tmny99 said:Boomer and CK,
Let me start by saying that this has to be one of the best threads I've ever read. I like the insight and anaylsis that you guys provide. Now, for my question. What do you guys REALLY think of Leinart's arm. The reason that I ask this is that there have been things that have occurred that have seriously caused me to question ML's arm strength. Here are some reasons:
1) The final play in the National Championship game - USC had the ball on the TX 43 yard line. Why didn't they throw a hail mary. If there was ever a time for a hail mary, that was it. Why didn't they just throw the ball up and pray that someone comes up to it. Moreover, Dewayne Jarrett is a tall receiver (he's listed at 6'5" meaning he's probably a little shorter than that), why not throw it up and let him try to come up with one. I think the hail mary was not thrown (or even called for that matter) because of Leinart's weak arm.
2) Leinart's decision to not play in the Senior Bowl - the Senior Bowl has been a platform for guys like David Carr and Carson Palmer to show off their talent and solidify their draft positions. These players were in the same position where going to the Senior Bowl could've only hurt their stock; however, they made the trip to Mobile and silenced any critics. I think Leinart had an opportunity to do the same thing, but he blew the opportunity. Leinart would've been right at home working with Norm Chow on the North squad. We all know that the practices of the Senior Bowl are so heavily scrutinized that it becomes a mini combine. I think that Leinart's not playing is directly linked to not wanting to lower his draft status because everyone would've gotten a close look at his arm.
3) Leinart's decision to not throw at the Combine - personally I feel that a QB not throwing at the combine is like a running back deciding not to do any of the running drills or a receiver saying he'll decline to catch passes. Why is he not throwing??? I question Vince Young's decision to not throw as well. I think VY's decision is similar to Leinart's in that he didn't want to hurt his draft status because seeing his side arm delivery in person may cost him some $. I know both of these guys are planning on having their own sessions later when they'll pass (Leinart won't be passing until April--possibly working on his arm strength in the time being IMO), but one must wonder what is the real reason behind not throwing at the combine. I think it has to deal with his arm. I have no questions about his ability to lead a team or his other attributes, but specifically his arm strength. What do you guys think?
Glad you like it mate.
I have no qualms about Matt's arm strength. I think it's significantly overplayed by the media. Essentially this is a kid who has been at the top of the college tree for 2 years. He's clearly got great footballing talent, a sharp brain, he's good looking, the King of the LA party scene, gorgeous women trailing after him, he's studying ballroom dancing at USC, one of the premier campuses in the US......who wouldn't be jealous? So, he gets knocked down a peg or two about the arm. I'd say his arm is comparable to Tom Brady's to Trent Green's, in that region,. He's never going to be Kerry Collins in terms of throwing a nailed on deep ball, but it's plenty good enough.
The Hail Mary thing.......I just don't see it. If Matt wanted to get it down there, he would have done.
The Senior Bowl thing.....again, not an issue in my mind. I think perhaps it was exacerbated this year by the amount of high 1st round talent that showed up and played - Ferguson, Hali, DeAngelo Williams, Greenway, etc. But like CK says, one hit in a meaningless game like that and God knows what could have happened. For every Carr and Palmer who went, history is littered with QB's who didn't go. A top end QB, likely 1,2,3 overall pick has nothing to prove in Mobile. It's more for the later rounders or guys like Patrick Ramsey and JP Losman who can use the week to improve their draft status.
The one area of the process that irks me, apart from the time scale of the draft - essentially January to May - is that kids don't work out at the Combine. To my mind that should be mandatory. It's not like you don't get another opportunity to do so. But it's Leinart's right not to work out there. He's not the first and he certainly won't be the last I have much more of an issue with an unproven passer like Vince Young skipping the Indy workouts than I do with Leinart. I know Matt can make the throws. I don't know that Vince can. And remember, Jay Cutler IS working out. As top ended QB's go, Jay has much the stronger arm, which we all know. Why bother putting yourself up against a superior strength arm when you don't need to? Why not control the situation and workout on your patch with your receivers catching the ball. Scouts have 40 Leinart games to watch at USC if they want to study an 18 yard dig, his deep post, etc etc etc.
And remember finally, it isn't JUST about arm strength. Tom Brady is a 3 time Superbowl winner and a 1st ballot Hall of Famer. He has Leinart arm strength. What they both possess is a winning mentality, leadership, field vision, accuracy and above all, touch. Leinart's touch is as good as I have scouted in a decade on a QB. You can't teach that.