2016 NFL Draft: Christian Hackenberg Comments Right or Wrong?

By now most people who have followed the 2016 NFL draft buzz as it rolls along have heard the surprising controversial comments by top quarterback prospect Christian Hackenberg.  According to rumors, the Penn State alum didn’t hold back his feelings about his time at school in private interviews.  Robert Klemko of MMQB explained.

"“Per two personnel sources on two separate teams who have shown interest in drafting Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg, the quarterback has said all the wrong things in interviews when asked to explain his declining sophomore and junior numbers (a combined 28 touchdowns and 21 interceptions). Hackenberg has shifted blame to coach James Franklin, who took over in 2014 when coach Bill O’Brien departed for the Texans.”"

Disparaging remarks to be sure.  This has created a backlash for those who believe it’s genuine and created a situation for Hackenberg that can damage his already fragile draft stock.  So we threw the question over to the Mocks crew to get their opinions on how the quarterback should be viewed in the situation.

Sayre Bedinger:

Based on his success with an NFL coach in Bill O’Brien and actual talent around him, I’d say it’s pretty justified. However, blaming others is always a turn-off to me. He should know that everyone knows the coaching was a primary reason for his struggles, and just tell the media that he knows there’s a lot he could have done better, and he can’t wait to show them how much he’s improved at the NFL level.

Jeff Olsen:

I think it’s a really bad look for Hackenberg. Even if he’s right, to throw someone under the bus like that makes me quesion his character and his leadership in the locker room. It wasn’t the coaches throwing bad passes. It wasn’t the coaches with happy feet. Were their problems from a scheme standpoint? Absolutly. But those have nothing to do with some of the major problems he had on the field. Trying to pass the blame for his failure is childish. He wasn’t one of my top five QB’s in this class before these remarks and this might drop him down even lower.

Rodney Stokes:

I agree that what happened for him as a QB was a struggle. I don’t agree that you need to publicly display your feelings toward the situation. This shows a lack of maturity in Hackenberg and could be another reason why he drops in the draft. His blaming coaches for why his production declined can also be viewed as to why he never progressed as a QB in Franklins system. A guy who would blame others before accepting responsibility will never succeed in any system. He has the tools to be a QB in this league but his childish behavior will more than likely be the reason he never finds success in the NFL. I wouldn’t draft this guy.

Eric Robinson:

As someone who was against Roddy White calling out coaches in the midst of a 5-0 start, I don’t agree with what Hack did. Yet, I can see his frustration and I understand it. Hack had a lot on his plate and unfavorable circumstance. I get the sense that most believe any QB can overcome any situation. He had little quality on his o-line and not a lot of help at the skill positions. As far as the pre-draft process goes, this tactic NEVER goes well. More than likely will hurt Hack in certain draft circles.

Erik Lambert:

It’s so easy these days to cut a kid down for speaking his mind because he didn’t act the exact way a player is supposed to.  Most people just read the comment, have little context of the situation and fire off an opinion.  It’s important to understand that most don’t know what Hackenberg has gone through.  He stuck with the Penn State school in its darkest hour during the aftermath of the Sandusky fiasco, watched the coach who recruited them in the first place leave after just one season together, and then had to endure questionable play calling and vicious poundings from defenses every week without getting much help around him.

Now he’s being blasted for feeling angry and having a little honesty  about a college career that he knows, better than anybody, should’ve gone far better than it did.  People can’t forget Christian Hackenberg is 21-years old.  Though he’s officially an adult, in pro football years he’s still a child.  The limelight has come on him so fast that he hasn’t really had a chance to mature yet.  Quarterbacks are expected to shift the blame onto themselves when things go wrong with the offense, but these are things he hasn’t fully learned yet.  He shouldn’t be punished for telling the truth.