Nolan explains taking Alex Smith over Aaron Rodgers (Similarities between decision of Goff or Wentz)

[LosAngelesRams]

Leading up to the 2005 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers gave an edge to eventual No. 1 pick Alex Smith thanks to his humble nature and a litany of perceived flaws in Aaron Rodgers -- cockiness, arrogance and a goofy throwing motion among them.

"The other thing as Alex at the time was a good kid -- a very good person, a safe choice, always trying to please," former 49ers coach Mike Nolan said Tuesday morning on NFL HQ. "On the other hand, Aaron was very cocky, very confident, arrogant. So you can say, 'Why didn't you take him to begin with?' Because that's really what your best quarterbacks look like. They aren't very pleasing. They aren't very safe."

Nolan, who coached the 49ers from 2005 to 2008, owned up to his decision as he has done a few times over the years. As the draft approaches, he serves as a cautionary tale for head coaches selecting between two different but skilled prospects at the top of the order. Jeff Fisher (Rams) and Doug Pederson (Eagles) have that unenviable task on Thursday night in deciding between Jared Goff and Carson Wentz.

"Basically, we thought in the long term that Alex Smith would be the better choice than Aaron," Nolan said. "It was one of those, maybe, paralysis by analysis. We had so much time to think about it.

"We put a lot of stock in changing Aaron's throwing style. We also got caught up a little bit in that Alex was so mobile. That was a good thing. But in the end, we felt Alex would be the better long-time guy. Obviously, we were wrong in that thought process."

Honestly, we should give the poor guy a break. The draft is a wildly inexact science and Smith was coming from a program and offense that no one knew what to make of at Utah yet. In an oral history of the 2011 draft released Tuesday, Sports Illustrated talked to a litany of insiders and executives about one of the best draft classes we've ever seen. One interviewee said that the knock on J.J. Watt was that he couldn't handle double teams. There were clubs who thought Julio Jones was too slow.

Now, obviously, Nolan is recognizing that those traits in Rodgers made him great. But sitting behind Favre, playing in an imaginative offense and having organizational stability didn't hurt, either.

It will be considered one of the great organizational blunders, but what might have happened if Smith found himself in a better environment off the bat? What might have happened if Nolan had a better understanding of the culture he'd need to create in San Francisco? Smith came alive under former 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and is a stable presence in Andy Reid's offense in Kansas City. After a decade in the NFL, it's clear Smith wasn't as good as Rodgers. But he wasn't bad, either.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...explains-taking-alex-smith-over-aaron-rodgers

 

[jsimcox]

How's that working out for ya, Mike?

 

[LosAngelesRams]

How's that working out for ya, Mike?

:rolllaugh:

Lets hope we dont do that same thing.

 

[LACHAMP46]

Rodgers ALWAYS had a better arm than Smith.....
Aaron Rodgers is defined by his arm-strength with fantastic mobility....

 

[ProGen]

Rodgers ALWAYS had a better arm than Smith.....
Aaron Rodgers is defined by his arm-strength with fantastic mobility....

 

[Merlin]

I think Goff wins more games from this year through his third year or so based on his accuracy. But Wentz undoubtedly has the higher upside. Rams really can't go wrong provided they build around that QB's strengths.

If it's Goff they can load up on even small, quick, fast types (any WR really) and spread the field and he can hit them and allow for big runs out of a spread out defense. Should maximize Tavon's contributions to the offense as well. This is why I like Goff even though Wentz has that higher ceiling.

If it's Wentz we'll be seeing a lot of heavy run and play action. As he grows he also has that potential to be a super elite QB, truly rare ability.

 

[Limey]

Doug Pedersen has the task of taking what's left, unless he wants to make us an offer to swap picks.

 

[DB16]

I hope its Wentz. But I don't mind Goff either.

 

[DaveFan'51]

Leading up to the 2005 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers gave an edge to eventual No. 1 pick Alex Smith thanks to his humble nature and a litany of perceived flaws in Aaron Rodgers -- cockiness, arrogance and a goofy throwing motion among them.

"The other thing as Alex at the time was a good kid -- a very good person, a safe choice, always trying to please," former 49ers coach Mike Nolan said Tuesday morning on NFL HQ. "On the other hand, Aaron was very cocky, very confident, arrogant. So you can say, 'Why didn't you take him to begin with?' Because that's really what your best quarterbacks look like. They aren't very pleasing. They aren't very safe."

Nolan, who coached the 49ers from 2005 to 2008, owned up to his decision as he has done a few times over the years. As the draft approaches, he serves as a cautionary tale for head coaches selecting between two different but skilled prospects at the top of the order. Jeff Fisher (Rams) and Doug Pederson (Eagles) have that unenviable task on Thursday night in deciding between Jared Goff and Carson Wentz.

"Basically, we thought in the long term that Alex Smith would be the better choice than Aaron," Nolan said. "It was one of those, maybe, paralysis by analysis. We had so much time to think about it.

"We put a lot of stock in changing Aaron's throwing style. We also got caught up a little bit in that Alex was so mobile. That was a good thing. But in the end, we felt Alex would be the better long-time guy. Obviously, we were wrong in that thought process."

Honestly, we should give the poor guy a break. The draft is a wildly inexact science and Smith was coming from a program and offense that no one knew what to make of at Utah yet. In an oral history of the 2011 draft released Tuesday, Sports Illustrated talked to a litany of insiders and executives about one of the best draft classes we've ever seen. One interviewee said that the knock on J.J. Watt was that he couldn't handle double teams. There were clubs who thought Julio Jones was too slow.

Now, obviously, Nolan is recognizing that those traits in Rodgers made him great. But sitting behind Favre, playing in an imaginative offense and having organizational stability didn't hurt, either.

It will be considered one of the great organizational blunders, but what might have happened if Smith found himself in a better environment off the bat? What might have happened if Nolan had a better understanding of the culture he'd need to create in San Francisco? Smith came alive under former 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and is a stable presence in Andy Reid's offense in Kansas City. After a decade in the NFL, it's clear Smith wasn't as good as Rodgers. But he wasn't bad, either.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...explains-taking-alex-smith-over-aaron-rodgers

And Nolan says Goff is the pick the Rams should take. Does that say anything to you about which way they should go, considering his past track record!?!

 

[LACHAMP46]

If it's Wentz we'll be seeing a lot of heavy run and play action. As he grows he also has that potential to be a super elite QB, truly rare ability.

Todd Gurley approves this message....and so do I....

 

[snackdaddy]

And Nolan says Goff is the pick the Rams should take. Does that say anything to you about which way they should go, considering his past track record!?!

Then again, maybe he realized his mistake? Maybe back then he woulda taken Wentz because he has the same traits Smith had? Maybe he learned from that? Maybe the more polished guy from a higher caliber program is the better option?

 

[LosAngelesRams]

And Nolan says Goff is the pick the Rams should take. Does that say anything to you about which way they should go, considering his past track record!?!

Well in the video they asked him with hindsight 20/20, who would you have taken, he laughed a little bit and said Rodgers. So I think he learned from his mistake.

 

[LosAngelesRams]

Then again, maybe he realized his mistake? Maybe back then he woulda taken Wentz because he has the same traits Smith had? Maybe he learned from that? Maybe the more polished guy from a higher caliber program is the better option?

That's pretty much what I got from it too.

 

[Angry Ram]

Honestly, we should give the poor guy a break. The draft is a wildly inexact science and Smith was coming from a program and offense that no one knew what to make of at Utah yet. In an oral history of the 2011 draft released Tuesday, Sports Illustrated talked to a litany of insiders and executives about one of the best draft classes we've ever seen. One interviewee said that the knock on J.J. Watt was that he couldn't handle double teams. There were clubs who thought Julio Jones was too slow.

This paragraph right here sums up my entire view on the draft these days. It's over-analyzed to death.You take the players with the best talent and production in college. All these pre-draft labels and numbers are useless fodder to kill time. So when Mike Mayock tomorrow night says a player has "good hip movement" or some other bullshit, I just ignore it and watch how he played in actual games.

 

[LesBaker]

And Nolan says Goff is the pick the Rams should take. Does that say anything to you about which way they should go, considering his past track record!?!

 

[LesBaker]

This paragraph right here sums up my entire view on the draft these days. It's over-analyzed to death.You take the players with the best talent and production in college. All these pre-draft labels and numbers are useless fodder to kill time. So when Mike Mayock tomorrow night says a player has "good hip movement" or some other bullcrap, I just ignore it and watch how he played in actual games.

I never listen to much of it myself, it is all fluff and hype.

And Kiper and McShay are the worst of them all.

 

[FrantikRam]

I hope its Wentz. But I don't mind Goff either.

Yea

Doug Pedersen has the task of taking what's left, unless he wants to make us an offer to swap picks.

You know, this is something I hadn't really thought of. If the Eagles are sold on Wentz, they have to come away with him right? So what if we just told them we were 50/50, but that we would take Wentz if they didn't trade with us? Pick up another pick.

 

[HitStick]

I want the guy with the highest floor. Too many players don't hit their ceiling.

 

[Mackeyser]

So you're saying get the guy who lives in a tree house?

Or are you saying George Jefferson is the guy???