The Next Wave of NFL QBs
The list of players invited to the NFL Combine is out, and here are the QBs invited:
Matt Ryan (BC)
Joseph Flacco (Delaware)
Colt Brennan (Hawaii)
Andre Woodson (Kentucky)
Matt Flynn (LSU)
Brian Brohm (Louisville)
Bernard Morris (Marshall)
Kyle Wright (Miami)
Chad Henne (Michigan)
Sam Keller (NU)
Dennis Dixon (Oregon)
Anthony Morelli (PSU)
Joshua Johnson (San Diego)
Kevin O’Connell (SDSU)
Adam Tafralis (SJSU)
John David Booty (USC)
T.C. Ostrander (Stanford)
Erik Ainge (Tennessee)
Paul Smith (Tulsa)
David Brink (WSU)
Remember the discussion two years ago over Vince Young’s NFL prospects? How he wasn’t polished enough from the “I”, and would be a huge project? On the list above, I count at least three Spread QBs who are less accomplished passers than VY, and probably more if I had any clue to the offenses that Delaware and San Diego ran. Wait, you say. I know a Spread team will probably win the Super Bowl today, but nobody else in the NFL runs the Spread (yet). Where are all of the prototypical NFL passers? Good question, and here’s the answers.
1. There aren’t many available. Fewer college teams run the NFL offense. It requires unique talent, a lot of coaching time, and it doesn’t score as prolifically as the Spread. Look at the list above- what exactly have Kyle Wright and Sam Keller done to warrant NFL scrutiny? Nothing, but they are the closest thing the game has to strong-armed, tall-in-the-pocket NFL-type passers.
2. The NFL suspects they will need QBs accomplished in the Spread- the quick decisions on the fly, and the mobility. Why else would Dixon and Woodson be at the combine as QBs, and not WRs (like Brad Smith and Matt Jones were a couple of years ago)? There is a change in NFL thinking.
Traditionally, the NFL liked QBs with the measurables (strong arms, stats, etc.), and the college accomplishments. For QBs possessing only one, the NFL preferred the former. Unfortunately, now the only QBs with the big accomplishments are the Spread types. It’s very interesting that so many Spread QBs are coming to the Combine before the Spread is widely adopted by the NFL. It’s like the NFL scouts know it’s coming.
February 3, 2008 at 5:21 am
You are automatically discredited for thinking Andre Woodson would be at the combine as a WR. Do you watch football?
February 3, 2008 at 5:28 am
Heh, Woodson is about as mobile as a corpse.
February 3, 2008 at 5:31 am
Exactly. Not as slow as Leftwich, but not as fast as Orlando Pace.
Stats:
2005:
Sacked: 30
Rushing Yards: -133
2006:
Sacked: 36
Rushing Yards: -137
2007:
Sacked: 38
Rushing Yards: -193
February 3, 2008 at 6:02 am
But he’s black! So he’s got to be fast!
February 3, 2008 at 6:32 am
OK, you’ve got me on that one.
February 3, 2008 at 6:56 am
I don’t think the NFL will ever run a true spread with a mobile quarterback for similar reasons to why no NFL team runs the option. Nobody wants their highest paid player taking that many hits. As we’ve seen in recent years, RBs are plug and play. See Selvin in Denver. The guy was 63 when he left Texas after 45 years, 41 on medical redshirt.
If anything, we’ll see something like what New England does, or what Kentucky (obligatory reference) did with Tim Couch. Short, safe passes with a minimal running game. You won’t need a fast QB, just someone with a quick release and a strong arm. I’d almost consider it more of a modified West Coast Offense than a spread.
February 3, 2008 at 8:02 am
Even with the quick nature of the New England passing game, Brady would take a ton of hits if it weren’t got his OL. You need to put something like that together before you can even dream of being a pass first offense.
February 3, 2008 at 8:07 am
True, otherwise you get Alex Smith. Spread QB turned splattered QB.
February 3, 2008 at 10:49 am
Not surprised to see the guy from Marshall on the list. I saw him live and was very impressed. Plays with poise, can run like a deer, throws a good tight ball.
February 4, 2008 at 6:58 am
Jeez.
February 4, 2008 at 7:31 am
There is not a guy on that list that I’d build a team around.
Kyle Wright has as good a chance at playing in the BFL as Henry James does.
February 4, 2008 at 10:00 am
That’s 20 QBs. Here are the top 20 QBs (seniors and juniors that ended up announcing) from Phil Steele’s pre-season magazine:
Brohm, Booty, Brennan, Woodson, Henne, Ainge, Ryan, Morelli, Smith, Keller, Wright, Dixon, Haugabook (Troy), Mitchell (S. Carolina), Cox (Auburn), Brink, Meyer (ISU), Hankins (Memphis), Schaeffer (Miss), and O’Connell. To a certain extent, they need arms at the combine to work out the receivers.
After watching the Superbowl, I am back-tracking on predictions of the spread offenses taking over the NFL like they have D-1A. However, it’s obvious that the NFL is going to have to figure out how to scout and what to do with all of the spread QBs it’s going to be getting over the next few years.
February 4, 2008 at 10:59 am
They’ll scout them just like they did the option QBs in the past. If they think they can throw, they’ll give them a shot at QB.
February 4, 2008 at 11:43 am
Wes Welker has changed the face of pro football.
February 4, 2008 at 12:13 pm
TRoom - how did you come to that conclusion after the game last night? Brady got freaking pounded. San Diego shut them down until NE started running on them.
The NFL has a long history of proving you can’t be a heavy passing team, unless you do it like the Eagles and throw screens and slants 80% of the time.
February 4, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Ah, you know what, I read your post wrong. My bad.