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Beck ready to prove he belongs
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 26, 2007 12:00 AM
INDIANAPOLIS - The 300 or so college prospects at the NFL scouting combine take an intelligence test, but with John Beck, all scouts really had to do was ask him one simple question.
What will be the most important event for you in April: the birth of your first child or getting drafted?
"The correct answer is my baby being born," said Beck, smiling and showing an innate ability to read his keys.
If he's as good at identifying trick pass coverages, Beck should become a solid NFL quarterback. That's something Beck has dreamed about since he was a kid playing Pop Warner. The dream stayed alive though a high school career at Mesa Mountain View, a two-year Mormon mission to Lisbon, Portugal, and in college at Brigham Young.
Beck, 25, never lost faith that he would one day be here, working out for scouts and on the cusp of making it in the NFL. He won't be taken high and most likely will go on the second day of the draft in late April, but all he wants is a shot.
"I'm actually just excited," Beck said. "It's my turn now. I think if you're prepared, there is no reason to be worried or be tense. I'm sure some people going into it might be a little nervous, thinking 'Gee, I'm going to have all these NFL people watching me.' For me, it's finally, I've been wanting those eyes to see me."
That desire began when he started playing the game at 8.
Autumn was football for the Becks. There were Pop Warner practices during the week and then a game Saturday morning. Beck then would go home, watch college games on television and attend Arizona State's games with his family. On Sunday, there was church and more football.
Beck wasn't highly recruited when he graduated from Mountain View. He made it clear he was leaving for two years, and only ASU and BYU vowed to stay in touch.
But when Beck returned, he had grown an inch or so, to 6 feet 2, and gained about 25 pounds, up to 195. Now, schools such as Washington, UCLA and Miami, Fla., were calling. Beck, a longtime BYU fan, elected to go with the Cougars.
Things weren't easy there, however. Beck was forced to play as a freshman, and there were struggles. The Cougars were going through some down years and there was a coaching change after Beck's sophomore year.
But BYU went 11-2 this past season and Beck finished his career ranked second on the school's all-time passing list behind Ty Detmer.
NFL scouts are impressed by his intelligence and maturity. They like his accuracy and quick release. But this is viewed as a two-quarterback draft. There supposedly is a drop-off in talent after Louisiana State's JaMarcus Russell and Notre Dame's Brady Quinn.
"After the top two, good luck finding a starter," said draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
NFL history is littered with stories of successful quarterbacks who were taken in the later rounds or not drafted at all. Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, Marc Bulger and Matt Hasselbeck are a few of the most recent examples.
Beck, who turns 26 in August, knows he'll have to wait to get his turn to play in the NFL.
"I know I can say I feel ready, but I know as a rookie entering the NFL I'm probably not ready. I experienced it as a freshman playing college football. I felt ready, (then) soon learned that, hey, there are some adjustments to be made and you have to go through a learning curve."
No other player came to this combine more prepared.
At college, Beck didn't get the NFL Network, but his father taped the broadcasts of the combine and sent him tapes of all the drills.
For the past few months, he's been working out in Phoenix with trainers Warren Anderson and Tim McClellan, and he's been sharpening his football skills with the help of ex-NFL coach Rod Dowhower.
And he's been preparing to be a father.
He and his wife, Barbara, have been married almost three years and the baby, due April 11, is their first. If all goes according to schedule and Beck gets drafted, April will be a very big month for the Becks.
"On draft day, I'll probably be holding my kid in my arms as I'm watching TV," Beck said.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/0226nflcombine0226.html
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 26, 2007 12:00 AM
INDIANAPOLIS - The 300 or so college prospects at the NFL scouting combine take an intelligence test, but with John Beck, all scouts really had to do was ask him one simple question.
What will be the most important event for you in April: the birth of your first child or getting drafted?
"The correct answer is my baby being born," said Beck, smiling and showing an innate ability to read his keys.
If he's as good at identifying trick pass coverages, Beck should become a solid NFL quarterback. That's something Beck has dreamed about since he was a kid playing Pop Warner. The dream stayed alive though a high school career at Mesa Mountain View, a two-year Mormon mission to Lisbon, Portugal, and in college at Brigham Young.
Beck, 25, never lost faith that he would one day be here, working out for scouts and on the cusp of making it in the NFL. He won't be taken high and most likely will go on the second day of the draft in late April, but all he wants is a shot.
"I'm actually just excited," Beck said. "It's my turn now. I think if you're prepared, there is no reason to be worried or be tense. I'm sure some people going into it might be a little nervous, thinking 'Gee, I'm going to have all these NFL people watching me.' For me, it's finally, I've been wanting those eyes to see me."
That desire began when he started playing the game at 8.
Autumn was football for the Becks. There were Pop Warner practices during the week and then a game Saturday morning. Beck then would go home, watch college games on television and attend Arizona State's games with his family. On Sunday, there was church and more football.
Beck wasn't highly recruited when he graduated from Mountain View. He made it clear he was leaving for two years, and only ASU and BYU vowed to stay in touch.
But when Beck returned, he had grown an inch or so, to 6 feet 2, and gained about 25 pounds, up to 195. Now, schools such as Washington, UCLA and Miami, Fla., were calling. Beck, a longtime BYU fan, elected to go with the Cougars.
Things weren't easy there, however. Beck was forced to play as a freshman, and there were struggles. The Cougars were going through some down years and there was a coaching change after Beck's sophomore year.
But BYU went 11-2 this past season and Beck finished his career ranked second on the school's all-time passing list behind Ty Detmer.
NFL scouts are impressed by his intelligence and maturity. They like his accuracy and quick release. But this is viewed as a two-quarterback draft. There supposedly is a drop-off in talent after Louisiana State's JaMarcus Russell and Notre Dame's Brady Quinn.
"After the top two, good luck finding a starter," said draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
NFL history is littered with stories of successful quarterbacks who were taken in the later rounds or not drafted at all. Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, Marc Bulger and Matt Hasselbeck are a few of the most recent examples.
Beck, who turns 26 in August, knows he'll have to wait to get his turn to play in the NFL.
"I know I can say I feel ready, but I know as a rookie entering the NFL I'm probably not ready. I experienced it as a freshman playing college football. I felt ready, (then) soon learned that, hey, there are some adjustments to be made and you have to go through a learning curve."
No other player came to this combine more prepared.
At college, Beck didn't get the NFL Network, but his father taped the broadcasts of the combine and sent him tapes of all the drills.
For the past few months, he's been working out in Phoenix with trainers Warren Anderson and Tim McClellan, and he's been sharpening his football skills with the help of ex-NFL coach Rod Dowhower.
And he's been preparing to be a father.
He and his wife, Barbara, have been married almost three years and the baby, due April 11, is their first. If all goes according to schedule and Beck gets drafted, April will be a very big month for the Becks.
"On draft day, I'll probably be holding my kid in my arms as I'm watching TV," Beck said.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/0226nflcombine0226.html
