Draft Perspective... and a reminder

[DFWJC]

from an article...

By Derek Lofland. It’s always fun to pick the winners and losers of the NFL draft just a day after the draft. This is an excerpt from an April 15, 1998 Sports Illustrated Article Where will Leaf fall? “At 6-foot-5, Leaf has the size NFL teams are looking for. His arm strength is considered better than Manning's and he threw a Pac-10 record 33 touchdowns last season while playing in the same sophisticated Washington State offense that primed Drew Bledsoe for NFL success.”
‘He gets rid of the ball quickly and he just kind of flicks it’ said Indianapolis [URL="http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/teams/page/IND"]Colts[/URL] head coach Jim Mora. ‘I mean it's not like its effortless motion. When he throws the ball it's just BOOM it goes through the air at a pretty good pace -- that impresses me.”

On the other hand that one NFL scout said this about [URL="http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/players/playerpage/187741"]Tom Brady[/URL] prior to the 2000 draft, “Poor build, very skinny and narrow, lacks mobility and the ability to avoid the rush, lacks a really strong arm."

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Just reminding everyone to keep perspective. Going to other team's boards and seeing the level of panic is amusing. In general the folks here are pretty knowledgable.
GO COWBOYS

 

[Bigdog]

If I remeber straight, Brady was just a camp fodder. I lived in Boston when he was drafted in the 6th round and I remember many of the Pats personnel reporting that they did not expect him to make the team and if he did, he would never be more than a 3rd stringer.

 

[sago1]

What is lacking in both analysis is a description of their personalities, character, smarts & work ethic. It's often said that being a good starting QB in the NFL is just as much mental as physical.

Leaf had the physical ability down pat but lacked the character/emotional stability to handle other issues in the lockerroom & on the field. Brady lacked the desired physique but obviously had the brains, emotional stability, etc.

Frankly I've believe for a long team (along with some football analysists) that scouts & teams focus too much attention on the desirable size of the QB (love those 6-4 & taller QBs) & a great arm (love those 70 yard bomb-throwing type of arms). The dearth of quality QBs in today's NFL is a tribute to the mess made in drafting QBs. It's gotten so bad that only 1 QB out of 3 who are drafted actually become a noteworthy starter; most of them are out of the NFL within 3-4 years. Admittedly some of its attributable to how quickly fans/owner demand high level of performance too soon & fail to allow those QBs time to develop.

However, the 2003 draft is best example of QB problem. First QB taken was Carson Palmer; no question he's good. Also believe Gerrard was taken in that draft & at 30 he now is doing well. But Grossman, Leftwich, etc. have become diseasers & many are on their last stand.

In the meantime, the undrafted Tony Romo (all of 6-2, from a small school but highly mobile with a very accurate arm--even if not as strong as some) was signed as a FA in 2003. We all know how he's turned out. If the 2003 draft could be run all over again, Romo is a top 5 pick right behind Carson Palmer & then he's probably followed by Gerrard. Remainder QBs probably wouldn't even be drafted. BTW: Don't forget that former Cowboy coach Sean Payton wanted Romo to be the starter in 2005 & didn't believe it necessary to sign Bledsoe to start that year. He was overruled by Parcells & Jerry cause both wanted a quality vet to win now. Six games into the 06 season with us behind in the Giants game, Romo replaced Bledsoe as our starter -- thank God.

That's why I find it so amusing how the experts go on about how good Ryan will immediately be or that backup QB (sorry can't remember his name) behind Rogers in Green Bay is prepared to start immediately if Rogers gets hurt or is unproductive. It's a good thing those so called experts can't be sued for fraud.

 

[jazzcat22]

If I remeber straight, Brady was just a camp fodder. I lived in Boston when he was drafted in the 6th round and I remember many of the Pats personnel reporting that they did not expect him to make the team and if he did, he would never be more than a 3rd stringer.

That was PRE-SPYGATE.......

 

[CrazyCowboy]

yea, it is fun to reflect back on what these so called experts wrote about a player.