Sporting News article

[nd1]

Scouts have harsh criticism for Quinn

The words couldn't be harsher. "He's the biggest fraud in the draft," an NFL scout says of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. The scout is not a lone wolf howling into the wind.

Of all the risers and fallers on this year's draft charts, Quinn certainly is the most provocative. He entered his senior season as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow--a seemingly brilliant quarterback with near-ideal size (6-3, 225), textbook form and, thanks to the teachings of Charlie Weis, an unmatched pedigree. He was the No. 1 overall pick in waiting--at the least a sure bet to be the top QB taken. But the book on Quinn is being rewritten.

Quinn has an excellent chance to be selected in the first round--many still have him pegged for the top 10--but he is on a slippery slope. The Pro Football War Room lists his NFL comparison as Joey Harrington. Two scouts who cover Notre Dame for NFL teams believe Quinn should be a third- or fourth-round pick. They represent an extreme point of view, but they have studied Quinn's game at close range for years and are part of a growing group of talent evaluators who question his arm strength and accuracy on deep and intermediate routes.

The most surprising criticism: Some scouts say Quinn--often painted as the perfect leader during his time in South Bend--wilts when the going gets tough. Ironically, Quinn has been passed on most draft boards by LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who faced unrelenting criticism in college for wilting when the going got tough.

Russell is 6-6, 260, with an arm as strong as any in the NFL. No matter what he shows in individual workouts, he'll have that arm and scouts will froth. Quinn likely will be highly selective with his workouts, and when he does perform for scouts, he'll be under intense pressure. It's a difficult and unexpected reality for a 22-year-old who played with such grace--and guts--in his college career.

The scouting season has reached a furious boil. Sadly, Quinn's goose may be cooking.

 

[tgolden]

more haters. basically, if quinn drops a little, it will probably be good for him in the long run. he'll get on a better team, and while his first round of contracts may not make him quite as rich, when the time comes for the second contract, i'm sure he will have established himself.

and if quinn wilts when the going gets tough, he would have transferred after one year at ND.

and what about troy smith? where is he? russell can go to Oakland. that would be great.

 

[nd1]

I kind of wish he would fall to the packers. but I don't look for that to happen. I really think bret needs to retire and don't think rogers is that good.

 

[TexasDomer]

Does anyone think the criticism is legitimate?

To play Devil's Advocate, he did lead drives against UCLA and MSU (games that should not have been that close, and in which he struggled for 3 quarters), but he also struggled against UM, USC, and LSU. Many of his deep ball completions the past two years were jump balls to MoSto and Shark, where there was a distinctive height advantage for the WRs.

That said, I think BQ is a great match for a West Coast offense. His pre-snap reads are good, his progressions are sound, and he can throw the quick out and the slant well. He's less a fit for a down the field passing offense, because I do think (and I did think) that his deep ball wasn't very good this year.

The combine is where this will turn around for him. He will be able to show all the throws, demonstrate arm strength and footwork, and I am sure he will excel in the interviews.

 

[Zorro50]

The most surprising criticism: Some scouts say Quinn--often painted as the perfect leader during his time in South Bend--wilts when the going gets tough.

Are these guys kidding??? Have they watched the way the O-line played last year?? BQ faced plenty of game pressure. Plus imagine the pressure of being an almost 4 year starter at QB at ND. Any loss is considered devastating. PLus look at the coaching change he had to (thankfully) deal with.

I don't think BQ will be John Elway or Dan Marino but a solid starter in the NFL.

 

[onenybrother]

Nobody said that Quinn will be the next Peyton. but put a good team behind him and he will be a good N.F.L. Quarteback. He was never known for making the dump play's, when they give him a chance they will see. Hope he does drop to the 3rd and my Giant's draft him. Now that's a Quarterback contoversy. lol Good Luck Brady.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Sounds like more irish envy to me

 

[portlaNDgal]

Uh, yeah, if these guys have been watching Quinn "for years" or whatever the article said, why haven't we heard this before? Sounds like the scouts are overthinking things a little, which I can understand, given the millions they invest in each player.

Quinn was sacked 5 times during the UCLA game. Some of that may have been his fault, but I lay that much more on the O-line.

 

[rontdtarchala]

OK you guys will probably jump on me but I have been saying for two years that he can't handle pressure...face it guys its simply fact...yeah his line sucked beyond all suck...but how about too far too short bad read stupid throw what the f__k where you thinking...not what I said what charlie said against ucla (I am a great lip reader, so was the announcer). Like bq always have...but its more of a love/hate kinda thing...just my opinion guys.

 

[roto-stud]

rotarddo....your opinion....which you can rightly own....sucks as bad as some of BQ's bad throwing decisions. BQ ended his four year career as one of the all time higest rated QB's in NCAA history. Top ten in career passing yards and TD's. Yea he must have really stunk up the joint every time he took the field for the Irish. In April he will be a millionaire and the rest of us won't. Couldn't happen to a classier guy...good luck in the NFL BQ....make us Irish fans proud

 

[RI Domer]

Quinn was sacked 5 times during the UCLA game. Some of that may have been his fault, but I lay that much more on the O-line.

That was my point as well there were times when the ND O line played great. (Go back and watch Bob Morton on JS's game winning play against UCLA. He is a main reason why that play happens picking up a missed block by Darius) but more often than not they were a dissapointment. Going into this season I felt the line was strong spot on the team with Morton, Harris, Santucci and Sullivan all seemingly top shelf players. Maybe BQ today, is getting a little of what should be the O-line criticism.
Let's see what happens when the combine starts. And no matter where he goes,he will be playing, and the truth one way or the other can do nothing but expose itself.

 

[TexasDomer]

I agree RI. The combine will make or break Quinn's draft position. I heard an NFL.com guy on the local ESPN radio affiliate here talk about questions about Quinn's accuracy with the long pass today (they were discussing Quinn going to Houston), but he also said that in Miami Quinn's agents were showing him to different teams, and "he's got all the physical tools, he carries himself well, and there is a spark in his eyes."

You've also gotta think CW is talking to his colleagues about BQ.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

OK you guys will probably jump on me but I have been saying for two years that he can't handle pressure...face it guys its simply fact...yeah his line sucked beyond all suck...but how about too far too short bad read stupid throw what the f__k where you thinking...not what I said what charlie said against ucla (I am a great lip reader, so was the announcer). Like bq always have...but its more of a love/hate kinda thing...just my opinion guys.

How soon we forget 2005. Brady's final drive in the USC game that year was as clutch as it gets. We forget b/c there was still a little time on the clock & ND's much maligned defense couldn't hold the win. That was one of the most frustrating losses I've witnessed in awhile. Dammit, they had Leinart & co. deep in their own....I digress. During the regular season in '05, everytime Brady walked off the field for the final time, ND was ahead. Unfortunately, Brady doesn't play defense, too.

I agree that he wasn't as sharp this year, but I prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt after considering the porous O-Line, no game breaking RB that requires a defense to key on every play & no speedburner at WR that was a true deep threat (like a healthy Matt Shelton). Remember Brady's soph. year when he threw all those homeruns to a healthy Shelton? I think the offense missed that the last 2 yrs, especially last year. Shelton was there in '05 but never seemed the same after his knee injury...much like McKnight this past year. We need a physicial WR like Samardzija or Stovall & a burner like Shelton or preferably, Ismail on the field at the same time.

And no offense to JaMarcus Russell (I'm sure he'll make a lot of money in the NFL), but most 2nd string QBs could've put up the #s he did vs. that Irish defense. If all you have to do is dominate the ND defense from the last few years to make the pros, give me a decent O-line & sign me up.

 

[Timugen]

-snip-

 

[tgolden]

no doubt, Brady is not perfect. no doubt, he was disappointing this season (b/c the expectations were so ridiculously high), but he is still a darn good QB. he's been clutcht plenty of times. he's definitely a leader.

and I don't know the answer to this, so if someone does, please fill me in. what are examples of Russell being clutch? he certainly wasn't clutch in the sugar bowl. it looked like he was mainly just lobbing up passes to open receivers who could outjump our corners if they had too. isn't that what quinn is being criticized for?

but i think stonebreakerwasgod says it best... there is definitely some irish envy in that article.

 

[kickerbg31]

That was my point as well there were times when the ND O line played great. (Go back and watch Bob Morton on JS's game winning play against UCLA. He is a main reason why that play happens picking up a missed block by Darius) but more often than not they were a dissapointment. Going into this season I felt the line was strong spot on the team with Morton, Harris, Santucci and Sullivan all seemingly top shelf players. Maybe BQ today, is getting a little of what should be the O-line criticism.
Let's see what happens when the combine starts. And no matter where he goes,he will be playing, and the truth one way or the other can do nothing but expose itself.

One of the few bright spots for Morton this year. His play was very disappointing.

 

[Master Guns]

rotarddo....your opinion....which you can rightly own....sucks as bad as some of BQ's bad throwing decisions. BQ ended his four year career as one of the all time higest rated QB's in NCAA history. Top ten in career passing yards and TD's. Yea he must have really stunk up the joint every time he took the field for the Irish. In April he will be a millionaire and the rest of us won't. Couldn't happen to a classier guy...good luck in the NFL BQ....make us Irish fans proud

Yeah, no shit! Where are these clowns coming up with this crap? Let the Raiders take Russell and let Brady fall to a good team. Who in the hell would want to play for that team and get wiped out in his first year? Mel Kiper said BQ could fall because outside of the the Raiders most teams with those picks in the first round do not need a QB. Mel said BQ could fall to the Dolphins.

More BQ and Irish haters. Whatever, freaks!

 

[Junkhead]

Its all BS thanks to the droves of ND haters. He has the size, smarts, stats, experience, etc. If he was coming out of USC or Ohio State, the media would be all over his jock.