OT - Do you take Luck or Griffin III?

Submitted by Erik_in_Dayton on

It's a slow day, so here's another NFL Draft question:  Do you take Andrew Luck or do you take Robert Griffin III if you have the choice?  My choice is Luck but only for the admittedly boring reason that he's already shown what he can do in a pro-style offense.  I'm leery of spread guys in the NFL, though Griffin looks great. 

Another prediction:  Both guys will have to learn to be more careful about when they scramble because of the superior size and speed of NFL defenses.  Luck's upright running makes me think that he's going to get clocked a few times in his first year. 

 

Magnus

April 26th, 2012 at 6:49 PM ^

I didn't say Griffin's not a passer, but he's had 179, 149, and 173 rushing attempts in his non-injury shortened seasons.

Denard Robinson has had 221 and 256 (and he IS a run-first quarterback).  

Luck had 47, 55, and 61 rushing attempts in his three seasons as starter.

Michael Vick had 108 and 104 rushing attempts in his two seasons in college.

So I'll stop calling Robert Griffin III a running/mobile/scrambling quarterback when he's not running the ball 165 times a year or so.  Until then he is what he is.  I don't care if he's black or white or red or purple.

MGoBlue96

April 27th, 2012 at 1:09 AM ^

really doesn't make alot of sense, considering the fact that RG III's passing numbers in college far surpassed Vick's. He is much more polished passer and decision maker than Vick was coming out of college. Heck, his passing numbers were better than Luck's last year, all be it in a different style of offense.

RG III has more of an upside as a passer than any of those guys  you compared him with. He was an exceptional passer in college and has the potential to be a great passer in this NFL, as well. Yes he has great speed, but watching several of his games this year he looked to be pass first most of the time, and scrambled when neccassary. He is not a run first guy like Vick was coming out of college.

The amount of carries  for Grffin the last couple of years is also partially based on the offense he played in. A decent portion of those carries were designed plays, where as Stanford rarely called a designed run for Luck. On called passes, at least from what I observed of Griffin the last couple years, he looks to pass first and scrambles when neccassary.

In short, I think both are going to be great players, I think they are pretty much neck and neck. Not sure who I would pick to be honest.

Six Zero

April 26th, 2012 at 2:53 PM ^

I'll never be one of those guys who roots for a team with a running quarterback, the ones with dreadlocks and winning personalities and all that.

myblueheaven

April 26th, 2012 at 3:00 PM ^

RG3 has a higher ceiling but Luck is ready now! I would perfer RG3 personally but,  If I am the Colts I go with Luck for no reason other than Luck being the safer pick.

Tuebor

April 26th, 2012 at 3:08 PM ^

If I am a college coach I'd lean towards RGIII due to his athleticism.  Not that Luck isn't athletic but I think the evolution of the college game favors RGIII.

If I am an NFL Coach/GM I'd take Luck everytime. 

 

Other QBs

I really like Tannenhill and Weeden.  I could see those guys having some nice careers down the line.

OysterMonkey

April 26th, 2012 at 3:42 PM ^

I'm a Browns fan too, and I wanted RGIII, but I'm glad they didn't pay St. Louis's asking price for the #2 pick. The Browns need lots of help at lots of positions. One guy wasn't going to make them a playoff team. I'd rather them take Richardson at 4 and the best available WR/OT/CB with their later 1st rounder and still have a 2013 first round draft pick (which, let's fact it, will probably still be a high pick).

DonAZ

April 26th, 2012 at 3:21 PM ^

I'm naturally cautious, so Luck.  But I'm telling ya ... there's something about RGIII I really like.  It's not just the athleticism ... I sense the guy has a hell of a head on his shoulders and will prove to be a very good QB.

Had you asked Kirk Cousins vs. Kellen Moore ... I'd go Moore in a heartbeat.  I keep hearing people say he's going to be an epic bust, but I don't think so.  I think we'll look back on 2012 and say some team got the steal of a lifetime drafting Moore.

mgowill

April 26th, 2012 at 3:34 PM ^

Somebody will take a gamble on Moore.  I can't help but think of Drew Brees - short guy (6'0"), accurate passer, not a huge arm.  Moore was 36-3 in high school and was ignored by most schools.  The kid was recruited by like 3 schools, with Boise State being the most impressive offer on his list.  He went 50-3 in college as a starter and was only 2 field goals in 2 separate years away form playing for a national championship (insert rant about crappy conference here).

Also, Tom Brady would have kicked Kirk Cousins' ass.

NorthSideBlueFan

April 26th, 2012 at 3:33 PM ^

RGIII has an upside that is as high as the moon. If the Skins play it right, he could become a god in DC.

As a Lions fan looking at things from the outside, I personally am more excited about RGIII than I have ever been about any other dual threat QB hitting the league.

MileHighWolverine

April 26th, 2012 at 4:02 PM ^

Both are very intelligent and have lots of intangibles. Both have great arm strength with the bonus for RGIII being pretty darned fast.

However....something about RGIII's physical condition seems a touch off for me. Don't get me wrong, the dude is ripped but his legs seem real skinny and when he is in pads his arms seem real thin too. I just have this weird feeling he will not stand up to the pounding well in the NFL.

Luck on the other hand seems pretty thick and we got to see him truck a few guys during his career. 

By the thinnest of margins I think I take Luck. 

 

 

Blue Hokie

April 26th, 2012 at 4:28 PM ^

I would take Luck hands down.

I think everyone is forgetting how mobile and athletic Luck is.  He may not be a track star like RGIII, but I believe he was top 5 in every QB category during the combine and ran a pretty solid 40.  Both player's throwing skills and accuracy are off the charts, but I only need to look at two play to know Luck is going to be good:

1. When Luck crushed the USC DB and forced a fumble

2.  Luck's one-handed catch

Luck is a competitor, has called his own plays for the past few years, and his intelligence is extraordinary.

yzerman19

April 26th, 2012 at 8:49 PM ^

i watched the gruden qb camp episode with him and came away thinking the same thing - big time competitor and true student of the game.  will be payton like in his approach to the game.  i understand irsay's thinking.  i don;t agree but i understand the move.

Charlie Chunk

April 26th, 2012 at 6:14 PM ^

I think Luck is who I'd try to build my team around.  Nothing against RGIII, but I think we've seen Luck play against better opponents.

RGIII is going to be special though.

MGoBlue96

April 27th, 2012 at 12:58 AM ^

what exactly? The PAC 12/PAC 10 hasn't been a better conference than the Big 12 the last couple of years (in fact most people feel the Big 12 has been the second best conference the last couple of years). And for the all the flak the Big 12 gets for not playing defense, there hasn't been a whole lot of great defense being played in the Pac 12 either. There is no basis to make that statement.

MSHOT92

April 26th, 2012 at 8:17 PM ^

the Colts want Manning 2.0. Luck is more the style of QB that Indy is used to. He's intelligent, he's  a pure drop style passer, he's a younger version of Peyton without the complete neurotic tendancy from what I can tell at this point. RGIII seems like the real deal for now...he not only runs with exceptional burst, he ALSO throws the ball with strength and accuracy. He will be Mike Vick 3.9...sans dog charges with all the physical and mental upgrades required to be a top shelf QB GIVEN talent around him, though that's already been addressed with free agent money concerns/

yzerman19

April 26th, 2012 at 8:45 PM ^

luck all day.  rgb III is this year's tim couch.  sorry.  nice kid though and he will be very rich regardless.