Duane, do you think Terrelle is naturally a pass-first QB? I see a QB who locks on to primary receivers, throws without setting his feet and looks uncomfortable in the pocket. Does he not trust the o-line? Is it play-calling?

Michael Vick .......

Has the arm and ability of a running back.

Check out his stats prior to his break from the NFL.

Duane - riddle me this: Do you think it's possible that a kid can come into a big time program and grow from a runner into a passer, or is it a case where they either have it or they don't? We saw Troy pull it down plenty and take off as a RS-Soph, and some as a Junior, and very little as a Senior. He grew as a QB, but he clearly always had the arm/throwing motion/etc. When it came to "can he throw consistently?", the answer was "yes" - he just needed experience in the offense.

With TP, I think we can see that same progression - running more frequently to use that skill to offset the deficiencies in his passing game while he grows as a passer. But in TP's case, he has a lot more growth opportunity - not just reading defenses and gaining confidence, but in mechanics. Assuming he turns into a Heisman caliber throwing QB, how will the early rough play affect him come draft time? If he a Harris become the same player in their Senior years, would TP's development make him more attractive, or would Harris be more of a "sure thing" - a passer who had it from day one?

I think all the love for Harris is a little premature. We need a little more film on him imo.

I assume reading defenses comes with time and reps. Same with remembering to plant your feet before throwing. What I worry about, however, is for Pryor to get into the Zwick Rut, where anytime you feel a little pressure you just throw off your back feet.

I think so much is made of the running QB who can't pass because of the work he receives in high school. High school coaches want to win too, and most are willing to take a QB who can run and just roll with that as a running QB, instead of teaching him to augment that running ability with the true role of the position. When I look at Colt McCoy, who isn't nearly the athlete Pryor is, I see a kid that knows the QB position and uses his running ability to add another dimension to his game, not as a safety net for his deficiencies as a passer. Right now Pryor's running is a crutch, and it will continue to be so until he learns how the play the position properly. Something I don't think he really learned in high school.

iu fan, a lot of young QB's lock on to a receiver. Pryor is still learning to go through his reads.

I honestly think one reason he didn't set his feet on some of his passes is because a lot of people are going for his legs. You see QB's lost for the season when people tackle them that low. Just my opinion.

No one projects Tebow in the first round? Doesn't have an NFL arm? Are you kidding??? (not to be rude, love your blog)

Does the name Gil Brandt ring a bell? Quite possibly the best NFL scout over the last 50 years. Read one of his recent articles...

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d810bda9e&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true

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written by Jimm, September 22, 2009
No one projects Tebow in the first round? Doesn't have an NFL arm? Are you kidding??? (not to be rude, love your blog)

Does the name Gil Brandt ring a bell? Quite possibly the best NFL scout over the last 50 years. Read one of his recent articles...

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d810bda9e&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true

Here is the problem with top 5 and top 10 lists. The #1 guy looks like the real deal. Look at the rest of the list. Juice Williams in on the top 10. It is an awful year for quarterbacks. I have immense respect for Brandt. I don't agree with him on this one. I suspect you will find more that agree with me than with him on Tebow. Kiper does not have him going in the first round. I think by seasons end you will see Brandts list shake-up. Tebow does not have a great arm. He does not have good size. Maybe if someone tells Brandt that Tebow is about 6-1 he will downgrade him right now.

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written by Jipper, September 22, 2009
Michael Vick .......

Has the arm and ability of a running back.

Check out his stats prior to his break from the NFL.

That creature never was a quarterback that could win games with his arm. That is what it is all about at the NFL level. The closest we have come so far is Randall Cunningham.

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written by Zonabuck, September 22, 2009
Duane - riddle me this: Do you think it's possible that a kid can come into a big time program and grow from a runner into a passer, or is it a case where they either have it or they don't? We saw Troy pull it down plenty and take off as a RS-Soph, and some as a Junior, and very little as a Senior. He grew as a QB, but he clearly always had the arm/throwing motion/etc. When it came to "can he throw consistently?", the answer was "yes" - he just needed experience in the offense.

With TP, I think we can see that same progression - running more frequently to use that skill to offset the deficiencies in his passing game while he grows as a passer. But in TP's case, he has a lot more growth opportunity - not just reading defenses and gaining confidence, but in mechanics. Assuming he turns into a Heisman caliber throwing QB, how will the early rough play affect him come draft time? If he a Harris become the same player in their Senior years, would TP's development make him more attractive, or would Harris be more of a "sure thing" - a passer who had it from day one?

I think they can be taught. Absolutely. But they have to have the arm. I don't think you can teach Pat White to have more faith in his arm than his legs. Troy Smith you could because he had a fine arm. The same goes with Pryor.

The success of Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, and Mark Sanchez along with the struggles of Vince Young will make GMs hesitant to draft the spread/running QBs. I agree that Terrelle Pryor has the ability to be a game changer. He is young, but has a long way to go IMO.

We have seen flashes of his big arm, but I need to see the consistency and accuracy. Performance in the big pressure games is another good metric for a QBs intangibles. I need to see Pryor have that breakout game before I will get on board. I really thought he was primed for that breakout against USC. I am just hoping that around this time next year we are not asking when will it happen?

I forgot my main question last post. Do you think that Terrelle Pryor is a 3 and done guy. Given the struggles of running QBs in the NFL, I think Pryor will need as much time to prove himself to reassure NFL GMs.

WOW Pula.....

There is absolutely NOTHING in Pryor's play on feild to suggest that he should be doing anything but LEARNING how to play QB

Duane:

Beg to differ on Cunningham. Although he didn't have as good a career, Bobby Douglass of the Bears in the 70s (showing my age) had an absolute cannon for an arm (he could throw it further than anyone in the league at the time), and was a phenomenal runner. In one game, he actually ran over (and I mean directly and literally over in a straight on collision) Alan Page, a DT for the Vikings (I'm sure Page would like to forget the play). He never developed into a big time NFL quarterback, but he had all of the tools and then some. The Bears weren't a great organization back then, and he probably suffered from that fact. Whether it was poor tutelage or his own inability to learn, this lack of development robbed the league of a guy that had incredible potential. I still believe he was the best athlete to ever play QB in the league. He had plenty of speed (not as much as Vick), had more power and strength than any QB I've ever seen, and had one of the strongest arms in the history of the league. He would have been a phenomenal spread quarterback and certainly could have benefited from the spread during his NFL years.

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written by 1buckfaninmich, September 23, 2009
Duane:

Beg to differ on Cunningham. Although he didn't have as good a career, Bobby Douglass of the Bears in the 70s (showing my age) had an absolute cannon for an arm (he could throw it further than anyone in the league at the time), and was a phenomenal runner. In one game, he actually ran over (and I mean directly and literally over in a straight on collision) Alan Page, a DT for the Vikings (I'm sure Page would like to forget the play). He never developed into a big time NFL quarterback, but he had all of the tools and then some. The Bears weren't a great organization back then, and he probably suffered from that fact. Whether it was poor tutelage or his own inability to learn, this lack of development robbed the league of a guy that had incredible potential. I still believe he was the best athlete to ever play QB in the league. He had plenty of speed (not as much as Vick), had more power and strength than any QB I've ever seen, and had one of the strongest arms in the history of the league. He would have been a phenomenal spread quarterback and certainly could have benefited from the spread during his NFL years.

I remember Bobby Douglas. He couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. If he hit it, it was likely to to come down as he had a cannon for an arm but that is the problem with so many of the athletic quarterbacks including the Creature. They don't read defenses well, and that goes back to their athletic ability. Nobody open? Run. They never learn to read defenses.

Duane:

You're right that he had accuracy problems--and he probably didn't learn to read defenses--he could just take off and get a load of yards. But, I think his accuracy problems were more mental than anything else. He was such a great runner, that he got happy feet back there a lot. He never developed the poise necessary to stand in the pocket and deliver the football. Also, he oculd throw it so hard that he believed he could squeeze the ball into any space. But, I always wonder whether good coaching could have made the difference for him and other QBs like him. I think JT could really help Pryor develop--but Pryor also has to know that his legs are a weapon. Before the USC game, he looked way too uptight, and when he got on the field, he was too tentative in his running. They have to learn poise but keep the ability to run. Probably the best to do that was Roger Staubach--he was a great scrambler when he came into the league (was also a great passer in college), but developed into a HOF QB in the pros. Until his later years, he could still hurt defenses with his legs, however.