Flagg the Wanderer
Mourning Algernon
I don't think anyone is saying he's the best QB in the league. I think he's already better than average by almost any measure, is average only if you're ranking on raw playmaking ability.I’m just saying I think we need to pump the brakes a bit on Mac. Maybe let him at least be average for a year or two. He’s a starter, and he’s the second best QB in the division, but he’s not about to be carrying the offense this season.
Given his strength/weakness profile, his attitude, and his work ethic, people are understandably enthusiastic that he is very likely the long-term solution. Not because of his deep ball, his underrated athleticism, or a particular skill, but because of the the underlying attributes of confidence, humility, dedication to improvement, willingness to learn from mistakes, unwillingness to accept failure, and he recognizes and lives by the importance of stacking incremental improvements like compound interest.
Because of the relatively small number of mental mistakes.
Because of how rarely he seems to repeat those mental mistakes.
Because he's shown such a dedication to development.
Because of the obvious faith his coaches and teammates have in him.
Because last year's slightly-below average arm strength looks like it's up to about average (that's for an NFL starter, not all NFL QBs or the draft pool) already, with such strong evidence of his dedication to his physical development.
Because he processes insanely quickly (Top 5 and rising), seems outstanding at assessing what risks he should/not take (easily Top 10, and rising), and shows the veteran ability to manipulate defenses with his eyes and body (Top 10-15 and rising FAST).
Because while none of us believe there will ever be another Brady, we are seeing all those things that made Brady Brady - right down to the chip on his shoulder from trying to be displaced as a senior starter and going below where he felt he should have gone in the draft - in the form of a guy who is already demonstrably well ahead of where Brady was at this age and level of experience, mentally and physically. Since we're seeing the signs that he is cut from a similar cloth psychologically as well, there's no reason not to be both hopeful and confident.
Because there was never going to be another Joe Montana...until there was Tom Brady, a guy who idolized and studied him and was in the right place at the right time to have it all come together. And there will never be another TFB...until one day there is. And when there is, it makes sense that it would be a guy who recognizes and studies that greatness, and takes everything he can from watching his greatness. That guy would have to be in the right place at the right time, and would have a better chance of approaching that level of he could learn from people who watched Brady every single day as he turned from Tommy into TFB.