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There is more to the job than looking the part.
I don’t know if you have noticed, but QB John Wolford is playing very well in the Alliance of American Football.
Remember Wolford? He was the guy the Jets brought in late last summer to start the fourth preseason game, since they didn’t want to risk Sam Darnold, Josh McCown or Teddy Bridewater in that game. Bridgewater ended up being traded before the game anyway.
Wolford didn’t play great in the fourth preseason game, against Philly, but what did you expect? He just got there that week and barely knew the offensive and had no chemistry with receivers and tight ends?
A few days later, the Jets claimed Davis Webb on waivers and released Wolford.
This was a case of going with 6-5, 230 over 6-0, 200; of going with somebody who was right out of Central Casting to play NFL QB over somebody who doesn’t look the part.
When the Jets made the decision to claim Webb and bounce Wolford, a Jets fans website wrote, “This appears to be a solid upgrade for the Jets. Wolford did not appear to be anything close to an NFL prospect in his only action with the Jets against the Philadelphia Eagles in the final preseason game of 2018, nor was his college tape promising.”
First off, not sure it was an upgrade. Well maybe it was an upgrade size-wise, other than that, not so sure. Secondly, it’s surprising they wrote his college tape wasn’t promising. Wolford was superb as a senior at Wake Forest, setting school records for single-season passer rating, passing yards, touchdown passes, total offense yards, and touchdowns.
Look, I don’t want to go too crazy over the Webb over Wolford decision because we are talking about the third-string QB position, but Wolford has looked very good in the AAF.
And this is a perfect example of how so many scouts and personnel people are very focused on measurables like size, and sometimes not enough on intangibles.
When the Jets made the decision to claim Webb, former Jets coach Todd Bowles said, “He’s somebody you looked at coming out [in the draft]. To have him available and being able to [put him] on the practice squad, it’s something that intrigued us, with the size and the arm.”
Yes he has size and an arm, but does he see the field well, is he good at going through his progressions or was he a by-product of college spread offenses at Texas Tech and Cal that are simplistic, generally one-read systems?
Watching Wolford in the AAF, I don’t care about his size, this guy belongs in an NFL camp. Whether at Wake Forest or with the Arizona Hotshots, this guy consistently moves his teams down the field.
And Drew Brees is about the same size, as is Russell Wilson, as is the guy who likely about to be the the first pick in the draft.
Enough of prototype size stuff.
Just tell me if the guy can play or not.
April 1, 2019
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