QB CJ Beathard - signs with Jacksonville

Personally, I'm excited about this guy. Mainly, because I know nothing about him, he wasn't even on my radar and it was exactly the kind of pick I wanted Shanny to make this year at QB. All the QB's I knew about I was underwhelmed by, at best. I had even said during the whole QBOTF thread, several times, that I was hoping Shanny would find a guy in the 3rd-4th rounds that was little known, undervalued by the league but one that Shanny had identified something in that made him really want the guy. This was exactly what happened. I don't know if it's going to work out, but if it does....OH LAWD!(as us southerners say).

I just know Shanahan has a pretty darn good track record evaluating QBs and it doesn't always fit the same views as the masses.

I know I haven't always been spot on in QB evaluations. I said going into this draft no matter who and where we draft a QB I won't bad mouth the pick. I'll admit I was surprised but clearly there was something there Kyle values and I can see some good things on display.

We're not rushing him out there this year. Let him work with Kyle and see if he can get consistent and develop into a starting caliber QB. He may not be another Tom Brady but I'd take a Marc Bulger at this point.

Hard work & technique goes a long way in the NFL. He may not have the physical talent of Colin Kaepernick or results and stats of Deshaun Watson but I'm excited to see what he can do with work and coaching at this level.

Originally posted by genus49:
I just know Shanahan has a pretty darn good track record evaluating QBs and it doesn't always fit the same views as the masses.

I know I haven't always been spot on in QB evaluations. I said going into this draft no matter who and where we draft a QB I won't bad mouth the pick. I'll admit I was surprised but clearly there was something there Kyle values and I can see some good things on display.

We're not rushing him out there this year. Let him work with Kyle and see if he can get consistent and develop into a starting caliber QB. He may not be another Tom Brady but I'd take a Marc Bulger at this point.

Hard work & technique goes a long way in the NFL. He may not have the physical talent of Colin Kaepernick or results and stats of Deshaun Watson but I'm excited to see what he can do with work and coaching at this level.

I think we can make an argument for being able to rush him into action due to what CJ was responsible for in college. It's Trubisky/Mahomes/Watson that should take a year to learn. CJ did things in college that prepares him well to be pro ready. This is what CJ had to say about his combine interviews with NFL coaches.

"I can't thank coach Ferentz and (former Iowa offensive coordinator Greg) Davis enough for the things they taught me and for the things they asked out of me at Iowa," Beathard said. "Talking with these (NFL) coaches and offensive coordinators, they know I know what I'm talking about. I've had to make Mike points and change protections all of the time. That's all we did at Iowa. It's really prepared me."

The spread/AirRaid QBs most likely did not have to do those things. There was an article about some of these college QBs not being able to identify defensive fronts. I'm curious if CJ called run game audibles at Iowa. If so, I think he's well prepared to see some playing time once he understands Kyle's playbook. I wouldn't be surprised to see CJ get some playing time in week 15ish.

Originally posted by thl408:

I think we can make as argument for being able to rush him into action due to what CJ was responsible for in college. It's Trubisky/Mahomes/Watson that should take a year to learn. CJ did things in college that prepares him well to be pro ready. This is what CJ had to say about his combine interviews with NFL coaches.

"I can't thank coach Ferentz and (former Iowa offensive coordinator Greg) Davis enough for the things they taught me and for the things they asked out of me at Iowa," Beathard said. "Talking with these (NFL) coaches and offensive coordinators, they know I know what I'm talking about. I've had to make Mike points and change protections all of the time. That's all we did at Iowa. It's really prepared me."

The spread/AirRaid QBs most likely did not have to do those things. There was an article about some of these college QBs not being able to identify defensive fronts. I'm curious if CJ called run game audibles at Iowa. If so, I think he's well prepared to see some playing time once he understands Kyle's playbook. I wouldn't be surprised to see CJ get some playing time in week 15ish.

CJ was just on NFL radio and said he did make run game audibles along with different protections etc...the main thing he will have to learn is the verbiage with shanny.

This is the article I was referring to about some college QBs not knowing what a defensive front is. These are things CJ does not have to learn because Iowa prepared him for it.

http://deadspin.com/college-qbs-are-unprepared-for-the-nfl-1729636094
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said the new crop of college quarterbacks were flummoxed by a simple question about an "under" front, one of the most common defensive alignments. "Whoa, no one's ever told me 'front' before," he remembers one prospect saying. "No one's ever talked to me about reading these defenses."

Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley said he had the same results when he asked prospects a question about defenses shifting from a common scheme called "cover 2" to an equally mundane tactic called "cover 3." Hue Jackson, the offensive coordinator from the Bengals, said he had to dumb down his questions, while Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton said some QBs failed to grasp things as basic as understanding a common play call. "You have to teach these kids the absolute basics," he said.

Originally posted by NYniner85:
CJ was just on NFL radio and said he did make run game audibles along with different protections etc...the main thing he will have to learn is the verbiage with shanny.

Yes! Thanks. I was scouring the internets for confirmation of this. Most QBs asked to change protection should be given freedom to audible into the optimal run play based on their read of the defensive alignment.

Originally posted by jonnydel:

Personally, I'm excited about this guy. Mainly, because I know nothing about him, he wasn't even on my radar and it was exactly the kind of pick I wanted Shanny to make this year at QB. All the QB's I knew about I was underwhelmed by, at best. I had even said during the whole QBOTF thread, several times, that I was hoping Shanny would find a guy in the 3rd-4th rounds that was little known, undervalued by the league but one that Shanny had identified something in that made him really want the guy. This was exactly what happened. I don't know if it's going to work out, but if it does....OH LAWD!(as us southerners say).

Yeah, definitely a surprise for many fans when he was drafted. Whether we're happy with the pick or not, bottom line is Shanny wanted him enough to trade up and from what I've read, the only QB he was interested in drafting.

I'm not sure if he'll ever become a starter, but I could easily see him as a career #2 QB that steps in when needed. He can challenge Barkley for the backup role and seems intelligent enough to be able to learn the WCO playbook.

Besides, he seems to have a good arm and quick decision making, stands tall in the pocket while throwing, but does run when the play breaks down. Even saw him scramble and get a leaping TD on one of his highlights.

Originally posted by jonnydel:
Personally, I'm excited about this guy. Mainly, because I know nothing about him, he wasn't even on my radar and it was exactly the kind of pick I wanted Shanny to make this year at QB. All the QB's I knew about I was underwhelmed by, at best. I had even said during the whole QBOTF thread, several times, that I was hoping Shanny would find a guy in the 3rd-4th rounds that was little known, undervalued by the league but one that Shanny had identified something in that made him really want the guy. This was exactly what happened. I don't know if it's going to work out, but if it does....OH LAWD!(as us southerners say).

Same here. I'm excited about him mostly because he was Shanahan's favorite QB in the draft. Doesn't guarantee he will be great, but Shanahan knows what qualities he's looking for in a QB better than anyone else.

Even though I was focusing on pro-style QBs in the draft, I somehow overlooked Beathard. I think I discounted him too quick because so many draft analysts rated him as a late Day 3 pick. Watching some more of his games since the draft, he has the talent to justify the pick. Apparently the Steelers and Bucs really liked him and were considering him early in the 4th rd before our pick, so good on Lynch for trading up to grab Shanahan's guy.

Great thing is there won't be any lofty expectations, he has time to develop. He already has a head start coming from a pro-style offense, the learning curve is not as steep.

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

CJ was just on NFL radio and said he did make run game audibles along with different protections etc...the main thing he will have to learn is the verbiage with shanny.

Yes! Thanks. I was scouring the internets for confirmation of this. Most QBs asked to change protection should be given freedom to audible into the optimal run play based on their read of the defensive alignment.

Yup he came off pretty darn smart...I wouldn't be surprised if he started at some pt this yr. Barkley and Boyer aren't known for being too durable

Originally posted by mcbaes72:

Originally posted by jonnydel:
Personally, I'm excited about this guy. Mainly, because I know nothing about him, he wasn't even on my radar and it was exactly the kind of pick I wanted Shanny to make this year at QB. All the QB's I knew about I was underwhelmed by, at best. I had even said during the whole QBOTF thread, several times, that I was hoping Shanny would find a guy in the 3rd-4th rounds that was little known, undervalued by the league but one that Shanny had identified something in that made him really want the guy. This was exactly what happened. I don't know if it's going to work out, but if it does....OH LAWD!(as us southerners say).

Yeah, definitely a surprise for many fans when he was drafted. Whether we're happy with the pick or not, bottom line is Shanny wanted him enough to trade up and from what I've read, the only QB he was interested in drafting.

I'm not sure if he'll ever become a starter, but I could easily see him as a career #2 QB that steps in when needed. He can challenge Barkley for the backup role and seems intelligent enough to be able to learn the WCO playbook.

Besides, he seems to have a good arm and quick decision making, stands tall in the pocket while throwing, but does run when the play breaks down. Even saw him scramble and get a leaping TD on one of his highlights.

Only reason I was interested in the guy was his lineage--grandson of one of the best football minds of all time. Totally agree that all the top QBs had huge questions this year and am really happy that Shanahan doesn't concentrate on video of highlight teams and their QBs. Iowa isn't a sexy team so there was no reason to get to know a QB who was lacking in pizzazz on a ho hum team. I'd love to sit with KS while he dissects video on QBs. I assume he had the same tendency that great evaluators have to zone in on specific skills and fundamentals.

My question now would be--How did Beathard do in tight situations? Does he rise and make team mates better? Or does he continue to lag along with unspectacular but good play? Since Shanahan has stated he doesn't expect a rookie to start this year, we may not know what we have in Beathard for some years.

Been watching this guys film and came across the Stanford/Rose Bowl. That game was a disaster for Iowa right from the start. Saw CJ going through progressions early but his interior o line was being manhandled. This led to errant throws, holding on to the ball too long etc.

But despite his horrid play.. in the 4th quarter... i saw a man who wasn't giving up. Connecting throws on roll out into tight coverage. His trust in his receivers and his arm is great to see. He throws nicely with anticipation and multiple times despite getting killed on the score board and killed by getting sacked, the man kept standing in the pocket to deliver.

I think even his sloppiest game, he still showed his traits and didn't let the game overwhelm his mechanics.

I'm cool with CJ holding the clipboard for this year, hell, be even better to see him beat out Barkly.

CJ is going to make us forget about Kirk before next season is over...

Originally posted by Method:

Originally posted by Niners99:

Trump called him the next Tom Brady.

Hey, everyone said Trump was crazy when he predicted his presidency. Ill take some crazy Trump luck. lol

BeatHARD went to a Trump Campaign Convention?

I think the Iowa football team was at his campaign rally.

He may not amount to much, but he'll be better than freaking Jeff Driskel

I feel like 40% of our fanbase wont find out that his name is pronounced "BETH-erd" until the season starts and someone says it on TV.