re: When Jefferson Goes Pro After This Season

There's no joke. I just get tired of the QB discussion taking on the same form every time the topic comes up. I thought I'd start a thread based on a much more optimistic (albiet farfetched) scenario.

Hey, you never know...it could happen. As pointed out on this board several times, plenty of highly-drafted QB's looked awful in their rookie season as a starter too.

Every QB goes through growing pains. They're wildly successful in high school. Then, they get to college and look awful. Routine throws suddenly go straight into the dirt because they're working to improve their footwork and throwing mechanics. Just slinging it the way they've done their whole lives isn't good enough anymore. The game is faster. Defenses are better. They have to get comfortable with going to their second and third options because the first guy isn't going to be wide open every time. They have to get used to being hit hard by very large men, getting up and doing it all over again. Even the best QB's can look terrible before they learn the finer points of the game.

I know Jefferson looked terrible in the Spring Game. Hopefully, the summer QB camps and coaches' clinics have taught him better footwork, how to slide in the pocket without instantly tucking, how to keep your eyes downfield, how to anticipate the defense. It's not easy, but he can do it with practice. Let's give the kid the benefit of the doubt. Let's wait to see how he progresses and judge him on his whole body of work, not just the beginning of his career.