Will Omar Stay for his SR. Season?

[Schadenfreude]

If there are other hot QBs out there this season don't be surprised if Omar Stays.

That's a good point.

Leinart, obviously, will go first round. If two other QBs catch fire this season and move way up the draft boards, maybe that gives Omar a reason to wait another year.

Maybe, anyway.

[hammb]

Actually, if Vince Young comes out along with some other JRs this season, it wouldn't be a gas waiting game.

I'm not a draft expert, nor do I claim to play one on the Internet, but I think Vince Young needs to prove alot more with his arm to make the NFL. Without having his "vitals" in front of me, it seems like he falls in the category that Harris landed in -- Nice numbers, but you're a runner first.

As for the others coming out theory... if Omar is already projected this high and has another season like last, I don't think very many underclass QB's will pop on the radar ahead of him.

Right now some draft "experts" have Omar behind Chris Leak and Vince Young in the 2007 draft...so if those guys came out after this season who knows. Especially with Urban coaching Leak this coming season...

That is why they play the games though...we will know much more after the season gets under way and a ton more once the season is over.

Going into the 2004 draft I thought we were fairly secure to see Omar back in BG for the 2006 season. Then all the draft "look aheads" started coming out after the draft about a month ago. So many of them had Omar in the first round, many of them had him in the top 10. I'm still a touch skeptical, but that's what they're writing.

Omar has all the tools in the world, and the prototype size. I can tell you exactly what the knocks come draft season will be on him though.

1) His release, they always knock off for a goofy release. Many QBs have played through this, heck Rivers went #2 or #3 with a much stranger release.
2) Our offense. Its considered a gimmick offense. Spread them out and quick passes. Biggest factor is that its 95% shotgun. Nothing would help Omar's stock more than running more plays under center this season (see: spring game).
3) Deep balls. Omar throws a good deep ball. I've said since the day I first saw him in warmups his RS year that he threw a better deep ball than Harris. Unfortunately he doesn't throw many of them in the games, because its not our style. I'm positive he can do it, but it will be a questionmark
4) That audible system. Now that the spotlight is more on Omar people are going to question why he is not calling his own audibles.

In total, Omar could leave early. If early draft prognosticators are accurate I think he likely will, but I'm not sure how accurate those guys are. There will definitely be question marks about Omar, and remember that only Big Ben has left early from the MAC, and he was a 3 year starter at the time.

It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out. Another huge year could go a long way towards answering those questions and Omar could end up leaving early because of it. Even still remember that every year there are at least one or two guys projected in the top 10 that go back to school.

[BGALUMNI]

hammb

That is pretty much the approach that I am taking. The "gimmick" offense is the reason I think that Alex Smith (was in the same type gimmick offense) and how he does might also be a factor in Omar's stock. If Smith proves he can do the job, then teams are more willing to take a chance on guys in those style offenses.

[hammb]

hammb

That is pretty much the approach that I am taking. The "gimmick" offense is the reason I think that Alex Smith (was in the same type gimmick offense) and how he does might also be a factor in Omar's stock. If Smith proves he can do the job, then teams are more willing to take a chance on guys in those style offenses.

No doubt that could be a factor, but I'm not sure how much they would expect of a rookie from Utah anyway. He is the first highly touted QB from the Urban Meyer tree, I think Omar will be the next. It will be interesting to see this all play out, because Tedford QBs are starting to get a knock around the league, and I think Aaron Rodgers dropped because of that.

Certain offensive styles put up huge QB numbers, but don't necessarily turn out great NFL QBs. If it pans out that our system is similar to that it could end up hurting Omar. Then again if Smith comes in and lights it up it could help Omar's stock.

Right now I'm mostly interested in seeing how he backs up his breakout year. No doubt the national spotlight is firmly on Omar's dreads.

[Germainfitch1]

If the guys writing about next year's draft are close to accurate then I would be rather suprised to see him stay. Of course those guys are not always right, but usually when they predict someone as a top 10 pick they are usually at least among the first round.

If Omar comes close to duplicating last year's numbers he'll be a top notch prospect for sure. He already has very few holes in his game, as it is. In all honesty the biggest knock on him coming out will probably be our system.

You wrote this and then you just wrote something about all his holes. I agree with your second post.

[FALCON FLIER]

...Right now some draft "experts" have Omar behind Chris Leak and Vince Young in the 2007 draft...so if those guys came out after this season who knows. Especially with Urban coaching Leak this coming season...


I can't believe any so-called expert would have Vince Young rated ahead of Omar in any upcoming NFL draft. Young is never going to be an NFL quarterback unless he greatly improves his passing. Right now he is strictly a very good runner playing quarterback. I have seen a couple of "mock drafts" which have Omar going number 4 overall in one and number 3 overall in the other in the 2006 draft. One link is NFL Draft Board and the other is NFL Draft Blitz. That tells me they, at least, believe he is not just a product of a system but has legitimate NFL talent. If NFL scouting services have a similar opinion I believe he will leave after this season.

[hammb]

If the guys writing about next year's draft are close to accurate then I would be rather suprised to see him stay. Of course those guys are not always right, but usually when they predict someone as a top 10 pick they are usually at least among the first round.

If Omar comes close to duplicating last year's numbers he'll be a top notch prospect for sure. He already has very few holes in his game, as it is. In all honesty the biggest knock on him coming out will probably be our system.

You wrote this and then you just wrote something about all his holes. I agree with your second post.

Basically, its because I'm torn.

My personal impression was that Omar, despite his stats, would not be ready for the NFL after his Junior season. Then I started reading all these draft publication things that have him as the #2 QB and quite possibly a top 10 pick. If those guys are right I'll think he's coming out early, but I don't even know if any of those guys have ever seen him play.

In my mind there are some serious questions about our style of offense and whether or not he'll be ready to make the leap. I also still question his intangibles. He has yet to rise up like Harris used to do and carry the team when it was needed late in a game. Of course we didn't have too many close games for that opportunity to arise last year.

[Germainfitch1]

three comments i'd like to make

1. I am torn as well. I hope he has first roudn talent, but I am biased and dont agree with my opinion of a BG player.
2. I would go pro if I was given a draft ranking of 1st or 2nd round. As far as Leak and Young go from what I have heard, Leak is money and Young is not.
3. I expect his numbers to draft significantly with teams having film on him.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

three comments i'd like to make

1. I am torn as well. I hope he has first roudn talent, but I am biased and dont agree with my opinion of a BG player.
2. I would go pro if I was given a draft ranking of 1st or 2nd round. As far as Leak and Young go from what I have heard, Leak is money and Young is not.
3. I expect his numbers to draft significantly with teams having film on him.

#1 -- I think Omar is going to be a very good NFL quarterback. Prototypical and seems to have a good head on his shoulders.

#2 -- If Omar is given a draft ranking of second round after this year, he should stay, and I hope he would be smart enough to make this decision. I don't think that will happen though.

#3 -- if you are talking about Omar, and you meant drop significantly, I completely disagree. They've had film on our system for years now. Other than the audible system, and the drop in designed QB runs, what changed from Harris to Omar? same system, different arm. The D knew what was coming all year last year and continually got torched. Memphis had plenty of film on Omar and weeks to prepare. We all know what happened to Memphis' D. Bottom line is, 3/4 of the defenses we will face this year stink. period. Omar will put up 350 and 4 td's almost every game minimum outside of Boise and Wisky. He might do it then also.

The only thing I see that could impact him negatively this year is the O-line questions. if that line doesn't come together, and Omar is constantly running around, I'm not sure how he would react. We haven't seen him throw on the run all that much so we don't know if that would be a positive or a negative. I was worried about the loss of Cole and Hawk hurting him but I think the new kids will step up, plus he still has the popemobile, chuck, and steve to gun to. Omar is the least of my worries.

[Schadenfreude]

#1 -- I think Omar is going to be a very good NFL quarterback. Prototypical and seems to have a good head on his shoulders.

Interesting side note:

Newsweek recently did its annual list of America's Top High Schools.

Omar's school -- Atlantic Community in Del Ray Beach, was on the list.

[kdog27]

3) Deep balls. Omar throws a good deep ball. I've said since the day I first saw him in warmups his RS year that he threw a better deep ball than Harris. Unfortunately he doesn't throw many of them in the games, because its not our style. I'm positive he can do it, but it will be a questionmark

Well if the spring game is any idication of what we are going be doing in the Fall we might be throwing a lot more long balls. Both Turner and Jacobs attempted a lot of "bombs" in that game. I know I would like to see more of it.

[hammb]

3) Deep balls. Omar throws a good deep ball. I've said since the day I first saw him in warmups his RS year that he threw a better deep ball than Harris. Unfortunately he doesn't throw many of them in the games, because its not our style. I'm positive he can do it, but it will be a questionmark

Well if the spring game is any idication of what we are going be doing in the Fall we might be throwing a lot more long balls. Both Turner and Jacobs attempted a lot of "bombs" in that game. I know I would like to see more of it.

Agreed on all accounts. The offense had a familiar, but different look in the spring game. We were under center more and we aired it out long more. Both of which I would like to see more of on game days.