Matt Mauck. Championships define a career. He's got one of these :crystal: Rohan Davey every thing seemed to just click when he was in the game. JaMarcuss Russell has the potential to jump to number 2 with a Rose Bowl win, and number 1 with a mauling of Michigan Josh Booty, I don't think he was as bad as he was made out to be, he just didn't reach the god-like hype that followed him here. Marcus Randall consistently inconsistent. One game he looked like the 2nd coming of John Elway, other times, he was less impressive than Aaron Brooks.
Russell - w/o question the most talented, he's still maturing and I believe will be a great pro (needs to learn to look off primary receiver); similar to Tyrus Thomas in that he's done some freakish things and can change the game in one play (ie last minute drives to beat Iowa (if defense didn't screw up), Az St., Alabama (05), Tennessee, and Ole Miss), also able to flick the ball 40 yards downfield after being blindsided by a Tennessee Defensive End) Mauck - never made mistakes, won a NC, but didn't have the skills Russell does Davey - had similar body of Russell, but not the arm strength; great competitor and a guy you want to see succeed Randall Booty
I like this thread, because it offers me the chance to bring up a subject that needs to be discussed. With all the hoopla over JR, and all the bickering we have had over just how good he is on this board, is Russell not the exact same QB Davey was for LSU? I don't see any discernable differences in just about any category you would want to compare (e.g., arm strength, accuracy, leadership, game manager, running ability, awareness in the pocket, in the clutch, making reads, etc). I would say Russell and Davey are mirror images of themselves. And yet there are some who think Russell is the best thing since sliced bread. I am not criticizing that point of view, I am merely pointing it out. Davey couldn't hack it in the NFL, as good and talented as he was. Will Russell suffer the same fate? Anybody tell me where Russell is better than Davey? Maybe I am missing something. Both were good. Both were talented. Both had shortcomings. What say you?
For the most part I would agree with this. I do think that Russell has a little more natural talent than Rohan. For example, (and do realize Rohan had a canon) I think Jamarcus has a stronger arm and a quicker release. He just flicks his wrist and the ball goes 60-70 yards on a rope. Also, I think he throws better on the run.
Didn't we say that about Rohan? I remember this guy being able to throw it downfield about 70-80 yards with relative ease. Someone said about him having Reed. What about Reed benefitted just as much from having a very good QB in Davey who could sling it downfield to a speedy Josh Reed? Not buying that.
Reed had an amazing knack of getting wide open. I agree, Russel is more athletic, can scramble better, is taller and throw farther. I think Rohan was more accurate with better touch on his passes but really could not scramble. They both have about the same confidence and leadership ability.
JR has the best wide receiving corps in the history of LSU football (as well as one of the best pass blocking O-lines I have ever seen this season). So the Josh Reed thing can't really be argued. JR had better overall WR support. I think Rohan was helped with a better running game, however. Here is an excert from wikipedia.com on Rohan to refresh everyone's mind: "As a senior (2001), Davey had the QB position to himself (Booty had gone to the NFL); and he led LSU to its first Top 10 finish since 1987 and its first SEC Championship since 1988. During the regular season, Davey passed for 3,347 yards, becoming the first QB in LSU history to pass for over 3,000 yards in a season. Davey also beat Peyton Manning's junior-year performance at Tennessee in 1996 (Manning threw for 3,287 yards that year), which was 9th best in SEC history. With 3,351 yards of total offense (3,347 yards passing, 4 yards rushing) on 405 plays, Davey had an average of 8.27 yards of total offense per play, making him the 5th person in SEC history to finish a season with more that 8.0 yards of total offense per play (minimum 300 plays)." I would agree Russell has more athleticism to run with the ball. Both were equally strong in bringing down in the pocket, however.
I'd take Davey over any quarterback to ever play at LSU. I think Davey was a better passer than Russell is at this point. Russell has much, much more talent to work with around him. Russell is bigger, can run better, has a stronger arm. Davey was more accurate, made better decisions with the football and threw a beautiful ball more consistently. Davey went in the third round but never cut it in the NFL. I think Russell will go higher and get a shot to start. I don't know if he'll cut it in the NFL or not long term though. So much of being an NFL QB is mental (Brees, Manning, McNair etc.) Perhaps, he will develop that side enough as he gets more experience. He has gotten alot better mentally especially late in the season, but I think he still has a long way to go mentally to be a consistent winning NFL starter. Physically, you can't ask for much more. I just think people put to much stock in the physical and arm strength regarding quarterbacks. Aaron Brooks is way more physically talented than Drew Brees, but Brees is a great leader, a master of the mental game, he throws a catchable ball and he throws with touch. I think Davey had better touch than Russell at this point in Russell's career.
