• Tweet

• Tweet

As today is Sam Bradford Day around the NFL Draft universe, we are proud to bring you a report on Sam Bradford from Allen from Blatant Homerism – An Oklahoma Sooners blog.  Allen graciously accepted my offer of writing a post about Sam Bradford as the Rams inch ever closer to making him their selection in the 2010 NFL Draft.  So, thanks to Allen, and don’t forget to check out Allen’s other work at Blatant Homerism with lots more about Sam Bradford.

—-

Congratulations, Rams fans — with the first pick in the upcoming draft, your favorite NFL franchise is about to take Sam Bradford, the best quarterback in the history of one of college football’s best programs.

Now for a little bad news: None of Bradford’s predecessors have amounted to anything in the pros. For all the wins and accolades guys like Josh Heupel and Jason White accumulated while quarterbacking the Oklahoma Sooners, not a one spent any significant time on an NFL roster.

Luckily for you St. Louisians, Bradford appears ready to break the mold. Why? Well, I’m glad the guys at Rams Gab asked.

Allen’s analysis is after the jump.

Intangibles: Bradford Passes Tuna Test

Ever since Peyton Manning went Hall of Fame and Ryan Leaf went golf coach, the subject of “intangibles” seems to have taken on greater significance in evaluating NFL quarterback prospects.

Unfortunately, there’s no magic bullet for determining if a signal caller has the drive, intelligence and leadership skills to succeed as an NFL quarterback. However, when it comes to talent evaluation, I put a lot of stock in the wisdom of Bill Parcells, master of the NFL reclamation project. Big Tuna has four criteria that serve as a quality control filter for potential quarterback draft picks:

1. He must be a senior.
2. He must have a degree.
3. He must be a three-year starter.
4. He must have at least 23 wins.

What can we infer from the Tuna’s rules? More than rocket arms and fast 40s, Parcells seeks out quarterbacks who are intelligent, studious and mature.

Given his injury issues last season, you could quibble with the requirement of three years of starting experience. Otherwise, Bradford fits the bill. If that’s good enough for Tuna, it’s good enough for me.

Furthermore, Bradford is beloved by his teammates, past and present. He has embraced his heritage and become a revered figure in the Cherokee Nation. When he went down in 2009 with a severe shoulder injury, the Sooners arguably missed Bradford’s steadying presence on the field as much as his talents as a quarterback.

And let’s not forget Bradford nailed the the Wonderlic.

Preparation, Production and Skills: Don’t Believe the Haters

Statistically speaking, Bradford had one of the best careers in college football history. Other stat-sheet stuffers like Timmy Chang and Graham Harrell have put up eye-popping numbers as college quarterbacks as well, though, never to be heard from again.

My buddy Michael Felder at In The Bleachers raises one of the biggest knocks on Bradford: the Sooners’ Air Raid-styled attack. Bradford excelled in what Michael aptly describes as a “point-and-click” system that enabled marginally talented predecessors such as Heupel to put up big stats, too. Bradford also had the good fortune of playing with an abundance of stars around him, which brings up the issue of how much of his success was attributable to his supporting cast.

First, the talk of OU’s overwhelming offensive talent is a chicken-egg dilemma: Was Bradford good because of the guys around him, or did he make them better?

I’d say it’s fair to apply a “discount factor” to Bradford’s prolific numbers based on the talent gap between his team and OU’s foes. However, Bradford still put up great stats against the the Sooners’ best competition, so it’s not like he simply benefited from steamrolling pansies.

Second, the concerns about Oklahoma’s offense seem moot to me. Bradford played under center often enough at OU to demonstrate more than adequate comfort with this aspect of “pro-style” offenses.

Also, as Chris Brown of Smart Football notes, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson’s “aspirational” pro-style system mixes and matches multiple sets — both under center and out of the shotgun — and tempos, all while striving for a solid run-pass balance. As such, Bradford has a solid foundation in pro schemes.

As for his physical tools, Bradford’s calling card is his pinpoint accuracy. He throws a very pretty ball that arrives on the money without fail. That goes for short, intermediate and deep throws, as well as touch passes.

Bradford’s arm strength certainly won’t blow anyone away. However, for an NFL quarterback, it’s well above average. Bottom line: He can make all the throws.

Durability: The Big Question
As a GM, the biggest question I’d have about Bradford is whether or not he can handle the physical pounding of life in the NFL. He played behind a stout offensive line in 2007 and 2008 that typically kept him well-protected. We all know what happened in 2009 once that group moved on.

A season essentially lost to a separated shoulder should raise some concerns about Bradford’s ability to take a hit from full-head-of-steam, 300-pound pass rushers week in and week out.

I admittedly know nothing about the nitty gritty of AC joint injuries. What I do know is that Bradford worked his ass off to come back to a team that had a poor offensive line and no realistic shot at a national championship. And given the special considerations of Bradford’s insurance policy, I wonder who was really driving the bus on the decisions regarding his rehab and surgery.

Bradford’s struggles last season do suggest that one of the most important early lessons in his NFL education will be the art of protecting himself and taking a sack. He’s not a scrambler, and the times he takes off when plays break down will be few and far between. Instead, Bradford will need to use his considerable athleticism to hone his ability to evade pressure in the pocket and shield himself when a sack is imminent.

Conclusion: Give Him Time

Even if you buy the questions about Bradford’s preparation for the NFL at Oklahoma — and, again, I don’t — that shouldn’t dissuade a team looking for a long-term cornerstone at quarterback from drafting him. Physically, he has all the attributes of a great pro quarterback. He’s even stronger on the intangibles side.

However, if the Rams want a rookie quarterback to step in and start right away, Bradford isn’t the guy. In fact, playing Bradford right off the bat could severely hurt his chances of succeeding in the long term. Coming off a season-ending injury, throwing Bradford to the wolves behind a porous offensive line and unimpressive receiving corps is inviting disaster.

As evidenced by the “Parcells Test,” Bradford undoubtedly possesses the intelligence, maturity and dedication necessary to put in the time and effort to sharpen his skill set during a year-long apprenticeship. Given the current state of the Rams, I think they can wait.