http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2014/story/_/id/9275145/2014-nfl-dra...
This is an insider column so if you don't have it, let me fill you in. Kiper's top five are as followed:
1. Teddy Bridgewater
2. Tajh Boyd
3. Johnny Manziel
4. Marcus Mariota
5. AJ McCarron
I know what you're all thinking: what about Logan? Logan comes in at #8 behind San Jose State's David Fales and Ohio State's Braxton Miller. Here's what Kiper has to say about him:
A disappointing junior season puts some pressure on Thomas, but it's hard to look past his size, arm and -- not mentioned enough -- a very good work ethic. A must-watch prospect in 2013.
Something tells me that Logan will climb into the top-3 after the season, but I think it's completely understandable to not have him among the elite just yet.
What does everyone think of Kiper having Logan at 8? Too high? Too low? Just right?
Comments
My opinion on the top 5:
Boyd will drop with the loss of Hopkins. Teams will gang up on Watkins and force Boyd to make mistakes.
Mariota will drop in his second year as the Pac-12 adjusts to his style and with their new coach, even if he is their old OC.
Manziel will stay top 10, but fall to around 6 with a slight sophomore slump. The SEC will be hunting for him and it's going to hurt.
Bridgewater is legit. I am incredibly happy Miami didn't keep him when he originally committed to them. Unless he has a Geno Smith like season, I see him as Top-3.
Aaron Murray is better than McCarron. No doubt whatsoever about that. The only reason McCarron is up there is because he won two National Titles.
I'm actually shocked that Logan is rated higher than Murray. My top 5 would have been Bridgewater, Murray, Manziel, Boyd, Miller.
Bridgewater is legit and he should feast on what is possibly the easiest D1 schedule ever this season
No kidding, I don't think any of those teams they play will ever be in the top 25 all season, with the exception of maybe Rutgers
Nope, I don't see Rutgers doing much this year. Personally, I see USF and Cincy as their hardest games. There is no reason they shouldn't win the Big East, I mean the AAC.
McCarron's a game manager who won't lose the game for you at best. Murray isn't being talked about enough.
RE Mariota, even though his old OC is now the head coach, Kelly called the plays.
Exactly. Not to take anything away from Mariota though. He was very effective running Oregon's offense last year, but I don't see him has a top 5 QB.
I wouldn't be so quick to write off Mariota. The Pac-12 has had years to adjust to his style and their system, and very few teams have been able to do it. I've watched a lot of Oregon games, and I can tell you the guy's legit. Strong arm, extremely athletic, very reminiscent of a certain athletic QB out in SF. Even with a new coach, I don't see much changing over there and Mariota should have another very strong season.
Sounds about right for the results of the last season. Plenty of room to grow for sure.
i read that list and see 4 out of 5 who wouldnt be considered traditional pocket passers. as recently as last fall it was being preached as canon that spreads and read options would never win a super bowl because of the speed nfl of defenses. enter capernick (sp?), wilson, and griffin. now it's all the rage and everybody's looking for lightning in a bottle like the niners had last season.
personally i think its great. one of the things i always liked better about college ball over the nfl is the creativity of the coaches and the willingness to take risks. it's interesting that the innovation that has come from the bottom up. hopefully it'll continue, it'll make for more entertaining football on sundays.
I am in complete agreement with not having Logan in the top 5. I would argue if he was in the top 5 after the season that he put up last year. He definitely has plenty to prove, with lots of upside. The sky is the limit, let's see if he is ready to take advantage.
i think he will go up if he has a decent year. there was just so much promise going into last year for him a disappointing season dropped him more than it really should have. he has the potential and skill, weve all seen it, hopefully he'll have a great year
I'm putting zero stock or interest in this list, considering Mel had Logan near the top of his Preseason Big Board at this time last year (with Marcus Davis checking in at 24, if I remember correctly). These prognostications are so fluid I find them utterly pointless until the season is over.
Well, the list has me commenting on it when I should be working on TPS Reports so I'm totally ok with it. I really want to win this year for many reasons, but mostly, I just want to beat Clemson in the ACC ship.
hey, i've been meaning to talk to you about the tps reports. did you get that memo?
Wait .... are TPS reports a real thing?
Testing Procedure Spec.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TPS_report
I hope we (figuratively) stomp on Louisville in Football, every chance we get!
It really stinks that Louisville isn't in the ACC this year. Logan vs. Bridgewater would be amazing to see.
That being said, McCarron will drop a lot more once people actually dissect him. He reminds me a lot of Colt McCoy in the respect that McCoy had ability like McCarron, but he had more playmakers around him than he knew what to do with. Murray is the best QB in the SEC and that will show this year.
I definitely agree with you about McCarron. After watching a lot of Alabama games (discovered an AMAZING series of YouTube videos) I can say he's got some legit ability, and he can make a lot of NFL, big-boy throws, but he's not the elite, 1st-round pick type of QB you'd expect to have won 2 NCs. This may just be my Hokie bias, but I'm not expecting much out of him in the NFL.