Draftable QB's: After the Big Three, it's a crapshoot
Draftable QB's: After the Big Three, it's a crapshoot
By Darrell Laurant
03/07/06
OK, so you know about Matt Leinart, Vince Young and, by now, Jay Cutler.
How about the other quarterbacks in the 2006 NFL draft? It depends upon who you ask.
Perhaps the most intriguing prospect is Bowling Green's Omar Jacobs, who has good size (6-4, 225), a strong arm and ran a 4.55 40 at the NFL Combine. As always with MAC QB's, some observers denigrate the caliber of his opposition, but Jacobs silenced most of those critics by throwing for 485 yards and five touchdowns against Wisconsin. He does own a somewhat-funky delivery that has QB coaches itching to tinker with it.
Oh, and two more words for those who like to dis the MAC: Ben Roethlisberger.
Bruce Gradkowski of Toledo is another MAC prospect. Lightly recruited out of high school, he has already proven himself once, setting career passing records as a Rocket. In his final college game, the GMAC Bowl, he tossed five touchdown passes against UTEP.
"The system I played in college was high-percentage decision-making," Gradkowski told the Pittsburgh Press-Gazette, "and we didn't throw the ball downfield all that much, but that doesn't mean I don't have the arm to do it."
Brodie Croyle of Alabama is almost a clone of Joe Namath -- complete with quick release, bazooka arm and, unfortunately, bad knees (torn ACL's in both of them during his career). Durability is the question here.
At least one draft observer, NFL safety Corey Chavous, sees Reggie McNeal as the best prospect of the bunch -- and that includes the Big Three. For one thing, McNeal ran a 4.35 at the Combine, and his arm is above average. The question is whether he'll turn into Michael Vick or Antwaan Randle El in the NFL, because the Texas A&M senior is also given high marks as a wide receiver.
Marcus Vick might be in the same boat, if he can stay out of jail. One scout said of him "He has character issues that make Maurice Clarett look like Walter Payton."
Well, yes -- there was the matter of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, not to mention reckless driving, pot possession, allegedly brandishing a firearm, giving a one-finger salute to West Virginia fans and stomping on the outstretched leg of Louisville DE Elvis Dumervil during the Gator Bowl. Other than that, Vick's career at Tech was impeccable.
The thing is that he's rated as a better and more accurate passer than big brother Mike, and he's just as fast. What Marcus lacked in college was Mike's panache and confidence -- Marcus seemed intimidated and frustrated in big games last season against Miami and Florida State. As a sophomore, however (before he was kicked off the Hokie team the first time), Vick burned Cal for three long receptions and a touchdown in a bowl game.
The prospect pool also gives us a Drew Brees-type (Brett Basanez of Northwestern, who is somewhat undersized and underarmed, but very productive) and a couple of prototype pocket-passers (Charlie Whitehurst of Clemson and Erik Meyer of Eastern Washington).
If you want a dark horse, Brett Elliott of NAIA Linfield put up huge numbers but wasn't invited to the Combine. And Barrick Nealey of Texas State was among the more athletic quarterbacks at the combine.
Besides the teams with obvious quarterback needs, a lot of others will be sifting through these also-rans for a possible low-cost backup.
By Darrell Laurant
03/07/06
OK, so you know about Matt Leinart, Vince Young and, by now, Jay Cutler.
How about the other quarterbacks in the 2006 NFL draft? It depends upon who you ask.
Perhaps the most intriguing prospect is Bowling Green's Omar Jacobs, who has good size (6-4, 225), a strong arm and ran a 4.55 40 at the NFL Combine. As always with MAC QB's, some observers denigrate the caliber of his opposition, but Jacobs silenced most of those critics by throwing for 485 yards and five touchdowns against Wisconsin. He does own a somewhat-funky delivery that has QB coaches itching to tinker with it.
Oh, and two more words for those who like to dis the MAC: Ben Roethlisberger.
Bruce Gradkowski of Toledo is another MAC prospect. Lightly recruited out of high school, he has already proven himself once, setting career passing records as a Rocket. In his final college game, the GMAC Bowl, he tossed five touchdown passes against UTEP.
"The system I played in college was high-percentage decision-making," Gradkowski told the Pittsburgh Press-Gazette, "and we didn't throw the ball downfield all that much, but that doesn't mean I don't have the arm to do it."
Brodie Croyle of Alabama is almost a clone of Joe Namath -- complete with quick release, bazooka arm and, unfortunately, bad knees (torn ACL's in both of them during his career). Durability is the question here.
At least one draft observer, NFL safety Corey Chavous, sees Reggie McNeal as the best prospect of the bunch -- and that includes the Big Three. For one thing, McNeal ran a 4.35 at the Combine, and his arm is above average. The question is whether he'll turn into Michael Vick or Antwaan Randle El in the NFL, because the Texas A&M senior is also given high marks as a wide receiver.
Marcus Vick might be in the same boat, if he can stay out of jail. One scout said of him "He has character issues that make Maurice Clarett look like Walter Payton."
Well, yes -- there was the matter of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, not to mention reckless driving, pot possession, allegedly brandishing a firearm, giving a one-finger salute to West Virginia fans and stomping on the outstretched leg of Louisville DE Elvis Dumervil during the Gator Bowl. Other than that, Vick's career at Tech was impeccable.
The thing is that he's rated as a better and more accurate passer than big brother Mike, and he's just as fast. What Marcus lacked in college was Mike's panache and confidence -- Marcus seemed intimidated and frustrated in big games last season against Miami and Florida State. As a sophomore, however (before he was kicked off the Hokie team the first time), Vick burned Cal for three long receptions and a touchdown in a bowl game.
The prospect pool also gives us a Drew Brees-type (Brett Basanez of Northwestern, who is somewhat undersized and underarmed, but very productive) and a couple of prototype pocket-passers (Charlie Whitehurst of Clemson and Erik Meyer of Eastern Washington).
If you want a dark horse, Brett Elliott of NAIA Linfield put up huge numbers but wasn't invited to the Combine. And Barrick Nealey of Texas State was among the more athletic quarterbacks at the combine.
Besides the teams with obvious quarterback needs, a lot of others will be sifting through these also-rans for a possible low-cost backup.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:41 PM
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