Combine thoughts on our potential future QB

[Philly Fin Fan]

I watched a bit of the combine today to see the QB's we might go after.
I came away with some positive thoughts on a few of the later round QB's:

Brodie Croyle- Good 40 time, so I'm not worried about his knee, and his throws looked really good

Charlie Whitehurst- Just something about him, he looked like he shouel be a starting QB in the NFL

Omar Jacobs -I never really liked him, but he impressed me

Drew Olsen -I think GoCowboys kept saying this kid was a stud, and he sure looked it

Ingle Martin -transferred from Florida to Furman, so most people never heard of him. He had a strong arm, and a good 40 time

Quinton Porter- Never heard of this guy before the combine (he was from Boston College). He looked very fast, and his size was impressive. I didn't get to see him throw though.

Erik Meyer- Strong arm, but not well known since he went to a 1-AA school

Brett Basanez- strong arm and made some good throws

Bruce Gradkowski- big time sleeper pick

And a couple of negative thoughts on some guys-

Paul Pinegar- Looks too skinny to be an NFL player. Needs to beef up

DJ Shockley- Was he auditioning for a Fat Albert movie or the NFL?

Bruce Eugene- I think he wanted the part more than Shockley!

Brad Smith- Will probably make an awesome WR, but not an NFL QB

Kellen Clemens- just didn't do anything to excite me. I kept thinking that he would end up being a bust for some reason

Anyone else watch? Wanna share some thoughts?

[Sunstroke]

I watched a bit of the combine today to see the QB's we might go after.
I came away with some positive thoughts on a few of the later round QB's:

...

Anyone else watch? Wanna share some thoughts?

You bet, Philly...I couldn't take my eyes off it.

* I thought Croyle's passes looked particularly crisp, and since I had "occasionally throws a wobbly mid-range pass" from my senior bowl notes for him, that's a good thing, I guess.

* I've always liked Drew Olsen (and most Pac-10 players), and have gone on record as saying that both he and UCLA's RB, Maurice Drew will likely make good pros. Olsen's completion percentage went up all four years as a Bruin, and his 34 TDs to 6 interceptions last season definitely showed improved decision making from the inconsistency he showed a lot his sophomore and junior season.

* Charlie Whitehurst looked OK, but something nags at me when I watch him throw...not sure what it is, but it bugs me.

* I'll second your "sleeper" tag on Gradkowski...I think he might turn into one of those surprise late rounders that sticks.

Did anyone else read Fat Lenny's story on the D3 ex-Utah QB (Brett Elliott) who didn't get invited to the combine despite thrashing passing records at the lower level? Dude threw 110 TDs the past two seasons...that's a guy I'd like to see throw the ball to determine whether he's worthy of a late rd pick. The article is here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2343005

[run_to_win]

Did anyone else read Fat Lenny's story on the D3 ex-Utah QB (Brett Elliott) who didn't get invited to the combine despite thrashing passing records at the lower level? Dude threw 110 TDs the past two seasons...that's a guy I'd like to see throw the ball to determine whether he's worthy of a late rd pick. The article is here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2343005

From that article....

Ironically, one of Elliott's biggest boosters is San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, the top pick in the 2005 draft, and a former Utah teammate who speaks with Elliott on a fairly regular basis. Elliott actually started ahead of Smith in 2002. In 2003, he beat out Smith for the starting job again, broke his wrist in the second game of the season, and never got his job back. Elliott eventually decided to transfer when it became obvious that Meyer was going to go with Smith as the long-term starter.

[Sunstroke]

Yeah...I think SF should draft Elliott in the later rounds too, just to light a deja-vu fire under Alex Smith's butt.

[Predatory_Fins]

I'm telling you now, we don't want charlie whitehoax.. Remember I'm from south carolina, and I've had to stomach more stupid clemson games than I care to admit to, but the frightening trend about whitehurst is for every brilliant play he would make, he'd make two game damagingly stupid ones.  He reminds me way to much of fiedler, has heart but no brains.  We don't need another fiedler.  His senior year, even clemson fans were calling for him to be benched.

[Philly Fin Fan]

I'm telling you now, we don't want charlie whitehoax.. Remember I'm from south carolina, and I've had to stomach more stupid clemson games than I care to admit to, but the frightening trend about whitehurst is for every brilliant play he would make, he'd make two game damagingly stupid ones.  He reminds me way to much of fiedler, has heart but no brains.  We don't need another fiedler.  His senior year, even clemson fans were calling for him to be benched.

Mike Mayock from NFL Network was saying that he needs to be coached in "decision making". He said he has the tools but lacks something there. So heres the question then with that- Does Saban feel he can help coach him to make better decisions?

[MUCPhin]

There's a couple of good reasons Brett Elliot was not invited to the NFL Combine after 2 great years in DIII. 

1.) he threw 2 INT's in his first All-Star appearance.  (Only threw 8 passes)

2.) In a workout for pro scouts after the All-Star games he posted a 40 time that was over 5 seconds.  Even if it was a fluke, it didn't help him, being someone that was originally recruited into an Urban Meyer offense.. 

While he was a great DIII quarterback, the transition of speed and timing from DIII football to the NFL is probably too great to overcome.  But maybe he'll surprise me?

[Denver_Bronco]

Who throws the better ball ? Shockley or Young ?

[Philly Fin Fan]

Who throws the better ball ? Shockley or Young ?

Young didn't thriw at the combine, so I can't comment on him, since I really only saw him play twice this season.

As for Shockley, I wasn't that impressed by his throws. As I said in my remarks about him, I was amazed at how heavy he looked.

[gocowboys31]

Philly, thanks for giving me props on olsen, but i cant take credit. I told you guys cutler was the stud, but that was just stating the obvious. Young, and leinhart were recieving the accolades, but cutler was the truth. Too bad he played for sorry vanderbilt.

Olsen is a stud though, i just wish he would have shown a little more against USC, he had a terrible game. We all saw what texas did to that trojan secondary, i thought olsen could exploit them somewhat.


I see miami picking a QB in either the 3rd or 4th rounds.

[Philly Fin Fan]

I see miami picking a QB in either the 3rd or 4th rounds.

An article I read this morning said they might target Jacobs in those rounds. I wouldn't mind them getting Olsen after watching his combine workout.

[Sunstroke]

An article I read this morning said they might target Jacobs in those rounds. I wouldn't mind them getting Olsen after watching his combine workout.

I'd love to see Olsen drafted on day two as a developmental, and Omar Jacobs intrigues the hell out of me. Local Delray Beach kid coming home to the Dolphins? I could deal with that...

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I'd love to see Olsen drafted on day two as a developmental, and Omar Jacobs intrigues the hell out of me. Local Delray Beach kid coming home to the Dolphins? I could deal with that...

I could too.  In all seriousness, I see the Dolphins picking up Croyle, Whitehurst, Olsen, or Jacobs, and also going after a veteran QB to mentor their draftee. 

[BeefStewert]

I could too.  In all seriousness, I see the Dolphins picking up Croyle, Whitehurst, Olsen, or Jacobs, and also going after a veteran QB to mentor their draftee. 

Genius.  If they can't get one of the top 3 guys, I bet they will take one of the next 4.  Genius.