Cards will be patient with QB search: Arians would love to get a young signal-caller ready
Arians said he believes there is only one quarterback in this year’s draft who is ready to start as a rookie. He wouldn’t identify him.
“All the rest, there are some really talented arms that need a year of learning how to play the position, especially at this level,” Arians said.
That would fit Arizona’s timetable.
Arians knows a lot about quarterbacks. During his long career as an NFL assistant, he worked with Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck. He said it’s important not to be too anxious to draft a player at that position.
“We’ve had two with the name on the card ready to roll and they’ve gone a pick or three picks ahead of us the last two years,” he said, “but you don’t want to reach. You’ve got them set on your board where you’d like to take that quarterback. If he falls to you in the fourth round, don’t take him in the third round because now you’re screwing up your board and you’re probably putting him in a position he doesn’t belong.”
Arians said the first things he looks for in a quarterback is in his head and his heart.
“If you’ve got a guy that’s got grit and he can lead, you probably can live with his skill level,” he said. “Now if he’s got skill level and those two things, you’ve got the world champ.”
Of course, arm strength is important.
“It doesn’t have to be a cannon because most guys with a cannon wait to see the guy get open, then they throw the fastball,” Arians said. “Those get intercepted the other way.
“You have to have some anticipation. So if you’re not quite as strong, you anticipate better and you’ll get it out on time. Accuracy is the key.”
