This NFL season is only 5 weeks old and already it is extremely depressing if you’re a Buffalo Bills’ fan. The team has a bye this week and it couldn’t come at a better time for the fans, who have to be suffering from failure overload after watching this team play so far this year. Most prognosticators had the Bills finishing around 2-14 for the year and most likely having the top pick in next year’s college draft, and even though I saw it differently, that a team that was 7-9, 7-9 and 6-10 for the last 3 years should improve on that, it’s not going to happen. So I’m giving in and assuming that the Bills will be looking for that elusive franchise quarterback next April. Frankly, I think the team needs impact defensive players, mostly linebackers (especially if they plan on staying the course with the 3-4 defense), but there’s little doubt that if they have the top pick, they’ll use it on a QB. For Bills’ fans who need something to make this dismal season a little easier to swallow, here’s a peek into the team’s possible future. I took a look at scouting reports, highlight videos and interview videos of the players considered the top 3 QBs coming out in the next draft, and here’s a rundown of that trio of prospects, followed by my opinion about who the Bills should pick, if the draft were held today:
Ryan Mallett (Arkansas) – Mallett is an imposing physical specimen at 6’7″ and 238 lbs. He has a great arm and they say he can make all the throws necessary to play at the next level. Here’s what I don’t like in his scouting report – not very accurate, bad footwork, not real mobile, needs to improve decision making, can be a statue at times in the pocket. Translation: Trent Edwards Jr. Also, for some reason, the scouts say he has “potential for some character issues”, which I don’t quite understand. To me, you’ve either proven you’re an idiot or you haven’t – you can’t have “potential” bad character.
Jake Locker (Washington) – he’s the only senior among the top 3, and supposedly if he’d decided to come out last year he would have been rated higher than Sam Bradford, who was the top choice. Locker is 6’3″ and 226 lbs., and looks impressive in highlight videos. He has an above average arm, is extremely mobile, has good mechanics and plays in a pro style offense at Washington. The negatives on him are that he lacks field vision, tends to lock on to a single receiver, and hasn’t been a winner (his college won-lost record with the Huskies is 8-20).
Andrew Luck (Stanford) – Luck is actually only a redshirt sophomore but is eligible to come out next year. He’s 6’4″ and weighs 235 lbs., and after reading the scouting reports and watching the interview and highlight videos, if I were making the pick for the Bills, I’d choose Luck. His only negative is lack of experience, but despite that, here’s what the scouts have to say about his overall game: unflappable, great poise and pocket awareness, makes quick and smart decisions, exceptional technique, great footwork, no wasted motion in his throwing delivery, strong arm and great accuracy, even when moving out of the pocket.
Like I said, if I were making the pick today, my choice would be Luck. Actually, when watching interview videos, Luck was the brightest but I was most impressed with an interview video of Levi Brown, currently the Bills’ 3rd QB, even more so than any of the three top prospects for next year. In the end, Luck seems to stand out. Even though he plays at the same school as Trent Edwards, he is a much better prospect than Trent. To be the quarterback in Buffalo, you can’t be one of these robotic surgical technicians – you have to, above all else, be a REAL FOOTBALL PLAYER!! You have to be able to play in horrible weather, throw accurately in windy conditions and be a leader. So what sealed the deal for me was this video of a play Luck made in a game against USC. Check it out below.
Luck Lays Out USC’s Wright
