Live from Flowery Branch: Stafford, Ziggy and the NFL draft!
Flowery Branch — A declaration: I wouldn’t have taken Matthew Stafford No. 1 overall. I say this as someone who saw his first collegiate pass (against Western Kentucky) and his last (against Michigan State) and several hundred in between. He’s a great talent, but I don’t think he’ll be a great NFL quarterback.
I thought he was a very good college quarterback, and there’s no doubt he fits the NFL prototype as well as anyone ever has — he’s smart, he’s tall and he has, as the world knows, that big right arm. My reservations have nothing to do with anything physical. My reservations regard attitude.
I see Stafford as a guy who too often tried to get by on the strength of that big arm and who threw too many killing interceptions as a consequence. (See Florida, 2008.) I see a quarterback who wasn’t so much a team leader as a solo act. More to the point, I’ve never seen in Stafford the attention to detail that you get with Peyton Manning or Tom Brady or, yes, Matt Ryan.
Not long ago I described Stafford as diffident, and I’ve since wondered if I misused the word. So I looked it up yet again — you can, too, by going here — and I’ve decided I didn’t. For all his gifts, Stafford is indeed reserved and unassertive. (And I mean in his demeanor, not as it pertains to his big arm.) I’ve never gotten the feeling that losing gnawed at him the way the Ole Miss game got to Tim Tebow.
And yes, those with long memories will recall that I wrote last fall that Stafford would outplay Tebow in Jacksonville. I was wrong. (Fancy that!) But it wasn’t so much that Tebow did anything extraordinary that day — he would subsequently do the extraordinary in the SEC title game against Alabama — as he avoided the Big Mistake. Stafford thew an interception (on first-and-10 from the Florida 30) when Georgia trailed 14-3 in the third quarter, whereupon the game fell apart.
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.No, you cannot blame Stafford for Georgia’s three defensive collapses last season. But in three years of watching him I’ve never sensed he grasps the sensitiviy of his position. He can make all the throws, yes, but too often he tries to make one throw too many. He’ll throw into triple coverage or fling it off his back foot, and because he has the big arm he’ll sometimes get away with it. Sometimes, alas, he won’t.
If you’re the 0-16 Lions, you need a quarterback who can make plays. (Actually, you need everything.) But if you’re ever going to get good, you’ll need a quarterback who can manage games. I’m not sure Stafford can do that at the NFL level. He’s not Jeff George — he’s a better guy than that — but I do see in Stafford the same overrating of one big arm and the same underrating of football’s nuances.
There, I’ve said it. Perhaps you disagree. That, conveniently enough, is why there’s a comment box below.
Give me Ziggy or give me … sea bass?
I’m not going to lie. I’d love to see the Falcons take a defensive tackle in Round 1, and I’d prefer that tackle to be Evander Hood, who goes by Ziggy, of Missouri. But at this point I’m willing to grant Thomas Dimitroff the benefit of every doubt.
As UGA B wrote on the ol’ blog yesterday: “If I went to dinner with the guy and he told me to try the sea bass, I’d try the sea bass.”
And guess what the Falcons are serving for the media lunch/dinner? Sea bass!
(Kiding. According to publicist Frank Kleha, we’ll be dining on roast beef au jous and potatoes of some sort. I’ll save y’all some!)
Travel notes
I had my plan. I was going to listen to Sirius NFL Radio all the 51.4 miles it takes me to drive to Flowery Branch. But before I could switch over, “Medicated Goo” by Traffic was playing on Deep Tracks. Then came “The Loner” by Bernard Shakey. Then “Bouree” by Jethro Tull.” It was only after I hit Spaghetti Junction and Wishbone Ash came on that I flipped over. At which point …
The guys on “Press Coverage” were talking about — you guessed it — Stafford, and Lions fans kept calling in and griping about his contract, which calls for $41 million or $78 million or some number in between. Stop me if you’ve heard this already, but Detroit is in an economic slump. And a No. 1 pick making that kind of money going to that particular city is going to have to overcome a lot of negativity.
Then again, Ryan had more than a few folks to convince when he came here. But I say it again: Matty Stafford isn’t Matty Ice.
Round-by-round predictions
This from Sporting News Today, which offers a projection on every pick in all seven rounds. Here’s who SNT has the Falcons taking:
- Larry English, defensive end, Northern Illnois.
- Marcus Freeman, linebacker, Ohio State
- James Casey, tight end, Baylor
- Woody Turenne, cornerback, Louisville
- Clinton McDonald, defensive tackle, Memphis, and Ra’Shon Harris, defensive tackle, Oregon
- Tom Bradstater, quarterback, Fresno State
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844 comments Add your comment
uga_b
April 25th, 2009
8:18 pm
Dylan, the Raiders were going to take the flashy pick in the first round. Given. They made sense afterward. That is scary.
But to be devil advocate…Remember when Mario Williams was sttooooppid? Or for that matter…Vikings waiting on Kevin Williams. Its just weird Al Davis shouls take anyone who ran under a 4.4. and no one else.
Dan
April 25th, 2009
8:19 pm
“I see a quarterback who wasn’t so much a team leader as a solo act. More to the point, I’ve never seen in Stafford the attention to detail that you get with Peyton Manning or Tom Brady or, yes, Matt Ryan….. He can make all the throws, yes, but too often he tries to make one throw too many. He’ll throw into triple coverage or fling it off his back foot, and because he has the big arm he’ll sometimes get away with it. Sometimes, alas, he won’t.”
I am not wild about Stafford, but there are more ways to win than being under control in the manner Mark Bradley attributes to Brady, Peyton Manning (usually coming up short in big games at UT and with the Colts) and (someone who has not won much of anything yet) the sainted Matt Ryan.
The QB who has been the winner in 2 of the last 5 Super Bowls and led a drive for the ages in the last one has a lot of the alleged flaws Mark attributes to Stafford – Ben Roethlisberger.
Shamus Thacker
April 25th, 2009
8:19 pm
There was never a player with more reasons to miss training-camp-time than Tony C. After he married Lisa Clayton, forget about it…. lol
I don’t deny he was personally a nice guy.
Sure never lived-up to the hype as a player, in my half-baked Georgia-fried opinion.
Falcon Devil
April 25th, 2009
8:20 pm
There was no question Mario Williams was the No 1 D end, Howard-Bey was def not the best WR.
AndyC
April 25th, 2009
8:21 pm
Everybody just ignore Willster and maybe he will go away
gabuldawg
April 25th, 2009
8:21 pm
Mark, any thoughts about what we go after in the 2nd round? Possibly Asher Allen or one of the 4 DE’s that are still on the board. Looks like the run is on DB’s right now.
Falcon Devil
April 25th, 2009
8:21 pm
Michael Johnson, Alphonso Smith, Sean Smith or Clint Sintim baby!!!!
Cuz
April 25th, 2009
8:22 pm
This is a free country? I wish someone had told me that before April 15th.
Falcon Devil
April 25th, 2009
8:22 pm
Asher Allen is nowhere near a 2nd rounder. He would be a good value in the 4th.
whoyougonnapay
April 25th, 2009
8:23 pm
Mark, I disagree with your thought process on Stafford and here’s why: Who in the world in this draft are you going to drop 41 mil guarenteed on? Whether you think Stafford has potential to be a quarterback or not, somebody is getting paid 41 mil. The linebacker from Wake? Are you kidding? Mark Sanchez? He was hurt some of the year and only played in 16 games.
Stafford started 36 games for Georgia. He got turned and whipped every which way possible in the piece meal line that Georgia put together for him.
His decision making will improve as well as his consistency. There was way more than one person last year that did not approve of Matt Ryan. Way more and Matt Ryan was no Matt Stafford in college. Not close.
I think you also lose sight of what they will do with him as a pro. And if he has the tools, they can develop them further. Oh and one other thing; Jeff George was just an idiot. Matt Stafford scored the highest on the NFL’s intelligence test. Jeff George did squat and his attitude was real raunchy.
Is he perfect? No. Look at Eli Manning his first year out of college and he was awful. Teammates criticizing him and the whole works. I think Stafford will be fine.
uga_b
April 25th, 2009
8:23 pm
They will give Johnson a look…and they should Look for some college you have never heard of being involved.
Despite their love of lobster and sea bass, these dudes eat country food in the middle of nowhere and find the steals. Thats also great. Give me some frog legs and a kid who produced.
Johnson’s intensity is questioned but let some of the guys give him the paw to the head. That would be a challenge to our boy from SC.
TommyP
April 25th, 2009
8:24 pm
Mark: “You’re my boy, BLUE!” (never have I said that and been more appropriate….let me know if you need help with that reference)
scott
April 25th, 2009
8:24 pm
maybe they get Gilbert or Miller to augment the D line
Jerry
April 25th, 2009
8:25 pm
1ST PERIA JERRY DT MISS
2ND WILLIAM MOORE SS MISSOURI
3RD ASHER ALLEN CB UGA
uga_b
April 25th, 2009
8:25 pm
Devil, I totally agree. The Raiders like deep speed. Heyward Bey is number one there
There is a reason people finish where they finish.
D.Ellis
April 25th, 2009
8:25 pm
Wow the Hawks are getting drilled. Night night for them
I like Johnson at S. Proven SEC Starter/playmaker/Leader. You need a Leader in the DB field at that spot. The kid from Mizzou might still be there.
scott
April 25th, 2009
8:25 pm
I own a half-retarded cat that might do well on the NFL “IQ” test.
Matt
April 25th, 2009
8:26 pm
Some good talent still on the board. With all this talk about Michael Johnson, it made me think that we could look at converting Bierman to a OLB if necessary. He’s got the motor and he’s a tweener. I would rotate Johnson and JA98.
Zorro
April 25th, 2009
8:26 pm
WILLSTER
Do us all a favor and sign off, and be sure and take your purse with you.
TommyP
April 25th, 2009
8:26 pm
Haven’t read Mr.Bradley’s assessment on Stafford and won’t (least not yet). Way too many nitpicking a tremendous player right now.
Matt Ryan was by no means a shoo-in coming out. Something about all those INT’s (in the ACC).
scott
April 25th, 2009
8:26 pm
Its a long way to the 55th pick. sigh
Jerry
April 25th, 2009
8:27 pm
MAYBE DUKE ROBINSON ? WE BROUGHT HIM IN
Old school fan
April 25th, 2009
8:27 pm
Rashaad Jones- Alabama
Falcon Devil
April 25th, 2009
8:28 pm
Good point Jerry
Mark Bradley
April 25th, 2009
8:28 pm
D-Led thinks maybe Sherrod Martin of Troy State in Round 2. He’s a cornerback.
gabuldawg
April 25th, 2009
8:28 pm
I would be happy with Clint Sintim or William Moore. We need a good cornerback though and there is no way Asher last until our pick in the 4th round.
Keefer
April 25th, 2009
8:29 pm
Michael Johnson doesn’t have the heart to play in the NFL. No way Thomas D will pick him. He’s the best college scout in America, and he knows frauds when he sees them.
LB for sure with the next pick. Asher Allen is a “maybe” in about round 4 or 5
BirdWatcher70
April 25th, 2009
8:29 pm
Moore’s still sittin there- hang on til 55 bud
WILLSTER
April 25th, 2009
8:29 pm
iguarantee a dolphin win in atlanta the dolphins got pat white in the second round he is better than stafford boy i will make alot of money day one in the nfl.
scott
April 25th, 2009
8:30 pm
get Asher in round 3 if he is still there
Mark Bradley
April 25th, 2009
8:30 pm
And, back to Stafford, that’s kind of the point: I wouldn’t have paid anybody in this crop $41 million. No Elways in this group, at least none I can see.
BirdWatcher70
April 25th, 2009
8:31 pm
There goes sintim- 9 more pix
Mark Bradley
April 25th, 2009
8:32 pm
I wouldn’t expect Asher Allen to go in the second round. But maybe that’s just me.
TommyP
April 25th, 2009
8:32 pm
What did Elway do in college, Mark? Honestly. What did he do?
He was a toolsy guy. Then he whined out of Baltimore before they ever drafted him.
gabuldawg
April 25th, 2009
8:32 pm
Jerry, I like your thinking. We’ll have to see if it works out that way though.
WILLSTER
April 25th, 2009
8:32 pm
so much for what you all want
Mark Bradley
April 25th, 2009
8:33 pm
Almost won a Heisman, if I recall. Wasn’t he second behind Herschel in 1982?
uga_b
April 25th, 2009
8:33 pm
I like a CB, but none of these get me excited. Same with safeties. I can get an unexciting pick at 100+. Lets save it for tomorrow. Grimey and LSU kid is better.
Jerry
April 25th, 2009
8:33 pm
D LED WAS RIGHT ABOUT THAT SECOND ROUNDER TRY DJ MOORE OR WILLIAM MOORE
LIKE I SAID
1ST PERIA JERRY DT MISS
2ND WILLIAM MOORE SS MISSOURI
3RD ASHER ALLEN CB UGA
Grip
April 25th, 2009
8:33 pm
How much attention to detail did big ben have in college, or trent dilfer, Tim Tebow’s a real good college QB, only time will tell if that will translate to the pro’s. Stafford has some issues, but at the pro level Tebow has a few more
scott
April 25th, 2009
8:33 pm
Moore is rated #3 on the currently available by Mel . . .tick tock
TommyP
April 25th, 2009
8:34 pm
Almost forgot…the Heisman is such a great indicator of pro greatness.
DNA
April 25th, 2009
8:34 pm
Mr. Bradley, I’m sure it is a lot easier writing this column now that he is no longer a dawg. I’ve just never been impressed with the AJC.
Keefer
April 25th, 2009
8:34 pm
WILLSTER
You guarantee a Dolphins win? Just like you guaranteed the Steelers would take your boy Maualuga?
Your mouth needs to stop writing checks your a$$ can’t cash.
AndyC
April 25th, 2009
8:35 pm
Mark, got to agree with you on paying Stafford $41M. I think that’s crazy. I am a GA fan but you make some good points about him not really being a team guy or a leader. I hope he sits the first year or it could get ugly.
Mark Bradley
April 25th, 2009
8:35 pm
Oh, and about my man Ziggy: If he can’t be a Falcon, I’m at least excited that he landed with the best franchise in football — the Cincinnati Bengals.
Kidding. The Steelers took him with the final pick of Round 1.
Dominic Hughes
April 25th, 2009
8:36 pm
D-Led also said 24 was too high to take Alex Mack. Guess Cleveland thought differently! If William Moore is still there Falcons may take him in 2nd?
Barry Jay
April 25th, 2009
8:36 pm
Stafford was either poorly coached or poorly motivated. He was too inconsistent in his accuracy and he just didn’t seem to care sometimes. I got sick of watching him. Sure hope his problem was coaching. He will end up being a Jeff George wannabe otherwise.
BirdWatcher70
April 25th, 2009
8:38 pm
Hope ur right Jerry that’d be a good 1st day
scott
April 25th, 2009
8:38 pm
Staff has a 1st round arm and a 3rd round brain when under pressure, IMHO. He trusts that first round arm to bail him out a little bit more than he should. It’s good to be confident–but not stupid. Glad he got 41 million–good for him!!! . . . as long as he doesn’t play for my team.