Lamar Jackson is only 20 years old and already has a Heisman trophy under his belt. The talent he displayed at Louisville was so extraordinary that he was able to win the Heisman, even though his skills as a passer are still developing.
An unnamed ACC coach spoke to Sports Illustrated and threw shade at Jackson’s game and NFL future with the following quote:
We played [Clemson QB Deshaun Watson] and Lamar Jackson, and Jackson has no shot at playing quarterback in the NFL. None.”He can’t make the throws and can’t read coverages. He’s not going to have a chance. Watson stands tall in the pocket and whips the ball around like Ben Roethlisberger.”
Jackson won’t be eligible for the draft until 2018, so he has plenty of time to develop as a quarterback and football player. If Jackson can learn a college system quick enough to win the Heisman at 20 years old, then the sky is the limit once he leaves school and dedicates his life to playing quarterback.
In the NFL, placing Jackson in the right system could help become a successful NFL quarterback. If Tim Tebow and his shot-put release can make it to the NFL and win a playoff game, then Lamar Jackson has more than a good chance of playing QB in the NFL at a high level. Statements like that of the unnamed ACC coach wreaks of salty sour grapes, that is usually uttered by a sore loser. Thanks to Mr. anonymous coach, Lamar Jackson will have some extra motivation to do major damage in the ACC next year.
Flip the page to see Lamar Jackson’s response.