a very good QB. And we really only got him because there was a super strong QB class (not just hype, but actually 3 very good starters), and Cleveland is Cleveland.

My memory is murky, was there as much pre-draft hype for Class of '84 as there has been for some more recent? I'm thinking the hype levels have gone way beyond the actual talent recently.

[Northern_Blitz]

My memory is murky, was there as much pre-draft hype for Class of '84 as there has been for some more recent? I'm thinking the hype levels have gone way beyond the actual talent recently.

Not sure either, but I'd also put my money one way more hype now.