Tailgun
Generational Poster
I'm looking to compile analysis of all the promising talent in this year's draft at the most important position, as I feel the long term answer for the Dolphins is still not on the roster. Feel free to vote your most ideal and submit any draft breakdowns published so far.
I'm interested in:
Jordan Palmer QB 6'5 235 UTEP
By: Robert Davis
The younger brother of Bengal Carson Palmer was not as highly touted as his brother, but that was because he did not play much football in high school. He landed at UTEP known only as Carson’s brother, but has made a name for himself for the Miners.
A part time starter as a redshirt freshman, Palmer threw for 1,168 yards and seven touchdowns, but completed less than 50% of his passes, and was picked off 13 times. He really progressed as a sophomore, throwing for 2,818 yards, while completing 58% of his passes for 26 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Palmer continued to improve as a junior, completing 59% of his passes for 3,503 yards and 29 touchdowns, along with 19 interceptions.
Palmer is the prototypical pocket passer. He is big, with a strong arm, and a gunslinger’s mentality. He has the arm to make all the throws, and shows the athleticism to maneuver around the rush in the pocket and throw on the run. He has shown improvement every year since leaving high school, and has a lot of upside. He obviously has the bloodlines, with his brother being one of the best QB’s in the NFL.
While the gunslinger attitude is a positive, it is also a negative for Palmer. He tries to throw the ball through the defense too often, relying on his arm to make plays. He needs to learn to take what the defense gives him more often, and not force the ball so much.
A lot has been made of him being Carson’s brother, but Jordan will have to make it on his own. He has the talent to develop, but he’s a project right now that will need work at the next level. He is a player that will probably be taken in the middle rounds with the idea of developing him over a couple seasons to see what he can become.
Tyler Palko QB 6'2 220 Pitt
By: Robert Davis
Palko played as a reserve during his true freshman season, but redshirted as a sophomore as Rod Rutherford let the Pitt offensive attack. In his first year as a starter in 2004, Palko responded with All Big East 2nd Team honors after finishing the year with 3,067 yards with a 56.2% completion rate, and 24 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. As a junior he took a step back in Dave Wannstedt’s first year as coach. He again earned Big East 2nd Team honors, but he dipped to just 2,392 yards with 17 TD’s to nine picks, while completing 56.6% of his passes.
Palko is a player that could really develop at the next level. He is an efficient signal caller that has been very successful for Pitt. He shows the toughness to stand in the pocket and take a hit while delivering secondary when he is given time in the pocket. He is also a better athlete than most give him credit for. He can move in and out of the pocket, and can make some plays with his feet.
Palko lacks the prototypical height and arm strength for the QB spot. His arm is not poor, but he doesn’t have a cannon. His height may cause him some problems seeing the entire field behind his line while in the pocket. Palko has also had the tendency to try and force some big plays and it leads to questionable decisions at times.
Tyler Palko has the toughness and leadership skills you want in your quarterback. He combines that with solid ability as a passer and enough ability as a runner to be a threat when things break down. He doesn’t have the talent package to be a high pick, but he is a player that may out perform his draft position in a few years.
Kevin Kolb QB 6'3 225 Houston
By: Robert Davis
Kevin Kolb burst on to the scene as a freshman, earning freshman AA honors after throwing for 3,131 yards while completing just over 61% of his passes for 25 touchdowns and six picks. As a sophomore the numbers dipped to just 2,766 yards at a 56.1 percentage rate, with only 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. Kolb made a bit of a comeback as a junior, throwing for 3,258 yards while completing over 60% of his passes, and finished with 19 touchdowns to 15 interceptions.
Kolb has all the skills to develop into a quality NFL quarterback. He has decent size, and combines it with a good arm and solid athleticism. He has the toughness to sit in the pocket and deliver a strike, but also shows the mobility to leave the pocket and make things happen on the move. He can elude the rush and throw on the run, but can also tuck the ball and pick up yardage with his feet. Kolb has also started since his freshman year, so he has a ton of experience.
Kolb is a work in progress. He has had consistency issues throughout his career. He has had the tendency to force balls in the past, and tends to rely on his talent too much. A big issue will be adjusting to an NFL playbook. Kolb is going to need more work lining up under center and operating out of a pro attack.
The talent and toughness is not the issue with Kolb. If a team can be patient and give him time to continue to develop his skills, Kolb could become a quality NFL quarterback.
Trent Edwards QB 6'4 220 Stanford
By: Robert Davis
Trent Edwards landed at Stanford and big time expectations came along with him. He was one of the elite QB recruits in the country and decided to try and help the Cardinal improve their football program. While he has gotten better every year, that just has not happened. He became a starter as a sophomore, and threw for 1,718 yards while completing just over 54% of his passes with nine TD’s and 11 picks on the year. As a junior he started to put things together, throwing for 1,924 yards, while completing almost 63% of his passes for 17 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.
Edwards is a talented pocket passer. He has good size, and shows the ability to stand in the pocket and move the football. He has the toughness to sit in the pocket and take a hit, and the accuracy to deliver a strike all over the field. He is an intelligent passer that has become very efficient with more experience. He also shows the athleticism to avoid the rush in the pocket and make throws on the run. Edwards has gotten better every year in college and has a lot of upside that has not been reached yet.
Edwards just does not know what winning feels like. Stanford has been terrible, and he has not had the chance to routinely know what its like to taste victory. He takes a beating on a regular basis, and gets back up. He has done a lot with a little, but if he has what it takes to win is in question.
Trent Edwards is an intriguing prospect. He has flown under the radar because Stanford has been so bad, but he has the skills and the toughness to project to the next level. He constantly takes a beating for the Cardinal, but that endears him to scouts. Then things get tough in the NFL, he will know how to handle it. He is a player that has a lot of developmental ability, and if he tests out well, could go higher than most think in April.
Brady Quinn QB 6'4 231 Notre Dame
By: Robert Davis
Quinn became a starter during his true freshman season, and showed flashes of brilliance despite being held back by Tyrone Willingham’s offense. As a freshman, he threw for 1,831 yards, but had a completion percentage just over 47% and had a terrible TD/INT ratio of 9/15. He took that experience and improved as a sophomore, completing 54.1% of his passes, while throwing for 2,586 yards, and 17 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Once Charlie Weis took over, Quinn’s brilliance emerged on a more consistent basis. He threw for a school record 3,633 yards and 32 touchdowns, while completing 64.9% of his passes with just seven interceptions.
Brady Quinn is the prototypical pocket passer. He has great size, along with the strength and willingness to sit in the pocket and deliver a strike. He has very good arm strength, and can make all the throws on the field. His accuracy has continued to improve every year, and he is on target on everything under 20 yards. Quinn is also a good athlete for a pocket passer, and he knows how to elude the rush and get the throw off. He has no problems producing under pressure, and his touchdown in the final two minutes of the USC game had Notre Dame in position to win, but the star studded USC offense stole the victory away.
Picking something to criticize Quinn for is tough. He was very inconsistent his first two years, but once he was under the tutelage of Weis, he put it all together. He can try to force the ball into coverage still, and his mechanics break down at times, but those are things that could easily be corrected with another year under Weis.
Quinn has to be the favorite to be the first pick in the draft in April, with his talent at the quarterback position. Adrian Peterson is the only player on Quinn’s level, but many will give Brady the advantage because he is a quarterback.
Brian Brohm (Junior) QB 6’4†225 Louisville
Positives: Brohm has a very similar body type to Brady Quinn. He's tall and stands with poise. He moves well around the pocket and his patience allows plays to fully develop. He has speed and can be a threat on the ground if necessary, but also like Quinn, prefers to work with his arm rather than his feet.
His arm is as good as they come (just ask the MLB team that drafted him). He throws a great deep ball but more importantly, the majority of his passes have touch, making it easy for his receivers to turn around and pick up some yardage after the catch.
Often forgotten is that Brohm has been under the microscope since high school. In 2002 he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as one the nations top young quarterbacks. Thus far he is unphased by the spotlight. He doesn't make the mind-bending mistakes that most young QBs tend to when under pressure.
In both games Brohm has played against rival West Virginia, he’s looked calm and collected and put up big numbers (this year without Michael Bush). Brohm is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation when it comes to managing the game. His calm and confident nature is the keystone to success as a QB in the NFL.
Negatives: There are only two major problems on Brohm’s resume; injuries and touchdowns. Durability is a major question. Anyone looking at Brohm has to be concerned. In 2005 he tore his ACL. Despite the tear, he went through a Carson Palmer-like rehabilitation and was able to start the season opener for his Louisville Cardinals.
Just a few games in to 2006, Brohm broke his hand. The broken hand required surgery and he was forced to sit for a month. The lack of touchdown throws is disconcerting. Louisville scores a lot of points, but when it comes down to the goal line, they like to run it in.
Brohm isn't the big play machine we’ve seen in Brady Quinn or Troy Smith. In 2006 (thus far) Brohm has only thrown 12 touchdowns despite four interceptions. Quinn has double the touchdowns and (while debatable) played better teams.
Overview: It's likely that with so few first-round worthy QBs in this year's draft, Brohm will elect to come out. However, he could follow the decision Matt Leinart made just two years ago. Coming back for one more year would make Louisville an instant national title contender. However, if he does indeed come out he's in the same category as Quinn.
If healthy Brohm is one of the best play callers in the nation. He has a Tom Brady swagger with a Carson Palmer-like arm. He's big and strong and makes sound decisions for his team. However, he has a downside that the other top quarterback's don't and that's durability. He appears to be relatively fragile and that could scare teams away from taking him in the top five as he’d be projected were he to forgo his senior year at Louisville.
I'm interested in:
Jordan Palmer QB 6'5 235 UTEP
By: Robert Davis
The younger brother of Bengal Carson Palmer was not as highly touted as his brother, but that was because he did not play much football in high school. He landed at UTEP known only as Carson’s brother, but has made a name for himself for the Miners.
A part time starter as a redshirt freshman, Palmer threw for 1,168 yards and seven touchdowns, but completed less than 50% of his passes, and was picked off 13 times. He really progressed as a sophomore, throwing for 2,818 yards, while completing 58% of his passes for 26 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Palmer continued to improve as a junior, completing 59% of his passes for 3,503 yards and 29 touchdowns, along with 19 interceptions.
Palmer is the prototypical pocket passer. He is big, with a strong arm, and a gunslinger’s mentality. He has the arm to make all the throws, and shows the athleticism to maneuver around the rush in the pocket and throw on the run. He has shown improvement every year since leaving high school, and has a lot of upside. He obviously has the bloodlines, with his brother being one of the best QB’s in the NFL.
While the gunslinger attitude is a positive, it is also a negative for Palmer. He tries to throw the ball through the defense too often, relying on his arm to make plays. He needs to learn to take what the defense gives him more often, and not force the ball so much.
A lot has been made of him being Carson’s brother, but Jordan will have to make it on his own. He has the talent to develop, but he’s a project right now that will need work at the next level. He is a player that will probably be taken in the middle rounds with the idea of developing him over a couple seasons to see what he can become.
Tyler Palko QB 6'2 220 Pitt
By: Robert Davis
Palko played as a reserve during his true freshman season, but redshirted as a sophomore as Rod Rutherford let the Pitt offensive attack. In his first year as a starter in 2004, Palko responded with All Big East 2nd Team honors after finishing the year with 3,067 yards with a 56.2% completion rate, and 24 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. As a junior he took a step back in Dave Wannstedt’s first year as coach. He again earned Big East 2nd Team honors, but he dipped to just 2,392 yards with 17 TD’s to nine picks, while completing 56.6% of his passes.
Palko is a player that could really develop at the next level. He is an efficient signal caller that has been very successful for Pitt. He shows the toughness to stand in the pocket and take a hit while delivering secondary when he is given time in the pocket. He is also a better athlete than most give him credit for. He can move in and out of the pocket, and can make some plays with his feet.
Palko lacks the prototypical height and arm strength for the QB spot. His arm is not poor, but he doesn’t have a cannon. His height may cause him some problems seeing the entire field behind his line while in the pocket. Palko has also had the tendency to try and force some big plays and it leads to questionable decisions at times.
Tyler Palko has the toughness and leadership skills you want in your quarterback. He combines that with solid ability as a passer and enough ability as a runner to be a threat when things break down. He doesn’t have the talent package to be a high pick, but he is a player that may out perform his draft position in a few years.
Kevin Kolb QB 6'3 225 Houston
By: Robert Davis
Kevin Kolb burst on to the scene as a freshman, earning freshman AA honors after throwing for 3,131 yards while completing just over 61% of his passes for 25 touchdowns and six picks. As a sophomore the numbers dipped to just 2,766 yards at a 56.1 percentage rate, with only 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. Kolb made a bit of a comeback as a junior, throwing for 3,258 yards while completing over 60% of his passes, and finished with 19 touchdowns to 15 interceptions.
Kolb has all the skills to develop into a quality NFL quarterback. He has decent size, and combines it with a good arm and solid athleticism. He has the toughness to sit in the pocket and deliver a strike, but also shows the mobility to leave the pocket and make things happen on the move. He can elude the rush and throw on the run, but can also tuck the ball and pick up yardage with his feet. Kolb has also started since his freshman year, so he has a ton of experience.
Kolb is a work in progress. He has had consistency issues throughout his career. He has had the tendency to force balls in the past, and tends to rely on his talent too much. A big issue will be adjusting to an NFL playbook. Kolb is going to need more work lining up under center and operating out of a pro attack.
The talent and toughness is not the issue with Kolb. If a team can be patient and give him time to continue to develop his skills, Kolb could become a quality NFL quarterback.
Trent Edwards QB 6'4 220 Stanford
By: Robert Davis
Trent Edwards landed at Stanford and big time expectations came along with him. He was one of the elite QB recruits in the country and decided to try and help the Cardinal improve their football program. While he has gotten better every year, that just has not happened. He became a starter as a sophomore, and threw for 1,718 yards while completing just over 54% of his passes with nine TD’s and 11 picks on the year. As a junior he started to put things together, throwing for 1,924 yards, while completing almost 63% of his passes for 17 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.
Edwards is a talented pocket passer. He has good size, and shows the ability to stand in the pocket and move the football. He has the toughness to sit in the pocket and take a hit, and the accuracy to deliver a strike all over the field. He is an intelligent passer that has become very efficient with more experience. He also shows the athleticism to avoid the rush in the pocket and make throws on the run. Edwards has gotten better every year in college and has a lot of upside that has not been reached yet.
Edwards just does not know what winning feels like. Stanford has been terrible, and he has not had the chance to routinely know what its like to taste victory. He takes a beating on a regular basis, and gets back up. He has done a lot with a little, but if he has what it takes to win is in question.
Trent Edwards is an intriguing prospect. He has flown under the radar because Stanford has been so bad, but he has the skills and the toughness to project to the next level. He constantly takes a beating for the Cardinal, but that endears him to scouts. Then things get tough in the NFL, he will know how to handle it. He is a player that has a lot of developmental ability, and if he tests out well, could go higher than most think in April.
Brady Quinn QB 6'4 231 Notre Dame
By: Robert Davis
Quinn became a starter during his true freshman season, and showed flashes of brilliance despite being held back by Tyrone Willingham’s offense. As a freshman, he threw for 1,831 yards, but had a completion percentage just over 47% and had a terrible TD/INT ratio of 9/15. He took that experience and improved as a sophomore, completing 54.1% of his passes, while throwing for 2,586 yards, and 17 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Once Charlie Weis took over, Quinn’s brilliance emerged on a more consistent basis. He threw for a school record 3,633 yards and 32 touchdowns, while completing 64.9% of his passes with just seven interceptions.
Brady Quinn is the prototypical pocket passer. He has great size, along with the strength and willingness to sit in the pocket and deliver a strike. He has very good arm strength, and can make all the throws on the field. His accuracy has continued to improve every year, and he is on target on everything under 20 yards. Quinn is also a good athlete for a pocket passer, and he knows how to elude the rush and get the throw off. He has no problems producing under pressure, and his touchdown in the final two minutes of the USC game had Notre Dame in position to win, but the star studded USC offense stole the victory away.
Picking something to criticize Quinn for is tough. He was very inconsistent his first two years, but once he was under the tutelage of Weis, he put it all together. He can try to force the ball into coverage still, and his mechanics break down at times, but those are things that could easily be corrected with another year under Weis.
Quinn has to be the favorite to be the first pick in the draft in April, with his talent at the quarterback position. Adrian Peterson is the only player on Quinn’s level, but many will give Brady the advantage because he is a quarterback.
My Favorite So Far
Brian Brohm (Junior) QB 6’4†225 Louisville
Positives: Brohm has a very similar body type to Brady Quinn. He's tall and stands with poise. He moves well around the pocket and his patience allows plays to fully develop. He has speed and can be a threat on the ground if necessary, but also like Quinn, prefers to work with his arm rather than his feet.
His arm is as good as they come (just ask the MLB team that drafted him). He throws a great deep ball but more importantly, the majority of his passes have touch, making it easy for his receivers to turn around and pick up some yardage after the catch.
Often forgotten is that Brohm has been under the microscope since high school. In 2002 he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as one the nations top young quarterbacks. Thus far he is unphased by the spotlight. He doesn't make the mind-bending mistakes that most young QBs tend to when under pressure.
In both games Brohm has played against rival West Virginia, he’s looked calm and collected and put up big numbers (this year without Michael Bush). Brohm is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation when it comes to managing the game. His calm and confident nature is the keystone to success as a QB in the NFL.
Negatives: There are only two major problems on Brohm’s resume; injuries and touchdowns. Durability is a major question. Anyone looking at Brohm has to be concerned. In 2005 he tore his ACL. Despite the tear, he went through a Carson Palmer-like rehabilitation and was able to start the season opener for his Louisville Cardinals.
Just a few games in to 2006, Brohm broke his hand. The broken hand required surgery and he was forced to sit for a month. The lack of touchdown throws is disconcerting. Louisville scores a lot of points, but when it comes down to the goal line, they like to run it in.
Brohm isn't the big play machine we’ve seen in Brady Quinn or Troy Smith. In 2006 (thus far) Brohm has only thrown 12 touchdowns despite four interceptions. Quinn has double the touchdowns and (while debatable) played better teams.
Overview: It's likely that with so few first-round worthy QBs in this year's draft, Brohm will elect to come out. However, he could follow the decision Matt Leinart made just two years ago. Coming back for one more year would make Louisville an instant national title contender. However, if he does indeed come out he's in the same category as Quinn.
If healthy Brohm is one of the best play callers in the nation. He has a Tom Brady swagger with a Carson Palmer-like arm. He's big and strong and makes sound decisions for his team. However, he has a downside that the other top quarterback's don't and that's durability. He appears to be relatively fragile and that could scare teams away from taking him in the top five as he’d be projected were he to forgo his senior year at Louisville.
