I have heard indirectly from someone close to the program that the big question we hear this year about Mettenberger will be "Why didn't he play last year?" Having said that, I wouldn't take Kyle's bet. I look for ZM to have a good year but it's hard to get a great draft status on just one year. It would have to be an incredible year.
Just make sure it comes from Milton Bradley...anyone can afford losing half of "passing go". He will turn pro with a good season just like everyone that I have seen make a prediction in the press have said.
I guess you're not taking the bet? Like Mobius said, it would have to be a phenomenal year. He has zero D1 experience. I searched for articles on ZM leaving early and the consensus was that he could possibly go in 2013 if he has a breakout year. That is far from a lock. How many guys left early last year? The odds are just not in his favor. Tell you what, lets make it $500. I'm feeling even better after reading those articles.
I've actually made the same statement as miles about Mett. I certainly agree that it will have to be a breakout season, but IF it happens, I think the guy is gone. I mean the guy is in his 4th year out of high school if I'm not mistaken (redshirt year, then redshirt freshman year kicked off team and spent it at JUCO, then rode the pine for us last year). It's around this time that these guys are looking for a shot. So yes, if he has a breakout year, with his size and his arm strength, he can and will change the argument for the upper-echelon QB's entering the draft in 2013. And so far, after Matt Barkley and Tyler Wilson, there's not much of a discussion yet. What's working against him is not necessarily odds in the way folks are talking, but more so the odds that he'll get enough real-time reps to have that breakout year. I don't see us throwing the ball too much more than we did last year. I do see us taking more deep strikes, but really, what are the odds he gets the keys to the offense a la Cam Newton? Not likely to happen. But IF, he manages to have a breakout season...high accuracy, completion %, good TD/Int. ratio, I can definitely foresee a guy like Mett at four years out of high school making the jump if he's a first rounder.
For LSU, Brockers left early...Claiborne left early...and of course Russell Shepard SAID he was going to leave early but then sobered up and realized he wouldn't be drafted. Like I said, the LSU writers have said if Mettenberger has the season that is expected of him, he will leave after this season. I agree with that. More and more players are leaving early for the NFL draft....65 players left early for the 2012 draft. BTW, odds mean nothing taking the entire college football players universe and comparing it to Mettenberger. First, he is a STARTING QB....second, he is playing for a top 1, 2, 3 program right now. Once again, he has the chance to really showcase his talents with the above two factors. Like another poster said, Cam Newton came from JUCO and only stayed a year. This will be Mettenberger's 2nd season. I'm NOT saying he is a future Heisman trophy winner but there is little doubt, he has better QB skills than Cam Newton has. Auburn didn't win the NC with Newton's arm to be sure.
As of today... http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/2014 ... shows mett as the #4 NFL QB prospect for 2014. For the next draft, 2013 --- mett is projected as the #7 QB and the #50 ranked player regardless of position. In 2013, they are projecting him as a first or second round selection.
Thanks for the post. I hadn't seen the projected numbers for him before and quite frankly I don't know how much they mean since he has started 0 games. However, he has HUGE upside to improve his position which as you documented is pretty darn good. My guess is they are assuming a decent season obviously but most of it is based upon his arm, quick release, reading defenses, etc. All of that was obvious for anyone who watched the JUCO NC game when he was at Butler (I watched the entire game on the internet). He looked very good...fantastic arm, great touch on passes, quick decisions unlike Jefferson, read coverage well unlike Jarrett Lee, etc. Bottom line: he goes back to pass, you expect a completion. Jefferson goes back to pass you expect him to either get sacked or start running. Lee goes back to pass you expect him to throw a perfectly accurate pass and pray that the safeties and LBers aren't licking their chops baiting his throw. Even LSU players knew about Lee. Loston INT for a TD in the 2010 spring game. Reid an INT to stop a drive near the goal line in the 2011 spring game. To be fair, Jefferson also had an INT in the spring game + a lost fumble in the spring game.
Heard on college radio today how his coach pulled his scholarship, before the NCAA sanctions were imposed, that's interesting to me, anybody know why? 7 td's and 14 picks (would probably be 20 picks in the SEC) and sounds like he lost his job to another mediocre QB, sounds like he kinda sucks.....according to satellite radio.
