Richmond University RB Josh Vaughn on his way to the end zone during a rain swept 34-14 win over Hofstra
Photo by A.C. Fumai-Chachkes for Football Reporters Online

So when is A QB really a QB, or a QB in Tight Ends' Pads?

Our Pre Draft Primer Part 2-Some more from the combine.
By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Managing Partner, Football Reporters Online

So you say your team needs a QB? Don't we all need at least a back-up if not a starter? Sure we do, but this may not be the draft class to go get one in the early rounds. Before last years draft, myself and one of my co-authors at our website (see below) felt that not only was Delaware's Joe Flacco worthy of a first round selection, but he could be every bit as good as Matt Ryan, or better. Not to pat myself on the back here, but we do take pride in our scouting. Ryan might have won rookie of the year, But Flacco took the Ravens to the AFC title game. Believe it or not, ESPN's John Clayton and i had a conversation with one of my now-co-hosts of my radio show, owner of the Blogimore Ravens Blog Dewey Hammond, where we actually had to beg him to believe us that J-Flack was that good. Now Dewey thinks Flacco should be Vice President instead of Joe Biden!

The truth is folks, this years class might not even be anywhere near as good, and when you consider that some of the better second tier Qb's from last year didn't start going until mid-to-late on day two (Josh Johnson from the University of San Diego at #160 to Tampa being just one), many of this years QB class might just have to wait to be signed as US-FA's (unsigned free agents).

Sometimes i just don't get why some players get invited to the combine and some don't. Case in point: FCS national title winners' university of Richmond got an invite extended to their stellar DE Lawrence Sidbury Jr., but RB John Vaughn was totally overlooked. Aside from being(now Arizona Cardinal) Tim Hightower's back-up on the 2007 team (with 723 rushing yards), Vaughn had 1,884 rushing yards as the starter in 2008, with a 117.8 yards per game average, and 5.3 yards per carry, to go along with a career total of 3,389 yards in four seasons. We personally saw him rush for 240 Net Yards that game in a driving rainstorm (see Photo Below). Another Player who didn't get an invite is UMass QB Liam Coen, who has just thrown the heck out of the football the last three years.

I also hope I am not alone in thinking that West Virginia QB Pat White shouldn't have to "Kowtow" to anyone when it comes to what position he feels he can play. So what if he's only 6 feet tall? I remember a guy named Fran Tarkington who was only 6 feet tall, and he had a very successful career. Some might even say this is the same "racist" mentality that kept University of Toledo QB Chuck Ealey From Playing QB in the NFL. Ealey had an 8 season career In the CFL because he knew he was a QB, and not a receiver or runningback. He was also, are you ready...53-0 as a high school and college QB. Undefeated until he lost his first game in the CFL.
Now you know why he stood his ground and played QB.

So i am not that enamored as of yet with this QB Class as i guess you can tell.

Don't forget our websites:

www.footballreportersonline.com
www.gridirondraftguide.com

and our weekly internet radio broadcast at:

www.blogtalkradio.com/football-reporters

Our guests for tomorrow nights' Show (2-26-09) at 9pm Eastern are:

Former NFL Greats Sam Huff, Dave Pear, and Bernie Parrish
as well as current NFL hopefuls Richard Charles Washington, A DT from Clark Atlanta University, and University of Delaware Tight End Robbie Agnone

I have never wanted to be in Indy as much as i do right now-

Part one of our pre-Draft Primer-By Dr. Bill Chachkes

I guess even the Giants have to make some noise at the NFL's annual Scouting Combine without wanting to. During Friday morning's presser with coach Tom Coughlin the subject of Plaxico Burress came up once again. The team has made it very clear that they were waiting for the March 31st court date.
Weather Burress comes back to play in a Giants uniform again or not, NY's biggest need is wide receiver either in the upcoming draft this April or through Free Agency. If you feel the need to dispute this just look at the Giants nose dive in offensive production after Burress departure and Toomer's vanishing act after the following game for proof.

This is such a deep class at the position that the Giants could draft 3 or 4 receivers if they really wanted to. It's possible they will need to draft at least two to stimulate competition in training camp among the players in the group now. Assuming that Armani Toomer is gone as well, that would leave Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham, and David Tyree attempting to return to the roster as well. If anyone is looking here, none of these players are that tall.

But as deep as the class of wide outs are, just how many of them are of similar ability to Buress or Toomer? Of the 45 Wr's at the combine only 8 are 6' 3" or above. Surprised? I wasn't as much as you might think, because almost all of the class who were 6' 2" or shorter all ran faster times then the taller receivers. Only Ohio State's Brian Robiskie, the son of Falcons RB coach Terry Robiskie, ran any kind of a decent 40 time among the taller receivers. He would be an upgrade in height and foot speed over Toomer.

Among the taller prospects, only three seem to have the physical ability or could develop it to the point of filling the role of Burress. Jaison Williams of Oregon is 6' 4" and 237 pounds, but would look more at home playing H-Back or Tight End as well as 15 pounds heavier. Both his foot speed and his hands need work. He also lacks concentration at times and has earned the label of "underachiever", as he isn't that aggressive going after the ball. Did not have a good overall combine, and didn't bench well for a player of his size.

USC's Patrick Turner is 6' 5", but a bit light at 223 pounds, and doesn't shed tacklers well, even though he seems to have a little upper body power. He also doesn't block well for a taller player. He will jump of for balls with defenders around him and is strong enough to win the battle, but lacks the power to run through open field tackles. He sits in the shadow of former USC receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Mike Williams as it seems bigger players from the trojans at the position never go one to great success in the pros. Turner is trying to break out of that shadow, but has an uphill climb.

Possibly the most interesting of the taller players is Cal Poly's Ramses Barden, who is the tallest receiver at 6' 6" and 229 pounds. Barden is still a bit rough around the edges as a football player, but has fantastic jumping ability. He still doesn't have breakaway speed, and while a decent blocker on the outside one to one against smaller Defensive Backs, has trouble inside with bigger players and can get tackled easily at times because his pads are higher then most players. He would need to add a few pounds of upper body mass and work on his "inside" game. You also have to consider that he compiled his stats in division 1-AA (FCS) play. Did have a good bench press with 17 reps, which was 7th overall among receivers.

Plenty here for the Giants, or any Team looking to add receiver depth from this draft class.

Next: More combine Notes

Don't forget our other blogs: nflbiz.blogspot.com and nfldraftmag.blogspot.com
or our websites: www.footballreportersonline.com and www.gridirondraftguide.com
Our Internet radio show airs every Thursday night at 9:pm eastern ay www.blogtalkradio.com/football-reporters or can be downloaded as a podcast at iTunes (keywords: Football Reporters)

This is USC QB Matt Leinart's first press conference after being selected as the 10th pick of the NFL Draft and by the Arizona Cardinals. He said he would learn behind Kurt Warner, and almost picked up a Super Bowl ring in the process. Is Matt ready to take over now?

Looking back to 2006: NFL Draft Media Veterans Bill Chachkes, Eric Strauss, and Matt Shapiro talk about the 2006 NFL Draft with SBS CEO Zennie Abraham

-- That was then. How did each team do in the 2006 Draft looking back from 2009? Listen to this video and share your comments here.