RedTez wrote:
The situation was perfect for Rivers in SD though. Sit for a couple of years and learn from a top QB (Brees) then come into a run heavy offense (LT was MVP his first season as starter) and feel his way in. Also, for all Norval's faults he's deceloped Rivers superbly. I don't know if Rivers to the Giants would see us with a Rivers as we know him, much like if the Rodgers / Smith selections were reversed.
I agree.
Rodgers had the benefit of sitting for a few years behind one of the best ever QB's while Smith was thrown to the wolves. That said I think Smith over Rodgers was a terrible pick (great for us!). Smith came from a terrible spread system while Rodgers came from a pro style offence and with very high accuracy (plus he is a Cal guy).
Like you say where you end up is a key to how you turn out. The best teams draft in advance and let guys sit for a year or two. It is just a far better system to use for player development. I know we in particular do it all the time. Nelson was drafted a year or two before he broke through fully. Raji played sparingly in his first year etc.
Plus teams seem to draft QB's and expect them to just walk in and do it with no pieces at all. Stafford IMO is a fantastic QB but he's let down because the Lions continually pass on LT's (for example they passed on Michael Oher for Brandon Pettigrew) to protect him and he gets hurt. Likewise Carolina just took Cam Newton and drafted all defence. The Bears got Cutler but give him an average line and a converted KR/CB as one of his top WR's.
