Harrell to Cleveland
by Tech92 on Apr 27, 2009 10:56 AM CDT
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PrintSorry about the misinformation last night on the Carolina signing. This is from the Dallas Morning News, so it's valid.
"There's a report on the Internet that Texas Tech's Graham Harrell signed with the Cowboys, but that isn't correct. Harrell will participate in the Browns' rookie minicamp, according to his agent, Chad Speck.
Speck said he had some contact with the Cowboys, but an offer didn't come from Valley Ranch."
And the link...http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/
I may be alone, but Leach's whinning about all this is starting to get on my nerves. Not sure he's doing Graham any favors...guilt by association, and all that.
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Thank you!!!!!!!
Thank you for the clarification on this issue, I have been trying everything to find out what is going on with Harrell! Glad to get an answer from a Reliable source!
Leach is awesome..
I can see why you may want him to tone it down on that blog, but if he did, we might not get gems like this.
"I’m happy for Stephen McGee. The Dallas Cowboys like him more than his coaches at A&M did."
Re:
“whinning”? If that’s what you think it is, it wouldn’t be “starting to get on [your] nerves” it would have already gotten on your nerves. Nobody likes whining.
What you are certainly not alone in thinking is that this is whining, though a lot of Tech fans will surely disagree. Mike Leach knows more about Michael Crabtree than Mangini, and he’s absolutely right to defend his players in the face of what he thinks is unfounded criticism. Why that makes him a whiner is beyond me.
Few people on the planet have done more for Graham Harrell’s professional career than Mike Leach. If this hurts his prospects in Cleveland, it’s because that program is run by a bunch of petty lunatics and that being the case, Harrell is better off elsewhere anyways.
I doubt very much that Mangini cares one way or the other what Mike Leach says about him. If he thinks Graham Harrell improves his football team, he’s not going to cut him just to spite Leach. Again, if he does, he’s a bad coach and a bad person and Harrell is better off as far away from him as possible.
Mike Leach doesn’t say these things for Mangini. He says these things for his players, for his fans, and for the future. I think he genuinely believes that Crabtree was wronged by people saying things that Leach thought were false, and should be applauded for being one of the few candid people in the entire coaching industry. What you call whining, others might call defending his player.
In any event, my bias is and has always been pro Mike Leach and I wear that proudly. I get the impression that you just flat out do not like Mike Leach, because you’ve rarely missed an opportunity to call him out. I am pretty sure you aren’t a Browns or Mangini fan (maybe I’m wrong on that) so why would this, of all things, draw your ire? I could at least understand your position on the contract dispute, but on this it just feels like taking every opportunity to swipe at Coach Leach. What’s the point? Do we not want him to defend his players against what he thinks are disingenuous criticisms?
A much better candidate for criticism would the quote above me, because it strikes me as unhelpful and potentially petty. If it weren’t so funny, that might be the kind of Leachism that I, as a Red Raider fan, could do without. His rebuttal to the “diva” criticism, by comparison, strikes me as unquestionably endearing, yet here we are discussing it.
Easy there, killer. I just said it’s kind of getting on my nerves. Not the end of the world by any means. I was referring more to the comments about Leach directly to Mangini and his backhanded swipe at either aTm or Stephen McGee…in it’s totality I’d have to say Leach has done a bit of whinning since Saturday. I have no idea (and neither do you) what really happened regarding Crabtree in Cleveland and wasn’t addressing that.
You’re right, though, that I am not a fan of Leach in some regards. I love what he’s done with the result on the field. The rest, to me, is fluff and not completely necessary. In my opinion, it’s not the lobbying and defending the player I have issue with. It’s the way he does it. Besides, it has zero impact as evidenced by Harrell falling out of the draft completely. But it’s just my opinion. It wasn’t a slam, bro.
Cheers
Besides, it has zero impact as evidenced by Harrell falling out of the draft completely.
I don’t think one player, who didn’t necessarily help himself after he left Texas Tech, failing to get drafted evidences that Leach has no reason to lobby for and defend his players. For one thing, that’s an attenuated enough line of causation whereas I don’t think High School Players are thinking to themselves “I like what Leach does on behalf of his players but the results aren’t there.” Rather, I think the far more likely thought process of an 18 year old kid is “There is a coach who will defend his players and I want to play for a coach who will defend his players.” In any event, Tech had 4 players drafted in the first 4 rounds this year, which is certainly some kind of record at least since I’ve been following Tech football.
Second, none of this addresses the other potential beneficiaries of Leach’s comments. Crabtree and Harrell don’t play for Mike Leach anymore. But a lot of kids do, and he has to motivate them and that job is much easier when he’s talking to a group of people who know he’ll have their back, too, if someone treats them unfairly. I think players respect and appreciate that.
At the end of the day I don’t think much of the impact of Crabtree falling to 10 or Harrell not getting drafted on future classes. We’re pretty set at QB for the next four seasons despite not having anyone do anything in the pros prior to that, and I imagine given the amount of production our program promises QBs, we’ll be set forever. Far more important, I think, will be the new power McNeill wields when he walks into a living room and says we had two guys go, one in the 2nd and one in the 4th, and the latter was a junior (and he’s in Dallas). We had the best season in years and, unsurprisingly, had the best draft in years. It was unfortunate what happened to Harrell but I would be reluctant to treat it as some indictment of Leach, or as reason for him to temper his comments. The beneficiaries of those comments might not be the actual defended players at all (see: Fans, Current Players, Future Recruits). At the end of the day Mike Leach makes us relevant because he’s interesting, and while I don’t agree with everything he says I can’t hardly demand he leave out the 2% of the quotes I find questionable while retaining the 98% I, and the national media, find entertaining as hell.
He is a sincere, genuine guy, and you have to take the good with the bad. I don’t even think this Mangini comments come close to approaching “the bad” anyways.
I have to go with Leach on this one
I think the coach is just doing waht all good coaches do when the chips are down. Harrell got ripped off as Tech’s season ended. All the crap about “system offense” is been abused beyond belief. Fact is it takes one hell of an athlete to fit into Tech’s “system”. It requires speed and accuracy above anything. Harrell was a great HS football player and an even better college player. If given the right setting he could be the next Tom Brady. Say what you want but his accuracy is unmatched by any QB drafted this past weekend. The NFL could learn a great deal from a coach like Mike Leach.
I actually think Leach takes the fact that Crabtree dropped and Harrell went undrafted personally. Don’t misunderstand and believe that I think that’s a bad thing. I just think he would be a better ambassador if he said things with a bit more tact and forethought. Of course, without actually hearing what he said and the context and tone of voice, he could have had his tongue planted firmly in his cheek.
I’ll say too that I don’t think Harrell went undrafted because of the system he played in. It was because, physically, he didn’t measure up to the guys who were picked. I’m betting that if he was two inches taller, had a thick frame, and could fire bb’s, he’d have been a pick. Is that right? Dunno. I’m not paid to make those draft picks.
But if I was, and my family’s livelihood depended on me putting food on the table by making good picks, Harrell would have been maybe a 6th rounder for my team – at best. Better to fail on a guy with tools than not. Accuracy can be taught. Arm strength is typically what it is. You are either blessed with a big one or you aren’t. Obviously, there are some starters out there without a big arm, so it’s not a requirement. But all things being equal, you take the guy with the physical tools and teach the rest. That’s just how it is…it’s not my rule.
Graham will go down as one of the best college QBs of the last 20 years. I am not cricial of him at all. He was awesome for Tech and was a large reason we’re on the map now. He is getting his chance to prove everyone wrong. Let’s see how he does. I wish him great, great success. There is precednet for an UDFA to make a name for himself…Tony Romo comes to mind…
good points...
but I do think he has the arm strength. I watched him in HS throw deep balls all the time. Tech’s offense didn’t always utilize plays of that nature. I agree that being 6’2 isn’t enough anymore. QB’s have to be bigger and stronger now than years ago. Occassionally a dark horse will surface but most need the size in order to start. IMO I think he’s better than any of those guys drafted at QB. We’ll have to wait and see. Hell, Tom Brady wasn’t drafted either.
Brady was drafted in the 6th round, I believe. But I am with you. I hope he proves something. I’m sure there’s more to him that the Tech coaches showed. There usually is.
What coaches see, though, is what he does. If what he is good at is not what they do, it’s tough to justify bringing him in. Regardless of position. He can’t contribute in any other way but QB, so he needs to be in the right situation. Is that Cleveland? I have no idea, but it wouldn’t seem so on the surface. If he can show enough in the pre-season where he’ll get long looks (I hope), maybe someone else can nab him.
He was a better college QB than all the guys on the board. But does his size/skill set translate to an NFL team and how they run offenses? That’s harder to answer.
Let's not give too much credit to the status quo on QB drafting...
The jury is waaaaaaaay out on:
Jemarcus Russell
Brady Quinn
Vince Young
Matt Leinart
Alex Smith
MAYBE EVEN JASON CAMPBELL NOOOOOOOOOOOO
JP Losman
Kyle Boller
Rex Grossman
Byron Leftwich
David Carr
Patrick Ramsey
Tim Couch
Akili Smith
Cade McNown
Ryan Leaf
All 1st round QB draft picks, and collectively outnumber 1st round QB non-busts by pretty good margins. A rare hit in the 1st round in 2004 should not justify deference to 10 years of demonstrably questionable assessment. Maybe whatever it is pro scouts are focused on… they shouldn’t be.
GUESS WHAT
the jury just came in on MOST of these guys.
Jemarcus Russell
Brady Quinn
Vince Young
Matt Leinart
Alex Smith
MAYBE EVEN JASON CAMPBELL NOOOOOOOOOOOO
JP Losman
Kyle Boller
Rex Grossman
Byron Leftwich
David Carr
Patrick Ramsey
Tim Couch
Akili Smith
Cade McNown
Ryan Leaf
overrated
jury is out
overrated
overrated
loser
jury is out
jury is out
jury is out
journeyman/career backup
journeyman/career backup
journeyman/career backup
loser
loser
loser
loser
loser
Wreck 'em, Tech!
by Tortilla Pirate on Apr 27, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Works for me!
I was being kind, I left off some names that others would probably say “Jury still out on”.
With the exception of 2003 or 2004 (the Eli Manning/Roethlesburger draft, I can’t remember which one it was) the pro scouts have been shooting way under .500 on 1st round QBs.
the point
that we’re all (Cap’n Leach included) tryin to make, I guess is that given the NFL’s propensity to INSIST on “measureables” (220lbs, 6’4") and shoot so many duds (see above list) why has no one tried anything new?
The fact that so many of Belichik’s disciples pratice some form of the spread offense why has no one given guy’s like Graham Harrell a chance? I bet that HAD to figure somewhat into Mangini’s thoughts as he weighed signing Harrell. Chad Pennington had a noodle for an arm and was at least a serviceable QB in the NFL.
Wreck 'em, Tech!
by Tortilla Pirate on Apr 27, 2009 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions
At least...
Belichick gave a slight, however tiny, nod ot our “system” QB when he brought Kingsbury on board. Now if we could just get Welker and Morris to needle Belichick a bit maybe he’d be up for a second try.
by TracySaulRulz on Apr 27, 2009 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions
I actually think Leach takes the fact that Crabtree dropped and Harrell went undrafted personally. Don’t misunderstand and believe that I think that’s a bad thing. I just think he would be a better ambassador if he said things with a bit more tact and forethought.
Aren’t you just asking him to lie? Why is it that the 2nd most hallowed virtue in coaching is dishonesty?
I get what you are saying, that Leach doesn’t always present himself as you think he should, but at least he presents himself. The alternative is a boring, dishonest coach who can’t possibly get any buzz generated about a program. Sometimes you don’t need an ambassador. When Chamberlain failed, we sent in Patton.
I think we’re both in total agreement regarding Harrell not getting drafted for lack of measurables, not the system. The system is the only reason he was considered. If he had played at a pro-style offense and produced considerably less in College, he’d have gone undrafted all the same.
I am not at all asking Leach to lie. You can attract a lot more flies with honey than vinegar. There is a time and place to be snarky. Not sure during this draft process Leach showed the most maturity I’ve ever seen.
But it’s over and done with, now.
Oh, and history has proven that Patton took credit for things he had absolutely nothing to do with…and was also proven to be about as crazy as they come. He was also an unabashed media whore and did everything with publicity in mind, not always to the betterment of his troops. However…his troops felt they wouldn’t ever lose. That’s a good thing.
What would the honey have looked like?
I can imagine a prepared statement that said something like: “We regret that persons out there unnamed have severely and unfairly harmed the reputation of Michael Crabtree by calling him a diva. It is our firm opinion, after much consideration and experience with Mr. Crabtree, that he is not, in fact, a diva. Although we appreciate dissenting opinions on this matter, we must respectfully disagree with the emerging consensus.”
Which would have been ignored by virtually everyone who could possibly benefit from the statement, for good reason. That would have been the more mature response, but also a meaningless gesture worth nothing. Everyone would know it was dishonest, including Tech football players, and Mike Leach would tend towards the CFB norm snoozefest of dishonesty. Mike Leach practices tough love on his own players; I find it totally appropriate that he remain consistent against those who would attack our players.
We’re probably going to have to agree to disagree, but I think there is real value in having a genuine coach. Not everything he says I agree with, but you have to take the good with the bad, and the good overwhelms the bad substantially, in my opinion.
Well, that pretend quote was a tad dramatic. But I understand where you’re coming from and respect that.
I was thinking I’d say somthing like, “Look. Crabtree is anything but a diva. Why someone would say something like that is beyond me, but it’s absolutely false. He’s a tireless worker, phenomenal downfield blocker, quitely leads the lockerroom, and great with young guys. And he catches a lot of touchdowns.”
I worry that falls too much into the “Yea, but he would say that” category. One problem with political responses is that they’re much easier to ignore.
I’d have applauded coach had he said what you just wrote, but it wouldn’t have been headline material on ESPN.com. It doesn’t cause this to happen. It’s doubtful that any of his players would even notice.
But everyone noticed his response: You talk about Mike Leach’s players and he’s taking it personally, and he’s coming back with his best stuff. I do not think anyone in the football universe wants to get in a he-said she-said fight with Mike Leach.
Both of you make great points
But I am gonna have to agree with Skin Patrol. I just get so tired of the typical politcal correctness that most coaches regularly display, and as a result, I am extremely proud to have a coach that speaks his mind the way Mike Leach does. As far as NFL football is concerned, the only real reason I follow it is to see how players that intrigued me in college, especially Texas Tech ones, will fare. I find college football infinitely more fun to watch and be a part of, so as far as what other people have to say about the most successfull offensive system in college football in regard to its ability to send players to the pros means very, very little to me. As skin patrol mentioned, many supposedly “NFL-ready” first round QBs have ended up to me major busts. Obviously no one can ever know who will be good at any certain level of football. You just have to give players a physical shot to prove themselves on the field. You can project all you want, but results will always overrule projections, and Harrell will get a shot to prove ON THE FIELD that he can succeed. It doesnt matter what offense you played in in college, if you have talent, will, and determination, you will succeed at any level.
Oakland...
I now have great disdain for that franchise and its fans…at least the ones I have interacted with on their board. Thanks for the encouragement…my efforts continue and I feel that I have stuck it to them pretty bad.
actually
Brady was the 199th overall pick….but your point is well made.
Most teams wont pull the trigger on a late round QB pick unless they feel some other team may be interested. I think if the Niners thought someone else may be looking at Nate Davis they would have pulled the trigger and picked him which they did.
if a team feels unchallenged in pursuit of a QB late rounds, why waste a pick and just sign him in free agency. Which is likely what Cleveland did.
Wreck 'em, Tech!
by Tortilla Pirate on Apr 27, 2009 1:29 PM CDT reply actions
Matt Cassel
was a very late 7th round pick. Welker wasn’t even drafted and look at what he has done.
very true
speaking of Welker….interesting tidbit of information….
Did you know? No player that graduated from the University of Texas has EVER scored a POINT in the NFL Playoffs, let alone a the SuperBowl. Red Raiders have!!!!
Three come to mind. Wes Welker, Lin Elliot, Timmy Smith…
Wreck 'em, Tech!
by Tortilla Pirate on Apr 27, 2009 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions
I thought so too...
Donny Anderson, Bam Morris?!?! (did he score in SB XXX?)
Wreck 'em, Tech!
by Tortilla Pirate on Apr 27, 2009 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions
49ers
Good pickup on Crabtree for San Francisco, but am I the only one that thinks they should give Graham a shot? He obviously already has a relationship with their new #1 receiver, and it’s not like he can realistically be any WORSE than what they’ve been fielding previously. It just seems like he’d be a good fit for their practice squad if absolutely nothing else.
(As for Leach’s comments, Mack plays the politician as good as anyone and his players are now getting a rep for being “soft”, so I don’t see that college coaches comments make THATA much difference except maybe for a VERY small percentage of coaches, usually those who have worked in the NFL, ala: Pete Carroll & Nick Saban)
Sayin Nick Saban “worked” in the NFL is being generous
Wreck 'em, Tech!
by Tortilla Pirate on Apr 27, 2009 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions
How many solid NFL QBs have come from Big12 schools?
I just don’t think it’s that big a deal that Leach hasn’t found the one to make it big in the pros yet. I’m sure there are plenty more QBs in high school that believe they can break the mold here at Tech or anywhere for that matter. Generally, QBs in high school have plenty of confidence and enjoy a challenge. In other words, I don’t think this will effect our recruiting at all.
Best of luck to you Graham. Go get em!
Next year should be a banner year...
Stafford is the first OU QB in recent memory to be considered a legitimate pro prospect (#1 caliber at that). Colt’s incredible season last year has launched him in to early first round projections. Those rarely hold up, but there is no doubt that he will be a first round pick coming into next season. If his play keeps him there remains to be seen. We’ll see how Freeman does in Tampa Bay. The Bucs are really excited about having him, we’ll see how he does next year.
fify
StaffordBradford is the first OU QB in recent memory to be considered a legitimate pro prospect (#1 caliber at that).
I remember
the year Warren Moon retired. The ESPN guys famously said, “no team that was lead by a Southwest Conference QB has ever won anything in the NFL. The Oilers have THREE”! (SWC not the same thing as the BigXII but you know what I mean.) The Oilers had Cody Carlson (baylor), Bucky Richardson (A&M) and someone else. Anyone remember who that was?
Wreck 'em, Tech!
by Tortilla Pirate on Apr 28, 2009 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions
There hasn’t been a good, solid NFL starter from the Big XII in years – if ever.
OU? None
Texas? None (VY is on a team…not very good at all, and he was supposed to revolutionize the position…he’s bastardized it, but that’s about it)…jury still out but trending down for Simms.
aTm? None
Kansas? None
Colorado? None
OSU? None
Mizzou? None
KSU? None
etc. etc. etc.
Actually, the only Big XII QBs with much playing time are from…Iowa State…Senneca Wallace and Sage Rosenfels. What does that tell us???
It tells me
the NFL has a very narrow collective mind. This is why I don’t care for the NFL, put them all in white uniforms and you could not tell the difference. The interesting thing is iI feel the same way about NASCAR, too strict of a formula, not enough creative thinking on the car side. NASCAR forces this formula on the teams in the NFL they all are walking in lock step voluntarily.
VIVA LA FIGA!
Wow, even worse than I thought.
I guess we have as good a chance or maybe better than alot of Big12 teams.
That’s actually pretty good ammunition to use on those that say Leach can’t produce a solid NFL QB.
Thanks fo da info.
Bastardized it?
Not sure what you mean. He was a starter for two seasons, and unfortunately had some personal issues this last season. He won the NFL Rookie of the Year and made a Pro Bowl. Struggled in year two, and then had the infamous meltdown. I don’t see how he’s “bastardized” the position. He’s struggled, but is still young. The jury is still out.
92, based on the most recent draft
I think it’s safe to say that 32 NFL GM’s, 32 head coaches, and 32 owners would argue that the proliferation of spread offenses, not the occasional running/dual threat QB have “bastardized” the position. I don’t necessarily believe it, because I agree with Mike Leach that coaches are using the spread to get away from a project like teaching a spread QB how to adjust under center, but the lack of success from guys that come from spread offenses (like say from Spurrier’s Florida Teams, Leach’s Tech teams, and VY himself) does give some credence to that argument.
To say that one QB “bastardized” the position is going too far. VY’s struggles could just as easily be attributed to UT"s implementation of a spread/zone read offense where he wasn’t as prepared for an NFL offense.
&
He will be out of Tennessee in a year…
That may be so (of course with $35 million in the bank). But, it might be better for him to go somewhere else. Something, though, tells me that Kerry Collins can’t repeat last year’s success at his age. VY will get a chance this year….
Young is a runner
For all the fuss coaches and commentators are making (right now) about “running quarterbacks” the simple fact is their 2 main jobs are to direct the offense (as a whole) and to THROW THE BALL. Now you can argue the first one (I personally think he’s not good at it) but Young is TERRIBLE at the second. (for an NFL quarterback) VY will be another Randall Cunningham, lotsa hype, lots of “potential”, but ultimately, just not all that impressive as an NFL quarterback.
No doubt he has struggled with accuracy....
And I think he is an excellent runner, but I think he is trying too hard not to run because he is so intent on becoming a “true” NFL QB. I think that with his back up against the wall, like it is now, he will respond by using every weapon in his arsenal.
I’m not throwing in the towel yet. I know there is much evidence to the contrary, but I’ve seen the guy do too many ridiculous things to have last year eliminate any chance at a comeback.
and then he will be gone
Look, it’s simple, the fascination with the “running quarterback” is dumb all you need to do is compare TWO numbers:
-Average Quarterback career span
-Average Running Back career span
Your good quarterbacks will last 10-15 years, an ELITE running back might be somewhat “productive” for 10. Emmitt Smith went for 14 and the last several were terrible AND he’s got a comparatively LONG career. Tomlinson might have another 2 great years in San Diego, MIGHT. And these are ELITE guys. How many RBs make it past six years? Eddie George was a 4x pro-bowler, offensive Rookie of the Year, he made 8 years. Kurt Warner is going into his eleventh year in the NFL and that’s not even counting his years in the AFL and NFL-E.
Running Backs get HIT, rushing yards are HARD yards. A quarterback that counts on his capability to get 500-1000 yards with his feet isn’t going to last long and he’s going to slow down. Not even factoring increased odds for injuries and concussions his body is just going to take a TON of wear that a “normal” quarterback isn’t going to see. Vince Young has already burned 3 years, how many more can he afford to “waste” counting on his legs?
I can show you his numbers vs. Leinart, and if you’re not focused on rushing yards or “starts”, they’re not favorable to VY. At BEST he’s a situational/backup guy (or should be a receiver), but he should not be the “franchise QB”.
Cleveland, Yeah!
In a previous post, I said there was a pretty slim chance that any Tech players would ever play in Cleveland. I was correct for about 20 hours. Anyhow, I wanted to re-post this video about Cleveland, so everyone can see what ol’ Graham has to look forward to and because Plano Jeff thoutht it was as funny as I did…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmLA5TqbIY&feature=player_embedded
+1
+1 pcrawttu that was awesome. I can’t stop laughing
by redraider2002 on Apr 27, 2009 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions
BOTTOM LINE
I’m glad Oakland had a momentary (more like perpetual) lapse of reason and passed on Crabs. When SF drafted him I was freaking stoked. He actually has a chance over here (I live in Mill Valley north of SF) at a great career. At that moment, I became a 49er.
THEN…..
SF has a chance to pick up Mr. Graham Harrell….the fastest reader of defenses in the East AND West…..and they take Nate? The crowd gasps “WTF”?
Anyway, bottom line is Graham is underrated because he is a Red Raider QB. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t make progress for the good guys in the Red and Black. He was a serious Heisman Contender. Many across the country are surprised he wasn’t drafted. That is progress. IF Potts can get that cannon of his tuned up a bit and have half of Graham’s ability to read defenses and check down his receivers then we will have another draft candidate in a couple of years. Graham was the first that was taken seriously, and he STILL could make headlines in the future (a la Wes Welker), and he has opened the door to future Red Raider QBs.
So hats off to our former Red Raiders. Hopefully they will all have great careers, I will certainly see Crabtree in action. But I’m looking forward to this new group. I wonder if Potts is gonna work with Detron all summer on “Six”……..in other words, I hope these boys are as hungry as the ones we lost to the NFL and graduation.
WRECK ’EM
Caution...Climbing on the "system" player soapbox for a minute
Let’s review some recent successful players (college & NFL)
- Randy Moss; Wes Welker; Tom Brady (NFL); Payton Manning (college & NFL); Eli Manning (college & NFL); Ricky Williams (college); Reggie Bush (college); Sam Bradford (college); Bennie Wells (college); and on and on and on….
Feel free to disagree, but ANYONE can make a very solid case that all of these players were “System” players. And I have no probelm with it.
Frankly, their respective head coaches would have been idiots not to devise a system around the talents of these players. So my stance is EVERY successful coach either creates a system to get the most production from their talent OR they recruit/draft certain skillsets based on the system they want to run. It’s really as simple as that. So I for one will no longer view the “system” tag as some sort of insult even if that is the intention.
Another kinda random thought is since when did how your college teams players translate to the NFL become the defacto measuring stick on the success of your program??? I could care less whether Graham becomes an all-pro QB in the NFL, though I do wish him success.
The fact is that I really, really enjoyed watching him play in college along with all of the other players. My priority is how does Texas Tech perform year in-year out NOT whether these guys are developing in to future NFL stars. Who freaking cares. College football is NOT a minor league NFL ala pro baseball and I hope it never becomes one.
So when fans and programs like UT get fired up b/c of some perception that they are soft, I find it hilarious. Who really cares what the Pro ranks think about your program???
Thanks for letting me vent a little. Adios.
by imisswesttexas on Apr 28, 2009 10:04 AM CDT reply actions
I miss West Texas too..
The fact is that I really, really enjoyed watching him play in college along with all of the other players. My priority is how does Texas Tech perform year in-year out NOT whether these guys are developing in to future NFL stars. Who freaking cares. College football is NOT a minor league NFL ala pro baseball and I hope it never becomes one.
Really, it only matter for recruiting purposes. It would be nice for Leach to send out a mailer to every Top 15 Junior QB in the country this week with “Buccaneers Make Graham Harrell Their Franchise Quarterback” on it. The fact is, that while our love of college football can allow us to not care about whether or not our Left Guard plays 2 years with the Cardinals, every top high school player in the country wants to play in the NFL and does see college as a natural stepping stone to get there.
As for the “soft” label. It bothers us because people look at 2-3 high profile players who have struggled in the NFL and forget that Texas has 30 other guys in the league who are solid contributors and Pro-Bowlers. It’s a lazy label perpetrated by 1-2 guys in the national media (see Don Banks).
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