Imagine if Eason was ready

[JAFF]

Originally Posted by albany ed

Understood, but IMO, if the Colts rehire Rivers, they will have the worst QB in their own division. Not that Rivers is bad, it's just that the others are better.

Lawerence might be a better athlete than Rivers, I’m betting he cant read an NFL defence

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by JAFF

Lawerence might be a better athlete than Rivers, I’m betting he cant read an NFL defence

I bet he can. College is more advanced than it used to be. Kids are better coached now and coming into the league more advanced than they used to be. Also something people don’t mention much of, but I think Madden improves kids processing of football now. It’s essentially a football simulator they are playing all the time.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

I bet he can. College is more advanced than it used to be. Kids are better coached now and coming into the league more advanced than they used to be. Also something people don’t mention much of, but I think Madden improves kids processing of football now. It’s essentially a football simulator they are playing all the time.

The anticipation I've seen on some of Mac Jones's throws is on par with a seasoned veteran. The moment the DB turns to run, he's throwing the ball on deep routes. He's also shown the ability to throw guys open.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

The anticipation I've seen on some of Mac Jones's throws is on par with a seasoned veteran. The moment the DB turns to run, he's throwing the ball on deep routes. He's also shown the ability to throw guys open.

I keep coming back to him. Looks off the safety, his guys are wide open but the balls are still accurate. Poor mans Joe Burrow? I like his demeanor and accuracy. Stays calm, gets a little too angry when he makes a mistake, but looks like he is fixing it. He isn’t as accurate as Burrow, burrow played the toughest schedule ever and just was nailing it. But Jones’ offense has been efficient and basically unstoppable. If you are a three star and have taken over the Bama qb spot. That says something. He isn’t grat in the athleticism and arm dept, but I do like a lot about him.

Honestly. If Eason was the guy, he would be forcing the team to play him.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

I keep coming back to him. Looks off the safety, his guys are wide open but the balls are still accurate. Poor mans Joe Burrow? I like his demeanor and accuracy. Stays calm, gets a little too angry when he makes a mistake, but looks like he is fixing it. He isn’t as accurate as Burrow, burrow played the toughest schedule ever and just was nailing it. But Jones’ offense has been efficient and basically unstoppable. If you are a three star and have taken over the Bama qb spot. That says something. He isn’t grat in the athleticism and arm dept, but I do like a lot about him.

"Poor man's Burrow" was my initial assessment, but as I watched more, I started thinking a cross between collegiate Drew Brees with better athleticism/escapability and collegiate Russell Wilson with a weaker arm. That goes back to the pocket presence I mentioned before. He senses the rush very well, seems to already have an internal clock for when the ball should be out, shows good escapability in the pocket, and always seems to keep his eyes downfield looking for a receiver to come open when he escapes the rush and starts to look to run. The only flaw I see in his game is arm strength, but he can still throw 15 yard outs and 25 yard corners with zip. I think he could improve that like Brees did working with an NFL strength and conditioning team. I hope he stays the 5th ranked QB and the Colts get a shot at him at pick 21.

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

Honestly. If Eason was the guy, he would be forcing the team to play him.

See, I don't agree with this, especially in a pandemic. Eason has had pretty much zero time to show the Colts what he can do in a live game situation. As a 4th round pick, there's zero pressure on the front office to make him "the guy", and Ballard has intentionally tempered expectations on him from day one I think for that exact reason. There's no doubt the team likes his talent, and so do other teams, but Ballard isn't going to put his job on the line for Eason unless he sees Eason perform well in line action. He could still be "the guy", but because of his draft status, it won't be preordained by the Colts.

[Oldcolt]

Eason is an extreme long shot. He has the size and arm so fans like me can dream. COVID may have been good for his professional development as it slowed it way down and gave him what is in reality a complete red shirt year. By the end of next year the Colts should have a better handle on who he can be. At least he doesn't appear to be an idiot like Leaf or Schlichter.

[TheMugwump]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

Eason is an extreme long shot. He has the size and arm so fans like me can dream. COVID may have been good for his professional development as it slowed it way down and gave him what is in reality a complete red shirt year. By the end of next year the Colts should have a better handle on who he can be. At least he doesn't appear to be an idiot like Leaf or Schlichter.

I hope you are right about this, but do we have any evidence of that yet? Again, the pandemic could have put a damper on a lot of stupid behavior.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

"Poor man's Burrow" was my initial assessment, but as I watched more, I started thinking a cross between collegiate Drew Brees with better athleticism/escapability and collegiate Russell Wilson with a weaker arm. That goes back to the pocket presence I mentioned before. He senses the rush very well, seems to already have an internal clock for when the ball should be out, shows good escapability in the pocket, and always seems to keep his eyes downfield looking for a receiver to come open when he escapes the rush and starts to look to run. The only flaw I see in his game is arm strength, but he can still throw 15 yard outs and 25 yard corners with zip. I think he could improve that like Brees did working with an NFL strength and conditioning team. I hope he stays the 5th ranked QB and the Colts get a shot at him at pick 21.



See, I don't agree with this, especially in a pandemic. Eason has had pretty much zero time to show the Colts what he can do in a live game situation. As a 4th round pick, there's zero pressure on the front office to make him "the guy", and Ballard has intentionally tempered expectations on him from day one I think for that exact reason. There's no doubt the team likes his talent, and so do other teams, but Ballard isn't going to put his job on the line for Eason unless he sees Eason perform well in line action. He could still be "the guy", but because of his draft status, it won't be preordained by the Colts.

One of the issues I see though is he doesn’t seem to fit the type of QB Reich likes. Shorter, slow, not a big arm. The ND state QB seems to fit Reich’s preferences.

As for Eason. I definitely think the pandemic hurt a lot of rookies this year. But Eason would still be pushing for reps if he was good. He might still develop if they are patient and give him time. But I see it as a long shot. Im not counting on him at all.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

One of the issues I see though is he doesn’t seem to fit the type of QB Reich likes. Shorter, slow, not a big arm. The ND state QB seems to fit Reich’s preferences.

As for Eason. I definitely think the pandemic hurt a lot of rookies this year. But Eason would still be pushing for reps if he was good. He might still develop if they are patient and give him time. But I see it as a long shot. Im not counting on him at all.

Trey Lance isn't slow. I think Reich values athleticism in QBs. That would actually be the biggest argument against Eason working here, he's not much of an athlete, way more of your standard pocket QB. That said, Mac Jones is smaller, athletic, has good pocket presence, and is an accurate passer. I can't imagine the Colts putting on the Alabama film and not rating him very highly. Unfortunately, I think that's going to happen around the league, and he's going to catapult into the top 15.

I don't buy the argument that Eason not "pushing for reps" is any statement on his ability, and is much more a statement on his draft position. Look at the Dallas Cowboys QB situation for the past nearly two decades. It took an injury to Drew Bledsoe, their big free agent QB signing, for undrafted Tony Romo to get a chance, which he parlayed into a long career, only to get injured, giving 4th round pick Dak Prescott a chance. That's how a QB who doesn't have significant draft capital invested in them gets their chance in the NFL. That's the politics of it, and the situation in which Eason is currently stuck. That said, I'm not exactly counting on Eason, either, and it's pretty clear the team isn't. That's why I'm looking at possible solutions in this draft class, and hoping the Colts get lucky and have a guy fall to them that shouldn't. I understand Ballard wanting to get this right and being patient in doing so, but this QB search is eventually going to define his tenure as GM, for better or worse.