Would you be ok with...

Dirtbag59

Ironically I never labled Flacco, Ryan, and Ben as elite QB's. What I did say was that they were QB's that were able to contribute right away. They weren't projects. However it's certainly not difficult to make a case for them considering the fact that all three posted 90+ ratings this past year.

Anyway the link between Ryan, Ben, Marino and Flacco was good enough mobility that allowed them to buy an extra second or two in the pocket. Thereby creating a push against their inexperience in reading NFL defensive coverage. I can't think of any pure pocket passer that experienced anywhere near the level of success achieved by the four I mentioned during their rookie season.

Here's more detail on why Mallet qualifies as a project:

- His pro style system has failed to produce one even mediocre QB at the NFL level. In fact the most promising prospect to come through the NFL ranks was cut during training camp (see Brian Brohm, Chris Redman, Stefen LeFors, Dave Ragone).

- Fine he played in an elite conference. It was suppose to help good old Eli take the NFL by storm (that storm took 4 regular seasons to develop) as well as our very own Campbell. Stafford is promising but he certainly didn't post great numbers right away.

- Also if we take away the 3 games where he got to play with a vaunted SEC team against the children of the poor (Tenn Tech, Lou-Monroe, UTEP) his numbers go down from 32 TD passes and 12 Ints to 21 TD passes and 10 ints.

His completion percentage also drops to 62%. Which while accurate doesn't qualify him as extremely accurate. Especially when compared to the 55% and 43% (yes 43%) he posted the previous two years.

- He doesn't have nearly enough mobility to compensate for his lack of knowledge in regards to NFL speed and coverage schemes. So unless he gets the line that protects Brady or the one that protects Sanchez he will see the same level of pressure that he saw against Ohio State.

And the saddest thing about all this is I don't even hate Mallet. In fact I'm intrigued by him as a QB prospect. I don't know if he's right for our system but if our team drafts him I'll surely know the answer. However the only chance he has to develop ahead of the curve is a great O-line. And very few teams have that.

PS - I'll have you know I watched him against UGA, Auburn, Alabama, and Ohio State from start to finish. So please don't play the "you've never watched him play" card.

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skinsfan69

It doesn't feel right to me either but I just feel in todays NFL you have to have a top tier QB.

irish

I have no problem with the Skins not taking a QB in this draft.

Lotus

Shuler has toughness and the will to win at the ballot box. :cheeky-sm

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Mattyk

You also need a good all around team. We have many needs beyond QB.

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IrMitchell

Absolutely I'd be okay with it.

It's no secret, if you don't like a quarterback enough that you have to draft him past round 1, he's clearly not good enough.

If Shanahan likes Locker or Mallett or who the hell knows, they'll be taken at #10. Anything past that and there's obviously too much doubt or optimism.

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Swarley

I agree for the most part but that doesn't mean you don't draft a QB late. Our team is starving for a young QB and the Shannys know that.

If I have it my way, we'll pick Pat Devlin late!

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drew54

I was mis-informed, Thanks!

I still am tired of this short sighted team building. Reminds me of the rest of Washington.

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Monkeydad

I believe research would also show any QB with a horrible O-line is at a nearly insurmountable disadvantage.

Use that 1st-round pick on another O-lineman and a 2nd-round QB will have a better chance at success than a 1st-round QB without the line upgrade.

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Mattyk

There's always free agency to plug holes on the OL too.

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Monkeydad

True, but I'd prefer a young player. We should follow the Jets model and use our first-round pick on a lineman until our whole line is 1st-round studs. Then, even with a horrible QB like Sanchez, we could contend for a decade.

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Dirtbag59

If we keep that second round pick I would much rather use it on a front 7 defender.

And whats to say that our O-Line will be horrible this year? Just because of what happened last year? I saw the Falcons and Chief O-Lines change over the course of one offseason with little if any additions, and even though the Falcons drafted Sam Baker in 08 he still only played 5 games.

We have Trent Williams not to mention a chance to choose between a healthy Jammal Brown and Ryan Harris. Davin Joesph is also a huge favorite to come here. Kory L got a year of starting experience, Will Montgomery is improving, and I'm sure that between Cook and Capers one will develop into a solid starter. Heck even Heyer improved last year into a respectable swing man.

Bottom line we could easily be going into next year with 3 pro bowl level starters (Williams, Brown, Joesph) or at worst 2 pro bowlers and one very good young Right Tackle.

Also don't forget we have plenty of late round picks and Shanahan has made a living out of getting quality lineman in rounds 5-7.

Finally in light of the improved O-Lines I mentioned in KC and ATL we will easily have more raw talent then both of them. Only thing left to do is continue feeding the late round pipeline and getting two top notch guys signed out of Joesph, Brown, and Harris.

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GTripp0012

It depends on how you define horrible O-line. You could make the argument that the Colts and Chargers have awful lines, but those teams succeed because they don't exactly torpedo their offenses by sucking. Some would argue that, because they don't limit their offenses and can be schemed around, they can't be a horrible o-line, they are merely unremarkable.

But I'll also say that Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers didn't develop behind bad OLs. They benefitted from good line play in their developmental years. And the tried and true way to develop a QB is go allow him good line play in his developmental years.

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