DMN Blog: Sifting through the QBs at the NFL combine

[WoodysGirl]

4:58 PM Mon, Feb 23, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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Finding a backup quarterback will be a big priority this offseason, and I spent some time today going through the guys at the NFL combine up in Indianapolis.

Now, the Cowboys could change their minds 100 times about which quarterback they like by the time they leave Indy. But two quarterbacks with local ties have really stuck out -- for different reasons.

Texas Tech's Graham Harrell hasn't done anything since the AT&T Cotton Bowl that would boost his stock, it seems. He didn't look very good at the Senior Bowl, didn't run very well in the 40-yard dash (no big surprise) and basically hasn't done much to shed the "he's just a system guy" label that all former Mike Leach quarterbacks wear.

Compare that to what we've seen out of Oklahoma-turned-Sam Houston State's Rhett Bomar. He overpowered teams at times in the Southland Conference (like you knew he would). Then, he fired off a 4.82 time in the 40-yard dash and was among the leaders in the 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle times.

I'm suddenly reminded of something Rhett's father Jerry told me after his son left OU. "He can still get where he wants to go," Jerry Bomar said. Yes, he can indeed.

Also, while I didn't track every single second of the quarterback workouts the last two days, Texas A&M's Stephen McGee was doing some good things when I was watching. I didn't know McGee could throw. I thought all he knew how to do was run the zone read. I mean, that's all Dennis Franchione had McGee doing in 2007.



Comments (7) Leave comment | E-mail entry

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I like McGee and Bomar, though for completely different reasons. I wouldn't take Harrell except as a UFA.

 

[Alexander]

Well.

That was completely uninformative.

Why they continually cram Graham Harrell down our throats I do not know.

I don't care what he did at Texas Tech. The man is not an NFL-calibre QB prospect.

Sometimes these blog entries are wastes of space.

 

[ms9221]

Well.

That was completely uninformative.

Why they continually cram Graham Harrell down our throats I do not know.

I don't care what he did at Texas Tech. The man is not an NFL-calibre QB prospect.

Sometimes these blog entries are wastes of space.

I agree 100% with you.

 

[JBS]

Well.

That was completely uninformative.

Why they continually cram Graham Harrell down our throats I do not know.

I don't care what he did at Texas Tech. The man is not an NFL-calibre QB prospect.

Sometimes these blog entries are wastes of space.

Sometimes they are worth reading, these clowns get paid to tell us things like the cowboys are looking for "football players".

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I've seen enough of one QB whom I REALLY like... That's Pat White!

 

[Zaxor]

I could be wrong but Harrell gets rid of the ball very fast and is very quick in his reads...the arm strength is not exactly NFL caliber but I think the guy could win games in the NFL and be a good backup for 12-15 years... I think he might never be better than a 5-6 game starter in a season...but that is still pretty good...

I guess we will see....but like I said his ability to read quickly and get rid of the ball quickly gives him a better than average chance of staying in the NFL for awhile.

 

[slotshot]

I like McGee and Bomar, though for completely different reasons. I wouldn't take Harrell except as a UFA.

Agreed...although I would take Nate Davis if he fell to us in the 3rd/4th

 

[Biggems]

how has Mike Reilly looked....I saw some of his numbers in the drills....they were pretty darn good when compared to the rest of this class. I have not seen any of the combine this year. has he done any throwing....if so, how did he do?

 

[Chief]

I could be wrong but Harrell gets rid of the ball very fast and is very quick in his reads...the arm strength is not exactly NFL caliber but I think the guy could win games in the NFL and be a good backup for 12-15 years... I think he might never be better than a 5-6 game starter in a season...but that is still pretty good...

I guess we will see....but like I said his ability to read quickly and get rid of the ball quickly gives him a better than average chance of staying in the NFL for awhile.

Agree.

He has some skills ... much more than any of the other Tech QBs in Leach's offense. Nobody should have expected him to light it up at the combine.

And I chuckle at the combine anyway. When Tom Brady showed up at the combine, people were talking about how his body had no muscle definition and how slow his 40 was.

But that Kyle Boller. Boy, he could throw the ball 50 yards from his knees. He was really something.

 

[Zaxor]

Agree.

He has some skills ... much more than any of the other Tech QBs in Leach's offense. Nobody should have expected him to light it up at the combine.

And I chuckle at the combine anyway. When Tom Brady showed up at the combine, people were talking about how his body had no muscle definition and how slow his 40 was.

But that Kyle Boller. Boy, he could throw the ball 50 yards from his knees. He was really something.

I really think scouts would do themselves a favor by going by 80% what they see on film...If he can play football it really doesn't matter if he gets a 50 on the wonderlic...

 

[Chocolate Lab]

To me, it's much more about what Harrell did at the Senior Bowl, not the combine. He just looked so bad in comparison to the other QBs.

 

[Chief]

To me, it's much more about what Harrell did at the Senior Bowl, not the combine. He just looked so bad in comparison to the other QBs.

Yep, that's a whole other deal.

Leach's quarterbacks are intensely programmed. He's going to have to shed some of that and learn to adapt.

 

[DasTex]

Stephen McGee - You know, it's funny people here in Austin were laughing that he was even invited to the Combine.

He'd be a great late round pick up. People forget that he put up crazy numbers in HS, and was considered an elite QB prospect at the time he was signed by A&M. Coach Fran really messed this kid up.

If he can be de-fran'd, he could have a solid pro career.

 

[ringmaster]

Agree.

He has some skills ... much more than any of the other Tech QBs in Leach's offense. Nobody should have expected him to light it up at the combine.

And I chuckle at the combine anyway. When Tom Brady showed up at the combine, people were talking about how his body had no muscle definition and how slow his 40 was.

But that Kyle Boller. Boy, he could throw the ball 50 yards from his knees. He was really something.

Yes, I remember this as well regarding Brady, at the combine in 2000 with their over analysis of his "lack of skills", 3 SBs later he's a shoe in HOF.

Tony Romo, wasn't even invited to the 2003 combine, oh wait he wasn't even drafted so much for people like Kiper, and McShay.

I agree 100% with this post.