Big Blue Huddle

https://x.com/RAanalytics/status/1892203252218753419

If I wanted him to play RB.

Helps but a QB wins with his brain and arm.

It gives him a bit of cache (the two fastest QB's in the NFL have been solidly successful) but it can't make up for the fact that he's not a top-level player in any other (IMO more important) categories. Also, there is a school of thought (including me) that it's more important for today's QB's to be sturdy than fast, because if they're on the bench injured they aren't doing their team much good. Bob

Quote from: Bob In PA on February 19, 2025, 08:46:32 AMIt gives him a bit of cache (the two fastest QB's in the NFL have been solidly successful) but it can't make up for the fact that he's not a top-level player in any other (IMO more important) categories. Also, there is a school of thought (including me) that it's more important for today's QB's to be sturdy than fast, because if they're on the bench injured they aren't doing their team much good. Bob

Look no farther than Robert Griffin Jr.

If a QB runs he has to be able to take hits.  Needs to be big and strong.

What if he runs a 4.38? 

I appreciate that some people clearly didn't understand the purpose of my question.  The reality is teams have access to GPS data on these players.  So for NFL teams, 40 times are not nearly as important as they used to be, and they are almost never surprised.

However, most draftniks are not even skilled enough to estimate a 40 time from the film.  So when Milroe runs a sub 4.4 there are going to be all sorts of ohs and awes from the draftniks and the NFL media.  We are going to see a change of the Milroe narrative from its current he is not very good, to "wow! look at how fast he is!  He is first-round material!"

This thread sort of preempts the upcoming "surprise"

I also heard former GM Rick Spielman (who is now working for the Jets) talk about this sort of 40 times as well on his podcast a few weeks ago.

Not for me because I've been expecting him to do that.  His combine numbers are going to be off the charts because he's an off the charts athlete.  If you take Milroe you are taking a Lamar Jackson type athlete.  But the passing ability isn't there yet.  So you might also be taking Anthony Richardson.  And the problem is you don't know if it's going to develop or not.

I like Milroe a lot personally.  If you watch some video of him you will see some flashes of incredible throws.  One pass against Oklahoma which could have brought them back into the game was called back due to a questionable (wrong) illegal formation call but the throw was perfect.  He has shown that the ability is in there somewhere but he has trouble doing it consistently.  So I'm not taking him in the top 10 when guys like Ward/Sanders/Dart are all more of a sure thing.  But if the Giants pass on a QB at #3 and go with Hunter or Graham or Carter instead, the 2nd round pick could very well be Milroe.

Jalen Hurts had a lot of the same questions around him and managed to develop quite nicely for the Eagles, Milroe could follow a similar path.  Or he could also be a complete bust and play RB in 3 years.  There's just such wide range of possibilities with this guy.  One thing I do think is pretty certain is that if he's taking snaps the game is going to be exciting.  One way or another.

His forty time doesn't change his hand size. Plus all the stuff with him being benched with Saban, and then the university forcing Deboer to start him when he didn't want him at Qb, among other things have totally written him off for me at least.

Quote from: MightyGiants on February 19, 2025, 09:15:49 AMI appreciate that some people clearly didn't understand the purpose of my question.  The reality is teams have access to GPS data on these players.  So for NFL teams, 40 times are not nearly as important as they used to be, and they are almost never surprised.

However, most draftniks are not even skilled enough to estimate a 40 time from the film.  So when Milroe runs a sub 4.4 there are going to be all sorts of ohs and awes from the draftniks and the NFL media.  We are going to see a change of the Milroe narrative from its current he is not very good, to "wow! look at how fast he is!  He is first-round material!"

This thread sort of preempts the upcoming "surprise"

I also heard former GM Rick Spielman (who is now working for the Jets) talk about this sort of 40 times as well on his podcast a few weeks ago.

Don't sleep on this change. Spielman never got enough credit for the rosters and culture that he built. It's too bad we don't have an owner who can identify this type of available talent when it's literally sitting right in front of him.

Quote from: Jclayton92 on February 19, 2025, 10:11:34 AMHis forty time doesn't change his hand size. Plus all the stuff with him being benched with Saban, and then the university forcing Deboer to start him when he didn't want him at Qb, among other things have totally written him off for me at least.

Great point about his hand size.  Forgot that.  Running a 4.20 does jot change that.

Quote from: Gmo11 on February 19, 2025, 09:39:40 AMNot for me because I've been expecting him to do that.  His combine numbers are going to be off the charts because he's an off the charts athlete.  If you take Milroe you are taking a Lamar Jackson type athlete.  But the passing ability isn't there yet.  So you might also be taking Anthony Richardson.  And the problem is you don't know if it's going to develop or not.

I like Milroe a lot personally.  If you watch some video of him you will see some flashes of incredible throws.  One pass against Oklahoma which could have brought them back into the game was called back due to a questionable (wrong) illegal formation call but the throw was perfect.  He has shown that the ability is in there somewhere but he has trouble doing it consistently.  So I'm not taking him in the top 10 when guys like Ward/Sanders/Dart are all more of a sure thing.  But if the Giants pass on a QB at #3 and go with Hunter or Graham or Carter instead, the 2nd round pick could very well be Milroe.

Jalen Hurts had a lot of the same questions around him and managed to develop quite nicely for the Eagles, Milroe could follow a similar path.  Or he could also be a complete bust and play RB in 3 years.  There's just such wide range of possibilities with this guy.  One thing I do think is pretty certain is that if he's taking snaps the game is going to be exciting.  One way or another.

Not to mention his academic smarts. One of the brightest athletes to come out in a long time. But as we know book smart doesn't always translate to football smarts.

Quote from: MightyGiants on February 19, 2025, 09:15:49 AMI appreciate that some people clearly didn't understand the purpose of my question.  The reality is teams have access to GPS data on these players.  So for NFL teams, 40 times are not nearly as important as they used to be, and they are almost never surprised.

Great point about GPS data now being available/quantifiable.  I hadn't considered that and yeah, IMO that would take the "run the 40 in shorts under optimal conditions" aspect of the Combine and make it much less important- at least for competent front offices, I'd think. 

Quote from: PSUBeirut on February 19, 2025, 11:05:30 AMGreat point about GPS data now being available/quantifiable.  I hadn't considered that and yeah, IMO that would take the "run the 40 in shorts under optimal conditions" aspect of the Combine and make it much less important- at least for competent front offices, I'd think.

The 40-yard dash is pretty much just for fans these days.  Maybe at a pure speed position like WR or DB there may be some limited value, but over time, it will become less and less important.   The only thing the 40-yard dash has over GPS data at this point is there is much more archival information on the 40-yard dash.  In other words, teams have more information on how 40-yard dash numbers correlate with NFL success than they do the GPS data.  As time goes on and teams get more years of GPS data, the 40-yard dash will become about as useful as a leather helmet.

Quote from: andrew_nyGiants on February 19, 2025, 10:15:00 AMDon't sleep on this change. Spielman never got enough credit for the rosters and culture that he built. It's too bad we don't have an owner who can identify this type of available talent when it's literally sitting right in front of him.

Sadly, I enjoyed a few years of listening to Mike Lombardi, Rich Spielman, and Randy Mueller.  Now, all three of them have football jobs again, and I am left listening to Mark Dominic as the only GM with a podcast.