"I'd Pick Matt Barkley Over Andrew Luck"

[The Alex]

Steve Sarkisian uttered these words today at a press conference and in doing so, sparked a bunch of columns all over the web about the statement. What do you think?

Personally, I think it's a completely asinine statement on par with saying "I'd pick Mark Sanchez over Matthew Stafford" in 2009. There isn't a single thing that Barkley does better than Luck.

[descendency]

Originally Posted by The Alex

There isn't a single thing that Barkley does better than Luck.

Puts zip on the ball.

[The Alex]

Originally Posted by descendency

Puts zip on the ball.

I'd say their arm strengths are about equal with Luck having the slight advantage. Even if Barkley were better than Luck in arm strength, Luck still has him beat in every other attribute.

[StudentBodyLeft]

Originally Posted by The Alex

I'd say their arm strengths are about equal with Luck having the slight advantage. Even if Barkley were better than Luck in arm strength, Luck still has him beat in every other attribute.

If you think Luck has even slightly more arm strength than Barkley, you obviously haven't been paying attention.

Barkley is not Matt Stafford, but he's closer to Carson Palmer in throwing power than he is Matt Leinart.

Barkley can make every throw. I would question whether Luck can hit the deep out route like Barkley can.

I'll back this up with evidence:

See the throws at :17 and at :55

[nepg]

Originally Posted by The Alex

I'd say their arm strengths are about equal with Luck having the slight advantage. Even if Barkley were better than Luck in arm strength, Luck still has him beat in every other attribute.

Distance, yeah...they're about the same. But I like the zip Barkley puts on his short and intermediate throws. He's got a slight, but clear advantage over Luck in that department.

[49erNation85]

What happens if Matt Barkley stays for his Senior year eh?I think should he could be a much higher pick even the number one in 2013.Just needs perfect his game some more.

[descendency]

Originally Posted by 49erNation85

What happens if Matt Barkley stays for his Senior year eh?I think should he could be a much higher pick even the number one in 2013.Just needs perfect his game some more.

He's #1 pick material most years. He's Eli Manning-esque. I think he stays a 4th year to try to win a national championship.

[BaLLiN]

Originally Posted by descendency

He's #1 pick material most years. He's Eli Manning-esque. I think he stays a 4th year to try to win a national championship.

I see this too. nice comparison

[Caulibflower]

I'm thinking that's a highlight video of Seattle's next QB. I've never been a huge fan of Barkley's, but it might be more of a bias against USC QBs. I think he's going to be more athletic than people expect at the combine, and I do like his arm. He's got enough strength there to get the ball to his receivers quickly, and yes, he can throw the deep out. At this point, I also feel that the Andrew Luck Hype is bigger than Andrew Luck.

[jsa230]

Kiffen thinks Barkley's gonna stay if that means anything. Life has to be pretty sweet at USC, Barkley has the chance to go #1 if he stays, and the chance to win a championship. I think he stays.

[nobodyinparticular]

Originally Posted by jsa230

Kiffen thinks Barkley's gonna stay if that means anything. Life has to be pretty sweet at USC, Barkley has the chance to go #1 if he stays, and the chance to win a championship. I think he stays.

Chance to win a championship? Really? The team that has already lost 2 games (and one of them to ASU) with a 3rd loss on the way in a couple weeks at Autzen stadium is a championship contender?

USC will be 3rd best team in Pac 12 next year--at best. I wouldn't put it past UW to pass USC next year as well.

[Punisher]

Originally Posted by nobodyinparticular

Chance to win a championship? Really? The team that has already lost 2 games (and one of them to ASU) with a 3rd loss on the way in a couple weeks at Autzen stadium is a championship contender?

USC will be 3rd best team in Pac 12 next year--at best. I wouldn't put it past UW to pass USC next year as well.

Are you serious? Look at the way SC has improved since their first loss. This team is starting a BUNCH of freshman who will be even better next year. In fact, every linebacker starting now is a freshman.

Yeah, 2 losses, 1 being from one of the top teams in the nation. Your post doesn't add up.

[jsa230]

Originally Posted by nobodyinparticular

Chance to win a championship? Really? The team that has already lost 2 games (and one of them to ASU) with a 3rd loss on the way in a couple weeks at Autzen stadium is a championship contender?

USC will be 3rd best team in Pac 12 next year--at best. I wouldn't put it past UW to pass USC next year as well.

I agree that its not likely at all for USC to win a NC next year, but im sure Matt Barkley thinks otherwise.

[SickwithIt1010]

Originally Posted by nobodyinparticular

Chance to win a championship? Really? The team that has already lost 2 games (and one of them to ASU) with a 3rd loss on the way in a couple weeks at Autzen stadium is a championship contender?

USC will be 3rd best team in Pac 12 next year--at best. I wouldn't put it past UW to pass USC next year as well.

I dont think you've watched enough of USC this year. They are a very young and very talented team. Next year their offense will be able to score with anyone in the country. ASSUMING Matt comes back. If not, thats when it gets tricky. Barkley, Woods, Lee, Farmer, McNeal, and a young offensive line this year would be coming back, looking to light you up every saturday.

The 56 points given up to Stanford looks a lot worse than it really was, triple OT doesnt help that either. The defense has been improving great strides week in and week out. They had Luck confused most of the night and got great pressure on him. Like Punisher mentioned, 3 of our linebackers in the rotation right now are freshman. Perry definitely needs another year before he leaves for the pros and Kennard will be back as ends. Might lose McDonald at safety but could see the rest of the secondary back.

This USC team that is competing every week is a very young and talented team and they will only get better. Barkley knows that, Kiffen knows that. Knowing that Barkley is very big on getting his degree, and I feel like deep down he wants to be the top guy in the draft. People have been hyping him up since his freshman year in high school, why would he want to be second best for cryin out loud? He would be going into next year as the top guy, and with a chance to win a NC. Sounds like a decent set up.

[socentre44]

Originally Posted by nobodyinparticular

Chance to win a championship? Really? The team that has already lost 2 games (and one of them to ASU) with a 3rd loss on the way in a couple weeks at Autzen stadium is a championship contender?

USC will be 3rd best team in Pac 12 next year--at best. I wouldn't put it past UW to pass USC next year as well.

After watching the SC - Oregon game, SC is very much a championship contender if Barkley stays. SC will definitely have a solid defense next year and the rest of the offense remains largely intact. If Barkley leaves this year, whoever takes over at QB will be in possibly the best situation to succeed from day 1 since AP started as a freshmen running back on a senior laden Oklahoma offense with a Heisman QB.

[Babylon]

Originally Posted by socentre44

After watching the SC - Oregon game, SC is very much a championship contender if Barkley stays. SC will definitely have a solid defense next year and the rest of the offense remains largely intact. If Barkley leaves this year, whoever takes over at QB will be in possibly the best situation to succeed from day 1 since AP started as a freshmen running back on a senior laden Oklahoma offense with a Heisman QB.

First off i dont see a real improvement in that defense next year especially with their two best players (Perry, McDonald) moving on. Offensively you're losing your best offensive lineman in Matt Kalil so not sure what you come back for unless you want to risk dropping like Matt Leinart or Jake Locker did.

As for the Luck/Barkely comparison i would take Luck for everything he brings to the position but have to admit Barkely has had the better year in all the games i've seen and probably has a chance to have a better pro career if he ends up in the right situation. It's almost like if you dont take Luck and he's a Peyton Manning type you end up defining your career on that one move, too risky.

[Duffman57]

At this point, Barkley has much bigger upside. He's got a cannon of an arm, and his 3 years of being a starter is a big thing.

After watching both face my ducks the past two weeks, i have to say that Barkey was absolutely more impressive than Luck. But the thing is, while Barkley was making great throws, he is more of a passer than a QB at this point. Luck's mental part of the game is so freakishly good that it is enough to have his stock higher than Barkley's.

Barkley just made some throws last night that were fit in so tightly that it was ridiculous. A couple could've been picked if they were a couple inches in any direction.

[BRAVEHEART]

Originally Posted by Babylon

First off i dont see a real improvement in that defense next year especially with their two best players (Perry, McDonald) moving on. Offensively you're losing your best offensive lineman in Matt Kalil so not sure what you come back for unless you want to risk dropping like Matt Leinart or Jake Locker did.

As for the Luck/Barkely comparison i would take Luck for everything he brings to the position but have to admit Barkely has had the better year in all the games i've seen and probably has a chance to have a better pro career if he ends up in the right situation. It's almost like if you dont take Luck and he's a Peyton Manning type you end up defining your career on that one move, too risky.

Who said Perry, McDonald, and Kalil are going pro?

[SickwithIt1010]

Originally Posted by Babylon

First off i dont see a real improvement in that defense next year especially with their two best players (Perry, McDonald) moving on. Offensively you're losing your best offensive lineman in Matt Kalil so not sure what you come back for unless you want to risk dropping like Matt Leinart or Jake Locker did.

As for the Luck/Barkely comparison i would take Luck for everything he brings to the position but have to admit Barkely has had the better year in all the games i've seen and probably has a chance to have a better pro career if he ends up in the right situation. It's almost like if you dont take Luck and he's a Peyton Manning type you end up defining your career on that one move, too risky.

Perry could use another year of development before he goes to the pros. Mcdonald could possibly be leaving because hes pretty damn solid back there so who knows about him. 3 freshman linebackers in the rotation will be back and a year older/stronger. Corners are young so they are in the same boat.

Lose Kalil on the O Line and just about everyone else is back. This team is going to be better next year.

[kalbears13]

Originally Posted by Babylon

First off i dont see a real improvement in that defense next year especially with their two best players (Perry, McDonald) moving on. Offensively you're losing your best offensive lineman in Matt Kalil so not sure what you come back for unless you want to risk dropping like Matt Leinart or Jake Locker did.

As for the Luck/Barkely comparison i would take Luck for everything he brings to the position but have to admit Barkely has had the better year in all the games i've seen and probably has a chance to have a better pro career if he ends up in the right situation. It's almost like if you dont take Luck and he's a Peyton Manning type you end up defining your career on that one move, too risky.

He's also returning Robert Woods and Marqis Lee. USC has had a consistently good offensive line so I don't think he has to worry too much.

[J-Mike88]

Originally Posted by jsa230

Kiffen thinks Barkley's gonna stay if that means anything. Life has to be pretty sweet at USC, Barkley has the chance to go #1 if he stays, and the chance to win a championship. I think he stays.

If idiot Lienart stayed at USC when he was going to be the #1 overall pick had he left (2005), then Barkley might too.
You're right, life is sweet at USC when you're the star QB. Everything's "open & available" to him there.

[stl705]

Barkley is a legitimate QB prospect and I'm not so sure after watching this UCLA game that Luck is the "clear-cut" qb... Looks more like draft of 04 than 10. Eli and Luck as the gem prospect. Rivers kind of came out late and Big Ben came from a small school. Personally I like the Luck/Barkley combo more than most previous draft classes.

Luck, Barkley, and Griffin III are looking like real nice QB prospects this year. (Haven't watched a whole lot of Wilson from Ark, but I think he stays in school; haven't seen much of Tannehill either).

[RaiderNation]

Luck is the clear favorite, but Barkley isn't a bad consolation prize to the Luck sweepstakes. I think he is as good of a prospect as Sam Bradford when he came out.

[HorusKing]

After watching them in a head to head battle they are about even in every category with Matt Barkley having an edge in arm strength but luck being a better athlete overall. I like Andrew Luck a lot but he is no where close to John Elway or the greatest prospect ever that was a stupid comment by the guy on ESPN who said Cam Newton would have to sit and learn for at least 2 seasons and right now he is the #2 QB in total passing yards in the NFL.

[Halsey]

I'm not saying Barkley is better than Luck, but I don't see any reason Barkley can't develop into an above average starter or better. I'd have no problem with Barkley being the #1 pick if it wasn't for Andrew Luck.