He was in his first season in this offense in 2021, under Coen, and played exceptionally well. He studied hard, worked his butt off according to Coen, and won the job and performed in the role.
2022 he lost his OL to the draft and was pressured constantly behind the new line. He was sacked more than Young and Stroud combined.
2022 he also had a new OC with different focus on things in the same basic WCO structure. I don't think this is a big deal but clearly Levis thrived with Coen and his coordinator last year was not very good.
Developmentally and according to Coen he was asked to make reads at the LOS like an NFL QB. This is not something all QBs do. And this in fact makes life harder on those QBs who are required to do that.
Coen mentioned in an excellent article on the Athletic that Levis is very raw in terms of being new to the position. Much like with AR he has a long road ahead of him.
Levis is big and possesses a strong arm. He is very athletic and a powerful runner. Definitely at the upper range of size and athleticism at the QB position.
For the record I want a starter which precludes any QB at 36. But just pointing out that this is a guy who is suffering from way too much negativity in groupthink. I have to laugh at how I heard announcers acting like Stroud had been victimized by this effect, but here is a player who had reasons for his dip in year two in a pro style offense in the SEC with a poor line and new OC and people are crapping all over him.
Sometimes you gotta be the team that zigs when the others zag. Now if Stafford has 3 more years in him then Levis would be a surplus pick we can't afford. So there's a lot of other things at play in this. Also maybe Levis is arrogant or has personality quirks that turn teams off. Coen would not come out and say that. Nobody would, but either way if he is a jerk McVay is aware so I am not worried about us picking him.
If we pick him there's a really high chance we get a strong QB option behind Stafford.
