Dorsey: There is no definite first round QB

[RunKC]

No clear quarterback choice for Chiefs in the draft
By ADAM TEICHER
Kansas City Star
Published Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, at 3:36 p.m.
0 CommentsEmailPrintReprints
Pros and cons
Matt Barkley, 6-2, 230, USC: Superb leadership skills, the first one at practice or meetings and the last one to leave. But his arm strength is suspect. May be a system fit.

Mike Glennon, 6-7, 220, North Carolina State: Strong arm. He’s easily able to make all the necessary throws. But a lack of mobility could be a problem against a strong pass rush.

Ryan Nassib, 6-2, 225, Syracuse: Good mobility and throws well on the run. But he’s a late-bloomer who might need more seasoning before he’s ready for the NFL.

Geno Smith, 6-3, 210, West Virginia: Has best ability of all the top prospects. Was durable in college, but he’s not an imposing specimen. So how will he hold up in the NFL?

Tyler Wilson, 6-2, 220, Arkansas: Will stand in and take a hit but still make an accurate throw. But he’s short for an ideal NFL quarterback and has small hands, which could lead to fumbling problems.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs spent the last several days setting their draft board in preparation for this week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The process merely confirmed for new general manager John Dorsey that when it comes to quarterbacks, their homework is only starting.

Opinions on the top available quarterbacks in this year’s draft are that varied.

“There is no quarterback where personnel guys can definitely say, ‘He’s a first-round pick,’ ” Dorsey said. “There were so many inconsistencies in the collective group. There was not one guy that stood up and said, ‘I’m the guy in the position this year.’ There really wasn’t one clear-cut guy.

“There are too many technical flaws, scheme flaws. There are so many different variables that there are a lot of people all over the place on naming the top four or five guys and who those guys would be.”

The Chiefs aren’t the only team having trouble sorting through the top quarterback prospects. From the natural ability of West Virginia’s Geno Smith to the smooth leadership skills of USC’s Matt Barkley to the willingness to take a hit in the face of a strong pass rush of Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson, there are plenty of things to like.

There are reasons to pause just the same. Smith faltered late last fall against better competition. Barkley and Wilson had disappointing, injury-marred senior seasons.

This is a particular problem for teams like the Chiefs, who have a gaping need at quarterback. Dorsey didn’t say so specifically, but he didn’t sound like the Chiefs were planning to take a quarterback with the first pick in this year’s draft.

More likely, the Chiefs will select a quarterback later in the draft — if they take one at all.

Dorsey said both he and coach Andy Reid would be in attendance at the workouts of most, if not all, of the top available quarterbacks.

“I think Andy is a really good evaluator of quarterbacks,” Dorsey said. “I want him and I to go to as many quarterback workouts as possible and actually set our own up.”

The quarterback rankings for last year’s draft were determined almost a year in advance. Stanford’s Andrew Luck was a consensus choice to be the top player selected as soon as the 2011 draft was finished. Baylor’s Robert Griffin III came on as a senior to win the Heisman Trophy and make the race interesting, but in the end, Luck was selected first by Indianapolis. Griffin was taken with the next pick by Washington.

“Last year was an easy evaluation,” draft analyst Mel Kiper said. “Automatically, you put Andrew Luck and RG III up there.”

This year, quarterback ratings are scattered. Some teams like Smith, but others have different favorites, like Barkley, Wilson, North Carolina State’s Mike Glennon or Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib.

“The year didn’t go the way Barkley and the USC Trojans hoped,” Kiper said. “He began the year number one on my big board. You saw what happened with USC. They lost four games with Barkley at quarterback and lost a couple more when he was hurt. They didn’t have a signature win all year. They dropped down the rankings from number one and he dropped down the rankings from number one.

“Geno Smith started out great. It looked like after Barkley struggled you could lock Geno Smith in. Then he has a disappointing second half of the season, so there are issues in terms of what type of starting quarterback he can be. Glennon was hot for a while even though he had a subpar supporting cast, and he didn’t play great (in the bowl game) against Vanderbilt and didn’t have a wow-you-over Senior Bowl week.

“Things didn’t fall into place at Arkansas, and that affected Tyler Wilson. The wheels came off for all the quarterbacks at some point (last) year. Things just didn’t fall right to allow them to maximize their ability. That’s why the teams are right now in the predicament they are, trying to figure this whole quarterback thing out and not overdraft or push a guy up when he’s not deserving.”

Kiper doesn’t have a quarterback rated among his top 25 players. In fact, in his latest mock draft, Kiper doesn’t have a single quarterback being selected in the first round.

“It’s just a tough evaluation, trying to figure out which quarterbacks in this draft, if any, will be great starting quarterbacks,” he said.

Dorsey said he expects at least two quarterbacks to be drafted in the first round because so many teams have a need. It’s a matter, though, of which ones.

Things could solidify in the next couple of months. The draft doesn’t begin until April 25. Meanwhile, the combine begins this week, followed by pro days on college campuses and then individual workouts.

To Dorsey, at least, personal interviews might be the most important part of the postseason draft process. He said a quarterback can improve his draft standing with a series of strong interviews.

“The most impressive interview I’ve ever had in the last 25 years of doing this? Russell Wilson,” said Dorsey, referring to the quarterback drafted by Seattle last year in the third round. “Wasn’t even close. You could feel that guy as a person, how strong he was, how intellectually deep he was, how mentally tough he was, that he had the charisma to lead other players. I always try to look at kids like I’m in the locker room and I’m a teammate. It was easy to see this guy leading a team.

“A quarterback wants to come across in the interview process as confident, as having a vast understanding and knowledge of defenses, as being capable of leading a group of men. That’s what you’ve got to convey to the teams. On film, his physical traits and skills will come out. But you have to over the next few weeks impress on teams the character of his soul, his ability to lead a franchise.”

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/02/16/267...#storylink=cpy

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by O.city

Would you rather have star or geno?

Ideally I would like the QB at the top of our board. And if that's not Geno, then I would love to get Star/Milliner AND the QB we want.

We aren't stuck at 34. You do know we can trade back into round 1 right?

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by RunKC

How about BOTH. Ever think of that?

Take a look at the 49ers and Bengals in 2011. If Dorsey thinks the 3rd or 4th best QB in this class is the best, then why not get a great player at 1 and the QB on the top of our board at 34 or by trading back into round 1?

But no, that's not an option for you. It's Geno or bust. You've made that clear as day.

How about NONE. Ever think of that?

Those guys I just listed are middle-late first talents that will be taken at the top of this draft. That's how terrible this year is. In cases of the DEs and CB, this draft is exceptionally deep at those positions. CBs AS GOOD as Milliner can be had in the 2nd and possibly even 3rd rounds. And with Star, we don't need him.

The entire reason for avoiding the QB is to preserve value. Guess what? All of those players represent terrible draft value.

How about we keep our draft philosophy streamlined for ****ing once and not make exceptions just to avoid the scare of drafting a QB? THERE'S NOTHING TO BE ****ING AFRAID OF.

If Dorsey (possibly, we don't know for sure) is too scared to make the pick that needs to be made, that makes him a ****ing pussy the same way Fat Scott was a ****ing pussy the same way Carl Peterson was a ****ing pussy.

[BossChief]

I'd probably take Geno over any TWO other position players.

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Ideally I would like the QB at the top of our board. And if that's not Geno, then I would love to get Star/Milliner AND the QB we want.

We aren't stuck at 34. You do know we can trade back into round 1 right?

Everyone knows this. But right now we get to discuss what is already set in stone. 1 and 34 are set in stone right now until we know otherwise.

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by BossChief

I'd probably take Geno over any TWO other position players.

So you'd take Geno over say a combo of Star and Milliner?

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Ideally I would like the QB at the top of our board. And if that's not Geno, then I would love to get Star/Milliner AND the QB we want.

We aren't stuck at 34. You do know we can trade back into round 1 right?

That's like walking into a prison shower and grabbing your ankles and closing your eyes.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Ideally I would like the QB at the top of our board. And if that's not Geno, then I would love to get Star/Milliner AND the QB we want.

We aren't stuck at 34. You do know we can trade back into round 1 right?

Well, thats the thing, thats not really good "value" at 1. Milliner at this point, isn't even strongly considered the top CB and scouts are saying Star is the most overrated player in this class.


If it were me and I'm not taking my Qb at 1, I'd seriously think of letting Albert walk, save that money, draft Joeckel, and use that money to sign another big free agent and hope Barkley or Wilson falls to the second.


I don't think they will trade up, those late picks are worth alot especially in this class in that its a deep class at positions like CB, DT, Safety etc spots we need.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by BossChief

I'd probably take Geno over any TWO other position players.

This is pretty ridiculous.


I'll take Milliner and Star and take my chances with the Qb spot.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by KCrockaholic

So you'd take Geno over say a combo of Star and Milliner?

Without blinking.

This team needs a quarterback, not a DT that lacks pass rush skills or a corner that doesn't project to be elite.

Would you take Joe Flacco, or Glenn Dorsey and Brandon Albert?

[RealSNR]

Waiting until #34 and beyond to draft BPA makes so much sense. It's far better to have the best QB in the draft and still grab starter-worthy players in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rounds than to draft any ol' position at the top of the draft where the distance between skill level isn't that high at all at a position that's practically worthless compared to QB.

Let's stick with the Milliner example, which fulfills a need. If we go Milliner at 1 then Barkley/Glennon after we trade back up into the first, we not only lose draft picks, but we're not getting the best QB in the draft.

If we take Geno at 1 (or whoever the best QB is) and get our CB in the 2nd (Amerson or Rhodes or somebody like that) we're getting not only the better QB but a starting CB that isn't that much worse than Milliner. And THAT'S where you should compromise getting the best. At CB, OLB, DT, etc. NOT AT THE ****ING QB POSITION.

[B14ckmon]

Originally Posted by O.city

Well, thats the thing, thats not really good "value" at 1. Milliner at this point, isn't even strongly considered the top CB and scouts are saying Star is the most overrated player in this class.


If it were me and I'm not taking my Qb at 1, I'd seriously think of letting Albert walk, save that money, draft Joeckel, and use that money to sign another big free agent and hope Barkley or Wilson falls to the second.


I don't think they will trade up, those late picks are worth alot especially in this class in that its a deep class at positions like CB, DT, Safety etc spots we need.

Citation needed.

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by O.city

Well, thats the thing, thats not really good "value" at 1. Milliner at this point, isn't even strongly considered the top CB and scouts are saying Star is the most overrated player in this class.


If it were me and I'm not taking my Qb at 1, I'd seriously think of letting Albert walk, save that money, draft Joeckel, and use that money to sign another big free agent and hope Barkley or Wilson falls to the second.

The 2nd paragraph of this post completely threw me off after reading the first one.

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by B14ckmon

Citation needed.

Keep up with the news.

[O.city]

@SidelineFB: Spoke with NFL evaluator today who called Star Lotuleilei the most overrated prospect in the 2013 draft

[B14ckmon]

Originally Posted by KCrockaholic

Keep up with the news.

I do. All you do is refresh your google image search of "Geno Nudes"

Still waiting for that citation.