April 24th, 2013
NFL DRAFT STORYLINES
Going into any NFL Draft, one of the more notable positions is always quarterback. This year’s quarterback class lacks the star power of recent drafts. In 2012 the NFL Draft produced some rookie’s that were NFL ready in their first year. Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill, and Brandon Weeden, Russell Wilson all started in their rookie season. The 2013 draft may have one player that emerges as a starter, and that’s highly unlikely. Many of the quarterbacks have had outstanding college season, but no one seems to have the pro style game that NFL offensive coordinators are looking for. The NFL game has changed, and we now see more dual threat quarterbacks getting there chance to show off their throwing ability as well as their ability to get outside of the pocket, and make plays with there feet.
Recently EA Sports revealed its cover for NCAA Football 2014. Gracing the cover is non-other than former Michigan’ QB Denard Robinson. Over the last 4 years Robinson has lit up the college football scene with his dazzling moves, and play making ability. In his four seasons as Michigan’s QB, Robinson broke the NCAA record for rushing yards (4,495 yards), he also passed for 6,250 yards as QB at U-M ranking him 4th all-time in school history (mgoblue.com).
Despite being so electrifying at the college level at quarterback, Robinson finds himself in an unusual position going into this weekend NFL Draft. Over the last four months, Robinson has been draft prepping at an unfamiliar position. He has deferred to play wide receiver in the NFL. Despite his success at the college level, Robinson has been influenced that he will have a better chance of being drafted at wide receiver, rather than the position he has played his entire life.
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This is not an easy transition, and attempting to change positions in four months is even harder. The NFL is the highest level of football in the world, and even the players who have had success in college, at wide receiver will have trouble adjusting to the speed of the NFL. There have been few players who have had success at making this transition.
Notables’:
Ronald Curry was drafted in 2002 in the seventh round after he attended University of North Carolina. Curry played for the Oakland Raiders for seven seasons. He caught 193 passes for 2, 347 yards, and scored 13 touchdowns.
Ronald Curry while at UNC
Matt Jones played QB at the University of Arkansas. In 2005 after an impressive 40 yard time at the NFL combine, Jones was chosen with the 21st overall pick in the NFL Draft. In four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jones compiled 166 receptions, for 2,152 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Josh Cribs played QB in the Mid-American Conference for Kent State. He was undrafted in 2005, and after signing with Cleveland Browns, Cribs became a premier kick returner in the NFL earning him two Pro Bowl appearances.
Other Notables- Antwan Randle El (Inidian University QB), was drafted in the second round by the Pittsburg Steelers. Brad Smith (University of Missouri QB), was drafted in the fourth round by the New York Jets. Gene Washington (Stanford University), was drafted in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers (Bleacher Report).
Transitioning into a new position is very hard, and with the recent success of the mobile quarterback in the NFL, Robinson would be better off taking his chances at QB. In his four seasons at Michigan Robinson caught 3 passes for a total of 31 yards, and zero touchdowns. That’s not a very good resume to evaluate a player off of.
With all the storylines to pay close attention to this weekend, quarterback Denard Robinson, and the entire quarterback class will be an intriguing topic. Five years down the line, we may look back, and realize that one QB from this class was overlooked, and could be the face of an NFL franchise! Who knows, maybe we have a Super Bowl winning QB in this class?
REFERENCES:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/532811-hines-ward-and-the-13-best-converted-quarterbacks-in-nfl-history
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/robinson_denard00.html
Mike Hinton
