Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians had many around the league nodding in agreement last week during the NFL Scouting Combine when he took to the podium to criticize spread offenses and how they develop (or rather, don't) quarterbacks.
Many thought Arians' comments were a bit of a shot at one of the most debated quarterbacks in the 2015 NFL Draft, Oregon's Marcus Mariota . The Heisman Trophy winner is considered to be one of the top two signal-callers available in this year's draft, but evaluators have questions about how he'll transition from the Ducks' up-tempo, spread offense to an NFL system.
Mariota's head coach at Oregon heard those comments and not surprisingly thinks they're a little off-base and he suggested Friday that perhaps an ulterior motive is at play for Arians.
"Our passing game would fit into any other NFL franchise's playbook very easily. That's where I think a lot is being made that he's going to have this drastic learning curve to the NFL from a schematic standpoint and I don't think that is true," Mark Helfrich said on "The Rich Eisen Show." "I have a lot of respect for what coach Arians has done obviously. He may just be trying to talk (Mariota) down to his pick or something. I know he can recognize talent.
"All the stuff that people are complaining about is easy. Being able to talk and regurgitate and spit out verbiage, for Marcus, will be easy."
Helfrich, who has been known to mix in some wit when talking with the media, might have been joking about Arians making those comments in an effort to sink Mariota's stock, as it's highly unlikely that Mariota lasts until the team picks at No. 24. That pick for Arizona, by the way, is four spots after Helfrich's former boss, Chip Kelly, drafts as part of the Philadelphia Eagles.
It's no surprise that Helfrich is defending Oregon's offensive system, as the Ducks not only have turned into a college football powerhouse but came knocking on the door of a national title last season, despite plenty of new faces surrounding the terrific Mariota.
The Cardinals weren't the only team that Helfrich discussed on the show, either. Helfrich said he's had conversations with new Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter about Mariota. The Bucs are in the market for a signal-caller and hold the No. 1 overall pick. Koetter and Helfrich previously coached together in the college ranks.
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston might be in line to go first in the draft this year, but where Mariota lands is anybody's guess, including the latter's former coach.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
