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
