SUMMARY: Between now and draft day, goTitans.com will do an interview on the candidates most likely to be chosen by the Tennessee Titans with the third pick of the 2006 NFL Draft. Our second interview is with Todd Harmonson of the Orange County Register. Harmonson has covered USC Trojan football the past six seasons and has known Matt Leinart since he arrived at training camp his freshman season in August 2001.
http://www.gotitans.com/artman/publish/article_001370.shtml
What do you think about this article? Post your comments below.
http://www.gotitans.com/artman/publish/article_001370.shtml
What do you think about this article? Post your comments below.
The comments regarding his injury history worried me a bit. The high school shoulder surgery didn't bother me, but the elbow tendinitis did. Tendinitis is inflammation surrounding the tendon, usually from excessive use in a short amount of time or a physical anomaly. Likely to cause problems in the future. It does bother me that he has had 2 significant injuries in 6 years with his throwing unit.
The article also pointed out that Leinart is no Carson Palmer and he struggles with the deep ball.
Obviously, I don't want to use our pick on Leinart.
The article also pointed out that Leinart is no Carson Palmer and he struggles with the deep ball.
Obviously, I don't want to use our pick on Leinart.
I didn't see that comment as meaning Leinart doesn't have a deep ball. But it didn't sound very convincing he has a gun either. He'll need to quiet some rumors on his Pro Day April 2.
Good stuff Jeff.
"He has a strong arm, throws an extremely catchable ball, an uncanny pocket awareness and the toughness to take a hit"
April 2 ProDay - "Those around him have said that he’ll shock some critics with what he’s able to do that day. We’ll see"
"He has a strong arm, throws an extremely catchable ball, an uncanny pocket awareness and the toughness to take a hit"
April 2 ProDay - "Those around him have said that he’ll shock some critics with what he’s able to do that day. We’ll see"
The ball is certainly in Leinart's court. He needs to be impressive on his pro day to keep his spot as the #1 QB IMO. If he shows any weakness on some of the throws it could drop him a bit. Personally I hope he does great in his workout and falls to us at #3.
You know many of those who will be there will have also attended Cutler's and Young's workout. It'll be interesting to see if there is any consistency between the reports on them.
This guys says a lot of stuff I agree with, but he seems to have a little bit of a homer attitude too, especially with regards to Leinart and Cutler. Cutler isnt the "flavor the week" for one, he has been a prospect guys kept have kept an eye on for the last few years. Secondly, what is he talking about Cutlers size? He is listed at 6 4 225, he is basically the same size as Leinart. And thirdly, anyone who knows anything about Vanderbilt football wouldnt think that Cutler not winning games would be a concern. That team was more competitive than they have been in years simply because of Cutler. I just get the feeling this guy is trying to sell Leinart and missing the boat with his comparisons to Cutler.
Jeez guys, can we quit labelling all these reporters homers? Of course they're not going to be 100% impartial. Thats one of the reasons Jeff has gone to them, instead of some reporter for the NY Times. He wanted the perspective of someone who has covered the player throughout their college careers.
nigel said:
OH give me a break, if it looks like a duck it is a duck. And his analysis of Leinart I mostly agree with. But he is obviously struggling for reasons that Leinart is a better prospect than Cutler, which is why he resorts to Cutlers size being an issue. Cutler is listed at 6 4 225, Leinart is listed at 6 5 225. If he thinks size is an issue for Cutler and not Leinart then Im sorry but he is a straight up homer who is just making stuff up to sell his guy over the other guys.
Unless he is writing a book on Leinart, what possible motive does he have to be a homer? Just because he isn't critical?
Granted, he may not know Cutler well enough to judge him and his exposure to Young may be limited to the Rose Bowl but he appears to be to be a solid judge of Leinart's abilities. He's known and followed the guy his entire career at USC.
Granted, he may not know Cutler well enough to judge him and his exposure to Young may be limited to the Rose Bowl but he appears to be to be a solid judge of Leinart's abilities. He's known and followed the guy his entire career at USC.
TitanJeff said:
I said I mostly agree with his analysis on Leinart, did I not? My issue is his analysis and comparison to Cutler. He seems to just be trying to sell his guy and using stuff like Cutlers size being an issue to do it. Do you think Cutlers size is an issue? Does the one inch that Leinart has on Cutler make him a better prospect? And I dont agree with the idea that Cutler not winning more games as an issue either, because anyone who knows anything about Vandy football realizes they arent a bastion of talent, and there is only so much one player can do. Honestly, he seems to have a hard time finding reasons why Leinart is a better prospect than Cutler, so he resorts to these things that arent really issues in my opinion.
And I dont know his reasons, he might just like and respect Leinart, and thats fine, I agree with most of what he says about leinart, I just dont think he knows much of anything about Cutler, yet still convincingly gives Leinart the nod as the better prospect.
His tone did speak to him being exposed to Leinhart much more than the other two QB's... Statements like "in a heartbeat", when apparently his only exposure to the other two QB's seem to have been formulated without much knowledge.
I thought it was a pretty fair article. Didn't sugar coat Leinart's "flaws" like it could have been and did a nice job of articulating his strengths.
(Young>Cutler>Leinart IMO)
(Young>Cutler>Leinart IMO)
Riverman said:
I dont necessarily think the article is unfair, and the biggest concern I have with Leinart, this guy brings up, which is arm strength. Now that will be answered hopefully on his pro day whether or not he has a strong enough arm to make all the throws in the NFL. I just think the guy is a little ahead of himself declaring Leinart as the top qb prospect in such a convincing manner, when he doesnt seem to know a whole lot about Cutler. I agree with him about Young though, I do think Leinart is the better pick than Young.
I'll be interested to see if everyone is throwing around the homer arguments when the Cutler interview goes up.
What I found most interesting about the article is how is has game on the court. If we draft him, I cant wait to see him go up against Drew at Keith's charity basketball game in 2007 :brow:
What I found most interesting about the article is how is has game on the court. If we draft him, I cant wait to see him go up against Drew at Keith's charity basketball game in 2007 :brow:
nigel said:
Get off the homer thing. I called him a homer because he is from So. Cal and obviously knows more about Leinart than Cutler. I think these articles are interesting but Im sorry I didnt realize I had to agree with everything all the guest interviews say. Ill take note from now on.
When it is all said and done how Leinart throws the deep outs compared to Cutler and Young will be a big factor. Leinart doesn't have to be as strong as Cutler but he does need to be strong enough. Leinart should be the top QB prospect simply because of what he has accomplished. That doesn't mean after he gets put under a microscope he remains in that postion.
Thats why IMO it would be great if Leinart could be strong enough because with his other attributes he would be a great pick for us.
Thats why IMO it would be great if Leinart could be strong enough because with his other attributes he would be a great pick for us.
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