Colin Cowherd: RG3 can't hold a candle to Andrew Luck

[GO HAMSKINS]

I've watch all of AL game he's very overated. He basically looks like Rex Grossman no joke. He makes some good throws and plays then he makes bad play. I wonder how many PICK 6's he has thrown already? Luck is a beast! Luck is also lucky. AL highlights never shows Hilton returning punts down to the ten yard line and Luck throws a td pass. Luck is right up there with him but RGIII is better right now just based on the eye test

[IrepDC]

I've watch all of AL game he's very overated. He basically looks like Rex Grossman no joke. He makes some good throws and plays then he makes bad play. I wonder how many PICK 6's he has thrown already? Luck is a beast! Luck is also lucky. AL highlights never shows Hilton returning punts down to the ten yard line and Luck throws a td pass. Luck is right up there with him but RGIII is better right now just based on the eye test

Sometimes there will be someone running open underneath, usually Wayne, and Luck will say "**** it I'm going deep" ala Grossman and throw into coverage down field. I've seen him do it a few times and thought to myself, "He just pulled a Grossman." He's much more clutch than Grossman already in his career, though.

[ZoEd]

To all the Bitchcoes and Cowturds who keep hating on RG3; check this comparison out.

So RG3 isn't a "real QB" and will have to start being a pocket passer to be successful. Well, lets compare!

Eli Manning, two SB's and please, whatever you do, don't forget it! I mean, if I had to hear Gruden talk about "the defending champions" and the steel in Eli's veins one more time I was going to freaking punch him in the face through my tv! So, for the sake of argument, let's say Eli is a "real QB".
Total yards:
E. Manning, 3170
RG3, 3376

Touchdowns:
E. Manning, 16
RG3, 23

INT's:
E. Manning, 11
RG3, 4

So my question is this; does it matter if the QB is a "real" QB or not? I mean, if the fake QB is putting more points on the board, passing and rushing, why does it matter if he's a prototypical QB?

Bottom line, RG3 isn't taking chances away from other players to score, ala Cam Newton and the old M. Vick. RG3 is spreading the ball around, making all the throws and at the top of the league in almost all QB categories. How is he not a "real" QB?

Suckaz, hating just to hate!

[skinsfan07]

Yes, PEOPLE WHO LIKE HIM think that. The fact is, the statistical gap is so large that the fact anyone is still claiming Luck is better NOW (later, sure maybe) is a very, VERY odd thing. I'm TELLING YOU that were the stats reversed, we're not having these dsicussions.

Also, check the fan boards..."Vick 2," "running QB" "cocky" "flashy." Hell, I've even heard Vince Young brought into it. And the "people figured out Cam newton" angle, they'll figure him out.

Did they figure out Steve Young?

Exactly my point. Had the roles been reversed, Luck would be getting praise like a KING for his "versatile, innovative style."

[pjfootballer]

Bottom line, I still think Luck is and will be a good QB but arguing that he has been a more effective player than RG3 simply because his team has a better record is overlooking a MOUNTAIN of evidence to the contrary. Given that there are 53 players on a team and players only play on one side of the ball, there is only so much one player can do to affect the outcome of the game. RG3 can't play cornerback or safety. As such, the most you can ask a QB to do is produce points efficiently and avoid turning the ball over and giving scoring opportunities to the other offense. It is extremely hard for anyone to reason that Luck has been better in those areas than RG3 has. I have every confidence that if we switched defenses and schedules with the Colts, we are 9-3 or better with a few lopsided wins.

So hard to argue against this. Brilliant.

[GO HAMSKINS]

Sometimes there will be someone running open underneath, usually Wayne, and Luck will say "**** it I'm going deep" ala Grossman and throw into coverage down field. I've seen him do it a few times and thought to myself, "He just pulled a Grossman." He's much more clutch than Grossman already in his career, though.

Yes,he's clearly a much better QB than Rexy.. But Alot of people haven't watch Luck games,they watch highlights. Luck at times reminds me of him no lie.

[pjfootballer]

For about 3 years, the Cowherd types have been conditioned that Luck and only Luck is the greatest QB prospect in 30 years. Suddenly Robert came along last year and upset that apple cart, and it became a 2 man show instead of 1 man. It's still taking these people time to accept that.

Great perspective Brischke. I believe this is true.

[mistertim]

Didn't the Giants recently run a couple plays out of the pistol a couple weeks ago? Currently wikipedia has something like 8 NFL teams that have incorporated the pistol, I expect that number to jump drastically over the next 5 years.

Other teams may use more pistol formation but I don't see the read option aspect of it becoming a major paradigm for the NFL, and that isn't because it will get "figured out" or is easy to defend against. It is very hard to defend against when done effectively. However, I think to run it with consistent success in the NFL you really have to have a QB who is an elite athlete in addition to being a top tier passer. RG3 is pretty much a unique specimen in that regard: the speed of a Vick to go along with the accuracy of a Rodgers or Brees. It is just deadly and almost impossible to defend against even though you know its coming.

Defenders are just too good and too fast in the pro game for anything but a guy with the skillset of Griffin to pull off the read option with any regularity. Tebow was ok at it because he was smart and a tough runner, though not all that fast. But he sucked as a passer and was almost no threat there so that negated a big part of the option. In college he could get away with being a mediocre passer while still being successful at the option but in the pros it made him almost obsolete.

Other teams may try to incorporate the occasional read option concept more in the future but without a guy with the skillset to execute it regularly I think it will still be more of a wrinkle than a staple of offenses.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

By the way....no one outside of a few trolls are making any kind of negative argument towards RGIII. I mean, if you want to pretend that there are a lot of "haters" out there (which is required by federal statute in 2012, I should add) go ahead. But you are being delusional.

There is a legitimate argument as to who is going to have a better long-term career, I believe. Mainly because - Jesus, Mary, and Joseph - does RGIII take a beating. But they are both going to be awesome.

I suck at the Internet.

[#BgMase76#]

I listen to him every once and a while. Too much of him and I get nauseous. Sometimes he's realistic but more often than not he's looking for headlines. He's a big Romo supporter. He's always on the star studded bandwagon. Doesn't bother me, it just shows his star is on the rise.

[DogofWar1]

Other teams may use more pistol formation but I don't see the read option aspect of it becoming a major paradigm for the NFL, and that isn't because it will get "figured out" or is easy to defend against. It is very hard to defend against when done effectively. However, I think to run it with consistent success in the NFL you really have to have a QB who is an elite athlete in addition to being a top tier passer. RG3 is pretty much a unique specimen in that regard: the speed of a Vick to go along with the accuracy of a Rodgers or Brees. It is just deadly and almost impossible to defend against even though you know its coming.

Defenders are just too good and too fast in the pro game for anything but a guy with the skillset of Griffin to pull off the read option with any regularity. Tebow was ok at it because he was smart and a tough runner, though not all that fast. But he sucked as a passer and was almost no threat there so that negated a big part of the option. In college he could get away with being a mediocre passer while still being successful at the option but in the pros it made him almost obsolete.

Other teams may try to incorporate the occasional read option concept more in the future but without a guy with the skillset to execute it regularly I think it will still be more of a wrinkle than a staple of offenses.

Yeah, we're doing a lot of stuff other teams with less athletic QBs simply can't do. They were talking about how the RGIII-Morris play-action stuff was pretty unique to us too because you needed two guys perfectly on the same page, or else you'd see 2-3 fumbles a game, and these guys have really held onto the ball well the past few weeks after a couple of mishaps in the first half of the season.

The pistol is definitely best utilized with a QB like RGIII. I mean, it originated in Nevada and was captained best by Kaepernick, who is a speedy mobile QB himself.

I think the pistol, as just a formation, will find some ground, but yeah, the read option part of it probably won't get much play unless you've got a guy like RGIII or Kaepernick. I wonder if Carolina would do well to start incorporating it into their offense.

[stevemcqueen1]

Yeah, we're doing a lot of stuff other teams with less athletic QBs simply can't do. They were talking about how the RGIII-Morris play-action stuff was pretty unique to us too because you needed two guys perfectly on the same page, or else you'd see 2-3 fumbles a game, and these guys have really held onto the ball well the past few weeks after a couple of mishaps in the first half of the season.

The pistol is definitely best utilized with a QB like RGIII. I mean, it originated in Nevada and was captained best by Kaepernick, who is a speedy mobile QB himself.

I think the pistol, as just a formation, will find some ground, but yeah, the read option part of it probably won't get much play unless you've got a guy like RGIII or Kaepernick. I wonder if Carolina would do well to start incorporating it into their offense.

There are a lot of athletic QBs coming into the league now though.

I bet Harbaugh is taking notes on our offense. If he's smart, he would because he has the QB to duplicate a lot of what we do.

The advantage of the pistol over lining up in SG or behind center is it gives your QB the best looks to either run or throw IMO. Harder to run from the shotgun and harder to fake and throw from behind center. But for it to have a point, your QB actually needs to be a legit threat to run.

One thing I am always amazed by is how devilishly good RGIII's ball fakes are. They're the best I think I've ever seen. He's got an amazing feel for the ball, because he's literally snatching that thing back out of Morris's hands. It's impossible not to have a couple people on the D bite on fakes like that.

[HailfrmDEN]

Luck has a good oline and seasoned receivers. Luck has time to stand and throw the ball RG doesn't. The only difference is RG is winning games. LOL!!

[TD_washingtonredskins]

I bet Harbaugh is taking notes on our offense. If he's smart, he would because he has the QB to duplicate a lot of what we do.

I think it's clear he has taken note. He benched a QB who was playing well and had helped accumulate a 20-6-1 record over the past 2 seasons. I think Harbaugh noticed the difficulty that teams have had in defending our offense and is emulating our approach with CK.

[stevemcqueen1]

- Kaepernick ran a 4.53.
- Newton ran a 4.59
- Locker ran a 4.59
- Tyrod Taylor ran a 4.51
- Gabbert ran a 4.62
- Ponder ran a 4.65
- Luck ran a 4.67
- Russell Wilson ran a 4.55

RGIII ran a 4.41, so none are in his class of speed. But that's a list of a lot of athletic QBs taken the past two years or so who are fast enough to run from the pistol formation. They wouldn't get the kind of huge chunk runs RGIII gets most likely. And they wouldn't be able to run away from these DEs so easily most likely. But they could be effective probably.