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Bob Evans of Buckeye State Sports has once again forced me to re-think everything--damn him!

This time it's Blake Bortles again.  I was sort of dragged off his bandwagon by Phil Simms, who said he's not a natural thrower, and by a near flood of other negativity.  But I've developed a lot of respect for Bob, who actually seems to have watched these guys himself.

But he doesn't just state his opinion.  Bob supports his cases with evidence.  Here it is, in this Rotoworld statistical analysis of the top four quarterbacks.  

Bob asserts that criticisms of Blake's deep accuracy are inaccurate (haha).  The statistics don't describe an inaccurate quarterback.  He also feels that some inconsistancy can be expected from a QB as comparatively young and inexperienced as Bortles is.

I still get frustrated by the comparisons between Bortles and Roethsenberger.  Yes, he's big and tall and can make plays with guys dripping off him.  But no he's not built like Ben, who has this kind of wierd body with short legs and a long trunk.  And he's far more athletic--he was recruited by some as a tight end.

Bortles was statistically the best of the four under pressure from five or more rushers--63%!  That's the stat that scared me away from Derrik Carr, who completed under 50% under pressure.  Bortles' accuracy in the bread-and-butter zone (11-20 yards) is tops.

Bob cites comments by Dan Brugler, who described Bortles as a cross between Andrew Luck and Jake Locker; mobility and inconsistancy being the Locker traits, arm strength and delivery the Lucky (haha) ones.

My own opinion here is that this was a little lame.  Andrew Luck is even more athletic and mobile than Locker.  So let's just say that a sobered up Brugler thinks Bortles is an inconsistent Andrew Luck.

I'LL TAKE IT.

What can't be stressed enough are his execution under pressure, statistical accuracy in the 11-20 yard zone, and his limited experience (seemingly higher cieling.)

Everybody in the AFC North goes after the QB big-time, and Shanahan's offense has a lot of West Coast elements.  

Slow decision-making was not one of the faults I've seen cited for Bortles, but some did say he had a slow delivery (wind-up) on deep passes.  (I'll bet that's what Simms meant).  But Brugler described his delivery as like Andrew Luck's.  ?

We as Browns fans have been infuriated again and again by that big clod in Pittsburgh stumbling around with guys all over him and magically getting the ball out and burning us.  Well, this guy is like that.  I'll take it.

Some have said that Bortles is NFL-ready.  If you read that anywhere, delete the link and flush out your recycle bin.  These guys think that because he's big and tall, period.

He's only had two years as a starter, and has a lot to learn.  He has some mechanical issues and hasn't had to make NFL-type reads.

Ray, I'm sure you're one of my three consistent readers, so if Bortles is there at four I won't mind if you draft him to SIT BEHIND HOYER and learn.

By the way, the Browns once had a guy like Hoyer, who would have gone undrafted today.  Who barely made the practice squad.  Who rode the bench for years.  Who nobody ever heard of, and who only got his chance when a "real " QB went down.

Smaller.  Weaker arm.

Brian Sipe.

#4 doesn't have to start.  That's a crock.  Bortles there would be an investment.  Down the road, you trade a hot Hoyer for real value...could be three years from now, but who cares if he wins all the way?

Still got loads of draft picks for everything else.

I don't think Bortles makes it to four, though.

Nevermind.