They've mentioned a few times now (live on set) on how they saw a day one starter on Sundays, when they were on the sidelines of that Georgia/Ohio State game. I feel like if it would have been any other kid, with any other school, he would have been a no-doubter #1 overall pick. Because he belonged to the OSU Buckeyes program and how jinxed every single QB has been since coming out, he already had the stigma labeled on him. I admit, originally, I was one of those guys. I wanted Bryce and was convinced he would/could succeed, even given his limitation. But once I begun to take a deeper look at his plays made vs. his ratios, I started considering less where the guy was coming from and more what he was able to put together on film. Joe Burrow broke that stigma a few years ago in regards to the LSU "greats" that have come out of there, of late. I'm glad that we didn't have to trade any assets and still got OUR guy, then used those assets to get our OTHER guy. This team will be magical in a few seasons, if not sooner.
Stroud tape was very similar to Joe Burrows in college while CJ was MUCH younger. You could even argue that he had a much better arm as well. If were being honest. CJ's athletic ability was questioned because he was a black quarterback who didn't use his legs. Georgia tape said he could move just fine. Tape said he was extremely intelligent. So why wasn't he the consensus number 1 when QB2 was a 5'8 QB out of Alabama? Same accuracy and ball placement traits as Joe Burrow who was considered by far the consensus in his draft. Houston ended up lucking out.
Those moves ( Demeco Driven) changed the culture of the team. You can’t put price tag on not having to hear Watson’s , Easterby’s, Hopkins, & Obrien’s name associated with the team anymore. The draft moves along with the performance of the team has shifted the negative narrative and got results on the field. How valuable is that? It just think those guys deserve a crap ton of credit for having the vision to make that move. All you hear now is Demeco, Stroud, tank Dell, Anderson & etc….,All positive.
Eh... I get where you're coming from - but none of those changes have any connection to the Anderson pick. It was fun and exciting, and the bill won't come due for several months so everyone can enjoy it. But it was steep price to pay for a team that still needs more - not less- assets.
Just curious, but what would you think of the trade if we had selected WAJ first and then traded the exact same assets to move up and take Stroud?
This might be bordering on giving CJ too much credit, but one of the things I like is how he rarely (never?) seems to hang his receivers out to dry. I guess that's the whole idea of "throwing them open" or whatever. But considering our two best wide receivers are either injury prone or very, very smol...not putting them in a position to get lit up after a catch can be huge.
I know it was Primetime but wasn’t this there also on Super Tecmo Bowl? As for the vid….not much to say
Anderson has Alabama ties to a HC in the Draft War room with Alabama ties. Demeco wanted a QB and the top Defensive guy in the draft who happened to be from his school. It’s not hard to see the connection, The HC wanted his guys to set a new tone and got them.
I'll be glad to revisit it later. The valuation at the time was regressive [next year will be like last year] rather than dynamic [Next year will be different than last year] by the pundits and other critics.
His team did a horrible job of exposing his personality in college. From an outsider he really came off like a quiet smug type of character. He is extremely personable. I have a feeling he will be doing a ton of commercials as his success rises.
The idea the Texans would be picking top 10 next year was absolutely a major factor (and not a terribly controversial one), and I admitted as much: if Anderson proved to be LT 2.0 and the Texans picked 15-20+, the deal looks MUCH different and decidedly better. I'm not really trashing the deal so much as owning my take. I've said all along: I loved the deal because it was fun and exciting, and I love Will Anderson. But... it was a hefty price to pay, and I still think that's going to land next April.
That's an interesting question... but I don't think it really changes the equation. I think my response - at the time - would've been similar: why didn't they just draft CJ 2nd and keep the assets?
