Oregon QB Marcus Mariota is a terrific prospect.
But he’s coming out of a college spread offense, and is a major project.
ESPN’s Jon Gruden thinks Mariota can be a very good NFL QB, if a team handles him right.
“If someone takes the time to do it right, this guy is going to be a ball of fire because he is really talented,” Gruden wrote on ESPN.com. “We live in this world of, ‘Put him out there, send him out there.’ Remember, Aaron Rodgers did not do it. Brett Favre did not do it. Troy Aikman went 1-15. Donovan McNabb started out behind Doug Pederson. There was a time where we said, ‘Hey, let’s just bring these guys along and make sure the developmental process is done right.’ I think if it is done right, you have a can’t-miss prospect in Mariota.”
Gruden is right.
Mariota is a very good prospect, but not instant coffee.
The draft preview issue of Jets Confidential Magazine is in the mail, and will be on news stands later this week.
