Originally posted by boomer49er:
Claiming someone is a great leader is the most generic, lazy, and cliche analysis I can think of. I want someone to tell me, specifically, what Mac Jones has done that qualifies him as a better leader than any other QB in the draft. I'll wait.
Some men are leaders, some men are followers. If you accept that to be true in life, then you can accept that is also the case in football. QBs tend to by default have a leadership role. There are things that appear to separate him from Tua, but I don't know enough about the other QBs in this draft to say who is a better leader. I will say that Mac has done things I have not heard of other QBs doing. I am not a Bama fan, I actually went to Auburn so am the opposite of a Bama fan. But off the top of my head.... it has been well noted that he "owned" the scout team, and would refuse to loose....even when directed to loose. Challenging Saban directly. He pushed the defense with off script plays and challenged them in ways his predecessor did not. I have never heard of that happening on any program before. It has also been noted that he refused to come off the field, even after a hit that eventually sent him to the hospital for mouth surgery. He is not a guy that will quit or come off the field needlessly. That reminded me of Steve Young not coming off in 93 after getting destroyed in the second or 3rd game of that season. Finally it is documented that after his DUI he went 100% in on football, to the point he lived and breathed football non-stop. His informal practices grew to the point other players came in to work with him.
I am sure he is not the first guy to do these things, but these are examples of leadership. I am pretty certain what took place on the Scout Team likely does not happen regularly with Saban....that is really note worthy, and I wonder how often that even happened.
Clearly Mac is a lead by example type and clearly has the attention and respect of his peers. I would suspect Leadership IS one of his strong points.
I have no idea how we would say one example of leadership is stronger then another players example of leadership, unless there was an obvious lack of leadership.
Mac absolutely has a narrative written around him, and without being in his orbit....there is no telling what is hype or propaganda. My personal biggest knock on the guy is going to be the "frat" boy persona and that DUI. People grow and Mature, but that is the biggest negative that sticks with me on Jones.
I personally think leadership is immensely important, but I have no idea what is propaganda or fact regarding Mac. Both Mannings had massive gravity and leadership, You could see that at any SEC function. Aaron Rodgers was clearly the Alpha at the combine and behind the scenes with the other QBs at the QB challenge. With Mac, in my case, it's only what i have read, and i am not sure i believe everything i read about him.
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