[stupac2]

Perhaps an argument can be made that running QBs are tempted to rely on their legs in their formative years and don't develop the pocket passing instincts and skills of the best, less mobile QBs.  Or at least develop them later.

In addition to the examples above add John Elway.  Yes, I know the man had legs but he won his two Super Bowls at the less mobile portion of his career and has been quoted saying that being less mobile forced him to improve his pocket discipline and progressions.

As a counter example look at Randal Cunningham, Michael Vick. Et al.  All talented QBs who were first team fantasy selections but never developed into first tier QB talents.

Yeah, you want the savvy QB who can move around when he has to but also has the patience to find his third read under pressure.  The WHOLE NFL wants that guy even if SpartanDawg doesn't.  There just aren't that many Andrew Luck's out there and when push comes to shove the NFL (and John Elway's Broncos) will take a Payton Manning over a Tim Teebow every time.

I think part of the problem is that the rushing QBs who came into the league were mostly like Michael Vick, where they're nowhere near the pocket passer the other guys are. They rely on their legs because they can't just rely on their arm. But that's clearly not true of, say, Russel Wilson (the jury is out on Kaep and RG3 for now). Is it possible that the trend in the past has been that running QBs weren't as good in the NFL because they relied too heavily on their legs to bail them out, which doesn't work as well in the NFL? Yeah, sure, maybe. But that doesn't imply that the pattern will be true going forward, and it definitely doesn't imply that ceteris paribus you'd rather have someone who's not mobile.

And this is all sort of beside the point. A good mobile QB is very clearly an asset in college, where defenders aren't all very fast and very disciplined. Even a good defense like Stanford or MSU can get burned by a mobile QB on occasion. Is Hogan going to put up 200 yards against MSU? Almost certainly not. Could he put up 50 and pick up a few key first downs? Yes, he most certainly could. That's why his legs are an asset.

[stupac2]

Perhaps an argument can be made that running QBs are tempted to rely on their legs in their formative years and don't develop the pocket passing instincts and skills of the best, less mobile QBs.  Or at least develop them later.

In addition to the examples above add John Elway.  Yes, I know the man had legs but he won his two Super Bowls at the less mobile portion of his career and has been quoted saying that being less mobile forced him to improve his pocket discipline and progressions.

As a counter example look at Randal Cunningham, Michael Vick. Et al.  All talented QBs who were first team fantasy selections but never developed into first tier QB talents.

Yeah, you want the savvy QB who can move around when he has to but also has the patience to find his third read under pressure.  The WHOLE NFL wants that guy even if SpartanDawg doesn't.  There just aren't that many Andrew Luck's out there and when push comes to shove the NFL (and John Elway's Broncos) will take a Payton Manning over a Tim Teebow every time.

I think part of the problem is that the rushing QBs who came into the league were mostly like Michael Vick, where they're nowhere near the pocket passer the other guys are. They rely on their legs because they can't just rely on their arm. But that's clearly not true of, say, Russel Wilson (the jury is out on Kaep and RG3 for now). Is it possible that the trend in the past has been that running QBs weren't as good in the NFL because they relied too heavily on their legs to bail them out, which doesn't work as well in the NFL? Yeah, sure, maybe. But that doesn't imply that the pattern will be true going forward, and it definitely doesn't imply that ceteris paribus you'd rather have someone who's not mobile.

And this is all sort of beside the point. A good mobile QB is very clearly an asset in college, where defenders aren't all very fast and very disciplined. Even a good defense like Stanford or MSU can get burned by a mobile QB on occasion. Is Hogan going to put up 200 yards against MSU? Almost certainly not. Could he put up 50 and pick up a few key first downs? Yes, he most certainly could. That's why his legs are an asset.