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History Suggests Los Angeles Rams Can’t Go Wrong With Carson Wentz

By Blaine Grisak

Aug 30, 2014; Ames, IA, USA; North Dakota State Bison quarterback Carson Wentz (11) attempts a pass against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2014; Ames, IA, USA; North Dakota State Bison quarterback Carson Wentz (11) attempts a pass against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Rams have a big decision to make in two weeks. Who do they take, Jared Goff the pass happy quarterback from California or Carson Wentz who comes from a pro style offense at North Dakota.

This is a decision that could make or break the Jeff Fisher era. If they get this wrong it will take away everything that they have tried to build over the last four years. If they get this right, it could take them to a championship. A lot rides on having this number one overall pick, especially because they are looking to get their quarterback of the future.

While both quarterbacks have been rumored to have the Rams’ interest, the one that makes the most sense is Carson Wentz. The North Dakota quarterback has experience running a play-action offense and running a  run power scheme. Wentz’s current skill set better fits the mold of what the Rams want to do as he has experience doing it.

The good news is: if the Rams do in fact take Wentz, they might not be able to get it wrong. It may actually be the best choice looking at history. One of Wentz’ knocks is that he is coming from an FCS school and played against lower competition.

That is a concern as the competition against Montana and Weber State are certainly different than the competition at Alabama and Ohio State. However, when looking at former FCS quarterbacks drafted in the first round, not playing against difficult competition hasn’t seemed to be a problem.

In the NFL draft’s history there have only been four quarterbacks taken in the first round that played in the FCS. Those quarterbacks being Doug Williams who played at Grambling, Phil Simms who played at Morehead State, Steve McNair who played at Alcorn State, and finally Joe Flacco who played at Delaware.

Doug Williams changed the game of football for African American quarterbacks and engineered a 42-10 rout against John Elway and the Broncos. Williams set an NFL record by scoring five touchdowns in the second quarter.

Simms won two Super Bowls and was Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl 21 after completing 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards, setting Super Bowl records for consecutive completions, accuracy, and passer rating in the process. In addition, he threw 3 touchdown passes and his passer rating set an NFL postseason record.

We all know what McNair did with the Titans. He took them from being a bottom of the barrel franchise and took them to a Super Bowl. Heck, he was one yard away from possibly winning the game.

Flacco won rookie of the year after not originally being named the starting quarterback his rookie year and eventually took the Ravens to win a Super Bowl in an improbable run, winning Super Bowl MVP in the process.

All four of these quarterbacks went on to at the very least, play in a Super Bowl and as Rams fans all know, McNair came one yard away from winning one and making it 4/4. Looking at the former FCS first round selections, you really can’t go wrong. History suggests that playing against weaker competition didnt effect them as they all went on to have great NFL careers.

Taking a look at former first round quarterbacks from California and it’s more of a 50/50. In California’s history there have also been four quarterbacks taken in the first round. Those quarterbacks being Aaron Rogers, Kyle Boller, Rich Campbell, and Steve Barkowski. Only Campbell and Barkowski were drafted in the top ten.

While Rogers and Bartkowski had fantastic careers. Boller and Campbell both turned out to be busts. Rogers is a future Hall of Famer having won a Super Bowl with the Packers and being a top quarterback in today’s league.

Bartkowski is one of ten quarterbacks in NFL history who have achieved consecutive 30-touchdown passing seasons at least one time in their career and set the record for consecutive games with at least three touchdown passes at home with five until 2004 when it was surpassed by Peyton Manning. Drafted by the Falcons first overall, he still holds almost every Falcons passing record.

Kyle Boller was injury prone in Baltimore and was eventually replace by Steve McNair and Rich Campell is one of the biggest busts in Green Bay Packers history.

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When drafting a player, you are always taking a risk in what they will become. Will they become a star or will they become a bust that people talk about for years. However, when history suggests that FCS quarterbacks drafted in the first round are 4/4 in their success rate, those are pretty good odds.

Wentz was asked at the combine on the jump from the FCS to the NFL and said, “It’s just football. Everything that comes with the game, I think I will handle it extremely easily. I don’t let a lot of that outside stuff bother me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion about the jump in competition.”

That’s the point exactly. Football is football. If a player succeeds in one division at a high level he is still having high success at that level. Granted playing division II or division III football is different than playing in the FBS, but playing in the FCS you’re still going to run into some NFL talent.

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You could also make the argument that while Wentz was playing at North Dakota he didnt have the supporting cast that one might have at Alabama or Ohio State. Wentz probably didnt have an Amari Cooper or Michael Thomas to throw the ball to or a top left tackle blocking for him. He still made the throws and made his supporting cast look good. In fact, he lead them to a national title.

The FCS knock on Wentz isn’t a fair one and looking at the history of FCS quarterbacks drafted in the first round, it hasn’t seemed to make a difference in the past. If the Rams do draft Wentz and make him the number one overall pick, the end result says playing for a championship in the next 10 years in very possible.

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