Originally posted by SECTION 11
If your going by the number of question marks for a Bust Indicator, between Suggs and Leftwich it's Suggs hands down.
Is he an every down DE?
Can he play OLB?
How does he not get blown off the line on first down?
Why is he so slow?
Why is he so weak?
How did he train for a second workout, a crucial workout, and actually get slower?
How many adjustments does our entire front seven have to make for one guy if he's not on the line on first down?
Why aren't Walter Jones and Orlando Pace shaking in their boots? I dunno.
I am the last Newman holdout I guess but here is why I like Leftwich over Suggs. First, the playing factor. Who in God's name said if they draft Leftwich he HAS to sit out a year? Unless he holds out (let's not go there right now) there is no reason to believe he couldn't come in and take the starting job. Blake was brought in to be the starter but if the Cards drafted Leftwich and he was clearly the better option does anyone honestly believe the coaches would bench him only because he is a rookie?
Second, the leadership factor. Plummer was a popular player around here but it seems he didn;t exhibit the leadership abilities any of us wanted him to show. I mean, we are now hearing how he didn't do the offseason program and it sounds like his film watching left a little to be desired. If any of you watched Leftwich, he showed a leadership ability (by example for sure and probably by word) when he gutted it out through the broken leg. Does anyone think that may have spurred his teammates at Marshall on knowing what he was doing? Think it may have made them play a bit harder? Bet your ass it did. I believe veteran NFL players would respond to him since they all saw what he did when he was playing this year. He will come in with a built in respect factor due to the way he conducted himself even when injured. Don't kid yourself. The pro guys know all about him.
Third, the arm. He has a huge arm. Trust me, I like Blake and I was pushing for him alot this season/offseason. His arm is excellent but I do think Leftwich may have the better arm not only for distance but for accuracy.
Cheesebeef is right. This draft is about beyond 2003. It is for the future and I think Leftwich would make a great pick over Suggs if available. Who will have the greater impact on games? A DE or A QB? My vote goes to QB every time. QBs control the game. Leftwich will rally the whole team IMO and that cannot be bad. I cannot see Suggs rallying them in the same fashion.