Breaking Down the Pros and Cons of Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III

Believe it or not, there are some "cons" to the games of Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. 

Fortunately for them, they're dramatically outweighed by "pros." That's why they're the consensus No.1 and No. 2 overall picks in this year's draft. 

Let's quickly run through the "pros" and "cons" for each remarkable quarterback prospect. 

Andrew Luck 

Pros

Hmmm, where to start? 

The first thing that blatantly stands out about Luck is his football intelligence and comfort running a pro-style offense. 

He had a Peyton Manning-esque grasp on the Stanford playbook and continually made calls at the line of scrimmage. A lot of college quarterbacks we've seen recently go No. 1 overall have had to make the transition from a primarily shotgun signal-caller to a guy who takes snaps from center (see: Bradford, Sam and Newton, Cam).

That's no problem for Luck. 

Not only does he understand the complexities of a pro-style system, he rarely makes the wrong decision when he lets the football go. He is confident in his delivery, and although his release isn't the quickest I've ever seen, it's rapid enough that it isn't a problem. 

His accuracy, which is probably the most important trait for a quarterback to have, is stupendous. When he's working the ball underneath to a running back or is ripping the ball across the field to a tight end on a sideline route, Luck is consistently on the money. His accuracy doesn't dissipate when he throws on the run, another huge plus. 

The guy's leadership and tenacity on the field are also unquestioned. He was the vocal leader for the Cardinal over the last two seasons and clearly backed everything up with his tremendous play each weekend. He's someone you want commanding your huddle. 

Lastly, Luck has deceptive athleticism. While he won't make linebackers and safeties miss at the next level when he scrambles, but he covers ground more quickly than you'd expect and isn't afraid to use his big body to pick up extra yardage. 

An added plus that makes the Stanford legend more like Aaron Rodgers than Peyton Manning. 

Cons 

Yes, there are a few. 

First, Luck's arm strength is fine, but I wouldn't say he has a Matt Stafford-like cannon. He can make all the throws, but his velocity isn't great on some of the longer tosses. 

The great technique he has throwing the football makes it look like he's barely trying, but you'll see him step into a few throws that won't get there as fast as you'd expect. 

Though his delivery is textbook, it has the tendency to get somewhat long on deep balls. When he's launching it down field, his accuracy decreases. Even on some intermediate throws, his balls can flutter over their intended target.

Robert Griffin III 

Pros 

Like Luck, Griffin III is a brilliant football mind. Although the system at Baylor was a little easier to digest, he understands when and where he has to go with the football and is decisive in his decision-making. 

His delivery is as quick as they come and stays the same on all throws. From that, his accuracy is second to none. Rarely does a ball miss its intended target, and RGIII excels with touch passes down the field. He too can make throws on the run with ease.

Furthermore, his arm strength is terrific. With a Michael Vick-esque flick of the wrist, he can laser the ball between defenders in traffic on a skinny post or loft it perfectly 45-50 yards down the field on a dime. 

Many are mesmerized by Griffin III's athleticism, but he's a remarkable passing prospect. 

Ah yes, his athleticism.

While he seemingly prefers to stay in the pocket, if protection breaks down or an opponent's blitz gets home, watch out. His near Olympic speed and elite agility make him a scary scrambler who can accumulate huge chunks of yardage.

Also like Luck, the Heisman Trophy winner is a leader and performs under pressure—traits you've got to have as a quarterback.

Cons 

His height of nearly 6'3'' is fine, but his release point is about three-quarters and sometimes can get closer to sidearm. 

It's nice to be able to manipulate arm angles when altered passing lanes call for it, but sometimes, in a clean pocket, RGIII will snap a throw with a lower-than-preferred arm angle.

A similar system to the one he ran at Baylor can be instituted in the NFL, but it was typically a one-read offense in which Griffin III locked onto his primary target.

We saw Cam Newton come from one of these systems and thrive in his rookie year, but Griffin III will have to acclimate himself to taking snaps under center and reading through progressions in the NFL.

He can outrun and juke defenders with the best of them, but his frame isn't ready to take consistent NFL punishment. We've seen what scrambling has done to Vick, and although RGIII is bigger, he lacks bulk to take on bigger hits in the open field. 

Both are clearly franchise quarterbacks.

(photo courtesy: TSMInteractive)

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