Troy Smith's Value

[erpowers]

In your minds has Troy Smith's value dropped. The only thing that has made his value drop to me is his height. Once I learned he was 5'10"1/2 I worried if he could be a good NFL quarterback in that most quarterbacks are over 6ft. Furthermore, if Smith is not your number one pick for quarterback who is your number one pick for quarterback. Would you take Brady Quinn, JaMarcus Russell, Chris Leak or some other quarterback. I would go with Chris Leak. I think he had a pretty good performance in the championship game. I am really not a fan of Brady Quinn. For the whole college football season I have thought Quinn was overrated. I think I would rather have Drew Stanton over Brady Quinn. In terms of Russel I have not seen enough of him to make a decision on him. So what do others think.

[northzax]

1. to play now?

Quinn is the most ready. for the future? Russell. I think with a year of seasoning, Russell could be the best of all of them, he is huge, fast, strong and slings a cannon. imagine having a 6'6 260 lb quarterback who threw for 26 tds and 2700 yards in the SEC! if he was a senior, he'd be number one. as a junior, top five, I think.

Leak is too small.

[fishwax]

2. I agree with most of that

This year's rookies not withstanding, though, it is pretty rare that any college QB is NFL-ready in their first year--Quinn may be the most ready, but I don't think he's a first-year difference maker. With all his upside (as you mention) I'd go with Russell.

Quinn didn't perform in his biggest games or against the best opponents. Maybe he'll pull it together at the next level, bur right now I think he's overrated.

[northzax]

3. he also didn't have the team

around him, which is a valid point. but he's the most pro-ready, in that offense having been coached by a more recent pro coach in Weiss.

[Broken_Hero]

9. In my opinion....

Quinn---->Next Rick Mirer....

[erpowers]

4. Leak's Size

How big or small is Leak?

[northzax]

5. six foot

not tall enough for a top pick, I think

[Jack from Charlotte]

6. Leak is right at 6'0". He was taller than Troy Smith I notice when the were right

next to each other.

I've seen every game he's played at Florida. This is my opinion of him. He's fairly smart, I've heard and very, very hard working. No behavior problems with him ever. He's a VERY accurate passer. As accurate as I've ever seen. throws the long ball as well as anyone. Does not have a strong arm like NFLers seem to love. Decent arm say a C+. His pocket awareness is quite poor. I'd give him a C- or D grade. He took sacks when he should have chucked it into row 3 and sometimes seemed to panic throw when he could have waited some more. I was constantly shocked, even as a 4 year starter and a Sr. at his poor pocket presence. Also, IMO his decision making skills are poor. He did better in his second season when the OC gave him plays to run with ZERO contingencies. So if that's possible in The NFL, which I doubt, then maybe he'll be OK.

One other thing.... On several occasion while running to the 1st down marker he stepped out of bounds before contact. Did it in last years bowl game vs Iowa when a 1st down seals the game. I and many other Florida fans were furious. I mean, what are you saving yourself for in the last play on the last game of the year. I'm no... "we must show toughness" kind of guy and am aware I didn't want my only QB getting hurt in mid season but sometimes one must stick ones nose where it might just get bloodied.

Love him to death as does everyone in Charlotte, but I wouldn't draft him at all. I hope he's drafted in the 1st round. Hope he gets rich as hell but...... That's my opinion.

[Broken_Hero]

8. I agree about Russell, I think he is the top

qb pick, I do admit, I don't care for Quinn much, so I got some bias...

[Awsi Dooger]

7. Smith and Leak aren't pro QBs, IMO

I always apply the standard criteria; can this guy manage 7 yards per pass attempt or above in the NFL? No way I could project that to players with the deficiencies of Smith and Leak, even though their numbers were great in college.

BTW, as much as I detest the Gators, no one should have been shocked at the title game result, at least not the victor. The margin obviously could not have been forecast. But Florida had great numbers, offensively and defensively. They averaged 8.28 yards per pass attempt for the season and rushed the ball an ideal 476 times, the perfect range for a warm weather team with title aspirations. There's a reason I always stress the basic dosage index numbers. If they are in place for the underdog it's amazing what unfolds in the postseason, college and pro.

Brady Quinn is strangely innacurate. I want to believe in him but the passes wobble and are almost never in the perfect spot.

Russell makes big plays down the field but has the look of a major project in the NFL. Too much tunnel vision and a bit of a crankup delivery. He's somewhat similar to Byron Leftwich in that regard, albeit with more touch than Leftwich and much more mobility.

Looks like a down year for QBs, at least from the major programs.

[northzax]

10. oh sure, but what do you know?

you amateur follower of sport you!