or just a product of having a good OL?
I looked at those teams with a 2018 QB in play (along with some other top Bowl teams) and found the following regarding their starting OL:
Alabama - 1 RS-Senior, 1 - Senior, 1 - RS-Jr, 2-Sophs.
Georgia - 1 Senior, 2 - RS Jrs., 1 - Soph., 1 - Fresh.
Oklahoma - 1 RS Senior, 1 - RS Jr., 2 - Jrs., 1- RS-Soph.
UCLA - 2 - RS Seniors, 1 - RS Jr., 1 - RS Soph., 1 - RS Fresh.
USC - 1 - RS Senior, 2 - RS Jrs., 1 - Jr., 1 - Fresh.
Wyoming - 1 Senior, 1 - Jr., 1 - Soph, 2 - Fresh.
The most inexperienced OL was Josh Allen's @ Wyoming--yet he did quite well for himself--even with a POOR OL!
You'd expect the top three 2018 QB prospects to have the best OL, and they did indeed in comparison (UCLA, OK, USC). Georgia, Alabama have no 2018 QB being drafted to my knowledge.
Just for yuks, I looked at PSU to see what kind of OL Saquon Barkley's had to run behind, and to it looks like this:
PSU - 1 RS Senior, 1 RS Jr., 1 RS Soph., 1 - Soph., 1 - RS Fresh.
Yeah, I was VERY surprised to see this as many think he's just another RB. To me that speaks volumes about that RBs success was based on his efforts, not necessarily that of a very experienced OL.
IDK, I'd rather have Josh Allen if I wanted to select a QB--especially with the state of the Giants OL, but I'd still draft Barkley and roll the dice with Webb (for the time being).
Absolutely, nothing.
the eye test tells me jacksons line was HORRIBLE
Darnolds line was very bad
both did what they could do with the OLs in front of them.
That being said, if you have a crappy OL and still do well statistically as a QB (or RB), then you are the type of player that can carry a team--maybe until such time as the rest of the team's skill positions or OL gets better.
It would appear, statistically, that Allen stands the best chance of success in the NFL with his success with having a crappy OL in college, with Mayfield getting a close second, but not necessarily Allen or Darnold IMO. If Rosen or Darnold are selected by the Giants, it would be a stretch to see them succeed with an OL like the NY Giants have currently...they could end up broken like Houston's David Carr, being sacked what 250 times in his first 5 years? Or worse, like Phill Simms 396 sacks in a decade.
Chubb's Weaknesses:
Already sustained one serious knee injury
Will need development as a receiver
Will need development as a blocker
Medical evaluation could hurt his draft grade
Read more: http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2018nchubb.php#ixzz53dNmPktb
Ages of a college line is a bit like draft status of a pro line... Look at how they block instead.
2 of Allen's OL were all-conference. I'm not sure how terrible they were.
Chubb's Weaknesses:
Already sustained one serious knee injury
Will need development as a receiver
Will need development as a blocker
Medical evaluation could hurt his draft grade
Read more: http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2018nchubb.php#ixzz53dNmPktb
Ok, now what about the better of the two UGA backs?
Both Darnold and Jackson have had several scouts comment that it is difficult to evaluate them at times because the OL play in front of them has been terrible.
As to the other QBs, they didn't have a great deal of OL drop-off based on who departed and was drafted.
Alabama lost 1 starter Robinson OT
Georgia lost 1 starter Pyke G
Louisville lost 1 started Hughley OC
Oklahoma lost no starters
PSU lost no starters
USC lost 2 starters: Banner OT, and our own Chad Wheeler (OC)
UCLA lost 1 starter: McDermott OT
Wyoming lost 1 starter: Roullier OC
With that kinds of drop-off in OL protection, makes one wonder if the scouts were thinking their WR corps stunk, not their OL? IDK, js, so I looked at their 2017 sacks taken, as follows:
Hurts: 24
Fromm: 20
Jackson: 29
Mayfield: 26
McSorley: 29
Darnold: 37
Rosen: 26
Allen: 22