Did Nate level off his last season?

Level off as the season went along? I don't see it that way. He was very good in the USC game. He was good in the Illinois and Minnesota game. At the end of the Nebraska game he was very good. Within those games he had some off plays, but it wasn't a general, as the season wore on leveling off. In fairness to Kiper, he can't know every player, so he makes generalizations that sound like he knows what he's talking about. Also, he doesn't really know where Stanley will go, but he has to say something. "I don't know where he'll go" doesn't help him in his world.
 
All Kiper is really saying is Stanley's stats weren't there and there were enough obvious positives and negatives to suggest Stanley at least has a chance to develop into an back up quarterback.

I really don't think Kiper has the least interest to delve any further into details on Stanley.
 
The hardest thing in evaluating Nate is he made some really elite throws but they were too inconsistent and they were mixed in with bad throws or poor decisions and too be fair some of that wasn't all on Nate either. I think he has some good tools and if playing football is something he wants to do and commits to it full time I think he can improve.

I don't think he is a starter in his first several years. I think he could be a good back-up eventually getting some starts similar to CJ but especially with him the situation and schemes are going to have to be a good fit for his strengths.

I don't think he is someone that is all of a sudden going to develop these other skills we haven't seen before. I think he can and will improve on his skills he already has.
 
kameltoez102 said:
The hardest thing in evaluating Nate is he made some really elite throws but they were too inconsistent and they were mixed in with bad throws or poor decisions and too be fair some of that wasn't all on Nate either. I think he has some good tools and if playing football is something he wants to do and commits to it full time I think he can improve.

I don't think he is a starter in his first several years. I think he could be a good back-up eventually getting some starts similar to CJ but especially with him the situation and schemes are going to have to be a good fit for his strengths.

I don't think he is someone that is all of a sudden going to develop these other skills we haven't seen before. I think he can and will improve on his skills he already has.
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Good summary. Nate this year suffered from the running game and therefore red zone problems.

Maybe a better QB coach notices a small physical change needed in his delivery and set up which really improves his consistency. Nate has accuracy but it is not consistent and I have wondered if he does something very minor like drop an elbow, loop his arm when taking the ball back or not always repeating the best motion. Maybe his footwork is not consistent.

I think he does need to improve his accuracy/consistency to make it and stick for awhile.
 
Agree that's what Kiper was trying to say. Stanley leveled off from his junior to senior season without any dramatic improvement.
 
The biggest problem with Stanley is intangible, but scouts will see that more than any stats.

He chokes when stakes are high, and plays lights out when it doesn’t matter as much.

He either looks like Peyton Manning or Brady Quinn with no in between. And in today’s NFL even if you get lucky enough to see the field you only get about one game of looking like Brady Quinn before you become a permanent clipboard operator for the rest of your short-ass career. No room for error.
 
I don't agree that he leveled off. I also don't agree that he really got all that much better. He seemed to me to be about the same QB in 2019 as he was in 2017. He had more TDs in 2017 and 2018 because he had 2 all-world TEs to throw to in the redzone. His yards went up in 2019 because he finally had some receivers who could get separation for big plays and get some YAC.

He was a really good QB when there wasn't much pressure on him....whether that was literal pressure from a blitz or implied pressure from the stakes of the game. But he just wasn't a good QB against the blitz at all and he didn't perform all that well in times where he was needed to put the team on his shoulders.

That's not a knock or "disrespect". It's the facts as shown over a 3 year period.
 
I don't agree with a lot of the takes here. He was clutch at the end of the Wisconsin game, almost leading us to a comeback win. He was clutch at the end of the Nebraska game. He made a clutch third and long pass in second half of the ISU game. It seems to me he also made less dumb throws last season than he made the season prior.

I'd say he got moderately better between his junior and senior seasons.
 
SteveGarvey1 said:
I don't agree with a lot of the takes here. He was clutch at the end of the Wisconsin game, almost leading us to a comeback win. He was clutch at the end of the Nebraska game. He made a clutch third and long pass in second half of the ISU game. It seems to me he also made less dumb throws last season than he made the season prior.

I'd say he got moderately better between his junior and senior seasons.
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I agree with this. We could add '17 ISU game-tying drive and OT, '18 ISU game-sealing drive, '18 WI (he was great that game, highest QB rating of the season, definitely not the reason we lost), '18 4th Q vs. Purdue, Bowl game vs. MSU, etc..

As Kiper said, he has been inconsistent, but it doesn't really matter if it is big game or not.

In '18 vs. PSU, he struggles much of the game (that is more on game-planning and an inability of the whole offense to deal with the pressure), and then he is throwing darts the whole way down the field for what should have been a game-winning drive. That was a big-time moment, and he was killing it. And then the Hawks tried to rush a play at the goal-line (coaches should have called a TO), Fant didn't know the ball was snapped so never moved, so Fant's defender was standing right there to intercept what otherwise would have been a TD.

In the '18 WI game, he was strong throughout. The Hawks had some bad calls/execution in the red-zone (failed sneak on 4th, pitch to IKM for -4 on 3rd and goal from 2), and 2 punt-return turnovers, so they came up short. Stanley missed a wide-open TJ cross with 11:25 left in the 4th, and that is what people hang on, but it's not like the pressure on that one throw was somehow greater than all the other throws he had hit in that game.

In '18 vs. Purdue, Hawks are down 12 in the 2nd half on the road in a must-win game. Lots of pressure. Stanley leads 2 TD drives (one was a short field), going 7/9 for 80 yards. Then the Hawks fail to hold onto the victory because their possession with 8:00 left, which started with Stanley throwing for a 1st down, was derailed by 2 subsequent holding penalties (one negating a Stanley 7 yard scramble), and the D gives up a game-winning FG drive. Is Stanely clutch if the D holds, but not clutch because the D gave up a 4th down conversion and committed a PI penalty on that last drive?

This year vs. Wisconsin he throws 2 4th Q TD passes, but then the Hawks come up short with the 2pt conversion. Is he somehow clutch if the Hawks make that conversion, but not clutch because they came up short?

This year vs. Illinois (very low pressure situation), he throws some great balls, but has trouble placing a couple of deep middle throws over the LBs and in front of the safeties. One results in a missed opportunity for a TD, the other results in an int. Not a big game, but the same inconsistency shows up.

The "not clutch" thing is a narrative supported by a couple snapshots in peoples' minds, but it doesn't really hold up when you look at the big picture.

The inconsistency thing does hold up (in big games and little). The trouble dealing with blitz/pressure also holds up, I know he was below average in that regard his first 2 years. I have a sense he was better this year, but I haven't seen any data yet on how he performed in '19 vs. pressure.
 
HuckFinn said:
Nate had to almost completely change his tactics in 2019. From two all conference tight ends to a new batch of wide receivers. I would guess that would be a tough transition.
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Add to that transition the graduation of Easley, and Smith being out with an injury part of the season.
 
AreWeThereYet said:
Add to that transition the graduation of Easley, and Smith being out with an injury part of the season.
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Oh and 2 first round TEs... Where he was throwing the ball changed a lot this year compared to his JR yr with some of the play calling due to personnel. He threw more to LaPorta later in the year but early on he hardly threw to Weiting or Beyer much.

My take on Stanley is dude has upside. Physically he's what most coaches want. (unless you want the Mahomes, or Jackson, Watson, more mobile type) Stanley isn't a statue either. He's mobile enough for his size to where that's not a negative.. If you can coach him up to not hold the ball to long to take stupid sacks and not make the head scratching interception you have a more then solid QB on your hands. Sure he'll miss on some makeable throws too which is big time frustrating. But he can also make throws not everyone can make even at that level.

I think it only takes 1 team to fall in love with him. I could see a team like the Steelers taking him in the 3rd or 4th rd. Maybe Tampa takes him in the later rounds to play behind Rivers for a yr or two after they bring him in... Who knows lots of dominos yet to fall in that regard. But I don't think he'll fall to the 6th or 7th round. Due to upside because he's got some of that.
 
I think Stanley was as good as any of the other quarterbacks in the Ferentz era. Only one (Beathard) to my knowledge has played at all in the NFL and I think Stanley has a very good shot of making an NFL roster. IN comparing him to Beathard, in Beathard's great season (2015) I believe that Beathard played behind an offensive line that was better than any of the OLs Stanley played with in 2017, 2018 or 2019. Beathard in 2015 also had the ability to make terrific plays with his legs, something that Stanley obviously lacked, but Stanley certainly had the better arm.

I love Coach Ferentz but his system of ball control offense really doesn't demand, or produce, elite quarterback talent and the truly elite high school talent doesn't come to Iowa because of that.
 
CP87 said:
I agree with this. We could add '17 ISU game-tying drive and OT, '18 ISU game-sealing drive, '18 WI (he was great that game, highest QB rating of the season, definitely not the reason we lost), '18 4th Q vs. Purdue, Bowl game vs. MSU, etc..

As Kiper said, he has been inconsistent, but it doesn't really matter if it is big game or not.

In '18 vs. PSU, he struggles much of the game (that is more on game-planning and an inability of the whole offense to deal with the pressure), and then he is throwing darts the whole way down the field for what should have been a game-winning drive. That was a big-time moment, and he was killing it. And then the Hawks tried to rush a play at the goal-line (coaches should have called a TO), Fant didn't know the ball was snapped so never moved, so Fant's defender was standing right there to intercept what otherwise would have been a TD.

In the '18 WI game, he was strong throughout. The Hawks had some bad calls/execution in the red-zone (failed sneak on 4th, pitch to IKM for -4 on 3rd and goal from 2), and 2 punt-return turnovers, so they came up short. Stanley missed a wide-open TJ cross with 11:25 left in the 4th, and that is what people hang on, but it's not like the pressure on that one throw was somehow greater than all the other throws he had hit in that game.

In '18 vs. Purdue, Hawks are down 12 in the 2nd half on the road in a must-win game. Lots of pressure. Stanley leads 2 TD drives (one was a short field), going 7/9 for 80 yards. Then the Hawks fail to hold onto the victory because their possession with 8:00 left, which started with Stanley throwing for a 1st down, was derailed by 2 subsequent holding penalties (one negating a Stanley 7 yard scramble), and the D gives up a game-winning FG drive. Is Stanely clutch if the D holds, but not clutch because the D gave up a 4th down conversion and committed a PI penalty on that last drive?

This year vs. Wisconsin he throws 2 4th Q TD passes, but then the Hawks come up short with the 2pt conversion. Is he somehow clutch if the Hawks make that conversion, but not clutch because they came up short?

This year vs. Illinois (very low pressure situation), he throws some great balls, but has trouble placing a couple of deep middle throws over the LBs and in front of the safeties. One results in a missed opportunity for a TD, the other results in an int. Not a big game, but the same inconsistency shows up.

The "not clutch" thing is a narrative supported by a couple snapshots in peoples' minds, but it doesn't really hold up when you look at the big picture.

The inconsistency thing does hold up (in big games and little). The trouble dealing with blitz/pressure also holds up, I know he was below average in that regard his first 2 years. I have a sense he was better this year, but I haven't seen any data yet on how he performed in '19 vs. pressure.
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It's like Kiper was using the film and narrative from Nate's junior season but set aside those things from last season.
 
ChosenChildren said:
I think Stanley was as good as any of the other quarterbacks in the Ferentz era. Only one (Beathard) to my knowledge has played at all in the NFL and I think Stanley has a very good shot of making an NFL roster. IN comparing him to Beathard, in Beathard's great season (2015) I believe that Beathard played behind an offensive line that was better than any of the OLs Stanley played with in 2017, 2018 or 2019. Beathard in 2015 also had the ability to make terrific plays with his legs, something that Stanley obviously lacked, but Stanley certainly had the better arm.
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Beathard also kept his head under duress and in big game situations; he got taken ahead of some other guys who had more athletic ability.

That's the part of the puzzle that's so frustrating. Put Stanley's arm on a guy with CJ's toughness and mental fortitude and you have a first rounder.

And the NFL ain't gonna get any easier for him on that front. First of all NFL coaches don't give two shits about developing you. If you don't have the stuff you're gonna get shipped on down the road. Fans are even more brutal and there isn't going to be a locker room full of guys telling you they love you and "Go get em, tiger." Pro ball is strictly business and everyone in that locker room wants a QB that has ice in his veins and takes charge. They're here to make money, not ra ra ra, yay college, turn boys into fine young men, blah blah blah.

That's the part that Stanley lacks the most. In big games he had that look where he had been completely overwhelmed with terror and panic. Penn State that time was terrible...their players said after the game they could tell they had him rattled, and if a college team can smell that he shit his pants what do you think an NFL defensive line is gonna do to him? A guy like CJ can and did operate under those conditions when he had the chance and had Garropolo not been part of the picture he'd still be starting IMO.
 
Fryowa said:
Beathard also kept his head under duress and in big game situations; he got taken ahead of some other guys who had more athletic ability.

That's the part of the puzzle that's so frustrating. Put Stanley's arm on a guy with CJ's toughness and mental fortitude and you have a first rounder.

And the NFL ain't gonna get any easier for him on that front. First of all NFL coaches don't give two shits about developing you. If you don't have the stuff you're gonna get shipped on down the road. Fans are even more brutal and there isn't going to be a locker room full of guys telling you they love you and "Go get em, tiger." Pro ball is strictly business and everyone in that locker room wants a QB that has ice in his veins and takes charge. They're here to make money, not ra ra ra, yay college, turn boys into fine young men, blah blah blah.

That's the part that Stanley lacks the most. In big games he had that look where he had been completely overwhelmed with terror and panic. Penn State that time was terrible...their players said after the game they could tell they had him rattled, and if a college team can smell that he shit his pants what do you think an NFL defensive line is gonna do to him? A guy like CJ can and did operate under those conditions when he had the chance and had Garropolo not been part of the picture he'd still be starting IMO.
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Of all the NFL head coaches I can only think of 3 that have a reputation for developing quarterbacks. And that would be Andy Reid, Sean Peyton and Bruce Arians. Put in the Patriots coaching staff and that makes it 4. At some point you may be able to throw Reich, Pederson, McVay and Shannonhan into that mix, even if you include those 4, that is 8 of 32.

So yeah, you are correct. You need to show that you have "it" and you need to show it quickly. Otherwise, rent don't own and have that luggage always prepared to pack.
 
trj said:
Of all the NFL head coaches I can only think of 3 that have a reputation for developing quarterbacks. And that would be Andy Reid, Sean Peyton and Bruce Arians. Put in the Patriots coaching staff and that makes it 4. At some point you may be able to throw Reich, Pederson, McVay and Shannonhan into that mix, even if you include those 4, that is 8 of 32.

So yeah, you are correct. You need to show that you have "it" and you need to show it quickly. Otherwise, rent don't own and have that luggage always prepared to pack.
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That's it... Where you go has everything to do with your chance at success... There's all this talk about Burrow maybe not wanting to go to Cinci. Just for this sort of thing pretty much. Him going there feels like he'll be the next Matthew Stafford. Yeah he'll do well sometimes and put up stats. But probably won't hit his ceiling and won't win any meaningful games. So depends what his goals are. If it's to go to a good fit with the best chance to succeed on the field the Bengals can't be his first choice. Now that's not how the draft works but if he were to threaten to not sign they'd probably pass on him and take Chase Young or another QB...
 
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