Sunday, August 14, 2011

Mixed Reviews for Rookie Quarterbacks

The 2011 NFL Draft saw 12 quarterbacks taken:

1st Round (1) - Cam Newton, Auburn - Carolina Panthers
1st Round (8) - Jake Locker, Washington - Tennessee Titans
1st Round (10) - Blaine Gabbert, Missouri - Jacksonville Jaguars
1st Round (12) - Christian Ponder, Florida State - Minnesota Vikings
2nd Round (3) - Andy Dalton, TCU - Cincinnati Bengals
2nd Round (4) - Colin Kaepernick, Nevada - San Francisco 49ers
3rd Round (10) - Ryan Mallett, Arkansas - New England Patriots
5th Round (4) - Ricky Stanzi, Iowa - Kansas City Chiefs
5th Round (21) - T.J. Yates, North Carolina - Houston Texans
5th Round (29) - Nathan Enderle, Idaho - Chicago Bears
6th Round (15) - Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech - Baltimore Ravens
7th Round (5) - Greg McElroy, Alabama - New York Jets

Ten of the twelve have already made their NFL preseason debuts with the other two likely to play tomorrow when the Jets and Texans face off. Here's a quick recap on the performances of the ten:

Cam Newton - The number one overall draft pick entered the game in the second quarter and immediately led the Panthers on a 9 play 62 yard scoring drive resulting in a field goal. Newton would add another scoring drive in the closing minute of the first half taking the Panthers 54 yards on two long pass plays setting up a second Olindo Mare field goal. Newton would be under center for 3 more possessions in the second half, all of them resulting in punts. His final numbers in his first appearance: 8 for 19, 134 yards.
Photo Credit: sbrforum.com

Jake Locker - Locker entered the game on the Titans second possession after Matt Hasselbeck took the first. Locker's first drive went 14 plays for 56 yards, but the usually sure-footed Rob Bironas missed a 38 yard field goal wide left. Following a three and out, Locker led the Titans on a pair of scoring drives. The first one started with a fumbled snap, but Locker recovered a found a wide open Yamon Figurs for a 45 yard touchdown pass. Following a Minnesota turnover, Locker led the Titans on a second scoring drive, this time a shorter one, just 37 yards capped off by 2 yard touchdown run from rookie Jamie Harper. Locker was under center for one more possession in the second half, but it resulted in a three and out. Locker's final numbers: 7 for 10, 89 yards, 1 touchdown.

Blaine Gabbert - Gabbert started for Jacksonville against the Patriots producing field goals on his first two drives. Gabbert would help Jacksonville add one more first half field goal and left the game with the score 19-9 at the half. After his exit, the Jags were outscored 28-3. Gabbert finished 9 of 16 for 85 yards.

Christian Ponder - The third Minnesota quarterback to see the field behind Donovan McNabb and Joe Webb, Ponder took over midway through the third quarter. Ponder was sacked three times, but did run a pair of late drives deep into Tennessee territory in the 4th quarter, one to the 14 and one to the 16, both of them ending with turnovers on downs. Ponder finished 8 of 13 for 84 yards.

Andy Dalton - The TCU alum got off to a rough start in his debut. As a result of a special teams fumble, the Bengals were already down 14-0 before he even took a snap. The first one was one he'd like to forget too as his inaugural play ended up as an interception. Dalton did gradually settle in though and early in the second quarter he helped get the Bengals on the board with a 7 play 35 yard drive resulting in a field goal. Dalton drove the Bengals 55 yards on 13 plays on his next drive as well, but Mike Nugent's 42 yard field goal attempt missed wide right. Dalton's numbers from his one half of football: 11 of 15, 69 yards and an interception.

Colin Kaepernick - Kaepernick relieved Alex Smith early in the second quarter and led the 49ers on their only scoring drive of the game (a 59 yard field goal for David Akers as time expired at the end of the half). Kaepernick was sacked four times though, fumbled twice, and threw a pair of fourth quarter interceptions in his debut. He finished 9 of 19 for 117 yards in the 24-3 loss to New Orleans.

Ryan Mallett - Mallett came on in the second half and immediately took the Patriots 82 yards on 13 plays capped off by a Steven Ridley touchdown. Mallett's second drive would have similar results. 6 plays 67 yards and Mallett's first touchdown pass, a 16 yarder to Ridley. Third drive, same story. 12 plays 66 yards and a Richard Medlin touchdown. Then, following a Todd Bouman interception, the Patriots would put together another touchdown drive capped off by Medlin, and Mallett wasn't finally "stopped" until he kneeled out the clock on his 5th drive. Mallett's numbers: 12 of 19 for 164 yards and a touchdown.
Photo Credit: beltwayboysports.com

Ricky Stanzi - Stanzi took over at quarterback midway through the third quarter for the Chiefs against a tough Buccaneer defense and didn't fair much better than his predecessors. Stanzi produced only a handful of first downs, but no points. He finished 4 for 8 for just 34 yards and the Chiefs lost 25-0.

Nathan Enderle - The Bears rookie played the whole second half for Chicago after Jay Cutler and Caleb Hanie preceded him in the first. Enderle produced just 3 points, but the Bears still managed to defeat Buffalo 10-3. Enderle finished the game 7 of 10 for 110 yards and was intercepted once.

Tyrod Taylor - The Virginia Tech product played the final three quarters for the Ravens against the Eagles. Taylor was intercepted on his first series and was picked off again in the second half. His overall numbers weren't bad and he ran the ball well, but his efforts led to just 3 points in a 13-6 loss. Taylor finished 19 of 28 for 179 yards and a pair of interceptions. He also ran the ball 6 times for 59 yards.

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