My Short List
Kellen Moore ~ 6.0/192 ~ 7th ~ 1st!!
Beast!! Kellen Moore is the story of this Draft Class, as far as I'm concerned. His Diagnostic Acuity, his Processing Speed, his insatiable Work Ethic, his Vision, his Confidence, his complete and utter Command of the Huddle...his Third Eye, his Instincts, his ability to see where the play's going before it happens...are magnificent.
If I needed to drive the length of the field to score the winning Touch Down in the final two minutes of the Super Bowl, and I had only the Quarter Backs of the 2012 Draft Class to choose from, to lead my team, I would certainly choose Andrew Luck, the greatest QB prospect in the last decade or more...
...unless Kellen Moore was available.
Laugh, if you like.
But under pressure ~ when it counts most ~ it's an easy decision for me.
I laugh my ASS off when I read Reports comparing Moore to Drew Brees "except for the Arm."!!
For those who's memories don't go back 10 years ~ and that is evidently a vast majority ~ the overwhelming consensus on Drew Brees, 11 years ago, was that he was good on the Dink and Dunk stuff...but just don't ask him to sling it downfield!!
True Story!!
Super Sleeper!!
Casey Keenum ~ 6.1/210 ~ UFA ~ 6th-7th
Reserve!! Casey Keenum is short in stature, but is an hard worker and a Scrapper who makes the most of what he's got. He doesn't command much Arm Strength, but he commands the Huddle...At this point, it's hard to assess his Diagnostic Acuity or Processing Speed, because of the nature of the Offense he ran on Planet Hoosten, but within the confines of that Offense, he certainly Moved the Chains. And he improved his Mechanics as a Senior, coming off an ACL injury, which speaks to his Tenacity and Focus. I like the kid, and I'd have no problem dropping a 7th Round Pick on him, if I had one to spare. Deal!!
Aaron Corp ~ 6.4/216 ~ UFA ~ 4th-5th
Potential Starter!! Aaron Corp is very raw, but he brings superior Diagnostic Acuity and Processing Speed to the table, as well as excellent Mechanics and good height for the position. Given the right coaching and some patience, he seems to have legitimate Starter potential. Steal!!
Austin Davis ~ 6.1/216 ~ UFA ~ 6th-7th
Reserve!! Austin Davis is generally downgraded, due to his lack of Arm Strength, his Height, and his experience being in Shot Gun...However, I am inclined to like this kid's ability to manage a Game, which gets about 10% of the attention in scouting QB's, though it ultimately proves to be about 90% of what makes them or breaks them. Mind you, I'm not saying we have Joe Montana, here, but his Diagnostic Acuity and Processing Speed are excellent. He's also got Scrambling skills, but I don't give a rat's ass about that. All in all, though, I see potential as an effective Reserve and even a potential Starter in the NFL. Deal!!
Gary Joe Kinne ~ 6.1/234 ~ 6th-7th
Reserve!! Despite his Strong Arm and Athleticism, I like Gary Joe Kinne. Hah!! What I like about him, though, is that he's the son of a Coach who's improved Diagnostic Acuity and Processing Speed in his Senior year clearly exhibited an open mind and the will to do what is need to evolve as a Field General, a trait that is as uncommon as it is vital. As such, I consider him a very intriguing Prospect. Deal!!
Dan Persa ~ 5.11/210 ~ UFA ~ 4th-5th
Potential Starter!! Dan Persa is just a bit on the short side, but my GOD, is he loaded with Intangibles!!
His Diagnostics and his Processing Speed are through the ROOF, his Work Ethic is absolutely astounding, and it doesn't hurt that he adds Mobility and exceptional Mechanics to his Resume.
His lack of Glory Stats, Height, or Rocket Arm relegate him to UFA Land, but I'm here to tell you that this guy could be an extraordinary 15 year Reserve, one who could come in, in a pinch, and KILL the unprepared...and even become an effective Starter!! Sleeper!!
Notes
1 ~ I don't look at what I imagine Bill The Mad (Genius) would do, but, rather, what I would do. There is no presumptuousness in this. It's just that I enjoy the process more, this way.
2 ~ Given my druthers, I'd love to be continually investing lightly on QB ~ Day 3 and UFA ~ and continually developing and eventually trading these guys. The idea would be to groom every one of them to be General Tom's replacement, knowing that one of them eventually will be.
3 ~ One of my most radical and unpopular beliefs is that a Great Passer does not necessarily make a Great Field General. In fact, I believe that, in the development of QB's through High School and College and on to the Pros, having a Rocket Arm ~ or a flashy "40" time ~ can be a great hindrance in developing traits that I value far more than a Rocket Arm or Scrambling Ability.
4 ~ What I value, above all, is Processing Speed: the ability to Read + React Rapidly. Diagnostic Acuity is second most important on my list. I believe Peyton Manning's Diagnostics are the equal of Tom Brady's, but that General Tom's superior Processing Speed is what ultimately separates him from Manning and the rest of the Pack...and separates him by a mile.
5 ~ I believe that, consequently, Drafts are often littered with Wretched Refuse ~ Day 3 or UFA Picks ~ whose Market Values have been obliterated by their lack of Rocket Arms or great "40" times, traits that are nice, but to which I personally attribute a miniscule fraction of importance as the vast majority does...And a few of these guys are blessed with outstanding Processing Speed. Furthermore, many of these guys have been forced to bust their humps to develop Diagnostic Acuity, Processing Speed, and their Book of Knowledge, while their Rocket-Armed brethren have been able ~ and often encouraged ~ to coast on their Arms. Likewise, their Flashy 40 Brethren have often relied on escaping problems, rather than developing their QuarterBacking.
6 ~ In short: These mortals have been forced to survive on their wits. And wits ~ not a Rocket Arm or a flashy "40" time...are what win Grim Games deep in the Winter.
7 ~ What I'd love to see us do is trade both Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett. It's pretty rare to trade a guy after only one year ~ in fact, I know of no precedent at all ~ but I imagine that's far more a function of teams being reluctant to kiss off an investment so early, rather than a reluctance on the part of other teams towards acquiring that talent...And considering that Mallett comes with a 1st Round level of physical skills, a strong reputation as a cerebral Quarter Back, and has managed to get Coach Bill's seal of approval and keep his pie hole shut for a year, I'm quite confident that we'd find a very fair Market for him and for Hoyer...especially once the fates of Ryan TanneHill and Brandon Weeden have been determined.
8 ~ Obviously, Kellen Moore is, far and away, my man.
9 ~ Beyond that, I'm not 100% sure I'd even want to carry a 3rd QB. 53, besides being an atrociously ugly number, just seems so small...But I would certainly like to pick up a couple of those other cats for Camp and for consideration: two of three of Casey Keenum, Aaron Corp, and Dan Persa is what I'd like to see us get.
