Which rookie QB's start week 1?

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CGI_Ram

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http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/p...nly-week-1-qb-starter-and-lots-of-hog-mollies

It's over! The 2016 NFL draft is in the books. You've read a ton about it already, so here's a little more. Forthwith: Ten unique, witty and insightful takeaways from the affair.

1. Only one rookie quarterback will start in Week 1

That's the way I see it on the final day of April, at least.

More than one quarterback in this draft is capable of starting immediately, and injuries could always change the equation. But the player/team matches suggest that only Jared Goff, who went No. 1 overall, will enter the season atop his team's depth chart.

Goff is the most pro-ready quarterback in this class, and he'll need to beat out only the venerable Case Keenum and Nick Foles in order to be the starter Sept. 12 at the San Francisco 49ers.

Philadelphia Eagles have 34 million reasons (via money guaranteed to Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel) to avoid rushing Carson Wentz. The Denver Broncos will have Mark Sanchez at their disposal while they teach Paxton Lynch how to take a snap from center.

The New York Jets still are trying to re-sign Ryan Fitzpatrick, but even if they move on, they could start Geno Smith or Bryce Petty while rebuilding Christian Hackenberg's mechanics and confidence. Connor Cook could have competed for a starting job with some teams, but after falling to the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round, he's destined to back up Derek Carr.

The other 11 quarterbacks drafted, from Cody Kessler (Cleveland Browns) to Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) to Cardale Jones (Buffalo Bills), are all projected as long-term backups. If any of them start in Week 1, or at all in 2016, it will be after a massive organizational disaster of some kind.

This 15-man class was the NFL's largest since 2004 and stood in stark contrast to the seven-man group of 2015, the smallest in the draft's common-era history. But it has been six years since fewer than two rookie quarterbacks earned Week 1 starting jobs. That happened in 2010, also for the Rams (in St. Louis) and also for a No. 1 overall pick (Bradford). The recent high came in 2012, when five rookies -- Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Brandon Weeden, Ryan Tannehilland Russell Wilson -- started in Week 1.
 

DaveFan'51

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Unless Bradford gets his way, and gets out of Philly, I pretty sure Goff, is the only one that stands a chance of starting week #1! Which I'm not in favor of, unless he totally Blows-Everyone-Away in OTA's and Training Camp! It just worries me to throw him into the fire so quickly! JMO No real reason behind it!
 

Merlin

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It would not surprise me if Lynch started for Denver. They would have to tailor the offense for him initially but they have done that before with Tebow.

Their other options are extremely unappealing.
 

JackDRams

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Unless Bradford gets his way, and gets out of Philly, I pretty sure Goff, is the only one that stands a chance of starting week #1! Which I'm not in favor of, unless he totally Blows-Everyone-Away in OTA's and Training Camp! It just worries me to throw him into the fire so quickly! JMO No real reason behind it!

The 49ers aren't fire. It's like a pee wee game for Goff.
 

Mackeyser

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The 49ers aren't fire. It's like a pee wee game for Goff.

It's a division game and all of those in the NFC are serious and should be taken seriously. As it should... even when our Rams weren't very good, we gave the Seahawks when they were winning 12 or 13 games all sorts of hell and even beat them.

Taking any team in the NFC lightly is asking for trouble. And when you ask for trouble, you always get more than you asked.
 

tahoe

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Cook ended up just where he should as a back up! If Bradford gets traded Wentz may start. There were really only 3 qbs destined to be starters anyway in this draft.
 

snackdaddy

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Unless Bradford gets his way, and gets out of Philly, I pretty sure Goff, is the only one that stands a chance of starting week #1! Which I'm not in favor of, unless he totally Blows-Everyone-Away in OTA's and Training Camp! It just worries me to throw him into the fire so quickly! JMO No real reason behind it!

He's coming in as a green rookie. But he's also an immediate upgrade over what we have. Even an inexperienced rookie would give us a better chance than Keenum/Foles. I liked some of the things Keenum did his first few games.

But when Gurley went down the final game and it was all on Keenum, he couldn't carry the team to a win over the friggin whiners of all teams. That soured me on him. It became clear we needed an upgrade if we want to have a chance. Goff is that upgrade.
 

jap

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He's coming in as a green rookie. But he's also an immediate upgrade over what we have. Even an inexperienced rookie would give us a better chance than Keenum/Foles. I liked some of the things Keenum did his first few games.

But when Gurley went down the final game and it was all on Keenum, he couldn't carry the team to a win over the friggin whiners of all teams. That soured me on him. It became clear we needed an upgrade if we want to have a chance. Goff is that upgrade.

There are just some things Case can't do well or at all. He has to put air under the ball to throw bombs. He was missing a precision route runner of the caliber of Wes Walker on even short throws! If you can't connect with Wes, you will have a hell of a time finding all others who are simply not as good running routes.

Jared immediately represents an extensive upgrade in release time, decision making, sheer accuracy, and power. His power is not where I want it to be yet, but he may have to wait until his first full NFL off-season to work on improving his overall strength. Our budding messiah will have to get used to the increased speed, quickness, strength, and sheer savviness of NFL defenders over their collegiate peers. The things that tend to victimize young NFL QBs is the very things that made them stand out in the collegiate ranks. The relatively huge windows they enjoyed in the university games are virtually all gone, and the relatively shorter NFL windows close much more rapidly. You can't just depend on that big arm or collegiate-level accuracy anymore: the usage of those tools have be heavily seasoned with game smarts. NFL DC's are gonna throw the book at young rookie QB's, running all manner of blitzes until the rookie proves he can beat them at that game.

Jared just needs to absorb what he can of the playbook. If they have to minimize the playbook by season's start to keep him comfortable, I would rather they do that than having lesser veteran QB's manning the offense with their extensive limitations. He's going to have to grow over this season. However, he has an Express! to hand the rock off to and should have a few savvy receivers who can get open enough to take advantage of his accuracy and finish completions.
 

RamzFanz

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he'll need to beat out only the venerable Case Keenum and Nick Foles in order to be the starter Sept. 12 at the San Francisco 49ers.

Uhhh, no. He also has to outperform Mannion. I know, I know, he's not on the radar but he IS there and he also has some physical attributes.

Foles probably won't even be there to beat out and Keenum isn't going to just lay down.

If they just crown Goff ala Foles, I'm going to spit vinegar.
 

Corbin

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Unless Bradford gets his way, and gets out of Philly, I pretty sure Goff, is the only one that stands a chance of starting week #1! Which I'm not in favor of, unless he totally Blows-Everyone-Away in OTA's and Training Camp! It just worries me to throw him into the fire so quickly! JMO No real reason behind it!
I'm with you man, I'm more or less on the line of starting him 4-6 games in the season like Russel Wilson got and will get him acclimated like Quinn, Donald, and Gurley did.
 

Corbin

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Uhhh, no. He also has to outperform Mannion. I know, I know, he's not on the radar but he IS there and he also has some physical attributes.

Foles probably won't even be there to beat out and Keenum isn't going to just lay down.

If they just crown Goff ala Foles, I'm going to spit vinegar.
I'm with you RF but I think they learn their lesson this time plus as history shows on top picks they usually give a bit of time in the season before they start him.
 

DaveFan'51

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He's coming in as a green rookie. But he's also an immediate upgrade over what we have. Even an inexperienced rookie would give us a better chance than Keenum/Foles. I liked some of the things Keenum did his first few games.

But when Gurley went down the final game and it was all on Keenum, he couldn't carry the team to a win over the friggin whiners of all teams. That soured me on him. It became clear we needed an upgrade if we want to have a chance. Goff is that upgrade.
You have your opinion, I have mine. Mine is just a gut instinct, nothing more!
Things will play-out! We'll see what happens!
But I'm sure of one thing, without OTA's and Training Camp, Goff is not an immediate up-grade over Keenum!
He has to practice and Train with the Team just like anyone else would!
As I said, JMO!
 

dieterbrock

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If Goff isn't starting game #1 that means Keenum had a killer TC and Pre-season.
That would be cool with me too
But Goff starts week #1 IMO
 

NateDawg122

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The 49ers aren't fire. It's like a pee wee game for Goff.

That 49ers team beat us the last time we played. I'm aware we were without Gurley and several other starters but the point remains the same. No team should be taken for granted, especially in this division.

That being said, I think Goff starts week 1. He's a cool cat under pressure and his talent will probably outshine his inexperience. And let's be honest here, he's going to be handing it off to Gurley most of the game anyway.
 

Mackeyser

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Uhhh, no. He also has to outperform Mannion. I know, I know, he's not on the radar but he IS there and he also has some physical attributes.

Foles probably won't even be there to beat out and Keenum isn't going to just lay down.

If they just crown Goff ala Foles, I'm going to spit vinegar.

I got you one of each, so you could have your pick, cuz you don't entertain trade offers for both Foles and Keenum if there's a chance either is gonna start. He was effectively crowned the moment Fisher said, "the goal is for him to start week one."

vinegar-image.jpg
 

Frogbelly

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That 49ers team beat us the last time we played. I'm aware we were without Gurley and several other starters but the point remains the same. No team should be taken for granted, especially in this division.

That being said, I think Goff starts week 1. He's a cool cat under pressure and his talent will probably outshine his inexperience. And let's be honest here, he's going to be handing it off to Gurley most of the game anyway.
I don't think so. Goff is used to slinging the ball all over the lot. Everyone is expecting him to hand it off to #30 2 out of every 3 plays. I think they get Goff comfortable throwing the football.
 

RamzFanz

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I got you one of each, so you could have your pick, cuz you don't entertain trade offers for both Foles and Keenum if there's a chance either is gonna start. He was effectively crowned the moment Fisher said, "the goal is for him to start week one."

vinegar-image.jpg

I'll take the apple cider every time.

If Fisher pulls a Fisher on this one and doesn't make/let someone prove it, it just shows he's the Fisher everyone says he is when it comes to QBs, and that's not good. That's not good at all.

It doesn't mean a blind squirrel can't find a nut, but my god, learn from history.