VIDEO EVIDENCE that Graham Harrell can play QB in the NFL
Having just gotten home from Tech for the summer, I have been pretty bored lately. I decided to do some research on all these "NFL-type" throws that require "Great arm-strength" in order to be successful in a "Pro-style" offense and compare them to the throws that Harrell completed throughout his college career. As I watched many of these highlights, I was amazed at how similar a lot of the routes, formations, and throws were to the ones Harrell often made. What do ya'll think? Am I totally out of line here, or are there really 32 incompetent franchises that are too dumb to give Graham a chance based on his college performance?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvRhHuCohPc
---As for this highlight film, I feel like I'm essentially watching Harrell play in a Patriots uniform. Except for MAYBE the one deep ball at the end, I know for a fact that Harrell can and would make all the same throws that Brady does (though I think he would complete the deep ball too). A lot of the throws are short crossing routes (sound familiar Tech fans), that Harrell could make in his sleep and that don't require a "Rocket" arm. Also, there are a lot of shotgun formations being used, but no matter, Harrell is a system QB that was in the shotgun too much, right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJMkDKBMpGE
----The throw that Brees makes at the 25 second mark in the video is an exact replica of the one Harrell made to Britton in the first quarter of the OSU game***.Great timing, accuracy, and touch. In fact, most of the throws he makes in that game look a lot like the one Brady is making against the Cowboys in the first highlight. As with the last video, there are many intermediate routes that Harrell could easily complete. The lone knock on Brees besides his height is that he doesn't have a "rocket arm" either.
***Watch the 1:02 mark of this clip to see what i mean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMCo1FI7NK8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ySmg1f8ZSM&feature=channel_page
---Now, here is a Crabtree highlight video in which, obviously, Harrell is completing all of the passes. I see several very similar routes in this highlight that I do in the Brees and Brady highlights. Basically every throw that Brees and Brady make, Harrell does too. Harrell even completes several deep posts (2:30 mark in the highlight) go routes, and back shoulder fades and also takes several snaps from center and completes passes from this formation, thus revealing that he does, in fact, have at least a reasonably strong arm. He also zips the ball to Crabtree on several slant routes by the end zone...a play that every NFL team runs at many different places on the field AND in the red zone, again revealing his apparent arm strength.
There you have it, two of the NFL's best quarterbacks can be easily compared to Harrell. When it comes down to it, you can look at highlights of any NFL QB and realize that a lot of these statements scouts make about needing a great arm just don't apply as often to the game as they think it does. Sure, every so often Brett Favre or Jay Cutler launch a ball to someone, but I would bet that about 75% of the throws they make don't need to be zipped in all the time. I just don't see where the Texas Tech offense is so radically different from a lot of what the NFL does. It would appear that the "great-arm" aspect of a QB has far too much emphasis placed on it and only comes in to play in an actual game every so often. These scouts act as if every throw requires an amazing arm and what not, when in reality a lot of these throws are extremely similar, if not identical to, the ones that Graham Harrell made in college.
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Thoughts?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors.
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My point exactly
I think all of us who have watched the Mike Leach offensive football over the years can appreciate this article. There is no doubt that all the plays Tech runs are similar to those run by several teams in the NFL. The knocks on Harrell, or any Tech QB, are obviously unfounded. Place Harrell on any of the teams that pass the football 40 or more times per game and you will see him florish. All of the NFL teams, for some reason, choose to speak badly about the Tech offense, when they actually run those same plays much of the time. Why not have a quarterback with proven ability to run that type offense, re: Harrell? His ability to read defenses and make the required adjustment calls quickly throughout a game are evidence of his amazing leadership and quarterbacking abilities and skills. It is not only reading the defenses and making the right adjustments, but Harrells ability to complete any throw needed, short, long, over the middle, on the sidelines, leading or throwing behind the receiver. It is time for the NFL to pony up and someone sin Harrell to a contract, NOW!
TTpilk
Graham Harrell
Is the Joe Montana/Tom Brady of this next coming decade. Only thing is, no one in the NFL had the balls to draft him. He will get a contract, he will play, and he will dominate. And really nice post techtom.
I wondwe
If he signs with a Canadian pro football team and is successful, ala Andre Ware, will any team in the NFL have grown big enough cahones to admit their error and sign him on some time in the near future?
Interesting things could happen.
TTpilk
See, I think Andre Ware is the worst example of a qb who went to Canada…
Warren Moon, Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia, maybe pull Kurt Warner out of the arena league. But Andre Ware? c’mon.
OOPS!
You are right. What was I thinking. Old age I guess. I meant to compare him not to Ware, but to Warren Moon, who, if some did not know, was backed up for much of his time in Canada by former Red Raider Joe Barnes. Thanks, kayakyakr, what would I do without your astute awareness.?..
TTpilk
Great Work!
My first thought when watching the Brady highlights was the interview Harrell had with Michael Irving. Michael just came out and said that Harrell would flourish with the Patriots. He said it with a lot of conviction.
techtom4
If you go into the html editor and embed the HTML code for these videos, they will appear in this story.
Thanks...
for a great evening watching the UT videos with my boys!! Still brings a huge smile to my face to watch Crabtree waltz into the endzone…
rec’d
Nicely Done
Very well done, Tom. Thank you.

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