Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith
The top QBs in the league excel at reading defenses and can often perform better when blitzed. I have no idea whether Bridgewater or any rookie will be capable of that; hence the risk especially if using a 1.1 pick on one.
That said, I have yet to see this demonstrated by Keenum. Granted, he has six games under less than ideal circumstances, but I'm not quite sure his skills indicate this will someday be a strength for him, either. Keenum needs to (a) recognize the blitz, (b) have an internal clock to find his hot route, and (c) throw the pass accurately. Be honest... has Keenum shown this? Or has he been just buying time with his still-healthy feet hoping his HOF WR (or his 1st round WR) finds a way open 6 seconds after the snap, holding onto the ball even if it means taking a sack for a 9-yard loss?
Brees, PManning, Brady... the teams that have elite success over an extended period of time possess a QB with these traits. That's what I want for the Texans. Easier written than done of course, but if Keenum is not that guy and perhaps that guy is available in this draft, that's what I'd be looking for.
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Or look at Russel Wilson in the game currently airing. They talked about how he loved being blitzed. And then he beat an 8 man all out blitz with a downfield throw that came about 1 second after the snap. He didn't wait for the guy to be open (or even know if he was). He made the correct pre-snap read and trusted it. Keenum did this once in the Jacksonville game and had a nice conversion because of it. But in general, he is extremely slow to make decisions with the ball. The timing throws come out late, and against the blitz he thinks escape first rather than get the ball out.
It is unfair to compare Keenum to Brady and Manning, but Wilson is younger than Keenum. Keenum is already 25 years old (almost 26). This is not a fresh faced rookie. He had 6 years at UH and now almost 2 full years in this system. He is behind only in terms of NFL reps. I would not expect the same sort of learning curve as with a 22 year old rookie who had 6 starts.