Why should we draft Leftwich

Many on here are really hoping we draft Leftwich. I do not think he will fall to #9 but if he does I am more inclined to go for OL help. I will admit however that I have not seen him play much and do not know a whole lot about him. I do know that he is not very mobile so he will not have a game like McNabb or Vick. I have not heard much else about him. I do think pure pocket passers are still viable in the NFL but they need to be very accurate. Anyway if any of you Lefty fans want to present a bunch of reasons why he is so good and why he would be better than OL help even though we have Delhomme then here is your thread.

 

why do we need another thread for this?? you and Mags were doing fine in the other one... but I'll answer your question... I'd rather have a QB that's ranked an A grade and a lineman ranked a B grade than a lineman ranked a A grade and a WR ranked C or CB ranked C etc.

 

PS- more than anything we need to take the best available player with our first pick... there are a few very good talents for the OL in the second round... if Gross is the best player available at 9 take him... if not take others.

 

I did not start this thread to continue the argument as to whether we need OL help more or less than a QB. I started it to hear what is so great about Lefty. Lets assume that there are no quality offensive linemen left when we draft. Why should we select Lefty instead of Boller or Boss Bailey or anybody else?

 

then why did you say:

he's got better accuracy skills than Boller similar arm strength between both... he's been a consistent starter for more than 1 year... bigger in size... seems to have better vision... and I'm not badmouthing Boller either... HUGE talent... wouldn't be disappointed... I also have no problem with Bailey... he struggles in open field tackles, but that can be taught

 

Well as a Marshall grad I have seen almost all their games since 88. I watched Moss play high school ball when his QB was J.R. House. So I do consider myself somewhat of an expert on Marshall players.

First of all the Marshall Offense is a pure passing Offense so the QB is asked to win games, not just to be a caretaker. Pennington was very good in this Offense because of superior game planning ability, he could watch the tapes and find tendencies that he could exploit. He pretty much had to do this as his arm is not the type where he can gun a pass in to a reciever, he had to anticipate. While he is an outstanding QB, he is more of a mental player than physical. One of the biggest heros to folks around Huntington WV, to ever walk the earth.

Leftwich was able to come in and make them forget him. A very soft spoken shy guy, a real nice person, and an arm like a howitzer. He can make passes that amaze you and can eat up a Defense. Not to say he is defecient in the mental aspect either, he is excelent at reading coverages. The only knock you will ever hear people mention is that he is slow. Ever wonder why this started this year, it wasnt mentioned at the beginning of the year when he was the consensus #1 pick. The reason is he has been playing hurt all year. When we played VA Tech the first game of the season he recieved a shot to his other leg that slowed him down, and I feel led to the fracture he recieved in his other leg. No hes not a Mike Vick type of guy who will run all over the field, but he can move to avoid the rush and can beat you from the pocket because he is a superior passer.

Once healthy you will see that his speed problem has been WAY overblown by teams who want him to drop. I feel that he is the one true gem in this QB class, and will make some teams regret not taking him. Question is will the Panthers let him slip by? I hope not, you can always get a OT in free-agency, but a franchise QB is not someone a NFL team will let get away. Dont get me wrong Gross is an outstanding Tackle, but Ive seen projections where Steinbach falls to round 2 and he would be a great consolation prize. But what QB will be available by our #2 pick? Simms, maybe, Ive heard Dallas likes him in round 2. Ragone, the drop off between he and Lefty is huge, if you watched the bowl game you know what I mean. I expect that Grossman and Boller will be gone in round one, who does that leave.

The only thing I want to say in closing is that if you doubt how good Lefty is, you could take a road trip down to E. Carolina and ask them, they should remember. Go Herd! Go Panthers!!

 

You guys will feel pretty silly when the Panthers land Palmer and the talk about Lefty was all for nuttin'

 

4th and friggin 25......

:shakehead :shakehead :shakehead :shakehead :shakehead

 

leadership and personality - best quarterback in this area to come out with the requisite physical skills to be successful.
However his arm, as well, is phenomenal - throws deep with velocity and accuracy, has control over all passes, makes all throws. Can throw without necessarily using precise footwork, can throw without moving at all. Physically he checks out perfectly.
Not the most mobile, but instinctive runner who's hard to bring down, and has a top sense of the pocket.
If you're looking for a big man who'll take over and win games, not to mention lead from the front tank in battle, this is the quarterback. You won't find this at 78, but a big run blocker just might be there.

Alongside Leftwich, Trufant and Johnson are much greater impacts than OT and just a big of a need, long term. Johnson's a smaller need short term because we have 4 allright receivers, but each has a definite shelf life, and none of them have the playmaking Johnson does.

Bailey, as well, is much greater impact, but at a far lesser need naturally. Would he add an element to this team that's not there? yes. Would he upgrade the position in a way we couldn't otherwise do? Yes. And that's a consideration with all these players.

 

1. Very accurate passer. A bit streaky, but can really thread the needle.

2. Has an elite arm in the class of Favre, Bledsoe, and Vick. Big, tall, and strong, can see the entire field. Gets the ball there very quicly. Can throw with touch and velocity.

3. Intelligent, both on field and off. A student of the game.

4. Quick release, like Marino. He doesn't hold the ball very long, he gets rid of it. That mitigates his lack of mobility.

5. Great Leader, very tough. Played through injury, and elevated the play of those around him by his selflessness. Played through an injury, and lead a very untalented with no defense team to a very good record and a bowl win. He had to win games in a shootout.


5. Productive over several years, not just one.

His weaknesses are mobility and accuracy when throwing on the run. We will need to solidify the tackles somehow, even though his quick release doesn't require the time other QBs do. I'm thinking we can do that in round 2. Once he has a year or so to learn a system and develop, he'll be ready to fire.

We'd be lucky to have him. He may fall because of injury concerns, but it's only been a few months, and I would not rush him into the starting position anyway. That's the only way he falls, and we'll find out on his Pro Day. I think he's the best pure passer since Manning came out, and Lefty has a much better arm.