Data Post #2...

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

I'm sorry Kellen Moore? Is that the name of a Tight End or a new Nerf Gun? Lol, I kid I kid.

Anyway I could throw a bunch of numbers at you guys but instead I'll try to put it a different way. Passing up a potential franchise QB when you have a coaching staff in place that can groom him properly would have been like the Falcons drafting Ryan Clady and Chad Henne instead of Matt Ryan and Sam Baker. You could also picture the Ravens coming away from the 2008 draft with Sam Baker and Brian Brohm.

Today the Ravens and Falcons are viable Super Bowl contenders that will have a chance to compete for a title year in and year out until around 2022. Let me say that again, the Falcons and Ravens will be Super Bowl contenders until around 2022 simply because they are equipped with two of the leagues best passers.

How different do you think the Dolphins would look today if they had taken Matt Ryan instead of Jake Long? Sure Jake Long is a top tier tackle but last I checked their second round QB has been benched multiple times and the only reason the Dolphins were able to make the playoffs back in 2008 was because they lucked out with an out of date offensive formation and a QB who probably should have never been a free agent that late in the offseason. Until that team gets a franchise QB they will be nothing more then a flash in the pan.

Anyway the point of this cautionary tale is if we have the chance to draft a franchise QB lets pull the trigger. Not take the safe pick and hope that we can find a guy in the 2nd or 3rd round which at best will turn into a one year wonder in Shanahan's system a la Brian Griese of course odds are on us finding Charlie Frye instead.

It's time to be a Falcon not a Dolphin.

How can you seriously project them to last 12 more years in top tier form?

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

How can you seriously project them to last 12 more years in top tier form?

In a world where Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco are top five NFL quarterbacks, anything is possible.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

How can you seriously project them to last 12 more years in top tier form?

My bad. They probably got about 10 more years until they start to go down hill seeing as how they'll be 35 in 2020. Of course they could pull a Brett Farve and be productive well into their late 30's but chances are they'll just revert to above average QB's. All of this obviously assumes that there are minimal health issues which given the NFL's "crackdown" on QB touches shouldn't be much of a problem as it relates to on field violence. Plus both Flacco and Ryan are pocket passers.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

My bad. They probably got about 10 more years until they start to go down hill seeing as how they'll be 35 in 2020. Of course they could pull a Brett Farve and be productive well into their late 30's but chances are they'll just revert to above average QB's. All of this obviously assumes that there are minimal health issues which given the NFL's "crackdown" on QB touches shouldn't be much of a problem as it relates to on field violence. Plus both Flacco and Ryan are pocket passers.

But even if you make the leap of faith that one or both of Flacco or Ryan actually take the leap of performance into the Brady/Brees/Rivers/Romo stratosphere of NFL quarterbacking (which is probably a bigger leap for Flacco than Ryan, I digress), making them annual pro-bowlers, you're still dealing with a changing of the guard on the other side of the ball in Baltimore.

Atlanta has less preventing them from becoming an elite NFC team, obviously, which is good for them, but I'm skeptical that there's any opportunity for growth in their offense. Ryan already throws to White about 10 times a game, and Michael Turner can't possibly be better for them than he has been since 2008. Maybe you do something like trade for Vincent Jackson. I'm just wondering why that set of triplets plus a strong offensive line hasn't yet resulted in better personal numbers for Matt Ryan. He's got to get there soon, right?