Originally posted by lrk27
I'll argue point by point.
Final BCS Standings: Miami, OH Strength of schedule 68, Mississippi Strength of Schedule 70. Very comparable schedule, and if you buy the BCS system, Ben played a tougher schedule. The fact that Eli was in the SEC doesn't mean anything anymore. He DID NOT play against better competition.
The BCS is a fraud. How many future first round picks (or any round draft picks) played in the Mac this year? 3 or 4 at the most.
If you go by the NFL's talent evaluation, the SEC IS a more talented conference. We aren't judging whether Big Ben is a good college quarterback, we're judging if he will be a good NFL quarterback. And he hasn't played against the NFL caliber talent that Eli has on a regular basis.
Originally posted by lrk27
Yes, the support system is nice and will make any GM feel good about Eli, but it does not make him a better QB. I will agree that that makes him less likely to be a total bust, but no more likely to be successful.
It better prepares him to play in the NFL. If Eli has a problem, he can call up his big brother who he knows like, well a brother. Who will Ben call? His QB coach?
Originally posted by lrk27
And yes, Ben was awful against Iowa, I'll give you that. But to say that was the only good team he played is incorrect. Go ahead and rip the small conferences but Bowling Green finished the season ranked ahead of Florida (Eli's big win) and Ben beat them twice, the second of which was one of the more impressive games any QB had all year.
You'll give me that? How noble of you.
Bowling Green finished higher than Florida! Does that make them a more talented college football team? Nope, sorry, that's not the case. Florida's backups are better than Bowling Green's starters at almost any position. Year after year, Florida has NFL talent. What about Bowling Green?
Originally posted by lrk27
The competition they both faced was very comparable.
IF you were creating a schedule for your team, which one would you pick? The second schedule (Miami's) is much easier.
2 Sat., Aug 30 @Vanderbilt W 24-21
3 Sat., Sep 6 @Memphis L 44-34
4 Sat., Sep 13 Louisiana-Monroe W 59-14
6 Sat., Sep 27 Texas Tech L 49-45
7 Sat., Oct 4 @Florida W 20-17
8 Sat., Oct 11 Arkansas State W 55-0
9 Sat., Oct 18 Alabama W 43-28
10 Sat., Oct 25 Arkansas W 19-7
11 Sat., Nov 1 South Carolina W 43-40
12 Sat., Nov 8 @Auburn W 24-20
14 Sat., Nov 22 LSU L 17-14
15 Thur., Nov 27 @Mississippi State W 31-0
20 Fri., Jan 2 Oklahoma State W 31-28
vs.
2 Sat., Aug 30 @Iowa L 21-3
4 Sat., Sep 13 @Northwestern W 44-14
5 Sat., Sep 20 @Colorado State W 41-21
6 Sat., Sep 27 Cincinnati W 42-37
7 Sat., Oct 4 Akron W 45-20
8 Sat., Oct 11 Buffalo W 59-3
9 Sat., Oct 18 @Ball State W 49-3
10 Sat., Oct 25 @Kent State W 38-30
11 Tues., Nov 4 Bowling Green W 33-10
13 Wed., Nov 12 Marshall W 45-6
14 Sat., Nov 22 @Ohio W 49-31
15 Fri., Nov 28 @UCF W 56-21
16 Thur., Dec 4 @Bowling Green W 49-27
18 Thur., Dec 18 @Louisville W 49-28
Originally posted by lrk27
For Manning's stats to equal Ben's, he would have to go 68 for his next 52 for 769 yards and 6 TDs. (Ben did throw one more pick). Ben's QB rating is 16 points higher.
All against inferior competion. Look at the offensive numbers from all MAC teams! Almost every school in that conference has a porous defense.
Originally posted by lrk27
So again, if Eli's last name was Smith, Ben would be clear cut number one pick.
If Ben played in the SEC, PAC-10, Big Ten, etc. you could easily make that argument. But he didn't. And he played poorly against the good teams of those conferences.
I'm not going to argue this any longer. IMO Ben presents a much greater risk. We can't afford to strike out on this pick. We have to take a player that represents the least risk since this team is lacking talent.