One thing I wanted to mention about mobile quarterbacks: all things being equal, if you ask me, a quarterback that can scramble is less likely to be injured than a quarterback who can't. First of all, I'm not talking about read option. That's putting yourself in danger in exchange for yards, and, although the play is extremely effective, I'm cautious about using it unless I have Cam Newton (more on that in a moment). The thing about a quarterback that can scramble is that if you can scramble effectively and consistently slide to avoid a hit, the opposing pass rush can't be aggressive. The defensive ends MUST get outside contain on every play, because, if they don't, they know the quarterback will scramble for a big gain. They can't be effective as pass rushers, since if they are too aggressive as pass rushers the quarterback will be able to scramble. So the first positive impact is less aggressive pass rush schemes. After that, if you can really rush, the defense may consider even using a spy on the quarterback, which means one less guy rushing the passer. Again, your quarterback is less likely to be hit.
There's no denying that mobile quarterbacks tend to get injured more often. But I believe people are wrong as to why that's the case. Mobile quarterbacks are constantly injured because most of them are skinny. Mike Vick is 6'0, and generously listed at 215lbs. He doesn't have the size and the strength to take hits. Robert Griffin is 220lbs. The Seahawks saved their read option plays for late in the season simply because Russell Wilson can't take a beating at 206lbs (that's a huge problem). I feel slightly comfortable with Kaepernick taking a couple hits at 230lbs, but he looks very skinny on film. There aren't many durable statue quarterbacks under 225lbs. Most of them have had perfect O-lines (Ryan, Brees, Eli). Rodgers, maybe Dalton, are exceptions (Dalton hasn't been around enough to say yes for sure). Cutler gets injured. Kevin Kolb. Matt Cassel is pretty skinny. Alex Smith.
But there is one quarterback who is durable and a frequent ball carrier: Cam Newton. He is durable because he is huge. 6'5, 248lbs. The durability and strength, combined with his athleticism, makes him the best physical specimen of any quarterback in the NFL. Built like a tight end, takes hits like one too. He's a guy who I don't feel the need as a coach to ask him to slide when he scrambles.
Regarding Teddy Bridgewater, his inability to use his athleticism is why I think he's a bit overrated. Teams feel comfortable sending 5 guys and ignoring outside contain against him because he seems unable to use his 4.65 40 to scramble effectively. He's 220lbs. He's not really big enough to take a hit. He has to make the defense think twice before sending the house, or he will have injury issues in the NFL. At this point, he hasn't shown me much of an ability to do so. Until then, he's slightly overrated.
