Dave- Te Thomas' Draft Analysis
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THE 2001
NFL DRAFT REPORT's LOOK AT THE QUARTERBACK CROP
Every decade, the NFL is blessed with one draft that will fill the bare cupboards throughout the league with franchise-type quarterbacks. Who could forget the 1983 crop that featured five first rounders, including future Hall of Famers John Elway and Dan Marino. Probably those fans that saw their favorite teams waste those precious picks on the likes of Todd Blackledge (Chiefs), Tony Eason (Patriots) and Ken O'Brien (Jets). The 1999 draft proved almost as eventful for this position as the 1983 draft, with Chicago taking Cade McNown, Cincinatti grabbing Akili Smith, Cleveland banking their future on Tim Couch, Dennis Green stealing Daunte Culpepper away for his Vikings with the eleventh overall pick and Donovan McNabb quickly silencing the boos heard by Eagles fans as he guided Philadelphia to the playoffs last season. For every great one that the league has discovered, they also have a slew of high priced busts that haunt the teams forever. While Bobby Beathard has nary a care in the world these days, his old team, the Chargers, are very gun-shy in their assessment of Virginia Tech's Michael Vick, thanks mostly to Beathard's biggest blunder of his career - Ryan Leaf. Vick is the best athlete in this year's class, but with the day and age of the dreaded salary cap and veteran free agency, can San Diego afford to invest mega-dollars in a player that they are questioning his ability to read defenses and run a pro-style offense? If they were, why did they invest close to $25 million in a guy that belongs up the road with Snow White and her seven dwarfs (Doug Flutie) rather than being on a football field. The signing of Flutie could be GM John Butler's way of telling the world that he is not sold on Vick's unlimited potential. With the huge contract that Vick can expect, how can Butler justify to his new bosses that a total package of $70 million invested in two passers is the way to go? It is obvious from the contempt that Rob Johnson and Flutie had for each other in Buffalo that the "little old guy" will not embrace Vick as his eventual successor, thus creating an instant quarterback controversy that this struggling franchise can ill afford, both on the payroll and on the playing field. The only possible solution is for Butler to burn the phone wires and entice a trade for the top pick, with possibly Atlanta being San Diego's best suitor in any deal. Even though Vick is no sure bet for super stardom, the rest of this crop has "buyer beware" written all over them. Purdue's Drew Brees has very impressive passing numbers, but the one number that counts (size, 6:0) is what is scaring off quite a few teams. Rutger's Mike McMahon runs hot and cold in most scouts' opinions, based on great talent but a severe lack of maturity on his part. Chris Weinke is so old, you'd think he was a professor rather than a football player when he strolls across Florida State's campus. Florida's Jesse Palmer has great athletic ability, but you have to wonder how his confidence level will hold up after years of torture in Steve Spurrier's "yank the quarterback" system. Like Weinke, Louisiana State's Josh Booty has a birth certificate that has a little bit of dust growing on it, thanks to several years of playing pro baseball. His performance in 2000 was acceptable, but he would have wasted away on the bench, if Rohan Davey was not banged up earlier in the season. David Rivers escaped the bench in Virginia to take over the starting reigns at Western Carolina in his senior year, but is it a matter of a big fish looking good while swimming in a little pond? Questions abound about the medical condition of Oklahoma's Josh Heupel, but then, he wasn't that highly regarded by pro scouts to begin with, thanks to an obvious lack of mobility. Georgia's Quincy Carter had a horrible junior year that was sidetracked not only by injury woes, but his running battle with former head coach Jim Donnan. Teams looking for a late round find in the mold of Aaron Brooks (Saints) may take a chance on Washington's Marques Tuiasosopo, Iowa State's Sage Rosenfels, Oregon's super sub A.J. Feeley, Boston College's Tim Hasselbeck, Arkansas State's Cleo Lemon or small college pocket passer, Justin Coleman of Nebraska-Kearney, but the rest of the talent here will have to pray for a camp invitation on the free agency route. THE POSITION REPORT CARD THE CREAM OF THE CROP Negatives…Tries to carry the "weight of the world" on his shoulders too much...Seems very uncomfortable being in the limelight...Still needs to mature as a player...Sometimes gets too confident in his running skills, forgetting to eye his secondary receivers in order to run with the ball when his primary target is not available...Tends to get into a three-quarter throwing motion as the game wears on, taking a little zip off his tosses... Has a little bit of a wind-up in his release when throwing long, which makes his receivers work a little harder in order to get to the ball...Has good arm strength, but needs to refine his throwing mechanics, as he is not that quick to load and reload in his delivery. CAREER NOTES…Considered by many to be the most exciting player in college football... Gutsy performer who plays with injuries that would sideline most...Despite playing only two seasons with the Hokies, he is only the second quarterback in school history to rush for over 1000 yards in a career (1202)... Ranks seventh on Virginia Tech's all-time passing list with 3074 yards and sixth with 4276 yards in total offense...Including post-season action, the he compiled a 20-2 record in the games he's played in at Tech (20-1 as a starter). REMINDS ME OF…Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb. GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL…While San Diego continues to show strong interest in Vick as their overall top pick, some within the organization are openly questioning his ability to read defenses. After dropping $25 million into Doug Flutie's lap, that is a tremendous amount to pay a guy to tutor the youngster. If the Chargers do not trade this pick, they reluctantly take Vick, but I still feel that either Atlanta or Kansas City will make a big push to trade up before draft day. THE BEST OF THE REST Negatives…Plays in the spread offense, taking the bulk of his snaps from the shotgun... Tends to side-arm his passes going deep...Lacks accuracy and touch on his long throws... Seems more comfortable in the short/intermediate passing attack...Does not possess the ideal height you look for in a pro passer, though his ability to scan the field helps him compensate in this area...Will improvise and run when the passing lanes are clogged, but tends to run through defenders rather than trying to avoid them to prevent unnecessary punishment. CAREER NOTES…The unquestioned leader of the Boilermakers' offense and one of the school's most decorated athletes...The three-year starter shattered virtually every school passing record and also made his marks on the Big Ten Conference and NCAA Division 1-A record charts...Ranks fourth in NCAA annals with 1525 pass attempts, 942 completions and 11,815 yards in total offense (NCAA does not recognize bowl stats)...Including post-season action, he holds the Boilermaker and conference career-records with 1026 pass completions of 1678 passes for 11,792 yards, 90 touchdown tosses and 12,692 yards in total offense...His pass completion percentage of .611 set another Purdue all-time record... Only player in Big Ten Conference history to throw for over 500 yards in a game twice in a career...Threw for over 400 yards seven times, over 300 yards sixteen times and over 200 yards twenty-seven times during his career...Tied Wisconsin tailback Ron Dayne's (1996-99) Big Ten Conference record by earning Player of the Week honors eight times during his career. REMIND ME OF…San Francisco's Jeff Garcia. GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL…Despite his "shortcoming" in the size department, Brees has put up impressive enough numbers to generate first round consideration. Pittsburtgh, Kansas City (if they don't pull off the Trent Green trade) or Miami could opt for Brees in the first round, but I am not convinced that he will come anywhere close to matching his lofty collegiate figures at the pro level. If those three teams pass on him, Brees will still be on board when the second round opens. THE MOST UNDERRATED Negatives…Sails some throws and hangs the deep bombs, at times...Loses some effectiveness when throwing from non-set positions...Despite his arm strength, gets into a rhythm where he is more comfortable as a touch thrower, rather than gamble by unleashing the bomb. CAREER NOTES…After seeing limited action during his first three years at the University of Virginia, Rivers found a home with the Catamounts in 2000...Really came on strong in the second half of the season, re-writing several of that school's passing records…Started the last ten games in 2000, completing 208 of 350 passes (59.4%) for 2878 yards and 17 touchdowns...Only Jeff Gilbert (2993 yards in 1983) threw for more yards in a season for the Catamounts...His 208 pass completions rank second on WCU's season-record list behind Gilbert's 267 in 1983...First player in school history to have multiple 400-yard passing performances...Including his time spent at Virginia, he hit on 232 of 395 passes (58.7%) for 3153 yards and 20 touchdowns during his careeer. REMINDS ME OF…Tampa Bay's Brad Johnson. GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL…This kid has come a long way in only one year as a starter. He has the size and poise, only lacking in experience. He may sneak into the end of the draft's first day, but if the Dolphins are wise, they will forgo their pursuit of a mediocre veteran quarterback, take this guy and develop him. He's certainly worth a late third-fourth round choice. THE MOST OVERRATED Negatives…Needs to position his body better to prevent some awkward-looking throws... Very sloppy with his passing techniques when his protection breaks down...Tries to force passes to make things happen, resulting in a high amount of incompletions...Easily rattled from the constant pounding he has taken and creates mistakes when flushed out of the pocket...Needs to show better timing on his short area passes...Has inconsistencies delivering the ball deep...Has to try spotting his secondary receivers, as he seems to have tunnel vision for his primary target…Immature off the field, having a "me first" attitude. CAREER NOTES…Four-year starter, when healthy...Very gritty field leader who ranks second on the school's career-record lists with 974 pass attempts, 41 touchdown tosses and 6608 aerial yards, topped only by Scott Erney's 1128 throws for 7188 yards (1986-89) and Ray Lucas' 43 scoring tosses (1992-95)...His 482 pass completions rank third in Scarlet Knights annals while his 52 interceptions broke the previous Rutgers all-time record of 48 by Erney...Also holds the school career-record by participating in 1188 plays and ranks second with 6793 yards in total offense. REMINDS ME OF…Pittsburgh's Kordell Stewart. GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL…Boy, the jury is out on this guy. He has great athletic ability, but needs to grow in a hurry off the field. His standoffish attitude really soured quite a few teams in post-season action, but then he dazzles them with his athletic skills at the Combines. Someone will be foolish enough to draft him early, hoping that he will learn to act his age, but when even his own teammates lack respect for this guy, how can a general manager justify handing him the starting reigns one day? Buyer beware on this character. THE SUPER SLEEPER Negatives...Does not have the arm strength or consistency to throw deep (note-player has just now fully recovered from a right elbow injury suffered in 1999 that affected his velocity)...His loss of velocity causes his balls to flutter and die when throwing from the opposite hash mark...Does not seem to throw across the body effectively, tending to go to a side-arm release on his deep throws...While he stands tall in the pocket, he does not have the lateral agility to escape when flushed out of the pocket or the quickness to gain much yardage past the line of scrimmage. CAREER NOTES…Unheralded athlete who gave the Ducks one of the best reserve quarter-backs in the nation last year...A former starter in 1999, many scouts feel that he will be a major steal on draft day for a team that utilizes a "West Coast" offense...In 22 games at Oregon, he completed 149 of 282 passes (52.8%) for 2175 yards, 15 touchdowns and only six interceptions. REMINDS ME OF…Cincinnati's Jon Kitna. GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL…Don't look for Feeley to be drafted until much later in the draft, if at all, but he has that attitude and athletic ability that could make some general manager look very smart down the road once he gets proper tutelage. The Raiders and Packers have shown keen interest in Feeley lately and he could be a nice reclamation project for either team, as both are known for their patience with quarterbacks. FIRST DAY DRAFT POSSIBILITIES Negatives...Forces his throws under pressure...Does not have the same velocity behind his tosses when throwing on the move...Throws off his back foot at times, and has difficulties setting his feet, squaring his shoulders and delivering the long ball on a consistent basis, but has made strides to correct his mechanics...Despite displaying excellent character and a quiet demeanor, he spent so much time in coach Steve Spurrier's doghouse, that he will need patient coaching to develop confidence in his hidden talents (note-away from Spurrier's ever watchful eye, Palmer looked like a totally different quarterback during a very impressive week as a last minute replacement at the Senior Bowl)...Needs to develop more of a take-charge attitude in the huddle (limited in doing that at Florida, where Spurrier ruled with an iron fist). CAREER NOTES…Unassuming quality athlete who was part of the Gators' famed "shuttle system" for quarter-backs...Played in 27 games during his four-year career, earning 14 starting assignments...Ranks eighth on the school's career-record list with 3755 yards passing and ninth with 31 touchdown passes...Completed 254 of 479 passes (53.0%) during his time at Florida…Ranks fourth on the Gators' all-time list with a 133.14 passing efficiency rating. REMINDS ME OF…Atlanta's Chris Chandler. GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL…The Falcons are desperately trying to trade up to get Michael Vick, but if they fail in that quest, they could use a third rounder on Palmer, having him learn as the third-stringer behind Chandler and newcomer Eric Zeier. Given time to overcome the Spurrier assault on his psyche, Palmer could turn into a very effective, yet unspectacular pro passer. #17-QUINCY
CARTER University of Georgia Bulldogs 6:01.7-218 Negatives...While he generally has good field vision and judgement, he seemed to regress in 2000 (can't use shoulder and thumb problems as an excuse, as injuries sidelined him for the year), throwing to receivers stuck in coverage and also overthrowing too often on posts and fades... Needs to show more patience than he did as a junior, tending to run more often rather than locating his alternate receivers...His screens and timing passes fluttered when he was flushed out of the pocket...His poise took a beating, along with his body last year, as he did not show his normal patience on fakes...The shoulder problem caused him to lose a little accuracy and placement on his deep tosses...Needs a patient coach to rebuild his confidence level. CAREER NOTES…Has started every game (29) since putting on a Georgia uniform... Former professional baseball player who originally signed with Georgia Tech in 1996 before trying his hand on the baseball diamond for two years in the Chicago Cubs organization...Had to receive his release from Georgia Tech before committing to Georgia in 1998, winning a fierce four-way battle for the starting job, despite missing spring drills to continue his baseball career...Injuries cut short his final season as a Bulldog, finishing with 483 completions of 853 passes (56.6%) for 6447 yards and 35 touchdowns, ranking behind only Eric Zeier (838 of 1402 attempts for 11,153 yards, 1991-94) on the school's career-record list...Only Zeier (67) and Mike Bobo (38) threw more touchdown passes for the Bulldogs...Added 606 yards and eleven touchdowns on 251 carries (2.4 avg)...Gained 7053 yards in total offense, topped only by Zeier (10,841) in Georgia history. REMINDS ME OF…Dallas free agent Randall Cunningham. GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL…Much like Cunningham and Baltimore free agent Tony Banks, this kid has all the athletic ability, but seems to lack the "field smarts" to put it all together. He has a great deep touch and tremendous vision, but just seemed to go through the paces the last two years. A team like the Cowboys could see him as a worthy first day gamble in the third round, as his mobility will bring another dimension to their once-proud offensive attack. SECOND DAY DRAFT POSSIBILITIES Negatives…Has accuracy problems throwing on the move...Even though he has the arm to go deep, his receivers generally will have to work hard for the ball on those routes...Needs to improve his timing patterns to prevent receivers from having to adjust and turn constantly on routes...Will tend to overthrow the ball when pressured and forces passes when escaping from the collapsed pocket...Needs to upgrade his touch and accuracy in the short areas...Makes questionable judge- ment calls at times, as he tends to lose awareness for the oncoming defensive linemen...Has to work on increasing his release time, as he tends to wind up like a pitcher before unleashing the long ball...Lack of foot quickness is a concern. CAREER NOTES…The only three-year starter at quarterback during the Bobby Bowden era...Garnered virtually every award that a quarterback can attain during the 2000 season... Ranks sixth in NCAA history with an average of 8.89 yards gained per pass attempt, 12th with 79 touch-down tosses and 18th with 9839 yards passing...Holds all of the school's career-records for passing, including most pass completions (650), attempts (1107), touchdown passes (79) and yards (9839)..First player to earn Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors six times in the same season (2000)...Only the second player in college history to throw for over 9500 yards in a career and win a national championship...Has a 32-3 record (including bowls) as a starter for FSU...Spent six seasons playing baseball in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league organization before returning to the game of football and Florida State in 1997...Signed with FSU out of high school and spent four days in August of 1990 on the Florida State campus before signing a professional baseball contract with the Toronto (second round pick). REMINDS ME OF…Tennessee's Neil O'Donnell. GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL While he could sneak into the draft's third round, it looks like his birth certificate will scare off a few teams, pushing him into the second day draft event. While he has great leadership qualities, his immobility and penchant for making his receivers constantly work to get to the ball has career backup written all over his resume, if he even gets a career to talk about. #14-JOSH
HEUPEL University of Oklahoma Sooners 6:01.2-216 Negatives…Has mediocre foot quickness past the line of scrimmage...Does not move or set up properly in the pocket, lacking the drive to get to the set-up point...Loses velocity on his long passes, mostly because he tends to throw flat-footed too much and shows a reluctance to step into his tosses...Has little slide in his step rolling out of the pocket, showing a slow reset as he tends to throw off his back foot, at times...Rarely will you see him scramble with the ball. CAREER NOTES…Despite playing only two seasons for the Sooners, the left-handed passer served as team captain in both years...Called the hardest worker on the team by his coaching staff, Josh has compiled a 19-4 record in regular season action and guided Oklahoma to its first national title in fifteen years...In just 23 games as a Sooner, he finished his career with 590 completions of 933 passes (63.2%) for 6852 yards and 50 touchdowns, shattering the previous school career-records of 420 of 751 throws for 6142 yards and 35 scores by Cale Gundy (1990-93)...His pass completion percentage of .632 is topped only by Hugh McCullough (.642 on 109 attempts, 1937-38)...His 6898 yards in total offense broke Gundy's old Sooner all-time record of 6389 yards and his 22 games with at least 200 yards passing broke another Oklahoma record that was previously held by Gundy (11)...Began his career at Weber State, transferring to Snow Junior College as a sophomore, before enrolling at Oklahoma in 1999. REMINDS ME OF…Carolina's Steve Beuerlein. GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL…Even though he's a lefty, Heupel has a lot of Beuerlein in him, as he makes the most out of less than impressive overall ability. He is a gutsy field leader who thinks team first, rather than basking on personal success. Teams shy away from this kid because a lack of mobility, but his recent arm woes are also scaring folks off, pushing him into the mid-rounds. What a perfect guy for a team like Green Bay or Oakland to groom as an eventual starter. #14-JOSH
BOOTY Louisiana State University Tigers 6:02.4-224 Negatives...Does not adjust well when his primary target is covered...Lacks foot quickness driving away from the center, displaying marginal body control to throw on the move... Forces the ball when under pressure...Forces receivers to adjust on his long tosses, as his deep ball will tail off and hang...Timing and anticipation have become a regular adventure for him, as simply lacks consistency (blows hot & cold as he creates his own problems based on the amount of pressure the defense generates)...Does not sense the blitz well. CAREER NOTES…Played in 20 regular season games during his two-year career, starting 17 contests...Finished sixth on the school's career-record list with 307 completions of 623 passes (49.3%) for 3951 yards and seventh with 24 touchdown tosses. REMINDS ME OF…St. Louis' Trent Green. GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL…If I was Booty, I'd dust off my third baseman's glove, as I am not convinced he will be anything more than journeyman material at the pro level. New Orleans could take a look at him around the fifth round, though. #11-MARQUES
TUIASOSOPO University of Washington Huskies 6:00.7-219 Negatives...Has to work on his release and delivery, as he shows a wind-up motion when attempting to go long...Tends to force his passes into traffic and needs to show better judge- ment, as he seems to lack the ability to locate his secondary receivers...His timing gets a little off when having to throw on the move (loses velocity due to his wind up)... Shorter than ideal...Not the most accurate thrower you will find, tending to throw off his back foot at times. CAREER NOTES…Two-year starter who brought excitement onto the playing field and tremendous enthusiasm into the huddle...Well-respected athlete who simply lives for the game...Comes from a family very rich in football tradition, with over a dozen relatives having played the collegiate and pro game...The option-style quarterback is regarded as one of the premier scramblers at his position...Has played in 42 games for the Huskies, starting 25 contests...Finished his career with 5501 yards and 31 touchdowns on 418 of 761 passes (54.9%)...Only the Huard brothers, Damon (5692, 1992-95) and Brock (5742, 1996-98) have thrown for more yards in a career at Washington...Added 1374 yards and 20 touchdowns on 346 carries (4.0 avg), shattering the previous school career-record for quarterbacks of 854 yards on the ground by Dennis Fitzpatrick (1972-74)...Gained 6875 yards in total offense during his time with the Huskies, topping the old Washington all-time record of 5813 yards by Damon Huard. REMINDS ME OF…Former Kansas City Chief Warren Moon. GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL…Most teams are not convinced he's starting material and some feel a position change (safety) may be in the cards, but if this kid does the Warren Moon route and heads to Canada for a few years, he could turn into one very hot property down the road. I like him as a late round steal. #18-SAGE
ROSENFELS Iowa State University Cyclones 6:04.1-221 Negatives…Tends to lock onto his primary receivers too much...Looks to run when the pocket collapses, rather that throwing the ball out of bounds to prevent a turnover...Little inconsistent with his accuracy, especially when throwing the long ball...Has to improve his field judgement, as he gets into a rhythm where he will force the ball into traffic. CAREER NOTES…Durable athlete with two seasons as a starter under his belt...Appeared in 29 regular season games during his career with the Cyclones, passing for 4164 yards on 306 of 587 attempts (52.1%) with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions...His 306 pass completions of 587 throws rank fourth on the school's career-record list while his 4164 yards are topped only by Todd Bandhauer (5235, 1995-98) and Alex Espinoza (5307, 1984-86) in ISU annals... Known for his elusiveness in the pocket, he added 660 yards and 14 touchdowns on 164 carries (4.0 avg)...Averaged 166.3 yards per game in total offense during his time at Iowa State...His 4824 yards in total offense places him second on the school's all-time record list behind Espinoza's 5018. REMINDS ME OF…New Orleans' Aaron Brooks. GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL…There is no questioning his scrambling ability, but I think teams wished he would have thrown the ball deep a little more often. His athletic prowess will get him a look later in the draft, with Kansas City and New England perfect fits. #5-JUSTIN
COLEMAN University of Nebraska at Kearney Lopers 6:04.3-238 Negatives...Not the quickest unloading the ball...Lacks the arm strength to be consistently effective in the deep passing game...Stands in the pocket too long and seems to lack awareness to sense backside pressure...Has to work on his foot placement skills in order to step up and out of the pocket...Has too quiet of a demeaner and needs to get more assertive on the field...Hands (8 7/8-inch) are smaller than ideal. CAREER NOTES…The four-year starter at quarterback, he also handled punting duties for the Lopers as a junior and senior...Established numerous school, conference and national passing records...Finished his career as the all-time leading passer in NCAA Division II history with 11,213 yards, topping the previous mark of 10,878 yards by Chris Thatcher of Valdosta State (1991-94)...Started 41 games, completing 706 of 1193 attempts (59.2%) with 99 touchdowns and only 42 interceptions. REMINDS ME OF…New York Giants' Kerry Collins. GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL…If you are looking for a precision passer, Coleman is your man. If you are looking for an elusive runner, look elsewhere. If not for his slow feet, he'd be sneaking into the draft's first day, but his 40-yard dash time will scare teams away. Put this kid in Miami or Dallas and you could get an eventual starter. OTHERS TO WATCH OUT FOR Negatives…Needs to improve his mechanics, as he has a long delivery...Can slide and buy time with his feet, but looks to run mostly when under pressure...Needs to do a better job of spotting the wide rush and stepping up...Will hurry his passes and put them up for grabs when the pocket collapses and the lanes are not open to run with the ball. CAREER NOTES…Two-year starter who is the highest-rated passer in school history, with a 132.7 passing efficiency rating...One of only three Wildcats to throw for over 30 touch-downs in a career...Ranks fourth on the school's career-record list with 4642 aerial yards... His average gain of 8.53 yards per pass attempt broke the old KSU all-time record of 7.65 set by Chad May (1993-94)...Also holds the school record with an average gain of 17.92 yards per pass completion, surpassing the old mark of 13.2 yards by Paul Watson (1988-91)...Ranks third in Wildcats annals with 5607 yards in total offense...Despite playing quarterback, he tied the Kansas State career-record of 26 touch- downs rushing, equaling a mark first set by Eric Hickerson (1994-98)...His 59 combined scores (33 passing, 26 rushing) tied the school all-time record first set by Michael Bishop (1997-98)...Only the third player in Wildcats annals to score over 100 points in a season (104 in 2000)...The team boasts a 21-4 record in games that he has started (including bowls). #12-RASHARD
CASEY Penn State University Nittany Lions 6:00.2-207 Negatives...Simply lacks any poise in the pocket...Has a severe case of "happy feet" (always looks to run at the slightest hint of pressure)...Has a marginal release and delivery, appearing to hesitate in his load-&-reload ability...Has too much of a windup in his delivery...Respected by the players, but does not seem vocal enough in the huddle to be considered a leader...Inconsistent with his timing on long throws, as he does not properly anticipate coverages...Will generally force the ball into traffic when flushed out of the pocket...Rarely looks off to locate his secondary targets...His long balls seem to flutter, causing the receivers to work hard to come back for the ball...More often than not he has tunnel vision, locking on to his primary target and then causing problems by hurrying his throws when that man can't get open...Not that secure running with the ball, which could prevent a possible move to halfback. CAREER NOTES…Off-field problems and a depleted offensive line made a once promising senior season turn into one of the worst seasons ever for a Joe Paterno team...The talented youngster could never get untracked in his first full season as a starter, finishing his career with 3046 yards on 242 of 459 passes (52.7%), 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions...Added 670 yards and ten scores on 208 carries (3.2 avg). #16-SHANE
GRIGGS Idaho State University Bengals 6:04.0-190 Negatives…Needs to add bulk to his lanky frame...Will need a little refinement in his delivery, as he does not open and close his shoulders quickly...Overthrows at times on fades and post patterns...Did not get much individual attention from his coaches and worked with his fourth coaching staff as a senior. CAREER NOTES…Began his career at Idaho State in 1996, but took two years off before returning to the gridiron...Injuries wiped out most of his 1999 season, but he more than made up for his absence during his senior campaign...Only the fifth passer in school history to throw for over 5000 yards in a career... Gained 5023 yards on 352 of 710 tosses 49.6%) and 40 touchdowns...Only Jason Whitmer (55, 1987-90) had more touchdown passes in school annals...His 5232 yards in total offense are surpassed only by Whitmer (8449) and Vern Harris (5302, 1984-85) in Idaho State history...His 47 total touchdowns rank second to Whitmer (58) on the school's career-record list. #7-TIM
HASSELBECK Boston College Eagles 6:01.3-206
Negatives...Will get a look strictly on his family bloodlines...Had adequate quickness in his throwing motion and while he senses pressure well, he has a severe case of "happy feet" and is always looking to run at the slightest amount of pressure put on the pocket...Has taken the game of football too seriously and has made it his sole quest in life to play at the next level (but unfortunately, he does not have the athletic skills of his brother, Matt)...Has a poor release point and marginal technique in his delivery...Can not generate any zip or accuracy on his deep tosses...Not the best decision-maker you will find, generally forcing his passes when flushed...Opponents are up the fact that if you rattle him early, you take him out of his game altogether... Needs to upgrade his clock management skills...Has a lot of inconsistencies throwing in the intermediate area, making his receivers constantly work to get to the ball...Has limited field vision, barely spotting his alternate receivers...Ball seems to flutter when forced to unleash the long bombs...Body lacks muscle definition and appears much older than his birth certificate would indicate. CAREER NOTES…Two-year starter who has played in a total of 37 games as an Eagle... Completed 278 of 501 passes (55.5%) for 3890 yards, 29 touchdowns and 16 interceptions during his career...Added 343 yards and four scores on 135 carries (2.5 avg). #17-BART
HENDRICKS Boise State University Broncos 6:00.1-207
Negatives...Lack of size is his biggest liability...Gets "happy feet" on occasion and even with his scrambling ability, you would like to see him stand taller in the pocket rather than look to run at the slightest hint that he would be flushed out...His improvising can get him into trouble as he lacks depth perception at times going long...His running ability is almost negated by his inability to properly secure the ball (has had serious fumbling problems, coughing up the ball nine times via this route in 2000 alone). CAREER NOTES…Exciting scrambler who is a master at improvising on the football field...Moved into the starting lineup during his freshman campaign, finishing his career with 650 completions of 1142 passes (56.9%) for 9030 yards, 78 touchdowns and 34 interceptions, topping the previous school season-records of 629 completions 70 scores by Tony Hilde (1993-96)... Only Hilde had more pass attempts (1181) and yards gained passing (9107) in a career for the Broncos...His 34 interceptions are surpassed only by Hilde (40) in Boise State annals... Also ranks second to Hilde (10,138) on the school's all-time record list with 10,034 yards in total offense. #16-ORTEGE
JENKINS University of Arizona Wildcats 6:01.4-227 Negatives...Confidence level is completely shot after a terrible senior year, compounded by poor performances in post-season all star games and especially the Combines...Has little accuracy on his deep throws, where his receivers are constantly working to get to the ball, yet he will continue to try and challenge the defense via this route...Seems to have "happy feet" as he will run at the slightest hint of pressure applied to the pocket...While he has good field smarts, he seems to insist on improvising too much, rather than follow the game plan...Must improve the trajectory of his long tosses or stick to an intermediate passing attack to prevent the high amount of turnovers he has experienced in the last two years (had at least one turnover in every game in 2000)...Has only marginal field vision, tending to lock on to his primary target without checking on the status of his other weapons...Tries to do too much rather than relying on his teammates, resulting in quite a few bad outings over the last two years. CAREER NOTES…Shared the quarterback duties with Keith Smith for his first three years with the Wildcats before being handed full-time duties as a senior...Has also performed as a receiver...One of the better runners at his position in college football...Finished his career by completing 387 of 769 passes (49.9%) for 5409 yards, 42 touchdowns and 26 interceptions...His 5409 yards rank fifth on the school's career-record list while his 42 touchdowns rank fourth (tied with Keith Smith, 1996-99)...Added 461 yards and 13 scores on 326 carries (1.4 avg)...Gained 5870 yards in total offense, the fifth-best career total in Wildcats' annals. #7-DEONTEY
KENNER University of Cincinnati Bearcats 6:01.5-204
Negatives...Needs to refine his technique getting to his throwing point...Makes the receivers work too much to get to the ball on deep routes...Side-arm slinger who carries the ball too low to his side, resulting in some costly fumbles...Forces the ball into traffic, mostly because of his inability to find his secondary targets as he tends to get "tunnel vision" in going to his primary receiver... Has only a functional command of the offense and marginal field vision...Does not read defenses efficiently and despite his quickness, he is no danger for a defense as a scrambler...Long tosses tend to float and sail. CAREER NOTES…Moved into the starting lineup during his sophomore year, displaying a nice, soft touch on his intermediate tosses...Completed 498 of 922 passes (54.0%) for 6278 yards and 31 touchdowns during his career, adding 280 yards and eight scores on 113 carries (2.5 avg)...His 992 pass attempts broke the old school career-record of 899 by Danny McCoin (1984-87) while his 498 completions rank second to McCoin's 544...Only McCoin (6801) gained more yards passing in a career for the Bearcats...His 31 touchdowns rank behind McCoin (39), Gene Rossi (37, 1949-52) and Greg Cook (34, 1966-68) in Cincinnati annals. #14-BEN
LEARD Auburn University Tigers 6:03.2-222
Negatives…Lacks arm strength for a player his size...Sails his longer throws and lacks zip on his deep attempts...Does not show a tight spiral in his throws...Makes receivers adjust too much in the open...Comes across his body at times and holds the ball too low...Loses accuracy when forced out of the pocket...Lacks mobility to escape...Has had concussion problems...Goes through long stretches of inconsistency. CAREER NOTES…Three-year starter, when healthy, who has put up impressive numbers the last two years...Ranks fifth on the school's career-record list with 359 completions of 592 passes and 28 touch- downs...Sixth on the Tigers' all-time charts with 4289 yards passing and an average of 7.25 yards per pass attempt...His pass completion percentage of .606 is surpassed only by Jeff Burger (61.5%, 1984-87). #12-CLEOTHA
"CLEO" LEMON, JR. Arkansas State University Indians 6:02.1-207 Negatives...Too quiet in the huddle, rarely showing his leadership ability...Despite his quickness, he seems very hesitant to run with the ball, and when he does, he does nor secure the pigskin properly to prevent the fumble...Too often his passes will either sail over the receiver's head or be under-thrown to the point where it is impossible to come back for his off-target tosses...Has poor footwork dropping back to his release point... Lacks instincts in picking up the blitz and is often caught by the pass rushers as he does not sense when the pocket is collapsing...His overall accuracy on his tosses need a drastic upgrade...While he has no problems grasping the play-book, that intelligence does not translate on the field due to his poor decision-making...Passes tend to wobble on his attempts to throw long. CAREER NOTES…Quiet athlete who moved into the starting lineup midway through his freshman season...Gained 7706 yards with 48 touchdowns on 551 of 1128 passes (48.9%) during his career, breaking the old school all-time records of 409 completions of 824 passes by Johnny Covington (1992-95), 5383 yards and 33 scores by James Hamilton (1968-71)...His 7261 yards in total offense broke the old Indians career-record of 6779 yards by Roy Johnson (1988-91). #16-JASON
McKINLEY University of Houston Cougars 6:02.4-209 Negatives…Has only adequate arm strength...Despite his elusiveness, he labors running with the ball past the line of scrimmage...Needs to protect the ball better, as he tends to carry it near his chest and with one hand while trying to escape pressure...Sometimes will lower his elbow before unleashing the ball, taking some distance off his tosses...Loses accuracy behind his long throws. CAREER NOTES…Three-year starter who became only the 29th quarterback in NCAA history to start at least 40 games in a career...Holds the school's career records with 786 completions of 1388 passes...His 1533 plays as a Cougar set another Houston all-time mark...Ranks third in school history with 46 touchdown tosses...Second on Houston's career-record charts with 8694 yards passing and 8277 yards in total offense. #4-DYLEN
SMITH University of Kansas Jayhawks 5:11.5-198
Negatives…Needs to be more assertive taking charge in the huddle...Compensates for a lack of ideal size with his scrambling ability, but is still shorter than you'd like in a passer...May not be strong enough to withstand the punishment in the pocket he will receive in the pros...Gets too creative at times when his receivers are covered, forcing his blockers to quickly adjust to protecting him on the move...Needs to run with the ball more securely moving through traffic. CAREER NOTES…One of the most exciting players to ever suit up for the Jayhawks... Joined the program in 1999 after a superb junior college career at Santa Monica (Cal.) Community College... Started 19 games at Kansas, completing 275 of 569 passes (48.3%) for 3562 yards and 22 touchdowns, allgood for sixth place on the school's all-time passing lists...Gained 522 yards with 11 touchdowns on 222 carries (2.4 avg)...Gained 4084 yards in total offense, the sixth-best figure in Kansas annals.
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