I was going to do an in-depth article about him but decided against it because it wouldn't change anybody's mind. He's either liked or hated. Thought of as a choker or savior. So I'll dispense with the full statistical analysis and won't deal with his numbers or anything to do with his performances.
Instead, I'll cover some of the peripherals many of you don't know about.
Charlie Weis is brutal on his quarterbacks, something he learned on Parcells' staff with the Giants. He was Parcell's offensive coordinator with the Jets when Parcells turned that team around and Weis immediately demanded more of his QBs than any other player.
In New England, Tom Brady often made comments on how demanding and insensitive Weis was.
At Notre Dame, the play book under Weis is over 700 plays. The QB is expected to know them all, including the audibles, check-offs and line calls, and is expected to use them properly every time. Quinn had complete freedom to audible on virtually every play, including overriding the center's line calls, which he often did. Even in the pros, my guess is only Peyton Manning is given that much responsibility. Tom Brady had it too, under Weis, but now I'm not sure.
Weis rips his QBs on the sideline immediately for every missed check-off, screwed up audible and mis-read coverage. You've got to have a thick skin as a college kid to thrive under that kind of coaching.
Weis has 4 minute hurry-up packages and 2 minute hurry-ups and the team practices those every practice. Quinn had to make all the play calls in those situations, manage the clock, substitutions and time outs. No excuses and no screw-ups allowed. In those situations in real games, Quinn was superb. His clock and game management are superior. Even Weis begrudgingly admitted that.
Brady Quinn is a perfectionist, workaholic and workout warrior. He can diagram and explain every play, every player's responsibility on every play, and the weakness the play is designed to take of, in both Weis' system and the partially installed West Coast system he ran for two years under Tyrone Willingham.
Quinn often would come to the sideline and suggest changes in game plan to Weis. Weis rarely ever agreed but at least Quinn had the guts and confidence to state his case.
Quinn graduated with a double major in 3 1/2 years while being a 4 year starter.
Brady Quinn is also a weight room and video studying fanatic. He is absolutely anal in his pursuit of football success. According to Weis, Quinn can make every throw and his biggest improvement has been in the short "touch" passes. Early in his career he threw the dump-offs too hard.
Weis says Quinn will be a top three NFL QB within three years. Take that for for whatever you think it's worth.
Will Brady Quinn be a good NFL QB? Who knows? He reminds me of Peyton Manning in college in many ways. He's had tough losses against very good teams and performed poorly early in some of those. The knock, like Peyton at Tennessee, is he can't win the big one. Quinn also sometimes throws a wobble ball.
Unlike Manning, he's taken a beating in his four years, and was sacked 31 times this last year alone. Yet, he's still good at side stepping rushers and buying time to throw. He won't outrun anybody but he also protects the ball very well, rarely fumbling despite all the hits and throws very few interceptions.
How good is he really? His 4 year w/l record is 5-7, 6-6, 9-3 and 10-3. How many Notre Dame players can you think of, counting this next draft, have even made an NFL roster in the last 4 years, especially on offense?
You decide. If I was Al Davis, I'd draft Brady Quinn #1 overall and never look back. But I'm biased.
Instead, I'll cover some of the peripherals many of you don't know about.
Charlie Weis is brutal on his quarterbacks, something he learned on Parcells' staff with the Giants. He was Parcell's offensive coordinator with the Jets when Parcells turned that team around and Weis immediately demanded more of his QBs than any other player.
In New England, Tom Brady often made comments on how demanding and insensitive Weis was.
At Notre Dame, the play book under Weis is over 700 plays. The QB is expected to know them all, including the audibles, check-offs and line calls, and is expected to use them properly every time. Quinn had complete freedom to audible on virtually every play, including overriding the center's line calls, which he often did. Even in the pros, my guess is only Peyton Manning is given that much responsibility. Tom Brady had it too, under Weis, but now I'm not sure.
Weis rips his QBs on the sideline immediately for every missed check-off, screwed up audible and mis-read coverage. You've got to have a thick skin as a college kid to thrive under that kind of coaching.
Weis has 4 minute hurry-up packages and 2 minute hurry-ups and the team practices those every practice. Quinn had to make all the play calls in those situations, manage the clock, substitutions and time outs. No excuses and no screw-ups allowed. In those situations in real games, Quinn was superb. His clock and game management are superior. Even Weis begrudgingly admitted that.
Brady Quinn is a perfectionist, workaholic and workout warrior. He can diagram and explain every play, every player's responsibility on every play, and the weakness the play is designed to take of, in both Weis' system and the partially installed West Coast system he ran for two years under Tyrone Willingham.
Quinn often would come to the sideline and suggest changes in game plan to Weis. Weis rarely ever agreed but at least Quinn had the guts and confidence to state his case.
Quinn graduated with a double major in 3 1/2 years while being a 4 year starter.
Brady Quinn is also a weight room and video studying fanatic. He is absolutely anal in his pursuit of football success. According to Weis, Quinn can make every throw and his biggest improvement has been in the short "touch" passes. Early in his career he threw the dump-offs too hard.
Weis says Quinn will be a top three NFL QB within three years. Take that for for whatever you think it's worth.
Will Brady Quinn be a good NFL QB? Who knows? He reminds me of Peyton Manning in college in many ways. He's had tough losses against very good teams and performed poorly early in some of those. The knock, like Peyton at Tennessee, is he can't win the big one. Quinn also sometimes throws a wobble ball.
Unlike Manning, he's taken a beating in his four years, and was sacked 31 times this last year alone. Yet, he's still good at side stepping rushers and buying time to throw. He won't outrun anybody but he also protects the ball very well, rarely fumbling despite all the hits and throws very few interceptions.
How good is he really? His 4 year w/l record is 5-7, 6-6, 9-3 and 10-3. How many Notre Dame players can you think of, counting this next draft, have even made an NFL roster in the last 4 years, especially on offense?
You decide. If I was Al Davis, I'd draft Brady Quinn #1 overall and never look back. But I'm biased.