THE QB SCRAMBLE

by the Editor (filling in while Matt Minucci recovers from multiple shark bites.)

Which one of these great college QBs continue to be great in the NFL?

My remarks as to the rounds where these QBs might be drafted is an opinion of where they SHOULD be drafted.



#1 Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, 6’4” 223 lbs.

Bradford is my choice to have the most success at the next level. This guy is the most complete of all the QBs out there, just a hair better than McCoy in my opinion. Even though he is only completing 56% of his passes he has the most accuracy when it comes to the long pass (20 or more yards) he has great touch. Bradford has exceptional pocket awareness. He is the only one of all the past OU QBs that seems to be able to survey the field and go through his progressions, not Hybl, Hypel or White were able to do that once they got to the pros.

Bradford is smart, that’s very important at the next level. No body likes a dumb QB.1st rd.



#1-A Colt McCoy, Texas, 6’2” 210 lbs.

I’ve watched McCoy his entire career at Texas and I have to say the kid can play. This year he is completing 70% of his passes the most accurate of all the candidates. McCoy can run and throw on the run that is impressive. I have not seen that kind of ability from a QB since Steve Young. McCoy is tough, just look at the beating he took in the OU game. He kept his eyes down field and continued to try to make plays. Now I know all QB would do that but he’s more accurate on the run than all of those QBs.

McCoy does have 7 INTs and that is problematic, however, they do throw the ball quite a bit in Texas. Never the less the picks have to be mitigated. Despite the turnovers I can’t see this kid failing in the NFL as long as he doesn’t force the issue he will be just fine. 1st rd.



#2 Tony Pike, Cincinnati, 6’6” 225 lbs.

I like Pike, but there is something about him that makes me hesitate in picking him early. He is completing 64% of his passes and has 15 TDs and only 3 INT’s. But do I take him in the first round? In the first round Pike is a reach, just like Jason Campbell of the Redskins. Pike needs to put on some weight if he’s going to withstand the punishment in the NFL.

From what I have seen Pike can play and he will be a solid QB but it will take him a few years to develop. I just don’t see him starting right away, maybe not even in his second year. Playing from the shot gun in college is a lot different than from under center in the NFL.2nd /3ed rd.



#3 Jake Locker, 6’3” 226 lbs.

Locker’s first year in the system and he’s completing 57% with 11 TDs and 6 INTs. What is impressive is the way he has picked up the new offense, which speaks of intelligence. The capacity to absorb a new playbook is crucial for an NFL QB. Locker is also mobile and is a strong runner. Locker to me is very solid he has improved tremendously from last year when Willingham tried to make him a running QB and This year Sarkisian has changed him into a pocket passer who will take off when the opportunity presents itself. That’s a tough transition and Locker has adapted well, that’s impressive. This should translate well to the next level. 2nd rd.



#4 Ryan Mallett, Arkansas, 6’7” 238 lbs.

He may not come out being that this is his first year in Petrino’s system and he may feel that one more year may be beneficial to his development. But if he does enter the draft history is not on his side. For some reason the really tall QBs do not succeed in the NFL. Maybe it’s the fact that they can’t get from under the center fast enough to make the throw. What ever the reason it’s hard to think that Mallett at 6’7” will be different, although he has potential. Mallett’s QB rating is 150 but is completing only 55% of his passes. He does have 14 TDs and 3 INTs and probably the biggest hands in the entire QB class.

If Mallett comes out he will be a project, although he can make all the throws. He should remain at Arkansas one more year and improve. 3ed / 4th rd.



#5 Jevan Snead, Mississippi, 6’3” 215 lbs.

Snead is prototypical pocket passer, a thrower, who will get a chance to throw on Sundays. Snead is struggling this year. He is completing less than 50% of his passes and has thrown 9 INTs. Those are not favorable statistics. The NFL does remember big wins in a player's career and will surely remember the win over Florida last year but does that mean he can be productive in the NFL. From watching Snead play, I think he can be because he's a pocket passer and that the NFL game. You win by throwing in this league and although Snead is not doing a good job of it this year he has shown enough potential to warrant being drafted.

I simply can’t explain why he has regressed as much as he has this year, this will absolutely hurt his draft status. The ability is there but can he put it together? 5th rd.



#6 Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State, 6’3” 218 lbs.

Robinson is completing 62% of his passes in this offense. But make no mistake he makes this offense go. The question is, is he a product of the system like those kids from Texas Tech or Hawaii under June Jones. I don’t think so. This is a balanced offense unlike the ones mentioned, Oklahoma State doesn’t throw the ball a lot, the most Robinson has thrown so far this year is 35 times. The one knock on Robinson is that he is a bit inconsistent, his completion percentage could improve from game to game. Robinson is in his third year in this system and should have a better completion percentage than he does, this kind of stuff drives NFL teams crazy and it should.

To be a success in the pros Robinson must show more consistent play.4th rd.



#7 Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame, 6’3” 223 lbs.

Clausen leads the NCAA with a 179 QB rating and a bunch of 300 yard games. Clausen is completing 65% of his passes. He had a solid game against a tough USC defense completing 55% for 260 yards and 2 TDs. Clausen is running a pro style offense not the spread and he has improved every year but the arm strength is questionable for me. When I look at Clausen it seems to me that he does not have a strong arm, he seems to exert a great deal of effort to make the throws.

Clausen understands how to read defenses and goes through his progressions so I can see him playing in the NFL but he’s not dynamic enough to be that franchise QB who will lead your team to the big game. 4th rd.



#8 Tim Tebow, Florida, 6’3” 245 lbs.

QB rating of 164 is a bit deceiving, this is not a “THROWING” QB, but an opportunistic passer. His completion percentage is at 65.5% and that is again from a guy who doesn’t throw a lot, but when he does, he’s accurate. I just don’t see Tebow having any success in the NFL. He will be drafted but strictly for the Wild Cat as it spreads to more teams. Those Florida QB don’t read defenses they just know where they will throw the ball, and even if they do read defenses it’s in a limited capacity because the spread offense is not designed to read defenses but to dictate to them. Just look at Alex Smith who is a product of Meyer’s spread offense in Utah, not having a good time in the NFL.

Besides Tebow is a virgin and I’m afraid if the guy ever has sex, he may just not be the same. 6th / 7th rd.