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Comments
@BigDawg61
You have that position because Bennett went to UGA and Richardson is a Gator. But here's the deal: go to the Dawgnation forums and search. The same predictions for success for Jake Fromm - and failure for Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts and the other QBs drafted ahead of him - were being made back then. If I had a nickel for everyone who was making Tom Brady/Jake Fromm comparisons (none of whom actually saw Brady play in college) back then ...
Yes, Bennett won it all at UGA. Jake Coker won it all at Alabama and didn't get make first cuts as a rookie undrafted free agent. Cardale Jones won it all at Ohio State and has bounced around the NFL, CFL, IFL etc. AJ McCarron won 2 national titles like Bennett, was a 5th round pick and backup for several years and was last seen unable to get an invite to training camp despite being the XFL MVP.
But yeah, fan blinders are really something. "Bennett has proven, he's not made of glass" ... while playing behind the best protection in college football at OL and TE. Richardson didn't look like a QB? Neither did Stetson Bennett back in 2018 when he was the same age that Richardson is now (21). For that matter he didn't in 2020 when he was 23 years old and going 18-40 with 3 picks against Bama, 9 completions and 2 picks the next week against Kentucky, and 5-16 with an INT and fumble and getting benched the week after against Florida.
Bennett was only consistently effective on the college level as a 24-25 year old man surrounded by one of the most talented rosters in college football history. But when he was younger, the OL and defense wasn't as good and he didn't have difference makers on offense like Bowers and Washington, meaning that he had to go through what Fromm did in 2018 and 2019? Not nearly as good. Indeed, flat out bad. So, believing that Bennett could have accomplished what Richardson did in Gainesville ... is a choice to shut your eyes pretend as if the SB IV of 2020 didn't exist. Meanwhile put Richardson in Athens with the 25 draft picks in 2 years (plus still more guys on the team that are going to get drafted this year like Bowers, Mims, Van Pran, Ratledge) and guess what? He would have looked a lot more like a QB. Especially with Monken calling the plays. Bowers and Washington - for example - put up much better numbers because Richardson would have actually been able to get them to ball 60 yards downfield. We know this because Richardson did so at Florida with guys blocking for him and catching the ball that were nowhere near as good.
Let's just play make believe for fun and make SB AR-15's size and AR-15 SB's size. Does AR-15 even get drafted? I think not. I think SB would be the first QB off the board in that scenario. What does that say? Just that AR-15 has gotten to where he is now based on his physical giftedness:how big he is, how fast he runs, and how far he throws a football, and not because he's a proven QB. Put his accomplishments on the collegiate level in SB's body and he doesn't get drafted.
Put SB's accomplishments in AR-15's body and he's all world! SB has accomplished more with less. You simply can't play at the level SB played with his size without some serious Hoodzpah! It just doesn't happen. You'd probably have to go back to Doug Flutie.
WHether that translates to a decent NFL career, I haven't a clue. But I do know this: as a fan who was touting JT over SB until after the Michigan game, I have learned not to bet against SB the player.
First of all...full disclosure...I don't pay any attention to what "people are saying", when I do a player analysis. I will go back and see from time to time...like you're talking about.
I've found the "so-called experts" to be wrong about such things, far more often than they're right. And, not trying to beat my own drum or anything...but, I've been right far more than I've been wrong. That's probably because I don't make my money from it...and, don't have to justify my opinion to strangers, like they do. So, I'm not saying the experts didn't "see it"...I'm saying they didn't "say it".
One of my personal rules, is to disregard team achievements and accolades.. Not completely...but, if I use those things, in any way...I do it with an eye on what the QB had around him, and how well he was able to use the tools provided.
For instance...IMO...Young had his best playing year in 2022, despite the fact Bama didn't win the West. That team would've lost AT LEAST 2 more games. If not for Bryce Young. I don't think he's gonna make it in the NFL, but, that has nothing to do with his talent and ability. It's more about size and toughness.
I could be dead wrong...but, that's what I think. If Young can somehow stay healthy over the next 3 or 4 years, to give the front office time to build around.him...he COULD be one of the Best that's ever been. Same with Bennett.
Bennett reminds me a lot, of Joe Bureaux...on the field. Burrow obviously had better High School coaching which put him ahead of Bennett's time-line and career trajectory. All things being equal...Bennett and Burrow and Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray and Lamarr Jackson and Russell Wilson.....are all "birds of a feather".
The only thing separating them is the talent and experience around them. The better the supporting cast...the better, the "Team achievements & accolades". Burrow, Bennett & Wilson all wound up being drafted by teams that didn't/don't depend on the QB position being the only productive position on the field.
They had an Offense BEFORE those guys arrived....and their addition was just another piece of the puzzle that makes them a better "team". And at the end of the day...that's the goal. That's why I have a problem with giving a quarterback more credit or blame than is warranted. It's misguided and It's not fair to the rest of the team.
That being said...Bennett is a reliable football delivery system. He's the transmission from the engine to the drive-shaft. If any one of those things breakdown...the car doesn't move. Thursday's version of the Rams....had problems with all 3 aspects...the Engine, Transmission and Drive Shaft were all malfunctioning. Which makes it impossible to know which parts were failing and why...without doing the diagnostics on the car (Post Game Film Analysis).
BTW...Bennett played FBS and won 2 Natty's at the ripe old age of "23 & 24".......not, "24 & 25". He turns 25 this year. See....that's the kind of "narrative BS" I was talking about. In 10 years, people will be saying he was tending Bar, when Kirby recruited him at the age of 25. Lol