http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/1970656-blake-bortles-combine-results-and-instant-reaction Some reactions to Blake's combine results.
I've already accepted it so I can't be crushed like I was in 2006 (in hindsight, I was way off on Reggie Bush).
I give Bortles credit. He stepped up and put it all on the table. That definitely is a plus in my book. He helped himself in the combine. He's got the size and did surprisingly well in the shuttle drill which is more important than he's slow 40. And from all accounts he threw well with confidence. I still wouldn't pick him over Bridgewater but I'm not O'Brien.
If we pick a QB first overall, we will have set the franchise back. Maybe we'll be able to build up a good enough defense to win with one of those guys in a few years, but it'll be a lot more difficult because we passed on better players to pick a lesser player based on perceived need.
(Bleacher Report’s*Matt Miller*found that Bortles is reportedly crushing his personal interviews with teams, outclassing competition such as Teddy Bridgewater—the Louisville quarterback who has been described as “aloof”) This is what really stood out to me in this article...
It is not a "perceived need", it is a definite need. We have other's but acting like we don't need a better QB as well is ignoring facts.
Matt Miller is pretty reliable. Bortles helped himself at the combine no doubt. His problem is the film don't lie. He's a red shirt junior with poor mechanics under pressure who seems to have benefited this year from a great offensive line.
Yes, it's a need, but the perception is that it's the greatest need, I disagree. This team is going to win with defense and the running game, and a QB doesn't further that goal as much as adding another elite level defensive player to this defense, especially not any of the QB's at the top of this class.
Notice in that article they said his mechanics were "EXCELLENT." And I've seen other articles where they said nothing was wrong with his mechanics (at the combine). So apparently he's been working on his mechanics and not his 40 time. But I've still seen reports that he may still need a year to develop if he gets drafted.
Is Bortles considered an intelligent kid? I hate the idea that he's climbed up the board so fast just because he has ideal size. Nothing has killed a team more than drafting a guy just because he looks that part and that's what drafting this guy with the first freaking overall pick would scream. His coach has called him a project. You dont take a project with the first pick. I would rather roll the dice with Manziel if it's not Teddy.
He literally went from 2nd day project/possible HB to top 10 pick the week ESPN decided to manufacture the hype.
When I say mechanics I am referring to everything. His footwork is slow and under pressure it's bad. At a combine with no pressure I am sure he would look great. He also had some guru working with him and probably improved some of his flaws but it's not the same as the game. You got to watch film to truly see that. Just go back and watch the South Carolina game you hyped. He threw 10 downfield passes without pressure and completed 8 of them. Very good. He threw 11 screens and completed 11 of them. Excellent. He threw 15 passes under pressure and completed only 5 of them. He threw 2 interceptions and he fumbled 2 other times under pressure not to mention he was sacked multiple times. He did make two good passes under pressure. In fact 1 pass he stepped up in the pocket eluding pressure and throws a strike in the end zone. The best play I have ever seen him make under pressure. Maybe TB isn't worth the overall pick. He does have a few flaws. But if he is not I do not want Bortles with the first pick. I want to trade down and get as much as we can. The problem is in evaluating Bortles you forget how could his OLine performed for him all season. In most games he has little pressure. Compare him to Brett Smith a QB who didn't even get invited to the combine. I still do not understand why. Brett Smith of Wyoming didn't play against the best competition but he had a very sucky OLine and was always under pressure. His throwing mechanics are off but he has quick feet. His percentages aren't great but he has sucky recievers who dropped alot of passes. But he moves good in the pocket. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/vyrVWkK7fnQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> If we don't go for Bridgewater I would rather trade down and pick up a guy like Smith over Bortles. The reason being you can't teach quick feet. Luck didn't have many flaws coming out of college but one was reseting his feet. he still has that flaw in the NFL. You can't teach Bridgewater's footwork.
Anyone who does boxing and martial arts training will tell you that footwork can be taught if the student is willing to learn. Not as difficult as you think. And if you look at Bortles shuttle time, his feet are pretty quick. One of the reasons I BELIEVE Blake has been moving up the board is because the kid has heart and he's clutch and those two things have been on display for the past couple of years. Having poise in games they are losing and helping his team come back in big time games is a big deal. And him saying F his agent and throwing at the combine shows he has heart as well IMO. I'm not saying Teddy doesn't have heart and not clutch but unlike Johnny and Blake, Teddy hasn't had to face adversity like they have against big time competition in big time games. Even in the Sugar Bowl, Louisville had that game in the bag from the fist series. You already know I want to trade the pick OMR... And as of now if they kept the pick I would be happy with Sammy Watkins or even an offensive lineman over Clowney and any of these quarterbacks. But I'm just TRYING to see the good in Bortles so I won't throw up on draft day if they draft him... And I like Jimmy Garoppolo and Smith... And for some silly reason I still like Boyd as well...
We see this every year, media jerks themselves off to all these qb's and they always end up "slipping" because the actual teams never see them the same. Bortles is a perfect case of the hype machine
