re: Jon Gruden perplexed about Marcus Mariota not being the consensus #1 prospect

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“I don’t understand why [Mariota] isn’t the No. 1 player in this draft on Mel Kiper’s Big Board, man” Gruden said, via Rotoworld.

Gruden disagrees with those who think Mariota is a product of Oregon’s offense and not a fit for the NFL.

“I don’t know anybody in this draft that can do for a football team what Mariota can do, man” Gruden said. “He can read the field. That whole thing about Oregon being a no-huddle, dive-option team, that is just a narrative resulting from a lack of information, man. The Ducks run a lot of pro-style concepts. Mariota does a lot with the protections, man. I’ve seen him throw the ball with touch and timing in tight windows.” The former Bucs coach points out that Mariota is the same size as Jameis Winston but runs 4.52 forty. He is incredibly elusive, and man, is he a playmaker and a great competitor, man. I see him functioning in the pocket, out of the pocket, and if you want to run a zone-read, he’ll rip the defense apart, man. He is like Russell Wilson, only he is 6-4.”

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