System QBs: Bad Fit For The NFL

Fair enough. But what was it about Harrell's skill set that excludes him from being capable of competing in the NFL. Is he inaccurate? Does he lack arm strength? Is it that what he was asked to do in College is so completely different than what he will be asked to do in the NFL that its impossible to even evaluate his game tape? I understand that he will be required to do different things in the NFL, but why do NFL teams think he CAN'T do those things?

Jerry Rice was a system player. Ooops, there goes THAT argument.

The passing position isn't harmed by system types. The running position is.
Spread offense has made it far tougher to grade runners and apply their skills at the pro level.

They always face one less defender in the form of pass defense fronts when teams use spread, so runners get room they'll never see as pros to make moves.

Also they usually run the quarterback in some kind of optioning scheme against certain fronts and it puts them plus one on a defense to the play call side.

Thus we get the Cedric Bensons of this world dumped on our favorite traditional power football/smashmouth teams.

However, teams are changing the actual systems they run to incorprate elements of this now. The wildcat/wild hog has been implemented by teams as a changeup and it allows them to go plus one to a side they choose running if they lead the snap recepient out, or they can build counter actions into it to get a defense playing aggressive off the motion and formation keys. Plus he can still option either way and gain those kind of numbers like the Gators showed everyone.

Then you look at coach Sporano changing the line to unbalanced and the blocking techniques, pulling, trapping, going to a trey and pulling two or more. They can run counters opposite motion or reading two dive or sweep keys instead of one, suddenly your runners have a lot of extra room out there.

Zone blocking has nullified some line play by making the line depth set a bit deeper and the hat presentation very similar to passing. Some zone linemen can't translate to NFL play to the same level because the splits aren't taking defenders out of plays for them so all blockers would have to do is hang on for the ride.

That line presentation off hat and step might make teams key backfield action more and that's what spread teams want because they'll fake you to death.

Still, few teams run this wild spread consistently and that is the point. Spread offense made running too easy for some backs. As a result players with production get overlooked because some of those numbers aren't going to be there.

For great coaches every kind of player can find some reps somewhere in a system, but it's a point of doing everything good at times or doing things great. How many teams can work these extra looks in without hurting the ability to master the core of their offense in traditional plays and sets?

Is it a team that is already set and just needs extra reps to give cap stars a break? Teams with limitations passing who need extra ways to get numbers running vs. fronts that don't respect the throws?

The argument spread teams allow these shortcomings to stay in the game and make evaluation even tougher. It is what it is. Spread football is here to stay, it's getting more coaches in the school and college ranks every year.

Or has Sporanao shown people that spreadcat is another element of series based football that can always make the defense wrong and get you consistent yardage? This is the case to a good extent. Bill Walsh used the option and elements of wishbone football in a strike season with replacement players.

Credit the pro minds who have made it part of what they do today and repped it to the point it is a success.

Those points and yards are out there after all, IF your coach runs that series.

"Look at Wes Welker, a guy who is dominating the pro game but went undrafted out of college."

-That one's on evaluators for overlooking him. He's dominating the pros, Matt! You would have to shed that spare tire to keep up with him! It isn't fair! They can't just sail the slot EVERY PLAY FOR AN ENTIRE HALF!

Unless of course the coach does just that and has them run Z sail all night like Mike Leach does.

Oh, Georgia's biggest route combo was "Shakes" and that's a Leach bread and butter play that he's come off calling as much. The first overall pick with the big arm throws that route all the time, when will people talk about the limitation of Stafford's system from school?

Bradford will be especially interesting as the OU offense is a direct descendant of the Texas Tech offense, Leach was basically hired by Stoops to get his offense, then Leach has left and the offense has remained.

Perhaps Harrell can prove himself in the arena league if it ever starts up again

two words - Alex Smith

Alex Smith never got a fair chance at San Fran, he was basically thrown to the wolves with a bad offensive line and scheme, much like David Carr. Who knows how many qbs washed out because of wrong place at the wrong time. Drew Breese came out a spread offense and seems to be doing okay, mainly because he has a coach that knows how to use his talents.

Harrell's Senior Bowl performance was all-time bad. I think that's what really killed him, or at least kephim from being drafted in the 6th or 7th round.

Its too bad for Harrell, but the guy had a great college career, and that is something he can always look back upon...

Throws sidearm and plays in the spread... not good for the NFL.

But, he should be on a list to call if there are injuries in Camp.

Not having a league like NFL Europe is going to hurt guys like Harrell, plus no Arena League...

Where does this guy go?

Harrell's system keeps him from being a star in the league, for sure, but I'd much rather have him as a backup than some of the retreads that teams keep signing and throwing onto the field, and then are stunned when it doesn't work out. Gus Frerotte? Ken Dorsey? Bruce Gradkowski? I mean, c'mon. At least give the kid a shot to learn the NFL system- we know he's got tools.

Murder,
I think Harrell's biggest problem was his 52 MPH on the radar gun; same with Pat White. I also think that a lot of Sporanno's success with the spread (and anyone elses) was the element of surprise. They didn't have to substitute a spread QB to come into the game, Brown was already in the game.

The first thing ANY defensive coach in the press box looks for is "who is coming into the game off the sidelines". If it's a spread QB, that's a red alert right there. That's why it's imparitive that your spread QB is either a starter on offense (the best case scenario) or at least your #3 wide.

The reason the pro's have problems with the spread is that pro defenses are not designed to play assignment football, which is crucial in stopping any type of option. Plus it is not the base offense for any team. I think if an NFL team tried it as it's base offense, they'd either beat the hell of of the QB or force him to beat them from the pocket, which most spread QB's can't do against pro defenses. I think that's what did Mike Vick in, they forced him to beat them from the pocket