SB Nation User Blog: aPacificChief

As anticipated, Foote has been released.

aPacificChief — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:06:54 -0000

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6'1" / 239lbs

DOB: 6/12/1980

AGE: 28

COLLEGE: Michigan

The defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers put an end to one of the few distractions they've had this offseason. The team granted veteran linebacker Larry Foote his release after he wanted out of Pittsburgh because of a reduced role.

Steelers part ways with unhappy Foote.

Career Stats
			Tackles			Sacks			Interceptions			Fumb.			Misc.		KO Ret		Punt Ret
Year	Team	G	Solo	Ast	Total	Sack	Yds	Yd/Sk	Int	Yds	IntTD	Rec	TD	Frcd	Pass Def	Sfty	Yds	TD	Yds	TD
2002	PIT	6	11	7	18	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2003	PIT	14	5	1	6	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2004	PIT	16	53	17	70	3	20	6.7	1	1	0	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0
2005	PIT	16	76	26	102	3	20	6.7	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0
2006	PIT	16	62	29	91	4	29	7.3	1	11	0	1	0	2	3	0	0	0	0	0
2007	PIT	16	45	36	81	3	21	7.0	1	14	0	0	0	3	5	0	0	0	0	0
2008	PIT	16	34	29	63	2	8	5.3	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	0

The Steelers couldn't get anything for Foote in a trade, but he's only 29 and shouldn't have trouble finding a new home. The Colts and Lions are possible landing spots.

Larry Foote on Rotoworld

Pioli said that he's always looking to upgrade his roster, so Foote should be a strong consideration in the front office. Whether or not Larry wants to sign with the Chiefs remains to be seen.

The Linebackers currently on the roster:

Jersey # Name Height / Weight Age

50 Mike Vrabel 6-4 261 34

51 Cory Mays 6-1 245 26

52 Monty Beisel 6-3 244 31

53 D. Williams 6-1 232 29

55 Zach Thomas 5-11 242 36

56 D. Johnson 6-3 242 27

57 Weston Dacus 6-1 232 24

98 Darrell Robertson 6-4 246 26

UDFA Rookies

Bobby Abare 6-2 220 Yale

Pierre Walters 6-4 265 E. Illinois

Jovan Belcher 6-1 229 Maine

Cory Smith 5-11 220 Cincinnati

The Chiefs completely ignored the Linebacker position during the 7 rounds of the draft. Strange considering that that was the weakest position we had on defense, and we will be putting 4 on the field instead of 3. The only additions to the LBing corps were older veterans. There must be concern of the availability of the older guys in regards to remaining healthy throughout the whole season.

The only attempt to bring in younger Backers was after the draft. It would seem almost like common sense that Pioli should pursue a veteran linebacker who is younger than Beisel, Vrabel, and Thomas. Especially ones who are experienced in the 3-4 system which should be on the top of his priority list leading up to training camp.

New Chief Brown transformed into football player at Missouri

aPacificChief — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:35:28 -0000

http://www.kansascity.com

Brown was so huge there was no wondering why he’d been designated a "man mountain" at Mizzou. He had muscles you couldn’t have Photoshopped on the first two photos. He looked big. He looked strong. He looked like a different person.

"I put on 100 pounds to play football," he said with a laugh.

Here's to hoping that this guy becomes another gem that Don Pioli found in the fifth round. I'm always optimistic right after the draft about our picks, especially since our offensive line was quite .....ahm...offensive!

I look forward to seeing Colin develop and become another piece to the puzzle of our O-line.

Instead, everyone discovered some things in the long shot: Footwork and size, athleticism and the ability to be very, very good. Brown put on 100 pounds that first year. He saw some playing time his second year, including as a reserve left guard. He started all 13 games in 2007. He was downright great last year.

By the time he graduated, he was a 335-pound behemoth projected to go anywhere from the fifth round to undrafted. He’d seen bowl wins and Border War showdowns. He’d learned to battle with the best in the trenches and protect his quarterback. He’d long since given up basketball. He’d fallen in love with football.

This guy is HUGE! Colin Brown is #61. Plus that's Grunhards old number.

Zach Thomas brings to KC what Tony couldn't....HOPE!

aPacificChief — Mon, 04 May 2009 07:45:03 -0000

I'll take a line from one of my all time favorite movies Unforgiven, If you take away a person's HOPE "you take away everything he's got and everything he's ever gonna have" ... if you take away a mans hope what are you left with?

The block qoutes are taken from the KC Star.

"Nothing is guaranteed from year to year," he said. "You look at Dallas, where I was last year. We were guaranteed to make the Super Bowl and we didn’t even make the playoffs. So nothing is guaranteed and teams change from year to year.

I guess this is why a lot of people got worked up when Tony G. asked for a way out, hoping to get his shot at winning a Super Bowl trophy. I can see both sides of the debate in which both sides have compelling arguments, I am left indifferent. Ultimately Tony gave up all hope of our chances of ever improving quickly enough to make it to the big show, and for that I cannot forgive him. Tony's hopelessness can only leave a negative impression on the chances of both teammates and fans alike. Imagine working your butt off only to concede that we will never be good enough to make it to the Super Bowl.

The loss of hope can only leave a hollow feeling of confusion, creating an almost self destructive nature within the consiousness of a teammate that the season would be lost even before it has started.

Tony became the player who he is today not only through his hard work, but because he was blessed to spend his career on a team that would highlight him in its offense year after year. Could you imagine if Tony had the misfortune of being on a team that did not utilize the TE position effectively? Teams like Arizona and Pittsburgh both appeared in the Super Bowl. Both teams also do not feature the TE position as a first option offensive threat, viewing the position as more complementary in nature to the WR and RB's.

Now the question that needs to be asked is, How about if Tony did have the opportunity to play in a Super Bowl, maybe even win a Lombardi trophy? Yet did not have the numbers at the end of his career to warrant a serious consideration in the HOF. Will Tony be remembered in the history of the NFL as a good TE on a maybe Championship team? or will he be immortalized in the HOF as the greatest player to have ever played the TE position if not for his time in Kansas City.

Tony no doubt would have been a good player on any team simply because of his work ethic, but he became GREAT because of his time as a CHIEF!

"I was a little skeptical coming in at first, to be honest," Thomas said. "Once I came in and talked to (Haley) … he was straight to the point. He wanted to change the mind-set of the players. He really grabbed me right there.

When Pioli came on board, I'm sure Tony quietly continued to pursue a trade. Which went against what Pioli was saying in the beginning when he wanted to find players who wanted to be here, the right 53 not necessarily the best 53?

How do you change the mindset of the team if individual players are only thinking about their needs versus the greater needs of the whole team?

I’d like to be there for that transition, that change, kind of like Miami did last year. It can be done

Unlike Tony, Zach provides a positive role model for the younger players. Both Zach and Tony are hard working, and extremely competitive. The only glaring difference is that one chose to come to this team while the other was constantly looking out the window.

"I have high expectations for this team. I’m excited to come out here and try to make a difference. I’m not coming to be a coach or help this team try to rebuild. I’m not here for that."

This statement of Zach is what does it for me when I think of Tony. "I have high expectations for this team." Tony didn't, that's why he wanted out. He lost all hope in a team that helped make him great.

I don't blame Tony for thinking that the grass would be greener on the other side, but am always reminded that you better careful what you wish for ..... because you might just get it.

I wish Tony only the best. He left me with a lot of great memories, but the CHIEFS will have a better chance at winning a Super Bowl with Zach than we would with Tony's hopeless attitude.

Pacquiao takes out 'Hitman' Hatton in the second round

aPacificChief — Sun, 03 May 2009 05:04:44 -0000

Pacquiao takes out 'Hitman' Hatton in the second round

Pioli envisions Dorsey playing DE in 3-4

aPacificChief — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:04:24 -0000

The Chiefs now plan to use Glenn Dorsey at defensive end in their new 3-4 alignment.
Dorsey played nose in pre-draft camps, but he's slated to start opposite Tyson Jackson with Alex Magee and Alfonso Boone other options outside. Tank Tyler is the nose tackle. This defense still projects to be soft against the run.

It looks like the Chiefs Management want to give Dorsey a look at playing DE. He's kind of small to play the position in regards to his height which is 6-1 and change. Ideally the Defensive End in a 3-4 should be taller in the range of about 6-4. The weight of Dorsey is about right for a DE in a 3-4.

We'll see if the position will best maximize his talents, or will it hamper his development playing in a position that he is uncomfortable. Time will tell I suppose.

“Obviously, they’ve had a little trouble stopping people (last year), and I don’t think in this league you have much of a chance to win if you can’t slow the other offense down,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said about drafting defensive players with the top three choices. “Just the way it worked out I would say more than by design. But it’s something I’m happy about.”

Jackson and Magee can play a variety of defensive-line positions. Jackson will be starter at end but could move to tackle in passing situations. Magee’s role is less defined, but he probably will move around as well.

Kansas City Star

2009 Draft TOP Available Prospects for day Two

aPacificChief — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:37:32 -0000

After the first day of the draft I'm always interested to find any listings out there for the other college prospects still available. Unfortunately, those other listings are always on the sites that you need to pay for, so for the cheap people out there like myself here you go.

There are several big names guys that are still out there that we have had discussions about here at AP. Day two should be the more interesting part of the draft, and were Pioli really earns his money.

I hope that when the Chiefs make their pick we as a community will have known about these guys already, and not scratching our heads asking ourselves...we chose who?

DE Michael Johnson Georgia Tech

TE Cornelius Ingram Florida

WR Derrick Williams Penn St.

OT Gerald Cadogan Penn St.

FS Rashad Johnson Alabama

OT Jamon Meredith So. Carolina

TE Chase Coffman Missouri

CB Donald Washington Ohio St.

RB Andre Brown NC St.

OG Duke Robinson Oklahoma

WR Brandon Tate N. Carolina

TE Jared Cook S. Carolina

TE Shawn Nelson So. Miss

CB Coye Francies San Jose St.

WR Louis Murphy Florida

RB Glen Coffee Alabama

OLB Marcus Freeman Ohio St.

WR Mike Thomas Arizona

TE Travis Bechum Wisconsin

SS Michael Hamlin Clemson

TE James Casey Rice

DT Alex Magee Wake Forest

RB Mike Goodson Texas A&M

CB Asher Allen Georgia

WR Juaquin Iglesias Oklahoma

ILB Jasper Brinkley N. Carolina

OT Troy Kropog Tulane

OG Kraig Urbik Wisconsin

DT Jarron Gilbert San Jose St.

CB Victor Harris Virginia Tech

CB DJ Moore Vanderbilt

RB Shonn Greene Iowa

ILB Darry Beckwith LSU

WR Austin Collie BYU

FS Curtis Taylor LSU

FB Tony Flammetta Syracuse

OLB Kaluka Maiava USC

CB DeAngelo Smith Cincinnati

ILB Jason Phillips TCU

OT TJ Lang E. Michigan

CB Ryan Mouton Hawaii

RB Cedric Peerman Virginia

WR Demetrius Byrd LSU

CB Jerraud Powers Auburn

WR Sammie Stroughter Oregon St.

QB John Parker Wilson Alabama

DE Lawrence Sidbury Richmond

DT Ricky Jean-Francois LSU

TE Anthony Hill NC State

CB Mike Mickens Cincinnati

OLB Jonathan Casillas Wisconsin

WR Brooks Foster N. Carolina

CB Bradley Fletcher Iowa

RB Javon Ringer Michigan St.

WR Brandon Gibson Washington St.

CB Cary Harris USC

ILB Dannell Ellerby Georgia

DE Henry Melton Texas

SS Nic Harris Oklahoma

DE Kyle Moore USC

ILB Scott McKillop Pitt

DT Dorell Scott Clemson

OG Herman Jonson LSU

DT Corvey Irvin Georgia

FS David Bruton Notre Dame

QB Stephen McGee Texas A&M

RB Rashad Jennings Liberty

C Antoine Caldwell Alabama

RB James Davis Clemson

OLB Ashlee Palmer Mississippi

FS Courtney Greene Rutgers

CB Keenan Lewis Oregon St.

CB Chris Owens San Jose St.

FB Brannan Southerland Georgia

WR Ramses Barden Cal Poly

DE Brandon Williams Texas Tech

QB Nathan Brown Central Arkansas

QB Rhett Bomar Sam Houston St.

OLB Zack Follett California

TE John Phillips Virginia

DT Darryl Richard Georgia Tech

TE Bear Pascoe Fresno St.

DT Terrance Knighton Temple

CB Brandon Hughes Oregon St

DT Vance Walker Georgia Tech

CB Gregory Toler St. Paul’s (Va.)

WR Johnny Knox Abilene Chrisian

OT Lydon Murtha Nebraska

QB Willie Tuitama Arizona

I'd also like to add that I like the Tyson Jackson pick at number 3. Jackson has what you can never coach up....SIZE! He's 6-5 298 lbs and can move, the average height and weight of our other D-linemen is 6-2 289lbs.

Just wish there was more movement in round one for us. Especially in making moves that would bring in additional draft picks. Maybe day two will have more of that in store for us.

When the Chiefs acquired Cassel in a trade from New England in February, he was the best solution...

aPacificChief — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:12:43 -0000

When the Chiefs acquired Cassel in a trade from New England in February, he was the best solution to their obvious questions at quarterback. And so far he's shown his understanding that off-field behavior at this time of year is just as critical as what happens in practice.

You could see that much in the way Cassel shook reporters' hands and introduced himself at his first news conference with local media. He wants to make a strong impression. He wants people to know what he's about. Just as in the locker room, Cassel sees the benefits in letting people see he's simply a laid-back, outgoing native Californian who's trying to help his team win games.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=chadiha_jeffri&id=4079793

The Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback of the Future

aPacificChief — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:59:52 -0000

aPacificChief comes through yet again for us talking about college quarterbacks and the Kansas City Chiefs. If you're not familiar with aPacificChief's earlier QB FanPost, make sure you check it out.

So for this morning, we've got offense and defense to talk about, with Primetime's defensive coordinator post right below this one.

aPacificChief's full post is after the jump.

-Chris

Matthew Stafford JR (6-3 228lbs 21 yrs old) Georgia

Comp % Passing Yds TD INT

2006 53% 1749 7 13

2007 56% 2523 19 10

2008 61% 3209 22 9

Projected to go in the early 1st round. The only QB to start as a TRUE freshman for the Bulldogs since Quincy Carter. What you like about his numbers is that completion percentage, passing yards, and TD's show a steady improvement, and the INT's numbers also go down every year. It is noted by NFL scouts that Matt has an absolute canon for an arm, but has also shown the ability to take something off and throw a touch pass. The big question on Stafford is his inability to evade the rush, he doesn't show the footwork necessary at times to slide out of the rushing lanes. Has also areas of concern with his mind numbing choices when he throws into coverage

Mark Sanchez JR (6-3 225 23 yrs) USC

2007 65% 695 7 5

2008 66% 3207 34 10

Projected to be in the 1st round. Sanchez has also shown an ability to throw the ball with a lot of zip. Has the tools necessary to play QB in the NFL, but the lack of repetitions on the playing field will hurt his chances for success. History has not favored collegiate quarterbacks who have had only one year of starting experience. Could be the next Akili Smith. Mark needed another year at USC to prove that he has the ability to consistently read defenses, and improve his poise under center. Even Pete Carroll admitted that Sanchez's success in the NFL will be difficult.

Graham Harrell SR (6-3 203 23 yrs old) Texas Tech

2005 67% 422 3 0

2006 66% 4555 38 11

2007 71% 5705 48 14

2008 71% 4747 41 7

Projected in rounds 3 to 4. The biggest question I have about this guy, is his arm strength? I believe the reason that he’s rated so low is because of his lack of velocity on his throws. The lack of arm strength will really hurt his ability to play QB in the NFL effectively. Could be another Danny Wuerffel if his arm is not NFL calibur. Has shown the ablitiy to lead, with the come from behind victory against the then #1 ranked Longhorns. Harrell took the Red Raiders down the field with little time on the clock to steal the win from Texas.

Nathan Brown SR (6-1 214 22yrs old) Central Arkansas

2005 69% 2410 25 10

2006 65% 1858 18 8

2007 69% 3084 26 10

2008 67% 3206 31 4

I love this kid. He comes from a small college program, but has started for the Bears for 4 years and is a graduating senior. If he can prove to the NFL scouts that he has above average arm strength, and has shown an ability to elevate his command in the huddle, Nathan might very well be the steal of the draft. Scouts are kind of hush about this guy maybe in a hope to try and sneak him past other teams. Just wait until after the combine, and the weeks prior to the draft, your going to be hearing a lot more of Nathan Brown. Nathan has already gained some attention of several teams including our own scouts. He was also one of the few Quarterbacks to play well at the Senior bowl. What impressed scouts the most was that this small college prospect did not feel overwhelmed by the other kids from the larger programs.

Nate Davis JR (6-2 217 21 yrs) Ball St.

2006 61% 1975 18 8

2007 57% 3667 30 6

2008 64% 3591 26 8

Rumor is that Jacksonville is in love with this guy, that they sent out several scouts to watch him, and they came back liking what they saw. He has a canon for an arm and can make all the NFL throws. Scouts project him in round 3, but I wouldn't be surprised if we hear his name called late in the 1st round or in the second. Another Junior with potential, but the kid has 3 years of starting experience with improvement in his final year at Ball St. which might help his cause when playing in the pro’s. His numbers all showed improvement which could suggest that his development is continuing to progress.

Pat White SR (6-1 192 23 yrs) West Virginia

2005 57% 828 8 5

2006 66% 1655 13 7

2007 67% 1724 14 4

2008 66% 1844 21 7

Pat is 3 year starter for the Mountaineers. Has shown steady improment throughout his collegiate career. A little bit on the skinny side which might not translate well for him staying healthy in the pro's. Has a built similiar to Brodie Croyle, but without the injury history. Arm strength is adequate according to scouts at the Senior Bowl, and has quick enough feet to evade the rush. Could be considered to move to WR like Randle El or Hines Ward.

Josh Freeman JR (6-6 250 20 yrs) Kansas St.

2006 52% 1780 6 15

2007 63% 3353 18 11

2008 58% 2945 20 8

This guy is raw and needs a lot more coaching and repetition playing the QB position. Projected to go in rounds 2 to 3 simply because of his stature and arm strength. Freeman has a chance to succeed in the NFL if given ample time to develop and with proper coaching. History on the other hand does not favor Freeman. Juniors who do not improve their numbers by the time they make the jump to the NFL have a difficult time adjusting to the level of competition in the NFL. I wish this kid went back to school. The extra year would have allowed him to mature at the QB position on his own terms, while at the same time improving his game.

Rhett Bomar SR (6-2 215 24 yrs) Sam Houston St.

2005 54% 2018 10 10

2006 T R A N S F E R E D

2007 59% 2209 10 6

2008 56% 3355 27 13

A former Okalhoma Sooner before transfering to Sam Houston. Rhett looks good except for his completion percentages. He could never crack 60% barrier which does not bode well for the NFL. Has talent but lacks consistency.

Cullen Harper SR (6-4 230 24 yrs) Clemson

2006 70% 155 2 0

2007 65% 2991 27 6

2008 63% 2395 11 12

What I don’t like about Cullen after studying his numbers was how his decision making skills seem to erode in his senior year. Passing yards and TD's went down, while his Int’s doubled from his Junior year. Arm strength again is the primary concern of the NFL scouts.

Curtis Painter SR (6-4 223 24 yrs) Purdue

2005 52% 932 3 5

2006 59% 3985 22 9

2007 62% 3846 29 11

2008 59% 2400 13 11

I don’t know what happened to this guy? He had the making of being a true #1 QB in the NFL, but he just took a nose dive his senior year. A terrible collapse on a player who should have been ready to make the next step. Hardly what scouts want to see from a senior who’s had 2 years of starting experience. He should not have failed so badly in his final year in college. lf you look at his numbers, he almost had 4k yards in ’06 and again in ’07. The game at this point of his college career should be slowing down for him, but to only have 2400 yards in his senior year is just horrible. Maybe he was hurt? I don’t know, but Painter might still be on the board until maybe the 6th round. He could be the next Kyle Orton.

Tom Brandstater SR (6-5 225 25 yrs) Fresno St.

2005 46% 49 1 1

2006 55% 1490 13 14

2007 63% 2654 15 5

2008 60% 2664 18 12

The Fresno State product looks like maybe he will be selected in the 6th to 7th round area. Could be 2nd string backup in the NFL with a chance to be a number one if he plays in the right system with a strong supporting cast around him.

John Parker Wilson SR (6-2 214 24 yrs) Alabama

2005 63% 98 2 0

2006 57% 2707 17 10

2007 52% 2846 18 12

2008 58% 2243 9 7

In the beginning of the season Wilson looked like he had the making of QB being ready to break out and have a sensational Senior year, but then reality set in and the hype came to a screeching halt. After reviewing his career numbers I think he could have a chance at becoming a starting QB in the right system, or be nothing more than a career backup in the NFL. He seems to lack the superstar qualities needed to be true #1 QB in the NFL. JP's career numbers while at Alabama were impressive, and he did break many of Croyle's passing records, but at this stage of his development JP looks more suited of being a capable "Game Manager" than a QB that you would ask to win the game for you.

Willie Tuitama SR. (6-3 220 22 yrs) Arizona

2005 58% 1105 9 5

2006 56% 1335 7 6

2007 62% 3683 28 12

2008 65% 3039 23 8

Strangely enough he was brought up by a member of AP. I didn’t know much about him up until that point, but Willie has shown improvement in his performance every year as being the starter for the Wildcats. Completion % went up every year and his int’s went down. Questions that need to be answered is his arm strength and leadership qualities. If Willie has above average arm strength, and can command respect in the huddle he very well could become something special at some point in the NFL.

David Johnson SR (6-3 220 23 yrs) Tulsa

2005 68% 236 1 1

2006 64% 180 1 0

2007 50% 56 0 0

2008 65% 4059 46 18

This guy is not found on many draft boards, but I guarantee you the NFL scouts know about him. He’s basically a one year wonder, but he did have a tremendous senior year. He’ll probably could be off the board as early as the 3rd because of his sensational senior year, or slip into rounds 4 thru 6 if his arm strength is lacking. I'm sure some NFL teams would be willing to gamble on a project like Johnson later in the draft.

Hunter Cantwell SR (6-4 236 24 yrs) Louisville

2005 69% 640 3 4

2006 64% 700 5 2

2007 57% 79 0 1

2008 59% 2493 16 16

I don’t think this guy will get drafted. Probably a priority undrafted free agent at best. Hunter’s numbers is not very impressive. He might have a shot at playing in the CFL. I guess he would have been better served transferring out to another college instead of sitting behind Brohm.

***

There you go AP fans your 2009 NFL draft eligible Quarterbacks. For those who need clarification the prospects name is below his picture with his status of being a Junior or Senior, along with that information is his height, weight, and current age.

Now its up to you to decide how the Chiefs fair when they select their Quarterback of the future (QBOTF). Alot of NFL people believe that the Chiefs will be selecting a QB this year we just don’t know in which round? In the eight years that Scott Pioli was VP of player personnel in New England they selected 5 QB's.

The QB's that I would like the Chiefs to select are:

1) Nathan Brown

2) Matt Stafford

3) Nate Davis

4) Graham Harrell.

(UPDATED)

Of course that's not in draft order as Stafford would go high in the 1st round, but rather the list is based according to who I would prefer over the other. So Nathan could be a bargain pick for us in round 3.

Here are more news clippings on Nathan Brown:

Nathan Brown Lights Up Scoreboard (via jpeepz)

If your wondering about some of the remarks I made about who in my opinion has a better chance of succeeding, opposed to those college QB’s who might have a greater probability of failing in the NFL, I refer you to a piece that I wrote a few months back, "What the Chiefs should be looking for in their QB of the Future." I recommend that you read this previous post otherwise half of the points I mentioned in this piece will be misunderstood.

In both posts you’ll see that the odds are better with the Seniors Quarterbacks overall, epecially if the players have 2 to 3 years of starting experience for their respective programs depending on what year they declared for the NFL. The Junior Quarterback can perform well enough in the NFL if they have a minimum of at least 3 years starting experience at college, but the probablility of the Senior QB doing well is a lot higher for them to achieve Super Star status in the NFL. The college QB on the other hand who had basically one tremendous year whether he was a Junior or Senior will suffer from not having enough game experience. These raw QB prospects also will no longer have the benefit of the World League to perfect their skills. Brad Johnson, Kurt Warner, and Jake Delhomme were all beneficiaries of the World League. (UPDATED)

Look at the numbers, and decide for yourself if there is at least a relation to those QB's who are successful in the NFL, oppose to those who were highly rated out of college, but are no longer in the league. The model shows that the graduating QB’s who are Seniors with at least 2 years of starting experience along with the Junior QB's who have 3 full years of experience have a far greater probability of achieving longevity in the NFL.

I researched further into my assumption to see if I had any misleading points in the theory. What I did find was information that was quite astonishing. I present the names of past QB's who not only supported my model of graduating Seniors, but exceeded the minimum of 2 years starting experience and had gone on to have successful careers in the NFL. If you look at the names you will notice that not only did they do well in the league, but they had reached a level of excellence that would one day have them on the ballot for Canton if they are not already enshrined.

Graduating Senior Quarterbacks

Who have had at least 2 years of starting experience in their college programs:

Steve McNair (Sr.) 3 yr starter Alcorn St.

Doug Williams (Sr.) 3 yr starter Grambling

Jim Kelly (Sr.) 3 yrs starter

John Elway (Sr.) 4yr starter

Dan Marino (Sr.) 3yr starter

Brett Favre (Sr.) 4 yr starter So.Miss,

Troy Aikman (Sr.) 2 yr starter

If you look at the names, not only did these QB's have success in the NFL, but its an impressive list of Super Bowl quarterbacks.

I'll go on further with another list of Quarterbacks who are also enjoying a reasonable amount of success. All are Seniors who graduated from college. Another interesting observation is that all the names listed with the exception of Cutler & Gerrard, were all playing in the playoffs.

Active class of graduating Seniors playing in the NFL

Jay Cutler (Sr.) 4 yr starter

Joe Flacco (Sr.) 2yr starter Delaware

Matt Ryan (Sr.) 2yr starter

Jake Delhomme (Sr.) 4yr starter Louisiana-Lafayette

Peyton Manning (Sr.) 4yr starter

Phillip Rivers (Sr.) 4yr starter

Eli Manning (Sr.) 3yr starter

Donovan McNabb (Sr.) 4 yr starter

David Gerrard (SR.) 4 yr starter East Carolina

So you can see for yourself that the level of competition of being in a major conference or a Division II program does not actually hamper the chances for success in the NFL. Provided the college QB has the intangibles of being a true NFL signal caller, and falls into the categories of being a graduating senior with a minimum of 2 years starting experience from their school. The SR QB statistics should also show improvement throughout his collegiate career in order for it to be factored in as part of the equation for grading him.

Could it be a mere coincidence that all were graduating seniors, or is there another common bond that would link these QB’s success? Could it be that they all ended up on good teams in the NFL that’s why they are doing well, or could it be that their QB play has reached a point that they can elevate their team into performing better. I give Dan Marino as my example of how a QB alone can elevate the performance of a team. In Dan's 17 years in the NFL, Marino only had one running back rush for 1000yds in his 17 years, and a defense who ranked in the top 10 in only 4 out of the 17 years. Yet was still able to achieve a 147 wins to 95 loses throughout his career. Marino also was able to make the playoffs 10 times with the Dolphins. Since 2000 after Dan Marino's retirement the Dolphins win/ loss record was meager 72-72.

When the NFL first allowed Juniors into the league.

Since 1989 the NFL has allowed the Juniors to be draft eligible, and in that time we saw many high profile names labeled by the draft experts as can’t miss prospects. Unfortunately those same prospects have subsequently been relabeled by the NFL as Journeymen or flat out busts. That’s 20 years of material to examine and dissect to see if we have enough evidence to support, or dispute the assumption of success being higher for the Senior over the Junior QB with less than 3 years of experience.

Junior Quarterbacks taken in the draft with high expectations.

Here are the names of the Junior QB’s who declared early for the NFL forgoing their final year of eligibility. The list of Junior QB's were all taken in the first two rounds of the draft. Majority of which were all declared by the NFL scouts as can’t miss prospects coming out of college. The players listed in Bold are no longer in the NFL, and the names in Italics are the QB’s currently in the league but struggling:

Michael Vick (Jr.) 2 yr starter

Jamarcus Russell (Jr.) 2 yr starter

Vince Young (Jr.) 2 1/2 yr starter

Tim Couch (Jr.) 2 yr starter

Alex Smith (Jr.) 2 yr starter

Quincy Carter (Jr.) 2 1/2 yr starter (due to injury his JR yr)

Jeff George (Jr.) 2 yr starter

Andre Ware (Jr.) 1 yr starter

Timm Rosenbach (Jr.) 2 yr starter

Ryan Leaf (Jr.) 2yr starter

David Klingler (Jr.) 2 yr starter

Heath Shuler (Jr.) 1 yr starter

Trent Dilfer (Jr.) 2 1/2 yr starter

Drew Bledsoe (Jr.) 3yr starter Wash. St.

Ben Roethlisberger (Jr.) 3yr starter Miami (Ohio)

This list is shocking isn't it?

The only Juniors who were successful were the JR QB's that had 3 full years of starting experience like Drew Bledsoe, Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers. Roethlisberger started for Miami (Ohio) for 3 years, but had also been with the program for 4 years because of his redshirt year in 2000. (UPDATED)

It is not impossible for the Junior QB to achieve a certain level of success in the NFL, but I would say what awaits him is not an easy task ahead. Any QB whether Junior or Senior would benefit from being able to mature behind an incumbent QB, but the question then is how long can a team wait if they have already invested millions of dollars on the prospect before they can expect results? It always falls on the bottom line that dictates the willingness and patience of a franchise to develop their QBOTF. You prefer the rookie QB to sit out his first year before taking the field full time.

So many QB’s are rushed into service because of the demand for quality QB's, and most importantly to see if they have what it takes to play in the NFL. The question that Owners and GM's need to ask themselves is, "How can you realistically expect a young QB prospect to succeed if not given the time to properly mature in dealing with adversity while still in college?" The pressure in the NFL is tremendous as is the shortness of people's ability to remain patient if the young QB struggles, just ask Vince Young.

The Senior Quarterbacks that failed to live up to expectations.

I admit the model is not full proof, and has some anomalies, but not enough to discredit the entire theory. There are QB’s I have found who meet the requirements of 2 yrs starting experience, and had also graduated from college. Yet we are still not able to perform on the NFL gridiron. These senior QB’s are Joey Harrington, Cade McNown, and David Carr.

I was confused on why they were not able to succeed when they meet all the requirements. So I asked questions like, was it the teams who drafted them that ruined their careers, or were they lacking in the other intangibles such as arm strength & leadership qualities? Or could it be as simple as being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

I will never know the answers to those questions. What is left is the fact that only 3 out of 18 seniors failed to live up to their draft status. Unlike the Junior QB who had only three of 15 doing well in the league. The probability that a Senior could thrive in the league is an 84% chance of success. Versus the Junior QB (all having 3 yrs of experience) who had the opposite effect of having an only 20% chance of success, and an 80% chance for failure. If I were a gambling man I would take an 84% chance of success on a Senior QB, than on a 20% chance of success with a Junior QB prospect. Especially if I'm dealing with millions of dollars invested by ownership, and the termination of my contract if I made the wrong choice.

The model is only a tool that could add clarity to an already confusing debate on which QB prospect is actually better, and who is more deserving to be labeled a genuine franchise QB. The model is a better form of making an educated choice in a difficult decision. I would rather make a calculated choice on a college QB to be my future leader of the team, than approaching the college prospect as a High RISK High Reward type candidate. As for me that's just another way of saying that I’m not sure, but I think its right?

Well there you go AP Fans, I only present the numbers and the argument to back up my theory. The decision is now up to you on who is actually a SAFER pick for us to make when the time comes for us to select our QBOTF. But then again the decision is not really ours to make. At least we will know ahead of time if our chances will be a favorable choice, or just a high risk candidate when his name is called in April. So all I can do now is hope that God will bless the decision makers to make the right choice.

New York Jets offer Head Coaching job to Sexy Rexy

aPacificChief — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:37:57 -0000

Well fellas it looks like another candidate if off the Usual Suspects list. I actually liked this guy if Pioli thought that he would of been a good fit for us.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3843174

via assets.nydailynews.com

The Jets are planning to make a formal offer to the Ravens' defensive coordinator and, barring an unexpected glitch in negotiations, they will announce his hiring Monday, multiple league sources told the Daily News Sunday night after the Ravens' 23-14 loss to the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.

Ryan, 46, has said publicly he will accept the Jets' offer, which may have been presented as early as Sunday night. He's expected to be introduced Wednesday at a news conference. The Jets will wait until then out of respect for Tuesday's presidential inauguration.

"If I get that opportunity, that would be fantastic," Ryan said after the game, responding to questions about the Jets' head-coaching vacancy.

I'm liking Pioli more and more everyday.

aPacificChief — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:37:42 -0000

The man feels no pressure from outside influences. The only pressure he feels is on himself to make a right decision and take out as much error as possible from making the choice on who will be the future head coach of Kansas City.

People could be all around Pioli reminding him hourly on the coaches that are no longer available, and the shrinking list of candidates the longer he waits to methodically evaluate Herman Edwards.

The Pioli's actions are speaking louder than his words. Why rush the decision on the new coach? I mean we could of signed the hottest coach on the market right now. Like Schwartz or Spagnuolo right off the bat and have fired Herm immediately, but what would that have accomplish if the decision proves wrong again. Can we guarantee that either of those candidates will be successful the next 3 years? or are we gonna find out the hard way that Spag's did in fact was a terrible head coach, and would have wasted those precious years of the careers of our few stars searching again for another head coach replacement.

Whatever the decision Pioli makes on our next Head Coach I know it will be the right one. Because Scott (stand back here it comes to all those Herman Haters another Herminism) is basing his decision on solid research and on the facts not on mere emotions. I also stand behind him because I don't have much of a choice anyway. If he gets it wrong we all will suffer, but if he gets it right??? Wow....How about if he gets it right?