04/24/24
July 18, 2009
Harrell to Saskatchewan: Former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell reportedly has signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. It begs the question: how is it, through all seven rounds, no NFL drafted him? The stats say someone should have picked him, even in the seventh round!
I think if you're good enough to consistently find a way to win ball games in the Big 12 the way Harrell did, you have enough developmental potential to warrant at least getting a look in the NFL.
Denver, you don't want to see what Harrell can do with the ball up in the thin mile high air in case the humdrum guys you already have rostered end up sleepwalking?
Harrell is more of a fearless, duel in the sun gunslinger than Bradford, whose eyes got big and round in the headlights when he came up against top competition. Harrell definitely deserves an NFL cup o' coffee.
I like Daniel a lot, but I can understand the concerns there. He made good decisions with the ball, but with the offensive sets they ran at Mizzou, he had way more time and space to throw than he ever would in the NFL (even though many Big 12 defenses are pretty athletic). Daniel does look like he can get rid of the ball in a hurry, though.
I don't know, I guess I'll always be bummed that guys like Rex Grossman are given every opportunity to please, please, please be a real NFL QB if at all possible while gutsy winners like Major Applewhite play their asses off in college knowing they're probably not going to get a decent shot at the pro level.
posted by beaverboard at 10:51 PM on July 18, 2009
sgtcook ... It was the Browns who tried him out. I'm equally surprised, considering the length of stints by folks like Dorsey, Krenzel and others. You'd think he'd be a serviceable backup, if nothing else. But, with the entire league passing on him essentially twice (both in the draft and as an undrafted free agent), I guess that should tell me somethin'.
posted by littleLebowski at 11:45 AM on July 20, 2009
Harrell did have great stats, but stats aren't going to get you drafted. Just ask Jason White and Chase Daniel. I think it came down to not enough arm strength and size. It doesn't help that he comes from an offense that produces a "system" qb. Leach qb's produce stats year in year out. He'll probaby plug in another qb this year and put up 50 points in a game or two. Personally I was kinda shocked he didn't get drafted. He did get a chance with a NFL team this year, I can't remember which team it was, but I knew the team wouldn't keep him because they had about 4 or 5 QB. If Sam Bradford doesn't have some success in the NFL, Oklahoma might get the same rep as Tech does with their quarterbacks. The question is, will 5 star quarterbacks want to keep going to these schools that do win games but don't produce winning NFL qb's?