Thoughts From the Morning After: FSU 34 Virginia 20

Nov 8, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) passes the ball during the second half Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Oregon won 51-27. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

A Word on Marcus Mariota vs. Jameis Winston

I’ve resisted the urge to delve into the Marcus Mariota/Jameis Winston debate too much until right now. Jameis Winston won’t repeat as the Heisman trophy winner this year. Barring an Oregon implosion Mariota is the likely favorite for the award– and even if it’s not Mariota it will be someone beside Winston.

The Winston fatigue is real.

And statistically few players in the country are having a better year than Mariota. It’s also important to preface this by saying that Marcus Mariota is a great QB who deserves his accolades.

But Marcus Mariota is also the product of an extremely QB-friendly Oregon system. That’s not to diminish what he’s done– just like Jameis Winston at FSU, Mariota is the best QB to have run this system.

But look at Mariota’s predecessors. Dennis Dixon threw 20 touchdowns and just four picks before a torn ACL ended his final season at Oregon. Darron Thomas built on that success, tossing 30 TD’s to just nine picks in his first full season as a starter and improving to 33 TD’s and just seven interceptions the next year.

Marcus Mariota threw for 32 TD’s to just six interceptions the following year. He had 31 and four last year. He’s got 29 TD’s this year to just two picks.

The guy can play.

But his numbers — while the best of any Oregon QB in this system — are right in line with what Oregon quarterbacks have historically produced in this kind of finesse offense. It’s also worth mentioning that Oregon’s system doesn’t really transfer into the NFL. Chip Kelly isn’t running Oregon’s offense in Philly. Sure, there are elements of it. But you can’t get away with doing a lot of the gimmicky stuff that the Ducks do at the next level.

I have no problem with people saying Marcus Mariota has had a better year than Jameis Winston. I’ll even grant you the argument that Mariota might be a better college QB.

But a better pro prospect? No.

Ignoring the “character” discussion — one that isn’t going to affect Winston as much as a lot of “experts” are anticipating — there is really no comparing Mariota and Winston as NFL prospects.

Mariota in an amazing athlete, he has all the tools to develop into a great NFL QB. But that’s going to take some coaching because what he’s doing at Oregon is running a pure college offense. Jameis Winston is running a pro-style offense.

And he’s not just running it, the past three QB’s in Jimbo Fisher’s system have all been first round draft picks– but none of them ever even came close to executing it as well as Winston has. EJ Manuel didn’t. Christian Ponder didn’t. Jamarcus Russell didn’t. Jameis Winston does things that young pro QB’s still don’t do. The edge Winston has over Mariota is mental. We have seen Winston make reads and decisions within his offense that Marcus Mariota has never even been asked to attempt.

Ask any NFL scout who is dealing in X’s and O’s — and not hot takes — who the most complete QB in the country is.

They’re not pointing at Mariota.

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