The Advance Scout: “Major Debate” by Paul Hammons

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October 2, 2000
Major Debate
by Paul Hammons
HoustonProFootball.com

There’s been a lot of debate around the state of Texas concerning the quarterback situation in Austin. Specifically, people want to know whether the Horns need to stay with the proven commodity, Major Applewhite, or bring in the wonderboy with the golden arm and the stellar pedigree, Chris Simms. In a way, this argument has mirrored the debate that has often followed the quarterback position into the draft: can a heady, undersized college quarterback make it in the pros, or do NFL teams need the 6’5″ gunslinger behind the center?

It’s a tough question, especially when pro teams start evaluating Applewhite for possible draft potential. Do you pick a guy that, by all physical standards, shouldn’t be on an NFL field in any capacity, let alone taking hits from and throwing passes over a bunch of 6’6″, 260-pound blitzing linebackers? The arguments against have generally centered on the punishment absorbed, the inability to see over linemen, let alone downfield, the lack of arm strength and the play-calling limitations that go with it. When you look at guys like Doug Flutie, who bucked the trend in one area, they usually compensated in another. Flutie has a gun for an arm that belies his height.

All of those concerns likely will keep Applewhite out of the first round of the draft in 2002, and maybe the first four or five rounds as well.

But there’s some points that I think indicate that somebody out there needs to give this guy a shot.

  • Arm strength isn’t everything. How many cannon arms are there in the NFL right now? Then ask yourself how many back-up quarterbacks in the league right now that fit the prototype description you would be willing to go to war with. If looking good on paper meant anything, Kerry Collins and Ryan Leaf would be superstars. Would anyone ever have picked Joe Montana, the greatest quarterback of the modern era, based on his physical abilities?
  • Teams need quarterbacks. Along the lines of the previous point, there is a real shortage of talent at this position. Do the names Brian Griese and Damon Huard ring bells?
  • You don’t have to throw a ball 70 yards to stretch the field. One of the big concerns about Applewhite and his relatively weak arm is that he wouldn’t be able to keep defenses honest, allowing them to crack down on the underneath patterns. But think to yourself: when was the last time you saw a long pass downfield that traveled more than 40 yards or so? Being able to throw the length of the field is great, and it does offer an advantage on the out patterns, but there’s not a lot of instances where a quarterback can hold the ball long enough to try and hit a receiver 50 and 60 yards downfield. Besides, Applewhite has been very effective throwing deep despite suspect range.

So the point of all this? Come 2002, if the Texans opt to start with a quarterback, it shouldn’t be Applewhite. But if the late rounds roll around and he’s available, he might at lease provide a quick study that can step in and do the job off the bench. At most, he might just surprise a few people.

Paul Hammons served as a sportswriter for various and sundry publications (only one of which is now defunct) before leaving the lucrative world of journalism for his MBA and a shot at a big-screen TV and more time in front of Saturday afternoon college football. He currently resides in Plano and spends his days wondering why he couldn’t have been born six inches taller and a few steps faster in the 40.