The story is almost too movie-perfect to believe, but we saw it happen in front of our own eyes. Ohio State started the season stacked at QB. By the Big Ten Championship game however they were down to their third stringer, Jones. He only ripped through Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon like they were Ivy League defenses. As one NFL exec commented in an article I saw today," They threw him in at the deep end of the pool, and not only did he float and tread water. He did backflips off the high board." Indeed he did. In the National championship game, he displayed an impressive blend of pocket presence, arm strength and decision-making. He looked far more like a potential NFL prospect than did Heisman winner Marcus Mariotta. At best, Mariotta is a Johny Manziel/Russell Wilson type QB only without the big arm. Jones, all 6-5 and 250 pounds of him, reminded me of Big Ben. He has until thursday to notify the NFL if he's declaring for the draft. Not much time for a very tricky decision. He's started exactly three college games. But he played great in all three. if he returns to Ohio State, he could well find himself in a familiar position come next fall, third on the depth chart. Or he could be starting for an NFL team. It's totally crazy. If he does come out and you're an NFL GM looking for a QB, your life just got very complicated. The top prospect, Jameis Winston, is a police mug shot waiting to happen. His nickname should be "Entitled", because he obviously feels that way and who could blame him? Unfortunately, he won't get the same conceirage service from an NFL city's police force that he has become used to in florida. Mariotta has NFL bust written all over him in large letters. A smaller guy with a weakish arm who could operate the Oregon fastbreak offense adroitly. Worth a top five pick? Not to me. But Jones? How can you draft a guy with a three game resume? You could point to Matt Cassell, who backed up two Heisman winners at SC. Or Brad Johnson, who was a backup at FSU. Should he stay or should he go?
Mariota is 6'4 220lbs, he is not exactly a small guy and will not be a bust. You are making it sound like a team would be picking between Mariota/Winston vs. Jones. If Jones declares he will be a 4th or 5th round pick at best. There is just no way a team would pick him over Mariota or Winston. We have seen guys do great at first and then struggle once the opposing teams have a lot of game tape on them. Could he be a successful NFL QB? It is certainly possible but there is a really small sample size. Plus there is a reason he is a third stringer in college.
Those three games were won by the offensive line. Ezekiel was running through holes wide enough to drive a car and not getting touched until he was 15 yards downfield. Jones made one nice throw downfield on a rollout, but the rest of his plays were made with his legs and his size advantage over the smaller Oregon defensive players. That's not going to happen in the NFL. The good news for Jones is that the pre season first string Ohio State quarterback will most likey transfer (to Florida state) so he'll only have to beat out Braxton Miller
Wildchild, I saw an article today that also said Mariota was 6-4. He sure didn't look it to me, but I guess we'll see what he measures at the combine. He is very quick and shifty but he seemed to me to have a below average NFL arm. I think Jones, incidentally his first name apparently is Cardale not Cordale, will go in the third round maybe if he has a decent showing at the combine and pro day. Maybe higher, who knows. The point is, if you have a team that is not set at QB, here is a guy you can draft who just might be fantastic but you aren't risking much. I don't see Mariotta or Winston as can't miss picks by any means. The only recent guy who had that label was Luck, and they are nowhere near him.
Clubber, I saw him throw the ball 40 yards downfield on a rollout when he was moving away from the receiver. There are not a lot of NFL quaterbacks who could make that throw. A cannon isn't the only requirement for an NFL QB but Jones looked good in the pocket to me. He moved around, he kept his eyes downfield and he is very tough to bring down. After a season of watching RG III struggle with those pocket presence skills, it is shocking to see a guy with such a thin resume look so comfortable. He seemed to be leaning toward going back to school, but it is just such an intriguing story.
Cardale is going back to Ohio State. In the press conference we walked in to, "Started from the bottom now we're here..." Classic.