As I said in my last post their are three highly debatable topics in the NFL. I will be taking on the second issue this time, Robert Griffin III versus Anderw Luck. These two gladiators will be facing off against each other in mortal combat in the Colliseum of the New Land of Meadows in New York City. Wait, they aren't going to have an actual duel? Too bad, that would be entertaining.
No, by RG3 versus Andrew Luck I mean which one will be the better Quarterback in the NFL and which one deserves to be the first overall pick.
If you have read any of my previous posts, then you know that I am a big Robert Griffin III supporter and think that Andrew Luck is just a little overrated. I have gone through both of their stats in previous articles. So if you wish to review those stats you might want to check out my previous Robert Griffin III versus Andrew Luck article. As you will see from their stats, Robert Griffin III deserved his Heisman trophy.
If you look at their pro days you will see that RG3 was really trying to impress the scouts whereas Andrew Luck played it a little bit safe. Andrew Luck completed 45 of his 48 scripted passes while Robert Griffin III completed 75 of his 81 scripted passes with 4 of his passes being dropped. Really, I don't put much value in the pro day passing stats. The thing that I think impressed me the most about both of these guys was their 40 times at the combine. Luck ran a very good 4.67 40 yard dash, however, that pales in comparison to Griff's 4.41 time. I was genuinely shocked at how fast Luck's 40 time was.
Now, the single most impressive thing to me about Robert Griffin III is something that is downplayed a little with him. And that is how smart he is, both book smart and football smart. Everyone talks about how intelligent Luck is, but no one really talks about how smart RG3 is. In the end I see Robert Griffin III as the better overalll QB and absolutely the better fit for his team. Robert Griffin III could very well be the second coming of John Elway for Mike Shanahan. He has the mobility that Shanahan looks for in a Quarterback, and also has the arm to make some huge throws off of play action fakes to Tim Hightower, Roy Helu, Evan Royster, and whatever other running backs Mike Shanahan discovers. In fact, I will go on record right now and say if the Redskins draft Robert Griffin III, they will win their divison next year barring an injury to RG3.
its ironic that this site is called no nonsense football, but this is an extremely subjective article.
ReplyDeleteRG3 was really trying to impress the scouts whereas Andrew Luck played it a little bit safe. Andrew Luck completed 45 of his 48 scripted passes while Robert Griffin III completed 75 of his 81 scripted passes with 4 of his passes being dropped.
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failed to mention andrew luck played outside threw against the wind(while RG3 was inside in a much easier environment). I would say that's the opposite of "playing safe" and you mentioned RG3s drops yet didnt mention how 2 of Lucks 3 passes Incompletes were drops... Also Robert griffin is political science major at...wait for it..BAYLOR!! Andrew luck is getting a degree in architecture at STANFROD. SO who is smarter/baytlor is a frickin joke a poly sci from there is a piece of cake. Btw Luck threw a 75 yard perfect pass against the wind at his pro day so i'd say that he can probably handle the play action fakes. Finally, there is absolutely no way the Deadskins win their division next year
I did not say Andrew Luck could not handle the play action fakes,I was simply saying that Griffin is a near perfect fit for what Mike Shanahan likes to do. Luck will be drafted by the Colts and will probably be running an offense built specifically for him, so I expect he will do respectable as a rookie as well.
DeleteAs far as their intelligence, you have to be kidding me. RG3 had to get his Bachelor Of Political Science and his Masters in communications as part of him going for his law degree. Luck is getting an architecture degree and it took him four years, that is a normal rate. And my point was not even that Luck is not smart, because he is, but rather that so is Griffin. No one ever talks about how smart RG3 is yet they are always going on about how smart Luck is.
As far as the Redskins winning the division, I am picking them to win their division, If you disagree then that is your right, I'll go into greater detail about the redskins in another article.
Hey Noah
DeleteI have to agree with the commenter. Having seen Luck up close for the past 3 years he has it all. He is extremely athletic and faster than he is given credit for. His combine stats popped a few eyes, not just his 40 time. He will thrive in the NFL system. I don't see how you can say Luck is overrated. By what measure? He is battle tested as a starter for three full seasons in an offensive minded conference where you have to score. The only QB to go 3-0 against USC and he had very little talent at wide-out and still put up great numbers. RG3 is a good QB and will hopefully survive the dysfunction of the Redskins. What gets little press is the fact he was outplayed by Weedon and Tannehill in head to head match ups and was out-shined in the bowl game which I'm not sure means much. My point is that RG3 blew up his senior year stats wise, but from all accounts Luck has all of the things NFL coaches look for. With all that said I hope and expect both QBs to thrive. They are both excellent character guys and seem to have good heads on their shoulders.
I say Luck is overrated because every sports network (ESPN, NFL Network ect.) Talk about Luck like he is the second coming of Joe Montana. Again, I do not dispute that Luck is a good player, but he is not Joe Montana. I also believe, if you look back at both players, Robert Griffin III will be a better Quarterback, especially in Mike Shanahan's offense.
DeleteI agree that Luck is overrated, but I'm leaning more towards that he is being talked about to much and being hyped up and what not.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think about Case Keenum? Something tells me he can be a decent QB in the NFL. Especially if he is able to sit behind guys like Drew Brees or Rodgers for a few years and really learn. Who knows?
I absolutely love Case Keenum. I would love for my New Orleans Saints to draft him to be Drew Brees's successor in a few years. The things I love about Case is he played in a spread offense in college, but it was a pro spread. It was the kind of spread that the Saints, Packers, and Patriots all run. The other thing about him is he can definitively run. He ran track and played basketball in high school.
ReplyDeleteAnother sleeper at QB that no one talks about is Kellen Moore. Kellen Moore is going to be another Drew Brees is two or three years. Kellen Moore is small, but he is agile and extremely elusive within the pocket. He doesn't have a cannon arm but his arm is pretty good and he is deadly accurate.
Using last year's stats as a reason to pick one over the other is a poor argument given the two offenses the two ran. By that logic, Case Keenum should be the #1 pick in the draft.
DeleteTry these 3 stats for Luck: #1 in FBS in red zone offense, #1 fewest 3 and outs, #1 fewest negative plays. Far outdistanced #2 on all.
This says more about the QB (who btw took a 1-11 program year before he arrived to two FBS bowls) who picked three plays out of a playbook of 300 in the huddle (having to know personnel on the field when calling them) and then picking the one to run at the line of scrimmage when looking at the defense.
I never argued Lucks ability or intelligence. All I argue is that Robert Griffin III is a better quarterback overall.
DeleteHe is a better physical talent and he is just as hard a worker as Andrew Luck.
After he tore his ACL season before last he changed from being an option quarterback with an arm to a pocket passer who can run. He was in his playbook and working on throwing more accurately the whole time while rehabbing his ACL. I only know four quarterback in the NFL with that kind of work ethic, Tim Tebow, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady.
Nobody will have Luck calling plays the entire game in his rookie year so that is not even a point, and Mike Shanahan's offense is a perfect fit for RG3. Therefore I say RG3 will be a better quarterback as far as stats, wins, rookie of the year awards, and Lombardis are counted. Oh and if RG3 had been at Stanford they would have played LSU for the BCS Championship this year.
RG3 and Luck were recruited concurrently by Harbaugh. When Luck committed, RG3 chose Baylor because he didn't want to sit for four years. Btw - why don't you ask the Oklahoma State defense who they think is the better QB. Same thing with Washington's. Mike Shanahan hasn't developed a QB since... oh that would be never.
ReplyDeleteMike Shanahan developing a quarterback is not an issue, RG3 doesn't need help to develop. And coming out of high school I would have picked Luck too, RG3 sucked coming out of high school. He is better than Luck now.
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