maverick4

The answer to this may impact how we want to deal with Cassel (and also Brady). Anyone have any insight? I can't seem to find any *useful* scouting articles or vids, even post-draft, on this kid O'Connell.

I just went onto some old pre-08 draft San Diego message boards, who are presumably more knowledgeable about this local kid, and when talking about O'Connell they were saying how he'd be a good 6th or 7th rounder, and and there was lots of heated debate about whether O'Connell was better or possibly worse than Colt Brennan out of Hawaii.

The recurring themes I've read on this guy are:
- Natural leader, hard worker
- Good athlete and height, strong arm, very fast runner/scrambler
- Raw, bad mechanics, throws off his back foot too often, too many off target throws
- Goes for the home run throw too often

I have read a half dozen reports say he has BAD accuracy, while a half dozen other reports say he has uncanny accuracy. Which one is it?

His last 3 college seasons his TD/int were (most recent first): 15/8, 3/5, and 19/12. Maybe someone can chime in here, is this considered good/decent production on a bad team?

Here are some links:
New Era Scouting

NFL Events: Draft Player Profiles - Kevin O'Connell

SI.com - 2008 NFL Draft - Kevin O'Connell

Nestapats

We won't know how good he is until he plays. Cassel proved this point, cause everyone thought he sucked until he proved us wrong. It's clear O'connell has got the physical tools, but we won't know how good he actually is, until we see him play.

PATRIOTSFANINPA

Well I dont think he will be anywhere near a Ryan or a Flacco but probably the 4th most talented QB in last years draft

I still think BB keeps him as a 3rd stringer another year and the team signs a vet QB to backup Brady or if something goes horribly wrong such as if Brady has another major setback,then 3rd stringer to backup Cassel

Patsmaniac

I agree with a veteran 2nd string QB if Matt C leaves. I would rather another year of learning for Kevin before he is even thrown into a situation. MAybe waiting a bunch of years is the way to go. Worked for Matt.

BelichickFan

My impression is he has a very high upside but might be a little boom or bust based on needing to improve his mechanics. All accounts seem to say he's smart, big, strong and fast. He needs to work on his mechanics and having played behind a crappy OL probably needs to learn to trust the pocket. I'm not willing to annoint Flacco just yet, though, he wasn't all that good this year he was just on a team whose defense could carry him. Could O'Connell have done what Flacco did ? I'm guessing so. What Ryan did ? Probably not. No doubt, though, O'Connell has high potential given his size and speed.

maverick4

Anyone from the San Diego area who can comment?
Or has anyone actually come across any scouting vids of this guy?
I've seen one, it was grainy and looked more like a HS game.

BradyBranch39

From what I've seen, I'll put him fifth... behind Henne and Brennan.

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farn

While I agree that it might be prudent to bring in a vet, it's worth it to mention that BB stuck with him as #2 all year long.

People will say : it was too late to get a vet up to par at that point, but still... he was the man if Cassel went down.

Maybe O'C & Gutz fight it out (starting a few games) in the case Brady needs a few weeks (which I do not expect).

Deus Irae

He was a good enough prospect for the Patriots to draft him in the 3rd round.

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maverick4

Thank you for yet another completely worthless waste of everyone else's time. Keep it up.