Mark Sanchez was the king of "poise" during his rookie season in 2009. That year, you'd have been hard-pressed to find any writers using any other word to describe him (seriously, you would). Now, after just one game this season, five first-year quarterbacks—Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, Brandon Weeden, Ryan Tannehill, Russell Wilson—already have a chance to be this season's most poise-possessed rookie. Let's see how they stack up:
Brandon Weeden, Browns
Tom Withers, Associated Press:
As poorly as he played, Weeden never seemed to lose his poise.
(Reminder: Weeden's stat line: 12-for-35 for 118 yards, four picks.)
Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel:
You saw the poise he carries himself with.
Harvey Fialkov, Sun Sentinel:
...sacked three times, but did flash arm strength and poise in the pocket.
Greg Cote, Miami Herald:
Hartline called Tannehill's poise and demeanor "phenomenal."
Robert Griffin III, Redskins
NFL.com recap quoting head coach Mike Shanahan:
...the poise that he played with...
Mike Wise's Washington Post column headline:
...poise in NFL debut transcends...
Wise, again, in his column:
...so in control, so poised...
Russell Wilson, Seahawks
Mike Sando, ESPN.com:
He showed poise...
Sando again:
...said of Wilson's poise.
Dan Arkush, Pro Football Weekly:
...continued to display tremendous poise...
Jon Machota, Dallas Morning News, quoting Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr:
...he keeps his poise...
Andrew Luck, Colts
Bob Kravitz, Indianapolis Star, quoting wide receiver Reggie Wayne:
He kept his poise...
Kravitz again, same article:
...showed great poise...
Reggie Hayes, News-Sentinel:
...showed poise and even a bit of necessary petulance...
No. 12 showed poise...
Lynn Zinser, The Fifth Down:
...as polished and poised as the original.
Luck wins! If there were a poise draft, it looks like Andrew Luck would be picked first overall in that, too.