Wisconsin QB Impresses

Another smallish quarterback stepped into the stature-challenged friendly confines of the FFCA.  Jon Gruden has never interviewed a QB he didn't love deeply and Wisconsin's Russell Wilson is now in this growing list. 

Gruden hammered the "too short" complaint against this very effective, successful and impressive young man to make the point of how good he has been at both North Carolina State and Wisconsin, even playing behind the biggest line in college football with the Badgers.

I haven't paid much attention to him because I saw him as a "running quarterback" as he looked like a Nebraska style QB many times, but Gruden's QB Camp gave me more exposure to him and would certainly like to have him as a backup on my team.  I don't know if he will ever get a real chance to take a starter's spot in the NFL, but his intelligence and competitive spirit will keep him around for a while.

Can Kellen Moore Move To Next Level?

Every measurable screams average (at best).  But, Kellen Moore, the record-breaking QB from Boise State only lost a couple of games in his career at Boise, who only recently became a national power and that had much to do with the left-handed quarterback.
He reminds me a Ty Detmer type players.  Detmer is also of small stature and relatively weak arm strength, but won the Heisman Trophy playing for BYU, and had a decent NFL career.
Kellen Moore's lack of arm strength has something to do with his Tebow-like mechanics (see photo from combine), but unlike Tebow, he is extremely accurate and has used his zen-like instincts to get rid of the ball quickly and efficiently to the right guy and allowed his Bronco teammates to make the big plays.
Because of his arm strength, he will probably go undrafted, but will most likely win a 3rd string job with somebody come September.

Gruden, Luck and Spider 3

Gruden's QB Camp specials have been entertaining and enlightening the last couple of years and it continues with this year's batch of top-notch quarterback talent.  Recently in the "hot seat" was Stanford QB Andrew Luck, thought to be the most prepared and pro-ready quarterback in many years.

What Gruden pointed out in film study though is that even the best make mistakes, costly mistakes, unforgiveable mistakes.  Gruden showed his star pupil a series of plays called "Spider 3, Y Banana", where Luck fakes a reverse hand-off to the tailback and throws an easy flat route to the "always open" fullback.  He pounded his point home about what the read and progression is supposed to be.  Then he showed him the USC game, where they were knotted at 27 late in the game.  Stanford's coach calls "Spider 3, Y Banana" and instead of going through his proper progression, the great All-American quarterback decides to do his own thing and throws backside to a curl route, which is jumped by the defensive back and returned for USC's go-ahead touchdown.

Luck and his teammates were able to go back down the field and save the game, but Gruden had made his point extremely well.  Do what you are supposed to do!  Go through your progression and take the easy, open throw!  Great players will make great plays, but those come after the play breaks down, not before.

Coaches spend a lot of time designing plays and need the players to execute the game plan!

Next up for Gruden, RG3!

Feast Or Famine For Jets?

Acquiring Tim Tebow from the Broncos could be a real boon for the New York Jets if used properly, but most likely will become a nightmare before the end of the 2012 season and the coaches and fans will have an equal hand in what could have been a dream for all involved. 
If Tebow is used as a motion receiver coming across the formation quickly, causing the linebackers to respect quick pressure on contain, sometimes getting the ball and others simply a decoy, Mark Sanchez and the the New York Jets offense could be very formidable.  But the more likely scenario is taking Sanchez off the field or making him a worthless decoy as a receiver, which will not give them any advantage.
The real debacle is going to be the Jets fans and their reaction to Sanchez when he misses an early pass or two.  There will be a significant amount of fans calling for Tebow to get in there as the regular QB and that will start dividing the locker room and eventually lead to a losing situation for all involved.
Done properly, more Jets apparel and merchandise will be sold than ever before and the on field success will match it, but the more likely scenario is an ugly divorce in the not too distant future.  Then the smiles will be wiped off both of the GQ coverboys' faces.

Timmy and the Jets

While being quite disappointed that the Denver Broncos and John Elway didn't want to keep Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning on the same team and take advantage of both of their abilities.  There wouldn't have been a threat to Manning and would only have been replaced because of injury.  We all saw what happened to the Indianapolis Colts when they went to a back up QB, so why not go back to what took the Broncos to the playoffs last year if Manning goes down with a serious injury.  Who are the Broncos going to hand the franchise to if Manning goes down early in 2012?  They had a better backup plan than probably any other team in the league and one that was proven successful.
Instead, Elway and Company shipped Tebow to NYC and the Jets, where they just inked Mark Sanchez to a lot of guaranteed money.  This should secure him as their starter, but with his up and down performances, Jets fans will be quick with the hook (boos after their first 3 and out each Sunday) and will cause all kinds of contension in the locker room, coaches room and Big Apple in general.  At least New York is big enough to handle all of it and it sure will be fun to watch!