Some Thoughts on QBs

[ajcardfan]

Well, Simpson will be playing Indiana’s defense & Mendoza will be playing Alabama’s defense.

Indiana is #4 in defense and Alabama is #13. Not a huge difference. It's not like Mendoza v Purdue or Rutgers or some other crap big10 team.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

Well, Simpson will be playing Indiana’s defense & Mendoza will be playing Alabama’s defense.

im more interested to see how each plays in the biggest game of their careers - if simpson's facing a tough defense it'll be good to see how he handles it - if mendoza is facing a lesser defense but struggles due to not being ready for the moment - we need to see that too

both these qbs know they're not just competing in the rose bowl but also for draft spots - nothing but pure pressure - screw all the scouts and know it alls - we'll get to see who's more ready

 

[DVontel]

Indiana is #4 in defense and Alabama is #13. Not a huge difference. It's not like Mendoza v Purdue or Rutgers or some other crap big10 team.

I just don’t like doing the QB H2H matchup like it’s basketball.

 

[DVontel]

im more interested to see how each plays in the biggest game of their careers - if simpson's facing a tough defense it'll be good to see how he handles it - if mendoza is facing a lesser defense but struggles due to not being ready for the moment - we need to see that too

both these qbs know they're not just competing in the rose bowl but also for draft spots - nothing but pure pressure - screw all the scouts and know it alls - we'll get to see who's more ready

It would be much worse look for Mendoza if he struggles compared to Simpson. I at-least know Simpson is going into the game with no running game.

 

[Stout]

It would be much worse look for Mendoza if he struggles compared to Simpson. I at-least know Simpson is going into the game with no running game.

Excuse making before the fact? You're all about Simpson.

 

[DVontel]

Excuse making before the fact? You're all about Simpson.

Nothing said there was wrong. Elaborate on what was wrong there. How only @Chopper0080 & I see this is hilarious.

 

[WeBlitz]

Excuse making before the fact? You're all about Simpson.

Alabama for the 2025 regular season averaged 3.43 YPC on the ground as a team.

Indiana for the 2025 regular season averaged 5.49 YPC on the ground as a team.

The difference in those stats is stark. I’m no Ty Simpson stan, but I do think it is easy to acknowledge Simpson’s margin for error was a lot thinner than Mendoza or even Moore. It should be impossible to run a functional offense with a running game that bad.

 

[football karma]

one thing I like about Mendoza: in terms of pure talent around him on offense vs the defenses he faced in the biggest games, his side had the talent deficiency.

Indiana has basically two other draftable offensive players -- Suratt (a WR, Mike Wilson clone) and their OT. 3rd round guys or so

not that Indiana is a bunch of FCS try hards, but this isnt an Ohio St situation where the offensive talent on that side can swamp an opponent 9 times out of 10.

the point here is it feels like that experience will help translate to the NFL

 

[Stout]

Nothing said there was wrong. Elaborate on what was wrong there. How only @Chopper0080 & I see this is hilarious.

I'm not saying the two of you are wrong; clearly, that would be a mistake. Your specific post just feels like excuse making before the fact, so that if things don't go Simpson's way, it's an "I warned you" moment. In that, I'm not even saying you're wrong. He's clearly your guy. I've made no mistake Mendoza is mine. We'll see how it all pans out.

 

[Stout]

Alabama for the 2025 regular season averaged 3.43 YPC on the ground as a team.

Indiana for the 2025 regular season averaged 5.49 YPC on the ground as a team.

The difference in those stats is stark. I’m no Ty Simpson stan, but I do think it is easy to acknowledge Simpson’s margin for error was a lot thinner than Mendoza or even Moore. It should be impossible to run a functional offense with a running game that bad.

Ooh, let's save the stan word for Kyler stans. No need to turn our hunt for a QBOF into that

 

[WeBlitz]

Ooh, let's save the stan word for Kyler stans. No need to turn our hunt for a QBOF into that

C’mon man, there has been enough threads that had nothing to do with Kyler turn into a Kyler thread. No need do all that. Stan is a universal term.

 

[phillycard]

Real talk. Is Mac Jones an option? Purdy seemingly deaded any thoughts of him being overtaken as QB1. I talked my fair share of crap on him earlier this season, but I wouldn't mind taking a hard look at him as our man next year. I think Mendoza and Moore are going to be snatched up before we pick so I'm conditioning my mind to think of other scenarios. Saleh and Jones is the stuff of my dreams right now. Second "crazy" idea. I would be pretty excited about plucking Tanner McKee from the eagles and seeing what he can do given a chance to earn the starting job.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

Real talk. Is Mac Jones an option? Purdy seemingly deaded any thoughts of him being overtaken as QB1. I talked my fair share of crap on him earlier this season, but I wouldn't mind taking a hard look at him as our man next year. I think Mendoza and Moore are going to be snatched up before we pick so I'm conditioning my mind to think of other scenarios. Saleh and Jones is the stuff of my dreams right now. Second "crazy" idea. I would be pretty excited about plucking Tanner McKee from the eagles and seeing what he can do given a chance to earn the starting job.

i like mac jones - unless the 49ers would trade him to us - then i'd be very suspicious

 

[Chopper0080]

Disagree on Manning. He seems much better skill-wise to me.

Maybe. I think Manning seems to have better mobility, but I haven't seen a noticeable difference in arm strength or decision making or accuracy yet. Like I said, that could change in the future but it also might not..

 

[Chopper0080]

I'm not saying the two of you are wrong; clearly, that would be a mistake. Your specific post just feels like excuse making before the fact, so that if things don't go Simpson's way, it's an "I warned you" moment. In that, I'm not even saying you're wrong. He's clearly your guy. I've made no mistake Mendoza is mine. We'll see how it all pans out.

IMO, it is reasonable that folks who don't follow college football look at the Indiana vs Alabama matchup and assume Mendoza is David going against Alabama's Goliath. Historically speaking, that has been the case. What I want posters on this board to understand is that this year, that isn't the case. Alabama's offensive roster is one of the least productive remaining in the college football playoff.

So, when watching the game, remember that Indiana is a 6.5 pt favorite on a neutral field over Alabama which makes Mendoza (Indiana) Goliath and Simpson (Alabama) David. Indiana (Mendoza) has the advantage in the running game, at WR, and on defense.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I don't think the gap between Mendoza and Simpson is worth the cost of trading up. Maybe in the last two weeks we get to see Gaines between PJJ and Fro. That would be telling for the future. You can fix the o-line and running back room in FA. That should not have an impact on adding OL in the draft.

Monti's mistake with the OL and DL is that he tried to do the minimum. If you really want to fix a unit, add enough good players that you end up having to make some hard cut decisions. Do that year 1, and you can make strategic moves moving forward to keep the talent level you have established.

On the dline he tried to do the minimum? He signed four free agents (the two JAG guys for mid contracts, Calais and dalvin) and spent two first round picks at the position.

 

[Stout]

C’mon man, there has been enough threads that had nothing to do with Kyler turn into a Kyler thread. No need do all that. Stan is a universal term.

I'm just saying we're divisive on Kyler so there's no need to get divisive over Mendoza/Simpson.

 

[Mulli]

I'm just saying we're divisive on Kyler so there's no need to get divisive over Mendoza/Simpson.

Deep down we might not be that far apart on Football Yoga.

 

[football karma]

IMO, it is reasonable that folks who don't follow college football look at the Indiana vs Alabama matchup and assume Mendoza is David going against Alabama's Goliath. Historically speaking, that has been the case. What I want posters on this board to understand is that this year, that isn't the case. Alabama's offensive roster is one of the least productive remaining in the college football playoff.

So, when watching the game, remember that Indiana is a 6.5 pt favorite on a neutral field over Alabama which makes Mendoza (Indiana) Goliath and Simpson (Alabama) David. Indiana (Mendoza) has the advantage in the running game, at WR, and on defense.

this is admittedly an imperfect measure -- but at least by PFF draft rankings:

Alabama has 5 draftable defensive players in the top 150. Indiana has 4 offensive players (including Mendoza in this count). Indiana's avg rank is a higher, but probably not by all that much.

that feels to me like an even matchup and for evaluating Mendoza a pretty good test.

 

[Chopper0080]

On the dline he tried to do the minimum? He signed four free agents (the two JAG guys for mid contracts, Calais and dalvin) and spent two first round picks at the position.

Yes. If you follow the timeline, he tried to do the minimum.

2023.
He lost/let go JJ Watt and Zach Allen.

He added LJ Collier, Kevin Strong, Carlos Watkins, and Dante Stills.

Those additions competed with Jonathan Ledbetter, Leki Fotu, and Roy Lopez.

Obviously, that was a horrible unit.

2024
To solve a horrible DL unit Monti does the following.

Mid FA contracts to Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols. Neither who were considered anything more than average NFL players.

Draft Darius Robinson in round 1 who was most productive in college at EDGE.

These compete vs Stills, Tonga, Naquan Jones, and Lopez.

Predictably, when healthy these two mid FA players make very little impact and Robinson is moved off the EDGE and into a new position.

Another predictably bad group.

2025
Heading into his 3rd year as GM, Monti decides to actually invest in the DL.

He adds FA vets Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell who instantly become the two best players on the line, and drafts Walter Nolen who unexpectedly gets injured.

So, in summary, heading into year 3, Monti finally decided to invest real assets into the DL (multiple) to try and fulfill his goal of building the lines two offseasons prior. A prime example of too little, too late.

 

[ajcardfan]

It would be much worse look for Mendoza if he struggles compared to Simpson. I at-least know Simpson is going into the game with no running game.

I already told you a month ago that I believe neither Mendoza or Simpson are slam dunks. I would pick Mendoza over Simpson as he is more experienced and seems to have that charisma you want in a leader.

Making a decision based on one game would be stupid.

 

[Chopper0080]

this is admittedly an imperfect measure -- but at least by PFF draft rankings:

Alabama has 5 draftable defensive players in the top 150. Indiana has 4 offensive players (including Mendoza in this count). Indiana's avg rank is a higher, but probably not by all that much.

that feels to me like an even matchup and for evaluating Mendoza a pretty good test.

Respectfully, if it was even, Indiana wouldn't be a 6.5 favorite.

 

[Mulli]

Respectfully, if it was even, Indiana wouldn't be a 6.5 favorite.

Is that just a function of betting behavior?

 

[Chopper0080]

I already told you a month ago that I believe neither Mendoza or Simpson are slam dunks. I would pick Mendoza over Simpson as he is more experienced and seems to have that charisma you want in a leader.

Making a decision based on one game would be stupid.

There are some fair reasons to prefer Mendoza. Number of starts and height are the two biggest IMO. It's why my argument hasn't been that Simpson is better than Mendoza, but instead that the gap between them is overblown on this board.

 

[ajcardfan]

There are some fair reasons to prefer Mendoza. Number of starts and height are the two biggest IMO. It's why my argument hasn't been that Simpson is better than Mendoza, but instead that the gap between them is overblown on this board.

I don't think there is a huge gap between them. I would be nervous about either one of them as a Cardinal.