V. Young leaning towards staying - ESPN Article

[BGSU33]

on the live chat today:


Marc (Atlanta): Please answer a Bowling Green question. Its hard to get information on these guys. Do you think Omar Jacobs is going to declare for the draft and if he does what round would he go in? Also, do you think his star receivers Charles Sharon and Steve Sanders will be drafted and if so where?

Mel Kiper: (1:49 PM ET ) I would hope he would go back, Jacobs. His delivery is unorthodox. His numbers as a junior weren't as good as the previous year. He's a winning QB. He's 6-3, 225. But he has the strange delivery. His numbers are down a little bit.

This is along the lines of why many feel Omar should come back. I do believe he has a bright future in the NFL, but I also think in the long run, another year in college could do him more good in development and financially over time than leaving early. But that's his decision to make and not mine.

[Warthog]

Hammb, was that you that called into the Ticket yesterday and gave them the "Omar Jacobs will QB the Lions next year" line?

Actually, yes it was

So when are you taking over for those two idiots? I swear, they are clueless about all sports related info that doesn't relate to Detriot.

[froggyvk]

I'm a little surprised of his opinion on Gradkowski, I view him more as a 3rd or 4th rounder.

[hammb]

Hammb, was that you that called into the Ticket yesterday and gave them the "Omar Jacobs will QB the Lions next year" line?

Actually, yes it was

So when are you taking over for those two idiots? I swear, they are clueless about all sports related info that doesn't relate to Detriot.

Radio pay is crap. If it was a paying gig I would be all over it...I'd have no problem talking sports for 4 hours straight. Unfortunately I'd have to sell my house & car and move into a cardboard box to afford the paycut. Plus they didn't offer me the job

I listen to them because it's the closest thing we get to local sports, but those guys are awful...really...

[Flipper]

Make it three on Gradkowski. Great college QB an he seems like a great kid too, but he doesn't have the measurables the league looks for and spends draft picks on...

[1987alum]

BTW, I love it when you read that a player is leaning toward staying. Does anyone remember good ol' Shaq? Told his coach he was coming back; within a day or two announces he's going pro.

Young may come back. But if he has a huge game and he's looking at being a very high pick, his lean may change.

[BGSU33]

BTW, I love it when you read that a player is leaning toward staying. Does anyone remember good ol' Shaq? Told his coach he was coming back; within a day or two announces he's going pro.

Young may come back. But if he has a huge game and he's looking at being a very high pick, his lean may change.

Yeah, I also remember a certain coach named Urban Meyer saying he was staying at a certain school, then two days later, announced he was leaving. Oh the verbal security.......

[rocketfootball]

I'm a little surprised of his opinion on Gradkowski, I view him more as a 3rd or 4th rounder.

There's a couple of reasons that he will probably be later than that, IMO.

First is his size. He is about 6-1 and that will not get you a high look by the NFL scouts. Doesn't mean he can't be a very good NFL QB, but he will be going in having to fight that negative comment.

Second is his arm strength. His arm strength is very good on the shorter passes that UT throws, but we just don't throw the deep ball much and don't practice it a lot either. Any QB will tell you that if you don't practice throwing the ball deep you will lose arm strength in the deeper pass and probably lose a bit of your timing on it.

Former UT QB Brian Jones is a perfect example. In JC he threw a lot of deep passes, but didn't in his two years at Toledo. He said that after he went on the the AFL2 it took him a good 2 years to get that arm strength back in the deep passes. This last season he was very good and has now signed on with an Arena League team and I think the improvement on the velocity of his deeper passes was the difference.


Bruce Gradkowski did throw the ball deep quite a bit in high school and did possess that arm strength, so he can get it back but it will take some time.


Those are two negatives that sit against him, but if given the chance somewhere he can overcome the height issue as there are other QB's in the NFL that are shorter and he can also overcome the arm strength issue as he can improve that velocity in practice every day. He has to find the right situation though.

[hammb]

Those are two negatives that sit against him, but if given the chance somewhere he can overcome the height issue as there are other QB's in the NFL that are shorter and he can also overcome the arm strength issue as he can improve that velocity in practice every day. He has to find the right situation though.

You're right about the negatives. When looking at height, specifically, I remember looking at it last year when talking about J5's chances in the NFL. I looked around and at 6'1 the only starting QBs last season that were shorter were Mike Vick & Drew Brees who were both around 5'11, 6'0. Clearly Vick is an elite athlete that makes up for any other deficiencies. So basically Drew Brees is the only starting NFL QB to overcome his height and still be a superior NFL Pocket passer. It seems that height is overrated, but when you look closer there just aren't too many short QBs...it's more important than you want to believe.

As you talked about his arm strength is also sub par, but that can be worked on. Manning, Brady, and Brees are 3 examples of guys that have greatly improved their arm strength since coming into the league. They are still 3 of the weaker arms in the NFL, but they're also pro bowlers. You can get by with a less than adequate arm if you have good mechanics and accuracy.

Those deficiencies will make Bruce a very late draft pick, but they don't ensure that he cannot play at the next level. He has "it" and that is worth a lot to me. If he puts in the work, he could surprise. Like J5, he's a longshot.

[Germainfitch1]

on the live chat today:


Marc (Atlanta): Please answer a Bowling Green question. Its hard to get information on these guys. Do you think Omar Jacobs is going to declare for the draft and if he does what round would he go in? Also, do you think his star receivers Charles Sharon and Steve Sanders will be drafted and if so where?

Mel Kiper: (1:49 PM ET ) I would hope he would go back, Jacobs. His delivery is unorthodox. His numbers as a junior weren't as good as the previous year. He's a winning QB. He's 6-3, 225. But he has the strange delivery. His numbers are down a little bit.

This is along the lines of why many feel Omar should come back. I do believe he has a bright future in the NFL, but I also think in the long run, another year in college could do him more good in development and financially over time than leaving early. But that's his decision to make and not mine.

I think Financially it makes more sense for him to leave. Although he may be a better player when he comes out next year I would think he will actually go lower in the draft. He is unlikely to put up great numbers against that OOC schedule with young guys at the skill spots and his delivery wont change. I think he will be drafted higher in this draft than next one based off the number of good QBs alone. Next years draft could be full of good QBs, ones ranked high now to ones that come out of the wood work.....From Carson Palmers little brother to Tyler Palko to Marcus Vick to guys like Brady Quinn and Vince Young who are sure to go high. In this draft he will be mentioned at or around the second to fifth best prospect. I am not sure that will be true next year.

I think he would develop a lot more with a professional level coaching staff and a year of play in NFL Europe.

[Germainfitch1]

You are wrong about the number of teams drafting a QB on the first day.

Ahem excuse me, but my post is total specualtion.

So exactly how many quarterbacks will be drafted in the first three rounds next year?

Last year there were 6 drafted in the first three rounds. And 2 more went in Round 4.

You were saying?

I initially thought you wrote 5 in the first round. However can you name 5 QBs worth taking in the first 3 rounds?

I can name 3 for sure but thats it....

I think there are:

1. Too many young veterans available with NFL starts
2. Too many teams who are too good but need a QB that dont want to rely on a rookie to play now
3. Too few quality QBs in this draft

The number of teams you are probably dead on about....sorry about the confusion. I just dont think they will neccasarily fill that need through the first three rounds of the draft.

Cardinals :
Raiders :
Jets :
Lions :
Ravens :
Dolphins :
Saints :

Plus 3 teams that I beleive will be looking to draft/add a young QB to backup their aged veteran: Chiefs, Cardinals(After resigning Warner), Cowboys.

Any one of those 8 teams could draft a guy early plus any team that falls in love with a certain player.

[Flipper]

I f the Lions draft a QB in the first three rounds, I'll eat a bug.

People focus on Omar's release way too much. It's a bit unorthodox, but because he holds the ball so high, he gets it out of there really fast....like a hair beneath Marino fast.

I'd be more worried about his footwork. Can he line up under center and drop back while making the same quick reads he does in the shotgun? That's the question he'll have to answer.

[Ineedbotox]

The weird thing is, I keep hearing how Vince is probably staying, but in all reality, he should go in the draft. And I keep hearing Omar is going early, but he should stay. The interesting part though is that Vince Young's family is encouraging him to stay because they want to see him get his degree and don't want him to leave an open door with school. Everything I hear about Omar shows his family & those surrounding him want him to go early. We will see. Either way, Vince Young continues to show his character & leadership. Omar...not so sure.

[San Diego Falcon]

Either way, Vince Young continues to show his character & leadership. Omar...not so sure.

What does the decision of whether to stay or leave early have to do with character or leadership?! It has to do with intelligence. If VY comes out early, it would show he is wise enough not to risk losing out on millions of dollars.

If VY stays, then Omar would be the 2nd or 3rd QB taken this year. If he waits to come out, he could potentially fall drastically and cost himself millions.

[Ineedbotox]

Either way, Vince Young continues to show his character & leadership. Omar...not so sure.

What does the decision of whether to stay or leave early have to do with character or leadership?! It has to do with intelligence. If VY comes out early, it would show he is wise enough not to risk losing out on millions of dollars.

If VY stays, then Omar would be the 2nd or 3rd QB taken this year. If he waits to come out, he could potentially fall drastically and cost himself millions.

Personally, I think it shows that Vince isn't all about the paycheck. He & his family appear to value education, and the fact that there is life after football. That shows character. I haven't seen any evidence of that on the Omar front. And IMO, I think y'all are picking Omar to go WAY higher than he will actually go. We will see...