http://nypost.com/2015/02/07/serbys-mock-draft-yes-thats-mariota-to-the-jets/ Serby’s Mock Draft: Yes, that’s Mariota to the Jets By Steve Serby February 7, 2015 | 9:53pm Modal Trigger Marcus Mariota and Woody Johnson Photo: Getty Images (2) MORE FROM Steve Serby The Serby 2.0 Mock Draft calls for a change at the top as well as new apples of the eyes of our Big Apple Jets and Giants. I am standing inside the Jets war room as I type this, thanks to a successful special ops mission that penetrated Woody Johnson’s Atlantic Health Jets Training Center under cover of darkness. Unfortunately, there are no names yet on new general manager Mike Maccagnan’s draft board. A run on pass rushers will begin early in this draft, with a trio of wide receivers in hot demand. The Combine in Indianapolis later this month will precipitate further jockeying for position in Mock 3.0, but in the meantime, it is with a great deal of trepidation that I present how the first 15 picks of the NFL draft could unfold: 1. Buccaneers Jameis Winston (QB, Florida State) Over the next two months, Tampa Bay coach Lovie Smith will try to convince himself, and Winston will try to convince Smith, that the most pro-ready quarterback in the draft is a misunderstood Boy Scout instead of commissioner Roger Goodell’s Next Worst Nightmare. Let’s just say the lightning rod better not get caught stuffing crab legs inside his underwear at the Combine. You whiff on a franchise quarterback — as the Bucs have done in the past with Josh Freeman (17th overall in 2009) and Mike Glennon (third round, 2013) — this is the price you pay down the road. The critical question NFL teams will need to answer: Would Seahawks coach Pete Carroll hesitate letting Winston throw from the 1-yard line to win a Super Bowl, or wouldn’t he? One other important test: How will he throw the deflated balls sneaked in by Patriots coach Bill Belichick? Memo to Lovie’s security team: The Tanga Lounge may have closed, but Mons Venus is still very much in business. 2. Titans Leonard Williams (DT/DE, USC) Modal Trigger Leonard WilliamsPhoto: AP Ken Whisenhunt probably can’t afford to get QB Marcus Mariota up to pro speed, so he lets defensive coordinator Ray Horton bookend the most dominant defensive lineman in the draft with Jurrell Casey instead and prays that second-year QB Zach Mettenberger stops with the selfies and grows up. 3. Jaguars Randy Gregory (DE, Nebraska) Look, when you have to chase Colts QB Andrew Luck for at least another decade, you get yourself a 6-foot-6, 245-pound pass-rush prospect — to be the weak-side hybrid DE/OLB, called the “LEO” — with huge upside to complement Sen’Derrick Marks, and watch coach Gus Bradley work his magic. He will have a chance to be the best LEO since Tolstoy. A right tackle for Blake Bortles is imperative, perhaps at the top of the second round. 4. Raiders Amari Cooper (WR, Alabama) Jack Del Rio undoubtedly had fun preparing for Derek Carr as Broncos defensive coordinator, in part because he was scheming against Rod Streater, Andre Holmes and Denarius Moore. The second-year quarterback craves a go-to receiver who can complement James Jones and cause defensive coordinators sleepless nights. 5. Redskins Brandon Scherff (T/G, Iowa) Robert Griffin III’s only chance to develop as a pocket passer is if coach Jay Gruden can keep him upright. A right tackle bookend for Trent Williams is exactly what new offensive line coach Bill Callahan needs. Could be better suited at guard, but the more Hogs the merrier, and Justin Pugh was projected inside, too. Admittedly, he may have to run a faster 40 than Usain Bolt to keep this from being considered a reach by personnel whiz GM Scot McCloughan, but this is my story and I’m sticking to it — until Serby Mock 3.0, when Gruden thinks long and hard about a pass rusher. 6. Jets Modal Trigger MariotaPhoto: AP Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon) New head coach, new GM, new franchise quarterback. Geno Smith will open the season as the starter, but as soon as he stops displaying those Pro Bowl flashes, as soon as the Duck is ready to show his pluck, a new era will begin. And once Mariota shows he is much more than a system quarterback, the critical question — Would Pete Carroll hesitate letting Mariota throw from the 1-yard line to win a Super Bowl, or wouldn’t he? — will be answered in the affirmative. Mariota is too low-key to want to be Broadway Marcus, but the bright lights won’t make him blink.
Well, I recall that Serby was urging the Jers to draft Sanchez in the weeks leading up to that fateful draft, and was celebrating after it happened as if he was certain that "Broadway Mark" would lead us to a Super Bowl. .... so, in other words, take this article for what it's worth.
It's not happening..Would probably be the best thing to happen to this franchise in a long time if he was sitting there but he's going top 2 I wish I could bet a lot of money on this.
A lot of people have Mariota falling lately, and the more I see him falling to us, the more I want to look elsewhere in the first round. Gregory is intriguing... and there will be decent WRs hanging out at 36. If we can walk away with Gregory, Ajayi, Dorsett or Green-Beckham we will have had a very solid draft on paper.
anyone follow this kid in college? someone posted he's nothing more than system qb, a shotgun slash spread offense ala Geno Smith 2.0. is this true?
I believe he has a high football IQ, but will need a system to fit his strengths like Philly's. If the Jets get him you should be happy.
Yes, there are a lot of warning signs that he might end up being one of those great college QB's whose skills don't translate well to the NFL. FWIW, he doesn't really pass the "eyeball test" for a Pro QB, and there have been a lot of great college QB's, including several fairly recent Heisman winners, who flopped in the NFL.
Are you sure you aren't a little bit of a Jets fan? Good post. That's what I think as well. If Winston is gone and we are left with Mariota we should pull the trigger.
Until we have a legit QB I'm all for taking whatever top ranked QB's fall to us. We need a damn franchise QB, so let's keep drafting lotto tickets.
No Jets fan here...but have relatives who are, from Brooklyn. I had an obnoxious uncle (drunk uncle) who was obsessed with them. I can still hear him screaming at the TV in his trailer to this day I really thought Winston would fall because of his off field activities, but the media, ESPN/NFL Network have left it alone...surprising.
it is entirely possible this occurs. my understanding is that the titans believe they have their guy in mettenburg, if you believe you have your guy you dont spend the second pick in the draft on another guy. just not happening. the jags and raiders just drafted qbs, who played middling to decent last year so i doubt they are jumping up and down to draft another qb. the skins are still in search of a franchise qb, lets face it the rg3 experiment looked like it was over last year. does that mean they draft another guy at this point or do they think rg3 was not right last year and hope that he comes back strong. do they believe cousins is the 329 yard performer he was in relief a couple years ago or the 1-4 guy from last year. or do they realize their problems arent at qb but at many other areas including coaching and the retard owner. http://isportsweb.com/2015/02/08/washington-redskins-qb-dilemma/ seems like they dont really even know. the bucs are most likely taking one of them. which one is up for debate. mariota would be a great pick at number 6, he has the measurables at 6-4 and 220, he has the accuracy of throwing 66 percent completions, he has what appears to be the smarts to make simple reads, he has what appears to be a great attitude, ability to get the ball down field and outside the number and most importantly amazingly good foot work. its frustrating that kids dont learn hwo to work from under center, but if the kid has great footwork for what he does he can learn to have great footwork out from under center. you either have it and can work at it or you cant. a guy like geno didnt have good footwork in general. i think its a no brainer to draft the kid and develop him into a great qb. although i would be happier if he was coming out of stanford i dont think you can argue with how much potential the kid has. there i said it now.
if we come out of this draft with mariota we will not be set up for disappointment. i cant say that for the other kid as he has a much bigger potential but also a much bigger possibility of complete and total failure.
