How college quarterbacks transition is hard to figure
This is the story of what you see.
The story of arm strength and touchdowns, of campus victories and bowl-game glory.
The story of headlines and prime time.
"You watch a guy play, watch him perform," Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said. "You see what he does in a lot of different situations."
Ah, but this also is a story of what you cannot see.
The story of perseverance and confidence, of work ethic and professionalism. A story of luck, composure and the day-to-day wrestling with pressure.
The story of trying to find an NFL quarterback.
"You just don't know about the intangibles," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "How do people react under pressure? A lot of times, it has to do with the supporting cast, but can he handle the pressure? The way you get scrutinized on a day-to-day basis, how they interact with the team.
"There are just so many things about a quarterback you may not know until he's actually with you."
There is the rub. No position on an NFL draft board is scouted harder, none where more data are compiled, none where so many precautions are taken.
And perhaps none where the failures have been so spectacular and public.
