Quarterback
Chris Simms
College: Texas
Year: Senior
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 223
Birthday: August 29, 1980
Strengths: It’s sewn right there on the back of his jersey: S-I-M-M-S. The son of a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Chris Simms has been around a football all his life, practicing his 3-step drops while the rest of us were trying to master hopscotch.
A highly touted recruit out of high school, Simms’ ability on the college field has been very impressive at times. Simms has a strong NFL arm and prototypical size to go with his pedigree. He has also had periods of impeccable accuracy. For the most part, his competition with since-departed QB Major Applewhite was supportive and good-natured, a sign of maturity from an otherwise cocksure prodigy. And with perhaps the best junior receiving corps returning to Austin this fall, this might be the year Simms puts it all together and goes for the trifecta: Heisman Trophy winner, National Champion, and first overall selection in the 2003 NFL Draft.
Areas for Concern: And therein lies the problem. Much anticipation has been heaped on the potential of Simms, and it proved to be too burdensome for him at times last year. When Simms lacks the touch to make accurate passes, he forces the action and exposes himself and his team to unnecessary risk. Good coaching, along with a little more maturity, is needed to further his development.
To earn the respect of the football community, Simms will also need to prove he can win the big game, something he’s had difficulty doing consistently against opponents not wearing maroon. And just how much was his confidence shaken at the end of last season when he lost his starting job to Applewhite?
How Would He Look in Steel Blue? Simms would’ve driven the Texans fans and local media crazy had he either declared for the draft a year early or if the Texans had chosen to wait until 2003 to select their QB of the future. As it stands, the Texans will look the other way if Simms is on the board when they select next spring.
Like anyone in the limelight, Simms takes too much of the praise when things are good, and too much of the blame when things are bad. He’ll be a quality passer in the NFL, just not for the Texans.
(profile written by Keith Weiland
)
Chris Simms’ 2001 Stats G ATT CMP % YDS TD INT 12 362 214 59.1 2,603 22 11
Chris Simms 
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