There’s been a bit of screech mania on yack radio today over Vince Young running the 40 yard dash in a not-quite world record 4.58 seconds.
It was pointed out, for example, that other QB’s in this draft class had faster times.
With all due respect to the NFL scouting mavens, if a QB’s speed running in a straight line was the single most important factor come draft day, the Raiders would’ve given Carl Lewis the ball a long time ago (and who amongst us wouldn’t have wanted to see that?)
So Marcus Vick was faster? When trying to outrun the police, that’s probably very useful. But while trying to manuever through an opposing defense, being able to take a hit might be meaningful, too.
A scrambling QB is gonna be held to a higher standard than a pure pocket passer in this category, I understand. But the stopwatch isn’t going to measure Young’s creativity nor durability.
And besides, everyone knows the 40 yard dash is culturally biased against slow people.
If Young really slips because of things like the Wonderlic (best score among QBs was the bowling ball-shaped Grambling QB Bruce Eugene) and the 40 time (the Marcus Vick bit says it all here), then some team will be very lucky to get him. I don’t think Vince gets past the Raiders, though, no matter how slowly he runs or how poorly he fares in that personality test. Every time that it has mattered, at least that I’ve seen, Young has been great in the immeasurable and unquantifiable way that great QBs are.
I agree, Vince Young has all the intangibles to be Doug Flutie.
the whole Young skepticism reminds me of the gladwell/bill simmons exchange about nba general managers on espn pg 2. These scouts need to be percieved as having earned their money by proving that what is apparent to the general sports fan isn’t always true – so you have darko being picked over carmelo and chris paul falling to 4th.
Same goes with Young. He made his career eating up top flight competition in pressure filled moments. it would be too obvious to just love the guy and overlook his flaws. So instead you have bullshit about the wonderlic and other nit-picky things
He made his career eating up top flight competition in pressure filled moments.
the same argument could be made in favor of danny weurffel.
I don’t think its comparable. Young has arm strength and speed. Wuerful couldn’t throw an out pattern