My problems with Hackenberg aren't the technical flaws. It's his poor pocket instincts and slow mental processing speed.
I don't think he was ready for the level of the barrage that he underwent. Think Derek Carr. I watched every game. He didn't have any time for most of those plays and when he did, the young receivers who were not good route runners were covered or not heading toward getting open. Donovan did not use the pass catching TE and that was the best group of receivers on the team. Franklin prefers in line blocking TEs, which he had none of and made the pass blocking worse btw. There weren't many options. Donovan was fired toward the end of this season. His play calling was shit.
McGloin was reviled by Penn State fans for his incompetency until Bill O'Brien got there.
And he was reviled for good reason. He was terrible before OBrien. He was beyond terrible and he had an attitude, as if he was great. McGloin never had an arm. He could scramble and he had a good offensive line. Four of which are in the NFL. McGloin would not have done anything with the line Hackenberg struggled with. It was so bad that the weak OOC opponents were hammering Hackenberg. This year we saw some of that change as the line progressed but Franklin was operating with two 3rd string DTs at Guard in his first year. The level of inexperience and talent was talent was abysmal. Even the left OT who is starting in the NFL looked aweful. I don't think people comprehend just how bad that line was. It is probably why Christian developed bad footwork in the gun. The opponents knew it was a pass and would blitz him relentlessly. He didn't have 3 seconds to set and throw.
Would he have developed under O'Brien? I'd say yes.
I think he would have too. One thing he lacked was developing his ability to make all his reads and find other targets. 1. his receivers were not good and 2. Donovans scheme and play calling was so bad. I think O'Brien would have helped him with all of that. He should have transferred after his first year with Franklin and Donovan. He considered it but stuck it out because he was a lifelong Penn State fan.
But would he have become a #1 overall type prospect?
I don't know about that. Too hard to predict that at this point. Sam Bradford was #1 overall and his pocket presence was shit too and he tended to hold onto the ball too long. But more than likely he would be somewhere in the top 15. This QB class is a mix of what different coaches prefer IMO. But with OBrien he would have been NFL ready.
Mental processing speed and pocket instincts tend to be something you have or you don't
Yes and no. Again, Derek Carr had it until he got hammered relentlessly in Oakland. Will Hackenberg ever be Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady? Drew Brees good? Doubtful but I think he could be in Flacco's range with the right coaching. Flacco is immobile and needs time to scan the field. His one big playoff performance his offensive line was playing incredibly well. It all came together for them at the end of that season. Suddenly people were asking if Flacco was the best QB in the league. This year with poor receivers and average Oline play he was more middle of the road.
I don't want the Rams to take him because as of now, I don't think they have the staff to correct his problems. I don't think they have the staff to correct anyones problems. Which really sucks for us Rams fans. But I do think if Hackenberg ends up with OBrien or the equivalent that he can be a good starter in the NFL.
