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Is Bradford the One?
Published:
1/19/2010 3:51 PM
Last Modified:
1/19/2010 4:48 PM
Say your job was to draft college football players for an NFL team.
Say you lived outside Oklahoma.
Say further that your job was on the line this draft day, that your livelihood and future depended on your draft pick for your pro team.
Would you pick OU quarterback Sam Bradford in the top five?
In this state, among the media and the fans, of which there is often no different tone, there is little doubt that Bradford is a solid top five selection and future All Pro. Because, you see, with the media in this state, OU can do no wrong. If you beat OU, you're great. If the Sooners lose, it's never because the other was better.
But there is this to consider about making Bradford your career choice, a top five pick: He has a great arm. He has great accuracy. But he has been injured some. And his mobility is in question. If he is to play under center some in a league where linebackers weigh 250 and run like sprinters, and if he has to avoid rushers in the shotgun formation, would you pick him at number 3? Number 5?
Would we?
Fifty-fifty.
At best.
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ken7
(3 years ago)
I wish Bradford the best, he's a great young man. That being said the picker is right that anyone that the gooners beat are the best in the world, while when the gooners lose, their crybaby fans will tell u it's never their fault!!
fumblerooski
(3 years ago)
surprised he's being touted so highly. he's damaged goods and you never pay full price for that.
The Masked Assassin
(3 years ago)
Since the experts who are not "in this state" think he'll be the first QB picked, and picked high, I gotta believe they know what they're talking about. You can't not draft the best guy because of what might happen down the road. Not really sure what the whole "in-state media/if you beat OU" thing has to do with Bradford and his durability or NFL draft status, though. It's like you kind of drifted into another subject and forgot to edit. Also, ken's still an idiot.
Ignatz
(3 years ago)
Masked, the pros miss on high QB picks much more than they hit. I wish Bradford all the best and hope he's smart enough (I'm thinking he is) to get as much of his salary guaranteed as possible. I still remember Randy Hughes who had that dislocated shoulder snapping in and out of place problem until his short career was over. Wonder what Randy (super nice guy) is doing now?
The Masked Assassin
(3 years ago)
Obviously they miss quite often (not too many Mannings and Bradys out there) but since hindsight's 20/20 all you can go on are the facts, and the fact is he's easily the best available.
buster
(3 years ago)
Picker, I love the fifty-fifty prediction, can't go wrong there.
Ken's head is empty as OSU's Big 12 football trophy case.
dcood
(3 years ago)
So if your team must draft a QB in the 2010 draft, who would you take over him? (dont say Clausen) no comparison in total package.
BLA
(3 years ago)
Not a prayer of taking him in the top 3, 5, 10 or really in the first round. There are tons of QBs who come out of college who are physically gifted and talented enough to play QB in the NFL. How many of them crash and burn? Joey Harrington, Heath Shuler, Akili Smith, Ryan Leaf, etc. The list is VERY LONG. QBs who are successful in the NFL can read defenses...and quickly. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Drew Brees can progress through their 4 receiver sets in 2.5 seconds and make the right decision on who to throw to. Sam Bradford has not done that. He hasn't been asked to do that. OU is usually so much more physically talented at the skill positions than the defenses they are playing against, the primary target is usually open enough that any QB with average physical skills can hit them. Close watch of Sam Bradford when he plays and he usually zeroes in on a WR from the snap. I have yet to see him look off of a receiver or bait a CB or safety into thinking he is throwing one way and going back the other way. In the NFL, QBs who don't look safeties off usually end up with double-digit INT figures each season. Ask Jay Cutler...who has a big arm, is fairly accurate, and who can move around.
BLA
(3 years ago)
Dcod...Jimmy Clausen is much better prepared to make the jump to the NFL at this point. Remember, his head coach was the guy who saw enough talent and ability in Tom Brady to develop him into one of the greatest QBs who has ever played the game (numbers and rings don't lie). The reason Notre Dame didn't win more while Weis was there wasn't because Jimmy Clausen didn't play great...it was because Notre Dame's defense was atrocious.
Tulsan in Exile
(3 years ago)
Somebody is sure to take a gamble on Bradford in the third or fourth round. And somebody is just as sure to lose. Say hello to Colt Brennan II. Pre-season wonder. Regular season wonder why.
Tulsan in Exile
(3 years ago)
And... BLA is right. Clausen is as NFL ready as any recent QB to enter the draft. With the right QB coach and offense, he will be a quick study.
The Picker
(3 years ago)
What's Clausen, five=eight?He throws like he's short.Buster: Thank you very much for your analysis of my 50-50 pick. I gave it much thought.DCood: That's the point, I wouldn't take any quarterback from this group too high. But then you get down to the Redskins keeping that guy who has never done a thing or taking a chance on Bradford. Great as his arm is, it's a worrisome choice. Remember when air almost knocked him out at Colorado?
p003220
(3 years ago)
Picker,
It depends on if you are drating based on need and not best available regardless of position. If drafting based on a QB need, then yes, I take Bradford over any QB in college. Evryone will quickly see that Claussen, McCoy, and Tebow are not equipped to be Pro QB's.
p003220
(3 years ago)
By the way..that Colorado game you reference was 3 years ago...His RS Fresh year. Go back and look at some Vince Young tapes from his Freshman year...you are a hack.
Ignatz
(3 years ago)
I've got to say it, if I was D.C. (or a few others, with QB's I can't count on) and Bradford was open in the 1st round, I'd pass, and same in the second. Third, absolutely grab him.
The Masked Assassin
(3 years ago)
I think BLA must be blind and going off what his 8 year old nephew was telling him.
Bottom line: Nobody who needs a QB wants to have to explain to their fans why they passed on a Heisman Trophy winning QB with size and an accurate cannon.
dcood
(3 years ago)
I also remember when Bradford got knocked all pver the place at Stillwater in '08 vs the best OSU team in 20 years, broke his finger and still led OU to 61 points. BLA, you are lala land. Bradford's TD/INT ratio was great at OU. Luckily for him, people who actually know football will be making the decision to draft him... and he will be a multi-millionaire.
Dr. Strangelove
(3 years ago)
I wish Bradford the best, but it might be excrutiating to watch him play in the NFL. I don't see him being picked top 5.
buster
(3 years ago)
Bradford is a first round draft choice if you go by mock draft experts.
Gene M
(3 years ago)
Mr. Picker, Bradford has a 50-50 chance of playing as many minutes in the NFL as the last Heisman Trophy owner who attended OU. And that is good because when Josh goes to Arizona, Coach Bob will need a replacement and he adores QB's who came through the program.
wk
(3 years ago)
Bradford will never make it in the NFL. His dream was to play football for OU and he's done. He'll be counting beans or doing infomercials within 2 years - may be chief of one of the tribes - good work if you can get it.
The Masked Assassin
(3 years ago)
wk with great words of wisdom from his crystal ball.
Tulsan in Exile
(3 years ago)
Bradford has a great arm, but ultimately, he is just another system quarterback. I don't have any crystal ball, but I wouldn't bet on him making it in the NFL. Clausen, on the other hand, has played in a pro-style offense, and has all the right numbers: 6-3, 225 lbs., 28 TDs, 4 INTs, 3,700 YDS, 161 QBR. Mediocre opponents? Sure, but ND was pretty mediocre too. I still say Clausen, with the right QB coach, is a viable NFL QB. (And by the way, I HATE Notre Dame as much as anybody on this blog.)
eglkeeper
(3 years ago)
Sam will go first round but will not be able to play at the next level. Sensory over load, absolutely no ability to survive more than 3.5 seconds in the pocket coupled with no out of pocket experience, inability to swiftly execute a 5-7 step drop while under center, and game speed on Sunday's will hamper Sam's ability to perform. Love him but he's a bust my man...
Seee Yaaahhh-
GoBlueGal
(3 years ago)
Unless a team (like DC) needs a quarterback, I would think Sam would not go in the first round. He is a system quarterback with talent and strength and should do well after he has been in the pro's for awhile. Remember Brady was not the starter at New England - Bledsoe was. OU does not have much of a record of producing pro quarterbacks (even if they are Heismann winners), maybe Sam will be the exception.
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The Picker began entertaining – and infuriating – sports fans in 1993. Each week during football season, he writes about his picks of college and NFL games in his Thursday Sports column. He's never afraid of sharing his opinions about the game and the personalities who play it. Readers have a chance to go against him each season in the Outpick the Picker contest. He welcomes the competition.
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