Russell is one of the best QBs, but he isnt polished. He still panics under pressure at times. He was lucky against Arkansas towards the end when he threw that pass that should have been picked. Had it been picked no FG and there is a good chance it would have been a TD for Arkansas. Plays like that. Watch the Auburn and Florida games to see the mistakes. Im not knocking him, he has amazing potential. Just saying he needs a little more work and he will be a top ten, if not the top pick. I see Russell a lot like Smith in that Smith really mature late in his Jr year. Stepping up his play like Russell is doing. Smith has been great this year, I really think Russell is starting to reach his potential, another year is what seperates him from being the top or a definite top ten pick.
Perrilloux and in coming freshman Jarrett Lee. The coaches are supposed to be real high on Lee. He put up some nice numbers in Texas. I read he throws really well on the run, so he should be a nice fit with the LSU scheme. He is said to be a solid commit.
It'll be out of Flynn or Perrilloux. Both are great... apparently you know Flynn, and Perrilloux was the #1 prospect in the Nation two years ago and Miles landed him after Saban couldn't and left. Not that he left cause he couldn't. :hihi:
Don't apologize, you're exactly right. He is not a first round pick right now. Not even close. He will be mid-2nd to 3rd round. The NFL scouts know that he doesn't have great decision making skills. That's 70 percent of what makes a good/great QB. I'll give you a great example. There was a young man that played QB at LSU a while back, his name was Rohan Davey. Same exact skill set as JR. Big burly QB, almost impossible to bring down, can fling it 60 yards on one knee, not the greatest at decision making. Given that comparison, and knowing Davey tried like hell to make it in the NFL and failed, I don't know why people are saying JR will kill in the NFL. I hope he does, but he a long long way to go.
There is no chance in the world that JR falls to the 3rd round if he comes out this year. He would fall no farther than early 2nd round--and would likely go in the mid to late first round.
I dont see Russell being near the first round. I see no reason to leave early unless you are guaranteed to be an early first round pick. Unless its a necissity from a financial stand point. Back to the topic. Russell doesnt handle pressure well. His numbers against high level opposition are proof of that. He puts the ball up for grabs too often. Dont get me wrong, he is a damn good QB. At times he will make throws that Peyton Manning would be proud to make. His touch can be dazzling. Its just at times his decision making is poor. Another year of maturing and learning to settle down could land him a high first round status. He is steadily improving and another year of college is all he needs.
If the past is any indication, the NFL puts far more stock into individual workouts and combine results than it does into "poor decision making." Personally, I don't really agree with the criticisms of JR's decision making. I don't think he does that bad a job, and if you listen to the coaching staff he has been given more responsibility than any other LSU QB in recent memory. I'd be willing to bet he gets taken somewhere in the first round--certainly no later than the first half of the second round.
Like I said he is a damn good QB. The best LSU has had since Davey, whom I think was a little better. Despite that Russell has more upside with his amazing, raw skills. He just needs to calm down some. Again, Smith was the same way, he relied too much on athleticism rather than fundamentals. Late last year he started changing that around. He has been rock solid in his Sr season. Russell has a lot of similarities with him.
