Jon Gruden on the QB development at the college level

I know this is not really a steelers thing but it's still interesting... I agree with Gruden on that.

 

For me, It has always been a head scratcher as to why the NCAA uses a different size football than the NFL?


FYI
AI Overview

The NCAA and NFL use slightly different football specifications because the NFL enforces a strict, standardized ball size, whereas the NCAA allows for more manufacturing variation, with college balls often being slightly smaller and having more pointed tips. [1, 2]
Key differences include:

• Size: NFL balls are strictly mandated to be 11 to 11.25 inches in length. College footballs generally have a slightly wider range (about 10.5 to 11.5 inches) and feature a smaller "short circumference", which some players find easier to grip. [1, 2, 3]
• Stripes: NCAA footballs feature white stripes at the ends to help with visibility, while NFL balls have no stripes. [1, 2]
• Manufacturing: The NFL exclusively uses Wilson footballs, while the NCAA allows various manufacturers, allowing for different textures and lace placements. [1, 2]

Players transitioning from college to the pros often note that the NFL ball feels larger and has a different weight distribution.

 

Keep in mind a freshman quarterback is just a kid and still growing

Maybe a factor

 

I don't believe it's a CFB coach's responsibility to develop players for the NFL. Their responsibility is to develop players capable of winning a national championship. NFL players come from such development for the most part, but as far as QB is concerned, such schemes don't make them ready for NFL action. I think the NFL needs a DLeague to further develop this specific position.

Also, I do commend the teams for being hesitant from overdrafting QBs these past two cycles.

 

Agree. Is a college coach being paid to make his QB a professional football player? Nope.

 

This is facts, but its the same in HS.
Its also why I laugh when people complain about coaches doing anything outside of trying to win.
No matter what level you coach, you are trying to win games.

 

I think the NFL created the problem by poaching the NCAA early, which in turn forced college programs to embrace schemes that are simplified and steeped in athleticism and matchups. After all, why invest in a QB and get him all coached up in a scheme only to have the NFL snag him the moment he shows some grasp of things. So to me there's a sense of irony in all this.

Also I agree the NFL needs to invest in a developmental league. It would be good for the players who aren't quite good enough for the NFL, in extending their window of having a great time playing sports for a living. And it would be great for developing QBs. These owners make enough money to where it should be worthwhile to do it, and if it succeeds then maybe we see QB contracts come down a bit due to better supply.

 

And to further your point, just look at the initial investment being made for these QBs especially when a team trades away multiple firsts and seconds to trade up. You'd think teams would exhibit a tad bit more patience before dumping even more firsts and seconds for their next failed QB experiment. This wheeling and dealing for failures set many franchises back. You'd think organizations like the Jets and Browns would be front and center pushing for a DLeague.

 

Just about 10, or so years ago the NFL network, and ESPN swore the Qbs were better than ever with all these athletic Qbs, and I tried saying, because I watched it, that coaches would take the most athletic guy that could throw a ball , and started making them Qbs because they could win that way, and then shortly all that was mostly coming out of HS to college was this type. Gone were the Qbs that had to learn coverages, and stand, and throw, it was the age of .....if he's not open, run, and now people are seeing the trickle down effect of years of this.

 

No doubt. And what is funny about all that is if you go back and look at league history, the QB position began as a running position. The forward pass, after all, was the greatest innovation they ever made, but it was something they had to introduce. And from there it developed into a highly specialized role of reads and decision making at speed, while stretching a defense and making them defend the entire field.

So the people who think the future at QB is going to prioritize running the ball, like the hacks at ESPN and other mediot members... I don't think they understand the game. You can play in this league and still not have a real perceptive understanding of it. Playing doesn't mean they know a damn thing. The QBs usually do, but it's not a given and the media outlets have always sort of assumed it is in some of these hires.

But anyway the protections in this game come from the pass blocking in the pocket. So before you talk any running of the ball the first priority is can you beat a defense from the pocket. Some running QBs are better out with space around them, too, than they are when hemmed in that pocket. It's not an easy thing to do I'd imagine.

All things being equal (meaning yes they can kill you from the pocket) then sure, running the ball, the instincts, elusiveness, raw speed etc are all positives. Teams just need to remember that the ball is always going to travel in the air faster than any player can run, and the NFL has the best collection of threats to do something with it. So prioritization of pocket efficiency is always going to be important in the NFL.

 

Very well put, and winner.

 

Good post.

College QBs aren’t developed under center enough.Most modern college offenses live in the shotgun, so quarterbacks get very little practice taking snaps from under center, reading the defense with their eyes already downfield, and using classic drop-back footwork.

In the NFL, QBs play under center frequently. That’s an even bigger adjustment for shorter quarterbacks. The taller offensive linemen block their vision more, and their release point is relatively lower at the line compared to the shotgun.

 

I think you're basically saying the same thing here.

College coaches are doing their job, which is trying to win championships for their employers.

If the NFL wants a developmental league, they should have a developmental league instead of just using the free option the NCAA provides.

 

To be fair at that time a good running QB had more of an advantage IMO..2 things that have changed a bunch IMO...All the players on Defense are much faster and the second is the Coaching on Defense is way more evolved and hip to making a QB pay if he wants to be a runner..

 

Yes when people don't have time to study it, it works well, but in the long run it usually doesn't, and therefore by the time those Qbs learn what they need to know most of their careers are almost over.

 

The NFL CBA doesn't help matters with a shortened off-season training schedule and a lighter training camp schedule. Perhaps they need to toss in a week or two of a pass game mini camp to provide extra training for QBs, WRs and DBs. Make it a two week 7v7 type camp. This way coaches can work with QBs more

 

I wouldn't be opposed to this idea (and I don't think I've heard it before either!).

Anything to try to increase the quality of passers is good...instead they just seem to make it harder and harder to play defense. Which allows the good QBs to separate themselves from the bad QBs even more.