OT: Manti Te'o

[Jlighter]

Originally Posted by cyseymour

Russell Wilson was one inch too short to be a good NFL QB, remember that one?

Russell Wilson is listed at 5 feet 11 inches. The typical QB in the NFL is 6-2 to 6-3. I'm not saying I agree with his previous assessment, but NFL GMs cannot be faulted for not taking him earlier.

[oldjudge]

Tao showed that he can't tackle NFL style backs in his game against Alabama. However, because of his leadership qualities/personal integrity he would have probably still been drafted in the first half of the first round. Now, with the latter in question, he will probably drop like a stone. Another blow to the Notre Dame blarney.

[cyseymour]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Tao showed that he can't tackle NFL style backs in his game against Alabama. However, because of his leadership qualities/personal integrity he would have probably still been drafted in the first half of the first round. Now, with the latter in question, he will probably drop like a stone. Another blow to the Notre Dame blarney.

Word has it that Te'o knew the story was about to blow up before the game and just had a horrific game. So I don't think it's evidence that he can't tackle in the NFL. These guys are human and clearly his mind wasn't in it.

[cyseymour]

Originally Posted by Jlighter

Russell Wilson is listed at 5 feet 11 inches. The typical QB in the NFL is 6-2 to 6-3. I'm not saying I agree with his previous assessment, but NFL GMs cannot be faulted for not taking him earlier.

Drew Brees was listed at 6'0" (he's really 5'11" and 1/2). Brees had just broken the record for most passing yards in a season, four months before Wilson was drafted. Wilson is probably less than one inch shorter than Brees. That was one instance where the fans were a lot smarter than the GM's, there were a lot of fans high on Wilson.

[Jlighter]

Originally Posted by cyseymour

Drew Brees was listed at 6'0" (he's really 5'11" and 1/2). Brees had just broken the record for most passing yards in a season, four months before Wilson was drafted. Wilson is probably less than one inch shorter than Brees. That was one instance where the fans were a lot smarter than the GM's, there were a lot of fans high on Wilson.

For every example of a short player succeeding there is another example of a short player failing.

In recent memory Seneca Wallace, Troy Smith, Colt McCoy and Pat White come to mind.

There are a lot of fans high on Tim Tebow, I think we can consider this a wash.

[cyseymour]

How about Jeff George and Ryan Leaf? How'd it go for those guys?

[CMIZ5290]

this story is a joke...what in the hell was this guy thinking? Publicity? Yea, you got it now pal.....

[Jlighter]

Originally Posted by cyseymour

How about Jeff George and Ryan Leaf? How'd it go for those guys?

How about we ask John Elway, Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Roger Staubach, Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman, Joe Namath, Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning?

And these are just off the top of my head.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Brent Musberger thinks his fake girlfriend is/was hot!

[dani0100]

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why this story is getting the news coverage it is. Is it kind of weird? Yes. Do millions of people do much weirder things every day? Yes. Is there any crime being committed or was anyone wronged in any way? No.

Meanwhile, our soldiers are dying, our government is completely broken and nobody can pay attention longer than five minutes so we can fix it, etc., etc.

America....what a country!

[cyseymour]

Originally Posted by Jlighter

How about we ask John Elway, Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Roger Staubach, Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman, Joe Namath, Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning?

And these are just off the top of my head.

Sure, it's an advantage to be tall. Just not a prerequisite, that's my point. It's also an advantage to be accurate, evasive, have great field vision, large hands, leadership abilities, etc. Wilson was a case where his assets were overlooked due to one small disadvantage that he has so far overcome.

I would say that having large hands is just as important as being tall. Ask Kurt Warner, who fumbled so often due to his small hands. Some games, Warner had five fumbles. Wilson has very large hands for his size. It is just one of those things that is important but people don't think about.

[alanu]

Now I wish he would have won the Heisman just to make any scandal bigger

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by Jlighter

How about we ask John Elway, Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Roger Staubach, Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman, Joe Namath, Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning?

Not to digress too much from Te'o, but a QB's height is completely overrated.. as are many other measureables. If a guy is smaller but knows the offense inside and out, can keep cool during the play, has a live accurate arm, and can move when need be, he'll be able to see and get the ball out. BTW- Montana, though listed at 6'2" was probably about 6' and very very skinny.. but he was a smart, tough, supremely confident leader, and mobile when need be.. and also like Russell Wilson was a 3rd rounder. Brady, who I got to play against in HS, was a 6th rounder who backed up Scott Dreisbach then Brian Griese, and then had to split time with Drew Hensen at Michigan.. his big NFL break came due to a Bledsoe punctured lung. Who knows if he'd have gotten another chance?? Favre was 2nd rounder who ATL traded to Green Bay after his rookie year. Rodgers, had zero D-I offers out of HS and played JC ball.

It's a very non exact science and is impossible to predict who will succeed and who won't. Even the guys above who seem like no doubter superstar types all had college coaches, GMs, coordinators along the way that didn't see what they could become. I think having measureables gets you in the door easier.. see 6'8" Dan McGwire, or Jamarcus Russell.. but to make it, they have to put ridiculous study and work, not really ever get discouraged (much harder than it sounds), be incredible leaders of large groups of very alfa type men, and have generally unbreakable stones... see Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and now Russell Wilson.

What is amazing to me is that for every Russell Wilson or Tom Brady that defies the odds, there's 50 guys just as talented that didn't get that break they needed, or were blocked out by a narrow minded coach/GM and are either journeyman back ups, or out of the league entirely.

[Jlighter]

In football there aren't many measurables to determine a QBs skill, especially in College. Height is one finite measurement, and height is an obvious advantage. If Jeff Ireland had taken Wilson instead of Tannehill in the first round, and Wilson was a flop, Ireland would be fired. Wilson was a "larger" risk.