Draft Selections

Brady Quinn, Quarterback out of Norte Dame



Positives: Has a tall, big frame with broad shoulders, good overall muscle development, smooth tone and room to add more bulk … Has good overall body flexibility, evident in his stride running with the ball, showing the mobility and functional playing speed to gain valid yardage with his feet … Demonstrates a strong arm that allows him to deliver the long ball with touch and accuracy … Quick in his pass set up and is generally in position to make all of his throws … Has very good command in the huddle and makes good decisions with the ball, rarely forcing the action in attempts to create something out of nothing … Has the ability to put the ball where the receiver can catch it and shows good balance throwing on the move … Good student of the game, showing the field vision and intelligence to recognize coverages on his pre-snap scan of the field and in his pass drop … Shows decent foot quickness in his set-up, keeping his feet under him while maintaining balance … Can reach his throwing point with a normal stride and has the body control and agility needed to drive back from center quickly … Has keen awareness and a good grasp of the offensive system … Does a nice job scanning the field and throws with good timing and touch … Carries the ball medium/high and can flick it out either with a high three-quarter delivery or over the head … Has a compact release to unload the ball quickly and good mechanics when launching the ball long … Puts very good zip on all of his throws, especially in the intermediate area or when going long … Can throw in the seam with consistency and you now see an accurate long ball and a lively short pass … In the short passing game, Quinn puts the ball where the receiver can catch it, throwing a catchable ball with zip or touch and does a nice job of keeping the receiver in the route … Has a high enough release that the ball comes off his fingers with good zip and accuracy … Has the arm strength to fire the ball into tight areas … Shows good anticipation and timing with the awareness, field smarts and athletic agility to slide or step up in the pocket to buy time … Has developed a nice feel and awareness to anticipate when the receivers are coming out of their cuts … Makes good adjustments at the line of scrimmage … Does a good job of scanning down field and shows enough pocket movement awareness to find the lanes when flushed out … Does a good job of scanning down field and shows enough pocket movement awareness to find the lanes when flushed out … Has the athletic ability to slide or step up to buy time and does a good job of maintaining focus down field, even under heavy pressure … Demonstrates very good touch and accuracy on slants, crossers and bubble screens … Has the long ball arm strength to give the receivers space to adjust and get under his throws without having to break stride … Never rattled under heavy pressure and shows the poise to step up in the pocket and take a hit rather than throw the ball into tight areas … His ability to read coverages allows him to consistently check off and locate his secondary targets … Gets good movement scrambling out of the pocket and is capable of throwing on the move … Good program passer who stays within the framework of the game plan … His quick delivery is seen by the way he immediately has the ball chest high and ready to throw … His pocket presence allows him to buy time for his receivers to get open … Very efficient firing the ball out quickly on slants and timing routes.

Compares to: Tom Brady, New England Patriots … Head coach Charlie Weis must have thought he was experiencing deja vu with Quinn, a clone of his Patriots pupil … Both are very detail-oriented pocket passers with deceptive mobility … Preparation is the key to their success, along with the ability to make progression reads and locate their secondary targets … With the tutelage Quinn has received under Weis, those experts who have been recently downgraded Quinn in favor of JaMarcus Russell might regret if they bypass the "safer" Notre Dame talent for a player (Russell) who might be a better athlete, but is a kindergarten "toddler" in the game-planning department when matching up against Quinn's wits.